Gtcotr/ss011914
Revelation 12:11 And they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and
they did not love their lives to the death.
This
scripture is a glimpse of the end times and serves notice to all who read that
in the last days, though satan strengthens his attempts to destroy the Church
of the Living God in the earth; though this world imagines the Born-Again crowd
is on the decline; though persecutions arise and troubles come … nonetheless
the Family of God will stand victorious over sin, sickness, poverty, and defeat
… we win!
What
makes the Family of God able to stand under such direct attack? How do they
overcome the forces of evil sent out to destroy them in the last days? Where
does this Family of God get its overcoming strength?
1. The Blood of the Lamb
a. This speaks directly
to the fact they are saved.
b. There is power in
the Blood
i. Power to save
ii. Power to set free
iii. Power to keep
c.
There is a supernatural power in salvation … a Power which only the
Redeemed can claim.
d. A group or gathering
of people might try all sorts of things to succeed, from compromise to
pastorize to homogenize, but the one thing which will guarantee victory over
the devil and this world’s attack - is the Power that is in the Blood of Jesus!
e. Neither life nor
death nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor height nor depth nor
circumstances nor situations nor the past nor the future nor financial problems
nor political problems nor health problems nor slander nor prison nor ex
spouses nor mean spirited neighbors nor satan nor any other creature shall
separate a Born-Again Believer from the love of God or the power of the Blood
of the Lamb. (Reference: Romans 8:38ff)
Isaiah 51:11 Therefore the
redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and
everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy;
and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
A
second leg of this overcoming Family of God in the last days is:
2. The Word of their Testimony
a. They have tried the
Word and found out it works
b. Oh to know you can
stand on the world when all the world around us is shifting sand.
c. For the Word of God is
quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is
a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
d. This is why:
Psalms 119:105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my
path.
Rest
assured there is power to overcome in the life of every Born-Again Believer
because of the Blood of Jesus which saved and is covering your soul.
Also
know that you can trust the Word of God. Our God who framed the world by His
Word; who sent His Word and delivered us from our destructions; who has
magnified His Word above all His name declares that if we continue in His Word
we will know the Truth and the Truth shall set us free.
The
third element described in this “last days” victory for the Family of God is
their commitment … call it an attitude or a mind-set if you like. The fact
that:
3. They did not love their lives to the death.
a. Now there’s a
commitment for us all to take note of
b. They considered no
other option than to stand for Christ, on His Word, covered by the Blood of the
Lamb.
c. That’s the posture
of victory.
d. Having done all to
stand … stand!!!
Today
Brenda and I celebrate our 41st Anniversary. People who meet us
these days cannot imagine where we came from or what we have gone through to
make it here. Every relationship has its challenges and ours has been no
different. The devil has offered us ample opportunity to be discouraged and
call it quits. On top of that we have each contributed to more than our share
of the problems we have faced together.
By
no means have we done everything right nor do we stand before you perfect
today. However, it would behoove you to listen and follow the basic guidelines
we and others have found and proven through the years.
What does it take to make a marriage and
family work these days? The same thing it takes for God’s Family to overcome
and succeed.
1. You must be Born Again.
a. There is no power
like the Power in the Blood of Jesus.
b. Every spouse, every
parent, every child, every business partner and every person is subject to
overcome when they are covered by the Blood. Have you been covered by His
blood?
2. You must Stand on the Word of God.
a. In good days and in
difficult times, the Word will be your guide.
b. There is no wisdom
greater than the Word of God.
c. The questions may
change through life but the answer never does. The Bible contains your answer -
finding it is up to you.
3. You Must Lay your life down for Jesus.
a. He laid His life
down for you.
b. The life He gives
you is the only hope you have …
c. “No man is a fool
who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he can never lose.”
There
have been two places Brenda and I have gone for help with our marriage and our family:
(1) The Bible; (2) Our
knees. Things really began to work for us when we started going there
together.
This Week’s
Family Challenge
1.
Family Bible Reading
2.
Family Prayer
Now,
let’s bathe our families in prayer once again. BTW – R U Born Again?
