Living Victoriously & Singing Triumphantly

Living Victoriously

Those who conquered (overcame) are singing the song of Moses () and the song of the Lamb

standing beside the sea of glass mingled with fire

conquered (Gk - nikao) -

2:7, 11, 17, 26-27; 3:5, 12, 21

If you believe that the ones here are victorious tribulation saints and not all the saints, understand that the same tests, the same victory, and the same worship can be experienced by saints of any age.

standing beside the sea of glass mingled with fire

Those who conquered were victorious over

the beast - - The beast out of the sea - The political leader, the Anti-Christ - The political pressure to reject Christ as Savior and Lord

the beast’s image - - The religious pressure to reject Christ and worship the political leader

the number of it’s name - - the beast out of the earth - the religious leader, the false prophet - The economic pressure to reject Christ

- the testing of Shadrach (Hananiah), Meshach (Mishael), and Abednego (Azariah)

We are being pressured today in every one of these areas, and it’s not just in America.

The Political pressures - The 2016 U.S. Presidential election fractured evangelicals; the 2018 SBC spotlighted that fracture and showed that there is a generational element to the fracture;

Bodnariu family v. Norway’s Child Protective Services (Barnevernet), who removed the five Bodnariu children over three days in November 2015. The initial charge was that the parents occasional use of physical discipline (which is illegal in Norway), but after months with the children in foster care, the real reason came to light - the Bodnarius were teaching their children their Christian faith.

Be warned - for the last 30+ years, a political alliance between evangelicals and the Republican party has been in place, and the Republican party, I believe based on some things I’ve read over the last 5-10 years, will throw evangelicals to the wolves when we don’t help them anymore. Remember, there is a part of the RP that is fiscally conservative but not socially conservative.

We don’t need to filter our religion by our politics, we need to filter our politics with our faith, with Scripture.

The religious pressures - The 2003 vote within the Episcopal church to approve a homosexual bishop that caused splits/realignments for the Episcopal church in America and throughout the world; changes in hymns in various denominations to address objections of sexism, militarism, ethnic group rights, urban v. rural settings, etc; Calvinism - anti-Calvinism debates in our own SBC/LBC in the last 10-20 years.

The economic pressures applied to believers - e.g. Colorado Civil Right Commission v. Masterpiece Cakeshop (again); Former Atlanta, GA & Shreveport Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran’s firing in 2014 for what he wrote in a book for a men’s Bible study (https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/atlanta-fire-chief-i-was-fired-because-of-my-christian-faith)

Understand that we are under political pressure, religious pressure, and economic pressure. Yielding to those pressures negatively impacts the church’s witness.

This is not easy. It is the road of suffering. It is the road of heartache. It is the road of difficult twists and turns, of reliance upon the Lord and rejection of the world. It is the road of association and encouragement from the Lord and from other believers on the same path.

There is need for unity, for discernment, for prophetic proclamation and insights, for strength, for grace, for transformation, for realignment of attitudes, speech, and actions, for confession of sin and of Christ, of repentance, of faith, of balance, of endurance, of long-suffering, of forgiveness & restoration.

Resist the pressures to abandon Jesus;

Resolve to finish the race () ()

Singing Triumphantly

The Songs are sung by the sea, like Israel sang by the sea () after the Lord closed the waters on Pharaoh and his army ()

Read

Exodus imagery is common in the NT, and is prevalent here.

The song’s theme is the same as the Song of the Lamb

The Song of the Lamb

The most Hebraic (OT) structured song in the Revelation

Content (vs. 3-4)

We teach and we learn a lot of theology, a lot of what we know about God, from the songs we sing.

Sing Triumphantly - v.3

God’s deeds (works/actions)

What are some of God’s great deeds in Scripture?

What are some of God’s great deeds in BBC?

What are some of God’s great deed in your life and your family’s life?

Great - above standard in intensity; surprising in importance

Amazing - causing wonder and amazement

God’s ways

Just - in accord with high standards; upright, fair

True - trustworthy; authentic

God’s character and being

LORD, the one true God, the Almighty One - i.e., the Lord (YHWH), the one true God, the Omnipotent (all-powerful) one

i.e., YHWH is the one true God (i.e., the only true God) and he is the one who controls everything (or who commands all things and all people).

; ; ; ; ; a form in 19:6

NT equivalent of the OT “LORD, the God of the heavenly hosts”)

King of the nations (ages)

v.l. - nations||all the nations||the ages (aeon) - emphasis on sovereignty

;

The content of the song should contain truths about God’s actions, ways, and being.

The content (lyrics) of the song is more important that the musical style of the song.

Reckless Love

Have a Little Talk with Jesus - ‘prayer wheel’

Our mindset about the style of music speaks volumes about

whom we believe the audience of worship is

our thoughtfulness toward others (

Sing Triumphantly (v.4)

Saints sing to praise and thank God.

As a benefit, it lifts the soul.

Saints sing to give an invitation to people for God

Fear the Lord

Spotlight and consider the weight of his name

Approach the Lord

Worship the Lord

Because God’s righteous acts have been made visible (see above questions).

Read & think about the lyrics of the songs - the theology is important (Col. 3:16)

Have a little talk with Jesus - ‘prayer wheel’

Sing Praise- because of our victory in Christ

Sing an Invitation - for others to worship with you

You say, “I don’t know the song.” I say, “learn the song”

You say, “I don’t like the style of the music.” I say, “Be mindful of others who do like the style.”

This is not a one-way street of elder to youth/young adult; this is a two-way street both ways.

You say, “I don’t like the style of music.” I say, “Worship isn’t about you and your preferences; it’s about honoring God.”

Your participation in singing says something to others

You say, “I honor the Lord.” I say, “Amen!”

You say, “I have something to say about the person and work of the Lord!” I say, “Amen!”

You say, “I am thinking about others, too.” I say, “Amen!”

Sing an Invitation - for others to know your Lord and SaviorYour non-participation in singing says something to others -

You say, “I don’t know the song.” I say, “learn the song”

You say, “I don’t like the style of the music.” I say, “Be mindful of others who do like the style.”

This is not a one-way street of elder to youth/young adult; this is a two-way street both ways.

You say, “I don’t like the style of music.” I say, “Worship isn’t about you and your preferences; it’s about honoring God.”

You say, “I don’t have anything to sing about.” I say, “You have everything to sing about!”

Your participation in singing says something to others

You say, “I honor the Lord.” I say, “Amen!”

You say, “I have something to say about the person and work of the Lord!” I say, “Amen!”

You say, “I am thinking about others, too.” I say, “Amen!”

Live Victoriously!

Sing Triumphantly!