Sermon Notes

The Lamb Wins!

Sermon Notes: November 1, 2009
Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248 - (480) 895-8766

Revelation 5:1-14 NRSV

¹Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; ²and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” ³And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁴And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁵Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. ⁸When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹They sing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; ¹⁰you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.”

¹¹Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹²singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” ¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” ¹⁴And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

A. Introduction

1. College Football Coach

a. A college football coach was under a lot of pressure. Last season his team had lost six straight games. The new season began and they lost the opener. An angry alumnus wrote: “The last train out of town leaves Saturday at 5 p.m. Be on it.” Then the team lost their second and third games. The alumnus sent the same note after each loss: “The last train out of town leaves Saturday at 5 p.m. Be on it.” The next loss was to their cross state rival. This time the angry fan wrote: “The last train out of town leaves Saturday at 5 p.m. Be under it.”

b. Some days that’s how the world treats you. It gobbles you up and spits you out! Life can be difficult. All of us face times in which we cry for help. The battle might be loneliness, depression or illness. Sometimes we struggle in our family relationships, at work or in our club. There are times we try real hard and just don’t feel appreciated. And there are days it’s just hard to face the evil of the world.

2. The Revelation to John

a. The Book of Revelation is a book of hope! Most modern folks only look at it to see what it says about the future. We fail to remember that John wrote it to help Christians, who were living in tough times. John’s prayer to God was to give encouragement to the Christians of his day. God’s response was the series of revelations that make up the Book of Revelation. The historical context is this: Christians because of their faith had been beaten up, had their property stolen, had been jailed, and even executed. John said to them, “Don’t give up! We know the big picture. In the short term evil may win some battles. However, if you look into the future, you see that God will win this war between good and evil! God will be victorious! And so will those who trust the Lord!

b. Friends, don’t give up. Keep on trusting God and keep on doing good. And I’ll give you three reasons why:

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B. You’ve got your own cheering section!

1. School caskets!

a. To me it was kind of a strange advertisement. But there it was in the alumni magazine. “College casket puts fans into eternal rooting sections.” And apparently they are selling quite well. You can now order a casket in your school colors with your school name and mascot emblazoned on the top! Some people take their college sports real seriously!

b. How about your faith in God? Do you take that seriously? People in John’s day did. They were faithful in the face of persecution. Of course, they knew they did not go it alone. The Lord Jesus Himself was there to cheer them on! And with Him the whole host of heaven, angels and those who have gone before, singing their encouragement!

2. Hebrews 11 & 12

a. The Book of Hebrews says the very same thing. Chapter 11 goes through a long litany of faithful Bible people. They faced all sorts of difficulties and persecution. Still they were faithful and God ultimately gave them the victory! Then the author of Hebrews mentions the faithful believers of his day. He concludes this section in Chapter 12 verses 1 and 2. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NRSV)

b. Friends, whenever you are faithful, there is a “cloud of witnesses” in heaven cheering you on! They are there. And one day you will run that final marathon from this world to the next. You will enter the great arena, and there in the stands will be a host of family and friends who have gone before, a multitude of Bible characters, and an army of angels cheering you on as you enter life eternal!

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C. You don’t have to be intimidated by the power of evil!

1. The Big Store versus the Little Quaker Meeting House!

a. The chief executive officer of a department store in England decided he wanted to expand his business. The lot next door was occupied by a little Quaker meetinghouse. He decided that he would buy their property, tear down the little meetinghouse, and expand his building onto the new lot. So the c.e.o. through a letter, and a personal visit asked them to sell their property to him. He eventually even offered them an above market price. When the Quakers constantly refused he began to put pressure on them. He got the local authorities to restrict parking on the street so as to limit their ability to meet. He closed down the alley access to their property behind his store. The executive constantly had sales on Sunday, played loud music and put up offensive displays in the windows. He felt he had the little Quaker meetinghouse where he wanted them. They would surely now sell for barely market price. So he sent one more letter to them expressing his desire to buy their property. A week later the c.e.o. received a letter. The little Quaker meetinghouse had called a well-known Quaker, who lived in another city. This man came to their aid and wrote these words: “Dear Sir we have made our position quite clear. Yet you persist in your quest to drive us away from a location that we have occupied for several centuries. You seemed determined not to live at peace with your neighbor. Therefore, I have bought a majority of your company’s stocks. Today, you are terminated from your position, I plan to relocate the business, and in its place put up a park for the neighborhood.” The letter was simply signed, “Cadbury.” What this businessman did not know was that Mr. Cadbury the “chocolate billionaire” just happened to be a Quaker!

b. Evil thinks they are going to win. After all they will do anything and everything to get their way. So evil brags and boasts. But evil doesn’t count on the fact that every believer has as an advocate the “Lion of Judah”, “The Lamb of God”, the Risen and Glorified Jesus Christ! And those who trust in Jesus Christ know the outcome. The might of Rome looked undefeatable to the people of John’s age. And if Rome was bound and determined to destroy Christianity, then Christianity had no chance. Wrong! The early Christians trusted in Jesus. Rome fell long ago, but the Church of our Lord still endures!

2. What’s the score?

a. A man walking through a park stopped to watch a group of neighborhood children playing baseball. He noticed that he had been there for almost an hour, and only one team had been up to bat. This team kept getting hit after hit, and the other team seemed unable to get anyone out. Finally, the man asked the catcher, “What inning are you in and what’s the score?” The boy replied, “It’s 149 to 0, and we’re in the top of the first inning.” The man exclaimed, “Wow! Seems kind of hopeless for your team.” The boy said, “Nah! It doesn’t mean a thing. We haven’t been up to bat yet!”

b. Evil will rant and rave. Evil will do terrible things. But those who trust in the Lord know that Jesus will step up, and will win the victory. We don’t have to worry because we trust the promise: “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NRSV)

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D. The Lamb’s Team will win!

1. In Czechoslovakia the Lamb wins!

(Story from: Dr. Eddie Fox, former General Secretary of Evangelism for the World Methodist Council.)

a. For decades there had been persecution under the thumb of the Communist government that ruled Czechoslovakia. Then the joyous day came! Communism fell. In celebration a small Methodist Church in Prague put this on the sign outside their Church: “THE LAMB WINS, THE LAMB WINS!”

b. That little Church knew the truth. Good will eventually triumph over evil. God and those who truly trust in God will be victorious!

2. The Saints are going to win in the Kingdome!

a. The Seattle Seahawks football team used to play in a covered stadium called the Kingdome. Some years back they had an important game against the New Orleans Saints. Late in the fourth quarter the Seahawks scored and it looked like they were going to win. However, the Saints had one last chance. They began to put on a sustained drive. The announcer got excited: “The Saints are marching down the field! The Saints are playing together as one! It now looks like the Saints are going to win in the Kingdome! Touchdown! Touchdown! The Saints have won in the Kingdome! The Saints have won in the Kingdome!”

b. That is almost my message to all of you who are trying to do what is the right thing. My message to you who have given your hearts to the Lord is this: “The Lamb’s Team will win!” As the book of Revelation promises: “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.’” (Revelation 11:15 NRSV)

E. Conclusion

1. Football

a. Today, or on some other Sunday you can watch all sorts of critters play football. We’ve got Rams, Patriots, Packers, Cowboys, Vikings, Saints, and Cardinals to name but a few of them. And it’s mighty important to you for your team to win!

b. As important as that seems to be to you, to God something else is more important. And that is you. God wants to see you do well. God wants you to know the joy of faithfulness. God wants to give you the victory! So don’t give up. After all:

2. Recap

a. You’ve got your own cheering section!

b. You don’t have to be intimidated by the power of evil!

c. The Lamb’s Team will win!

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The Lamb Wins!

1. You’ve got your own cheering section!

2. You don’t have to be intimidated

by the power of evil!

3. The Lamb’s Team will win!

Revelation 5:1-14 NRSV