THE LORD WINS: Series through the book of Revelation

INTRODUCTION

WE HAVE BEEN EXAMINING THE BOOK OF REVELATION UNDER THE BANNER:

WE KNOW HE WILL WIN BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HE HAS ALREADY WON IN CHRIST

YET, BABYLON IS PRESSING: BABYLON

THAT SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT OPPRESSES THE PEOPLE OF GOD SYSTEMATICALLY BY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TACTICS

THOSE SYSTEMS OF RELIGION THAT OPPOSE AND CONTEND AGAINST THE LORD’S RULE AND SUPREMACY

THOSE SINS (THAT PRESENT SIN) THAT JUST WILL NOT SEEM TO BE SHAKEN; THAT IS LIKE GNATS AFTER A RAINY DAY - OPPRESSIVE AND IRRITATING.

YET, IN MY STUDY FOR THESE MESSAGES AND IN MY PRAYER FOR YOU AND THE BURDENS AND STRUGGLES THAT I KNOW YOU AND I DEAL WITH - FOR SOME, THERE ARE DEEP STRUGGLES:

STRUGGLES WITH LIFE AND SIN THAT HAVE DEALT A SOLID BLOW TO YOUR HOPE SUCH THAT YOU LIVING IN DOUBT

STRUGGLES OF PASSIONS SUCH THAT YOU FEEL ENSLAVED TO SENSUAL AND SEXUAL DESIRES

STRUGGLES IN RELATIONSHIPS YOUR MARRIAGE AND YOU FEEL THAT IT IS BEYOND REPAIR

PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WHILE SERVING A GOD WHO HAS WON AND THE QUESTION IS THIS:

HOW DO I WIN?

HOW CAN I WIN FOR THE LORD IN BABYLON?

“BATTLING BABYLON WITH THE BIBLICAL GOSPEL”

Learning how to fight - that’s what we need to do in order Battle Babylon. Let me tell you what it does not involve:

THE INSTRUCTION OF BABYLON’S GOSPEL

1. Becoming A Better Me (Self Help, Motivation podcasts, etc)

Becoming a better me only means becoming a better sinner

2. Finding Your Truth

Finding my truth is only finding more that condemns me

3. Finding Your Place In BABYLON

Finding my place in here only means making PEACE with Babylon

BELIEVING THESE THINGS IS TO BELIEVE WHORE CHRISTIANITY

TO BATTLE BABYLON WITH THE BIBLICAL GOSPEL WE MUST KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION:

WHAT ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE BIBLICAL GOSPEL IN BATTLING BABYLON?

I. Understand and Examine Where you are Babylon Sensitive - As We Wait for Him While In Babylon

A. Babylon Is In Everyone

What aspects of Babylon are most appealing to you. ADMITTING AND NAMING IT TAKES ITS POWER

Why Babylon is still influential to us even though we love and want to serve Christ with all that we are

It’s in us – Colossians 3:5

Colossians 3:5 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

PAUL IS SPEAKING TO BELIEVERS> WHI DOES HE SPEAK THIS WAY TO THOSE WHO KNOW JESUS?

BECAUSE WITHIN EVERYONE OF THEM - US - ARE PASSIONS THAT CAN BE TEMPTED TO LOVE AND EMBRACE AND FOLLOW BABYLON.

I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU AND I SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN WE ARE PULLED OR ENTICED INTO DISOBEDIENCE.

THE HYM WRITE SAID: PRONE TO WANDER LORD I FEEL IT. PRONE TO LEAVE THE GOD I LOVE

SO, THE WAY TO BATTLE BABYLON IS TO NOT TRY TO BE WITHOUT SIN - BUT TO IDENTIFY THE WAYS IN YOU ARE BABYLON SENSITIVE

B. The LIE of the Gospel of BABYLON

1. A Lifestyle of HOLINESS Is Possible

IT TELLS YOU THAT GOD DEMANDS PERFECTION- WHICH IS TRUE - BUT THEN THIS FALSE GOSPEL TEACHES YOU TO BELIEVE THAT SINLESS PERFECTION IS WHAT THE LORD EXPECTS FROM YOU IN THIS LIFE AND THAT IF YOU DO NOT ACHIEVE IT YOU ARE CONDEMNED

SOME PEOPLE LIVE IN FEAR WHEN THEY SIN BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT SINCE GOD DEMANDS PERFECTION AND THEY ARE NOT PERFECT, THEN THEY MUST STRIVE TO DO THEIR BEST TO BE PERFECT IN THIS LIFE - SINLESS - IN ORDER TO GO TO HEAVEN.

BUT THE APOSTLE JOHN PUT IT THIS WAY IN HIS FIRST EPISTLE - 1ST JOHN:

1 John 1:8 ESV

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:10 ESV

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

WHICH, OF ALL THAT SINS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR FLESH, IS HAS THE ABILITY TO GIVE YOU THE BUSINESS?

WHICH SIN HAS THE ABILITY TO TRIP YOU UP AND SEDUCE YOU CAUSING YOU TURMOIL AND PAIN? WHICH SIN IS WREAKING HAVOC ON YOU AND CRUSHING YOU

C. HOW DO WE LIVE THIS OUT?

1. IDENTIFY AND NAME THAT SIN AND IDENTIFY IT AS AN ENEMY NOT YOUR PROBLEM

2. IDENTIFY the Life SITUATIONS That Gives Sin Its SWAG?

3. Stay Away From TEMPTATION

4. We CONFESS When We SIN

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

II. Understand and FIGHT For and In the HOPE of the Gospel - As We Wait for Him While In Babylon

A. The Tension Is This: We Are Saved NOW but NOT YET

We are not only waiting on Jesus in Babylon - but we are at war with Babylon while we wait!

WE ARE LONGING FOR JESUS, DESIRING TO LOVE HIM AND TO LIVE FOR HIS GLORY BUT PRESSURED ALL ABOUT AND ALL AROUND TO GIVE IN TO BABYLON

PAUL HIGHLIGHTS THIS TENSION BY TELLING US:

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

TO WRESTLE MEANS:

PAUL SAID WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH ABOUT BUT WE DO WRESTLE AGAINST…

NOTE THE WORD “WRESTLE.” THERE IS ONLY A WRESTLING GOING ON BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING OPPOSING US; SOMETHING (SIN) AND SOMEONE (THE DRAGON, AND THE TWO BEASTS) OPPOSING OUR LIVING IN THE REALITY OF CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER THE BEASTS AND THE DRAGON

B. WE FIGHT FROM THE SIDE OF THE VICTORY

AS I JUST SEAID IN THE LAST POINT – BABYLON’S INFLUENCE IS STILL IN US AND THAT WHY WE KILL IT

Colossians 3:5 (ESV)

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: ...

BUT HERE IS A MOST IMPORTANT REALITY:

Paul tells us to kill sin, ONLY after he reminds us of our POSITION- We are in Christ in the HEAVENLY PLACES

Colossians 3:1 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

THEN HE SAYS IN VERSE 3

Colossians 3:3 ESV

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

IN ESSENCE HERE IS OUR FIGHTING POSITION: VICTORY

WE ARE FIGHTING A FIGHT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN WON BY CHRIST AND WE BY FAITH IN HIM ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE!

KNOWING THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT THE GOSPEL TEACHES US IS THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT BABYLON WITH BABYLON’S WEAPONS -

THIS IS WHAT SOME HAVE AND ARE DOING AND THIS IS WHY SOME HAVE AND ARE LIVING IN AREAS OF DEFEAT:

YOU DON’T HEED BABYLON’S COUNSEL

YOU DON’T USE BABYLON’S WISDOM

YOU DON’T TRUST BABYLON’S SOLUTIONS

YOU DON’T HAVE TO JOIN BABYLON’S COMMUNITY

IN OTHER WORDS WE DON’T WRESTLE WITH BABYLON WITH BABYLON’S WEAPONS: PAUL PUT IT THIS WAY

2 Corinthians 10:3 ESV

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.

2 Corinthians 10:4 ESV

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

2 Corinthians 10:6 ESV

being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

SO A SURE FIRE WAY TO KEEP ON LOSING IS TO LOOK IN THE MORROR AND THINK THAT THAT PERSON IS THE SOLUTION. YOU AND I ARE NOT THE SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEMS

THEREFORE, WHEN WE FIGHT - IT IS WE DON’T FIGHT: THE GOSPEL WORKS IN US AND FIGHTS FOR US BY REMINDING US THAT

Isaiah 54:17 (ESV)

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,...

PAUL, REPHRASES ISIAHA’S THOUGHTS THIS WAY

Romans 8:37 ESV

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

BUT WHY ARE WE MORE THAN CONQUERORS?

Romans 8:35 ESV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Romans 8:36 ESV

As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

C. WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS BECAUSE:

1. BABYLON Can’t CHANGE What JESUS Has ACCOMPLISHED

2. WE Can’t CHANGE What JESUS Has ACCOMPLISHED

BEING A CHRISTIAN IS NOT, FIRST, ABOUT HOW I LIVE, BUT CHIEFLY ABOUT WHO LIVES IN ME! IF THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE IS LIVING IN ME THEN I WILL GRADUALLY BEGIN TO MAKE DECISIONS AND CHOICES IN LIFE THAT REFLECT MY THANKFULNESS FOR HIS GRACE AND MERCY!

THINK OF IT THIS WAY:

The grace of God ELIMINATES the consequence of my sin AND EMPOWERS my obedience

Therefore, the grace of God does not EXCUSE my disobedience

D. HOW DO WE LIVE THIS OUT?

1. We must Deeply INTERNALIZE the gospel.

we must know it; study it; deeply understand it.

OUR DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING NEXT WEEK:

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? - ONLINE

IT WILL BE ONLINE SO IF YOU ARE WATCHING AND WOULD WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY SEND A MESSAGE IN MESSENGER TO THIS FACEBOOK ACCOUNT. OUR ONLINE TEAM WILL MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE THE INFORMATION.

Holiness is about who you are in Christ and allowing that to nurture you to grow you to the point where you are making decisions on the basis of who you are in Christ.

If you are not making choices that way now it doesn’t undermine the gospel but it nearly calls for you to believe the gospel and understand the gospel more fully.

2. We must Diligently PREACH the gospel to ourselves

III. Understand and MODEL the Christ-Like Purpose for the TRUE CHURCH - As We Wait for Him While In Babylon

Loving

Serving

We are not simply waiting on heaven. Heaven has broken in already when the Spirit came down at Pentecost.

A. First - To The FAITH FAMILY

HOW WE TREAT ONE-ANOTHER BY WAY OF LOVE AND SACRIFICE IS A WITNESS TO THE WORLD THAT CHRIST EXISTS AMONG US AS OUR LORD - THE ONE WHO UNITES US AND IS GREATER THAN ALL OF OUR DIFFERENCES

IF WE CANNOT LOVE ONE-ANOTHER IN BABYLON WHY SHOULD BABYLON BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS WORTH OUR LIVES AND SACRIFICE?

THE GREATEST DEFENSE OF THE FAITH - THE GREATEST PROOF THAT THE CROSS TRANSFORMED AND CAN TRANSFORM - IS HOW WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER

TO THE MATURE BELIEVER IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT OTHERS IN THE FAMILY SAY ABOUT THEM -THEY MAKE THE DECISION TO LOVE - TO GIVE UP THEIR RIGHT TO BE RESPECTED -AND CHOOSE TO SHOW RESPECT ANY HOW.

B. Second - To The WORLD

2 Corinthians 5:19 ESV

that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

We are heaven’s ambassadors making God’s appeal in this world by the gospel. but what is the gospel?

Christ’s loving us by serving us by being for us what we needed in order that we mist see and love God: This is how you Battle Babylon: You show the love of God by serving them and being kind to them, etc.

This does not mean you embrace what they embrace or affirm their lifestyle, but what did Christ do to sinners who were in need? He served them by dying for their good;

He fed them (5000)

He healed them (woman …)

He protected them (woman caught in adultery)

CHRIST CAME TO REVEAL GOD AND HE DID SO BY DOING THE WILL OF GOD WHICH INCLUDED GIVING HIS LIFE FOR UNWORTHY WRETCHES LIKE US.”

LET ME REPEAT THAT

C. HOW DO WE LIVE THIS OUT?

1. VALUE EVERY UNBELIEVER IN TWO, SPECIFIC, WAYS

a. TREATING them as people created in the IMAGE of God

EVEN IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR LIFESTYLE CHOICES, IS TO BE RESPECTED AS A HUMAN BEING

YOU CAN DISAGREE AND EVEN KNOW THAT THEIR BEHAVIOR IS WRONG, BUT EACH PERSON IS CREATED BY GOD AND, THEREFORE, DESERVES TO BE TREATED AS SUCH - EVEN IF THEIR LIFESTYLE IS SINFUL

b. SHARING the gospel so that they might REPENT and TURN to the Lord