I’M TELLIN’ THEY OVERCAME BY THE BLOOD

SING------- PRAY-------THANK GOD-----PASTOR---------FAMILY-------PRELIMINARY PROCEEDING -----STORY OF DEC DO RIGHT--------'I'M TELLIN' / THEY OVERCAME BY THE BLOOD REVELATION:

Revelation 12:7–12 (NIV)

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

“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 brothers and sisters,

who accuses them before our God day and night,

has been hurled down.

They triumphed over him

by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony;

they did not love their lives so much

as to shrink from death.

Therefore rejoice, you heavens

and you who dwell in them!

But woe to the earth and the sea,

because the devil has gone down to you!

He is filled with fury,

because he knows that his time is short.”

(1) ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE NOTICE IS THAT SOME OF US ARE BOUND AND CONTINUE TO BE BOUND BY OUR PAST… WE HAVE LET ANGER, PAIN, GUILT, HUMILIATION, AND FEAR PARALYZE US. WE ARE LACKING IN TELLING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS AND WHERE HE HAS BOUGHT US FROM AND TOO...WELL IT IS MY HOPE TO HELP OR ENCOURAGE SOME OF US TO GET OUT OF THAT HOLE, TO SHARE OUR STORIES!

(2) WHEN WE LOOK IN THE BOOK OF REV THE APOSTLE JOHN IS WRITING TOWARDS THE END OF HIS LIFE. HE IS WRITING THE BOOK TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES! EPHESUS, SMYRNA, PERGAMUM, THYATIRA, SARDIS, PHILADELPHI, AND LAODICEA.

(3) JOHN WRITES THE BOOK OF REVELATION TO SHOW THE COMPLETION OF GOD’S PLAN. THE APOSTLE SAYS “I WAS EXILED TO THE ISLAND OF PATMOS FOR PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD AND FOR MY TESTIMONY ABOUT JESUS… IT WAS THE LORD’S DAY , AND I WAS WORSHIPING IN THE SPIRIT...”HE IS TOLD ‘WRITE THEREFORE THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN——THOSE THAT ARE——AND THOSE THAT ARE TO TAKE PLACE AFTER THIS—— THOSE THAT ARE---THOSE THAT ARE TO TAKE PLACE—— AND TO TAKE PLACE AFTER THIS——SO WE HAVE THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE! JUST AS WE HAVE THE GOD WHO WAS, WHO IS, AND WHO WILL ALWAYS BE!!!

(4) A FEW THINGS I REALLY ENJOY IS A GOOD WAR MOVIE, BOXING, GOOD SHOOT EM UP, OR A GOOD COURT ROOM DRAMA… I REMEMBER THE TRIAL OF OJ SIMPSON, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN 1995. HE WAS ACCUSED OF MURDERING HIS EX WIFE AND HER FRIEND RON GOLDMAN. HE HAD THE BEST DEFENSE MONEY COULD BUY…

HE JUST SIT THERE, THE ONLY THING I CAN REMEMBER O.J. SAYING TO THE JUDGE, ‘NO GULITY’…. EVENTUALLY HE WAS ACQUITTED (FOUND NOT GUILTY)! MOST OF BLACK AMERICA REJOICED, FINALLY THOUGHT A BLACK MAN COULD GET JUSTICE HERE IN AMERICA… ALSO BLACK AMERICANS WANTED IT’S POUND OF FLESH, A FEW YEARS BACK WE HAD THE BEATING OF RODNEY KING AND THE OFFICERS GOT OFF SCOTT FREE.

THEN SOME FIVE YEARS LATER WE HAVE ANOTHER FOOTBALL PLAYER ACCUSED, TRIED , AND CONVICTED FOR THE MURDER OF OF PREGNANT GIRL FRIEND MS CHERICA ADAMS AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF THEIR UNBORN CHILD. HE HAD HIRED TWO HITMEN TO CARRY OUT THIS DIABOLICAL PLAN. ONE THE DRIVER THE OVER THE SHOOTER. HOWEVER THE YOUNG LADY LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO CALL 911 AND ACUSE HER BOY FRIEND OF SETTING A TRAP AND ALL THREE MEN WERE EVENTUALLY ARRESTED AND RAE C WAS TRIED FOR MURDER.

TWO OF THE HIT MEN TOOK THE WITNESS STAND AGAINST HIM AND SAID HE MADE ME DO IT! THEY RATTED, THEY POINTED THE FINGER AT RAE CARRUTH. ONE OF THE HIT MEN WAS A VERY INTIMIDATING LARGE FELLOW. HIS NAME WAS VAN BRETT WATKINS, HE TOLD THE DEFENSE (WHO WAS TRYING TO DISCREDIT HIM) THAT HE COULD RIP HIM APART WITH HIS BARE HANDS, HE DID’N NEED A GUN TO KILL… IT WAS A VERY DRAMIC TRIAL. FOR HIS ROLE HE WAS GIVEN LIFE IN PRISON AND MR CARRUTH WAS GIVEN A 20 YEAR SENTENCE IN PRISON. BUT HE NEVER TOOK THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.

(5) HERE WE SET LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE OF GOD’S PLAN. HERE WE HAVE A WAR OF ALL WARS AND A COURTROOM DRAMA LIKE NO OTHER--- AND HERE YOU AND I ARE NOW ON TRAIL FOR OUR LIVES. THE CASE IS PRESENTED BEFORE YOU… (WE HAVE THE PROSECUTIONS) NOW---- GOD SHOWS US WHO WE ARE DEALING WITH, WHO IS SATAN AND HIS PARTNERS, THE CAUSE OF HIS DOWNFALL, AND THE SECRET OF VICTORY OVER HIM! SOME OF US KNOW HIM BY HIS CHARACTER. THE BAD GUY, THE TEMPTER, THE THIEF, THE MURDERER, THE DISTSORTOR, THE DECEIVER------!

BEFORE HAND WE SAW A WAR TAKING PLACE IN HEAVEN… PICTURE THIS! NOW WE ARE ALL IN THIS WAR… PASTOR, DEACON, CHOIR, MOTHERS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, EVERYBODY! ARROW, SHEILD’S, FIRE, BEING THROWN AROUND.

THE ENEMY IS TRYING TO TAKE THE PLACE OF GOD. THE BIBLE SAY THE CAUSE OF SATAN’S DOWNFALL WAS PRIDE… HE DESIRED TO BE GOD, NOT TO BE A SERVANT OF GOD---- BUT HE WANTED TO BE GOD---- SOME SAY IT WAS HIS DOWNFALL, I BELIEVE HE GOT BOOTED OUT!

NOW ONCE SATAN AND HIS BUDDYS HAVE BEEN BOOTED OUT HIS LITTLE FEELING ARE HURT! SOME OF US SHOULD BE ABLE TO RELATE TO THAT, HA.... NOW THAT HE GOT KICKED OUT OF HEAVEN WE TURN TO A COURTROOM SCENE. BUT WAIT! VS 10 READ THERE IS A LOUD VOICE----SAYING “NOW THE SALVATION, POWER, KINGDOM OF OUR GOD, AND THE AUTHORITY OF HIS MESSIAH HAVE COME. THE ONE ACCUSING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE ONE ACCUSING THEM DAY AND ALL NIGHT LONG----- IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR GOD HAS BEEN THROWN OUT!!!!....” NOW WAIT,,, HE’SS IS TRYING TO PUT US ON TRAIL----- HE POINTING OUT MY PAST SINS...NOW HOLD ON DEVIL....WAIT,,, WATCH THIS.... THE PROSECUTION

(6) AT THE Prosecution table we have THE DISTORTER: THE ONE WHO TAKES WHAT GOD CREATED AND PERVERT IT! HE’S TRYING TO MAKE WHATS RIGHT WRONG, WHATS GOOD BAD, LOVE, HATE! HE TRYING TO TWIST EVERYTHING WE KNOW IS MORALLY RIGHT WRONG.... THE COUNTERFEIT--- FOR EVERY GENUINE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT… THE GIFT OF PROPHECY IS FORTUNE TELLING, PSYCHICS, ASTROLOGERS, AND FALSE PROPHETS----ARE OPERATING IN DEMONIC SPIRITS…

(6a) THE MURDERER: JOHN 8:44 “HE WAS A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, REFUSING TO UPHOLD THE TRUTH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM”… THERE IS A DESTRUCTIVE, HATEFUL, AND MURDEROUS NATURE ABOUT THE DEVIL… HE DELIGHTS IN DEATH. THROUGH MURDER, SUICIDE, DRUG OVERDOSE, SICKNESS----- BUT WAIT,,, HE WANTS TO MURDER MY FAMILY, MY CHURCH, MY DREAMS.....

(7) NOW HERE COMES THE THIEF: HE’S A THIEF! SATAN LOVES TO STEAL FROM US THE THINGS GOD HAS INTENDED FOR US… HE STEAL YOUR JOY, YOUR HOPE, YOUR LIFE, YOUR LOVE, YOUR HEALTH, AND YOUR DESTINY.... HE WANTS IT ALL…

THE TEMPTER: HE WANT TO TEMP US AND TO BRING US IN LINE WITH HIS PLAN, TO REBELL AGAINST GOD! HE EVEN TRYED TO TEMP JESUS JUST BEFORE HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY---- THE DECEIVER--- HIS PRIMARY MOTIVATION IS DESTRUCTION, BY HIS PRIMARY METHOD OF DECEPTION… HE HAS BEEN DECEIVING SINCE THE GARDEN OF EDEN WHEN HE SAID SURLY YOU CAN EAT! BUT FROM THE WRONG TREE---

JOHN 10: 10

NOW WE HAVE THE DEFENSE: SETTING AT MY TABLE LET ME INTRODUCE A DEFENSE LIKE NO OTHER!!!

HERE IS YAHWEH: WE HAVE ELOHIM=MY CREATOR,--- HE HAVE JEHOVAH=MY LORD GOD--- HERE WE HAVE EL SHADDIA=MY SUPPLIER----AND OVER HERE WE HAVE ADONAI=MY MASTER--- TO MY RIGHT WE HAVE JEHOVAH JIREH= MY PROVIDER----JEHOVAH ROPHE=MY HEALER----JEHOVAH NISSI=MY BANNER---JEHOVAH MAKADESH=MY SANCTIFIER----

MY GOD IS INFINITE AND OMNIPOTENT. = GOD IS EVERYWHERE, UNLIMITED, AND ALL-POWERFUL. HIS KNOWLEDGE IS ALL ALL-ENCOMPASSING, TO HIS WISDOM THERE IS NO END, HE’S GOD ALL BY HIS SELF AND HE DON’T NEED NOBODY ELSE!!! MY GOD CAN DO ANYTHING…!

MY GOD IS ETERNAL= HE ALONE IS GOD!! THE GOD THAT ALWAYS WAS, THE GOD THAT IS, AND IS TO COME!!! HE FLUNG THE SUN TO BURN IN SPACE, SUPPLIED THE VERY AIR WE BREATH!!!! MY GOD IS PERSONAL, MY GOD IS ALIVE, MY GOD IS HOLY,,, MY GOD GOODNESS AND LOVE----! HE LOVE YOU AND ME!!!!

GOD IS A UTTERLY A SIMPLE PURE SPIRIT!

BUT WAIT,,, GOD IS TELLING ME/US TO TELL IT! TAKE THE WITNESS STAND IN MY DEFENSE! BUT I’M AFRAID LORD… TELL EM HOW I FREED YOU FROM THE ANGER, GUILT, AND SHAME! BUT LORD! TELL EM I HOW I DELIVERED YOU FROM DRUG ABUSE! BUT LORD! TELL EM HOW BROKE THE CHAINS MENTAL ILLNESS! TELL EM HOW I SET YOU FREE FROM LYING, STEALING, AND CHEATING! BUT LORD!!! TELL EM HOW I WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED!!! TELL EM IT WAS YOUR WEAKNESS I CARRIED, YOUR SORROWS THAT WEIGHED ME DOWN!!! TELL EM HOW I WAS PIERCED FOR YOUR SINS, YOUR REBELLION! TELL EM HOW I WAS BEATEN SO YOU COULD BE MADE WHOLE!!! TELL EM HOW I WAS WHIPPED SO YOU COULD BE HEALED! I WAS OPPRESSED AND TREATED HARSHLY, AND NEVER SAID A WORD!!!!!!!

GOD IS TELL US/YOU ARE MY WITNESS TAKE THE WITNESS STAND, I PAID THE SIN DEBT: WELL I CAN TELL EM HOW I USE TO BE A LYING, CHEATING, THIEF… THE ENEMY: YOU BET NOT, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, ‘ONCE A LYING CHEATING THIEF, ALWAYS A LYING CHEATING THIEF’… WELL I CAN TELL EM HOW I WAS A CRACK ADDICT! YOU BET NOT! YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, ONCE A CRACKHEAD ALWAYS A CRACKHEAD! WELL I CAN TELL EM HOW GOD DIED ON THAT OLD RUGGED CROSS FOR MY SINS…! YOU BET NOT! THEY GON REALLY CRUCIFY YOU!BUT I DON’T CARE! I’M IN THE GOD WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM! I GOT THE BEST DEFENSE MONEY CAN’T BUY! I GOT THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST! I’VE BEEN COVERED BY THE BLOOD!!! I GOT JESUS ON MY SIDE!!!! YOU CAN’T CONDEMN ME! MY BIBLE SAYS THERE NO MORE CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST! I GOT TO TELL IT! I GOT TO TELL IT!

BUT THERES A BROTHER OVER THERE ABOUT TO THROW IN THE TOWEL! I GOT TO TELL EM TO HOLD ON A LIL WHILE MY BROTHER, GOD GOT A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE… YOU MAY NOT SEE IT RIGHT NOW… BUT TRUST IN HIM! THERES A SISTER OVER THERE ABOUT TO TAKE OUT HER AND HER CHILDREN, THINKIN THERES NO OTHER WAY! GODS GONNA SEE YOU THROUGH THIS! HE WILL HE WILL… THERES A MOTHER OVER THERE THAT JUST GOT A BAD REPORT FROM THE DOCTOR… THERE IS A BALM IN GILIAD HOLD ON TO GODS HAND MOTHER, HE HEALED ME, HE CAN DO IT FOR YOU!

BUT JESUS DIED AN ROSE ON THE THIRD DAY AND WE GOT THE VICTORY—— WE GOT THE VICTORY— I GOT THE VICTORY— YOU GOT THE VICTORY OVER THE ENEMY!