I got backup
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I got backup!
I got backup!
A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.
And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Messiah,
for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down,
who accuses them day and night before our God.
But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.
Rejoice then, you heavens
and those who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you
with great wrath,
because he knows that his time is short!”
So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.
Then the dragon took his stand on the sand of the seashore.
Intro:
This biblical episode describes in detail the persecution of Israel and the Church.....
I wonder if you really understand......
.....the magnitude of this human - God relationship.........!!
(Creator............and Creation)
I don’t care what anybody tells you...
........ God really does love us!!!
Barrel:
The story of Chadrick beating up the bully that was bigger than me…..
(pause)
Context
1. Chapters 10 and 11 are presented as an interlude between the sixth and the seventh trumpets.....
a. It's purpose is to commission believers to prophesy and witness for Christ even unto death.
aa. That means these chapters are there to encourage believers to give everything they got to bring others to Christ!!
b. The seventh trumpet ushers in the end of wickedness and the glorious reign of God and the Lamb in eternity.
And so.........we are able to see three main themes building as we go into Chapter 12
1. The obedience of the saints
2. The witness of the saints
3. God's justice and vindication of his faithful people......
Look at it now.
Revelation 12.1 (read)
A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
1. God is pointing at someone great for John to see.
A sign is a pointer or a marker when used here in the Greek language!
a. The meaning behind God pointing at something is absolutely awesome!!!
Sign = A Woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head.
- The woman represents the people of God.
a. Israel in the OT
b. Church in the NT
She is the first important character in our text.......and verse 2 explains her role and one more character that is special....
Revelation 12.2 (read)
She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth.
2. God is describing the painful process of getting to destiny.
a. No one can argue that childbirth is not painful.....
And this woman........is crying out while in labor.......
- Which says.........suffering and pain........is connected to her destiny......
And so.........in reference to a historic Israel........we are watching the illustration of the rebirth of Israel........
(slight pause)
And the deliverance of God's people..........through the birth and rule of the Messiah........
The joy is that........John is watching God provide solution........
- It does not look pretty..........but it is just what we need!!!!
(pause)
Barrel - I did not enjoy watching First Lady go through the pain of childbirth.........
But I knew..........if she could just get through the pain..........
The PUSHING.............was going to be worth it!
…….and somebody needs to know that the Pushing is going to be worth it
(pause)
Because……
…… something worthwhile is behind the pain!!
And God is not showing John this woman's pain to make him sympathetic........
but on the contrary I believe God is showing John this woman's pain..........so that he can see that there is something incredible standing behind her pain!!
(Pause and expound)
- Now notice the shift that's getting ready to take place in verse 3........
Look at it now……
Revelation 12.3 (read)
Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
3. God is now pointing to the third character in the text which is the complete opposite of the two characters God has just showed John.
Another Sign = A great fiery red dragon having 7 heads, 10 horns, and 7 crowns on his head..
- The dragon represents the demonic powers......
Now…….
…….the dragon is dressed up for a reason!
Here it is…..
Because when you dress up......you're trying to change your look.......
And….
This dragon or representation of evil........is trying to put on stuff that symbolizes a sovereign God.
Watch this….
Heads and horns symbolize.......power.....strength......and authority.......
The crown symbolizes.........royalty....rulership.........and sovereignty....
The numbers 7 and 10.........represent completion and fullness
(pause)
And........the reason...........the enemy is playing dress up......
.....is because if we saw the enemy the way he really looks...
......we would break our neck running the other way!!!!!!
(pause)
If you knew what your favorite SIN really looked like…….
……….you wouldn’t allow it to stay in the same room!
(pause)
Because the Devil wants to grab your attention…….
……..the enemy plays dress up!
(pause)
And.............the way you can tell a fake from the real thing............is because after a while...........the dress up clothes have to come off!!!
The damage starts becoming noticeable….
- The family starts tearing apart
- The money starts running out
- You start self-destructing, instead of seeing self-development
Freedom family……
Stop letting the devil fool you!!!!!!!!
…..you thinking you climbing
…..but really you’re clowining
Aint nothing but………some dress clothes
(pause)
Look at it now......
Revelation 12.4 (read)
His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born.
4. The enemy gets into position to destroy God's redemptive process.
It is suggested by scholars that John is describing the fall of Satan and his followers.......in conjunction with actions of Christ overcoming Satan and death on the Cross.....
The text says........
The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth......so that when she gives birth........he can devour the child.....
So..........the enemy is watching the whole time.............waiting for his chance to destroy........
Watch this……
Do you remember when King Herod..........went on a killing spree.........of every male child 2 years old and younger......
John is now watching...........the enemy..........as the enemy is running after God's plan.........to destroy the child.......
(pause)
But now look at verse 5........
Revelation 12.5 (read)
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne;
5. The enemy was watching........and the enemy was ready..........to destroy
But when it was time to give birth.........as the baby was coming forth...........God stepped in............and the child was protected!
(pause)
- Because........we the believer needed a shepherd – a covering, a guide, a deliver.......
…...and the unbeliever needed judgment..........
So..........God steps in...........even when the devil is in position.......
And as God steps in.....the child is caught up.......
(pause)
So the devil........misses him........at birth...........and he misses him in life on earth..........and he misses him in death...............
Because..........God the father says.........
"Not my boy Devil.......!"
(pause and expound on God’s covering us)
God..........is overseeing the whole thing!
(pause)
And I don’t know about you but….
It is reassuring to know that God will always handle Gods business!!
(pause)
Look at the text now...........
Revelation 12.6 (read)
and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.
6. We are watching a time of testing........and a time of protection and caring.........all at the same time.......
And so...........God has prepared everything in a place where anything can happen!!!!
(pause)
Here’s what that means…..
....God's people........are going to have to go through an intense........season of persecution for a specific time........
(slight pause)
But..........the good news is that God is in control.........even........in our Wilderness!!!!!
(pause)
And so now..........the enemy has been shown to us chasing and bullying everybody leading into verse 7.....
....But now we're getting ready to see what happens when he walks up on the archangel Michael!!
Look at somebody in your living room……
……..even if you got to holler at the wall and shout
“……..I got backup!”
(pause)
Look at it now.......
Revelation 12.7 (read)
And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back,
7. Heaven fought for us............and the Devil fought against us........
A. It's good to know that somebody is fighting for us........
Everybody don't want to see you fall!
(pause)
And........not just anybody.....
......but Heaven.........decided..........
…..that the history of humanity.........needed a Savior!!!!!!
(pause and expound)
B. It's also wise to know that the enemy.......is trying to destroy us at the same time.......
………Everybody don't want to see you walking in victory!!
And not just anybody........but the evil powers that are against righteous......
And at the end of the day.........the enemy is trying to destroy.............and heaven is looking to redeem.........
And........so the real question.......is...........Who won?????
(pause and expound)
Look at it now….
Revelation 12.8 - 9 (read)
but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
8. But he could not prevail!!!!!!!!
The enemy tried.........but he could not prevail!!
And….
He lost.............and not just by a little bit...........but he lost..........big!!!!
(pause)
Now..........notice that whether or not someone prevails.........is determined by righteousness.......
Because when Jacob.........is wrestling with the angel.........
The angel has to ask Jacob to let him go.........and Jacob says....
"I will not let you go........until you bless me!"
And so here’s the question…..
How is it that a Jacob can prevail..........but a Devil..........cannot......
The reason is.........found when........Joshua is speaking to the angel in Jericho.......
He says.....
"Are you for me..........or my enemies?"
The angel replies......
"Neither......I have now come as commander of the Lord's army"
And Joshua replies in worship...
"What does my Lord want to say to His servant?"
And so...........whenever you want to prevail........find righteousness and stand! right there in that place!
Because victory is always found in righteousness!!!
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Messiah,
for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down,
who accuses them day and night before our God.
And the text says....
Now God has won the victory!
(pause)
And......
........the Devil no longer stands in the presence of our God, accusing our fellow servants day and night.
(pause)
But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.
Now Freedom I need you to see something.....
I need you to see who “They” is in the text.....
John says....
“They have conquered him”
Meaning the faithful believers, and followers of Jesus Christ
......and so “they” is talking about “us” who are followers of Christ
(pause)
Watch this......
We conquer the Devil
“..........by the blood of the Lamb”
And so.....
.......because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ
.....we are able to defeat Satan!
(pause)
And watch this.....
“By the word of their testimony”
meaning........this
“by means of the message they announced” or “by means of the truth they proclaimed
......they are able to defeat the same DEVIL that has been trying to DESTROY them!
(pause)
And so..........
......when we announce the GOSPEL
.......when we speak over our lives what JESUS has done for our lives
(slight pause)
What we are really telling the enemy is this......
“I GOT BACKUP!” (repeat)
Conclusion -
“I got Backup!!”
And so.......
just when the enemy thought he had you whipped.......
(pause)
Heaven made a decision............
(pause and expound)
And.......
Heaven decided to send Righteousness to fight for us!!!!
(slight pause)
And even though the devil is after us......
....God is still vindicating through the Blood!!!