March 12, 2017
Morning Service

Rev. 12

            In the past few weeks we have studied the church that Jesus said He would build.

Matt. 16:18.   We saw:

1.      How to enter this church.    Acts 2:38

2.     How this church progressed.   Acts 2:44-46.

3.     How that everyone was welcomed to be added, by God, to this church.  Acts 2:47 

4.     How this church had a leadership.  I Tim. & Titus

5.     How this church had a ministry.   Eph. 4

6.     How that this church had a solid foundation.  Eph. 2:20

One thing we haven’t looked at is why would I want to be added to this church?

Not because mom and dad did.  Not because some of my friends did.  Not because grandpa was the preacher.  So why do I want or need to be added to this church?

 

            As we read the entire account of God’s dealing with mankind, we see His plan unfold.  We see a warfare of good against evil from the very beginning.  Cain, who was of the evil one, rose up and slew his brother Abel.  The evil act of murdering a brother.  From that point on we see the evil spirit of satan warring against the Spirit of God.  There is story after story of this happening, the evil spirit warring against the Holy Spirit of God.

            We see God calling out a man of righteousness to prepare an ark, because He was going to destroy the world with a flood.  God said this concerning the people of that age, “Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

These evil actions came from listening to the suggestions of satan.

            We see satan at work in Sodom and Gomorrah.  Corrupting the people of those cities, as Paul describes it, “changing the natural uses of man and woman, to the perverted acts of destruction.”   Here again people adhering to the leadings of satan.

            After Sodom and Gomorrah, there are many stories of how satan deceived God’s people, and God referred to it as His people committing adultery.  Leaving His laws to follow after the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

            The story of David and King Saul is another example of satan taking control of someone, and leading them away from God.

            The story of satan attacking Job is one of the great examples of goodness, and faithfulness overcoming evil.  This account is given us in the Scriptures in Job.

            Job 1:6-7  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.  (7)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

And of course, his goal was to deceive, and cause all the turmoil he could among God’s people.

AND TO THE APOSTLE JOHN JESUS GAVE THIS ACCOUNT.  A KIND OF OVERVIEW OF GOD’S DEALING WITH SATAN, THE DEVIL.  CHAPTER 12 OF REVELATIONS.

Rev 12:1-17  And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:  (2)  And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.  (3)  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.  (4)  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.  (5)  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.  (6)  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.  (7)  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,  (8)  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  (9)  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.  (10)  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  (11)  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.  (12)  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.  (13)  And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.  (14)  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.  (15)  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.  (16)  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.  (17)  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

            Why do I need to be a member of the church Jesus said He would build? 

1.       Peter said, satan is going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, or destroy.  It is satan that suggests that you do things contrary to the laws of God.  And when you do, it is called sinning.  Sin is what separates you from fellowship with God.  Paul said it like this, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”

There is coming a day, described as the day of the Lord, and Peter tells of it like this;

·         2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

UNGODLY MEN, ARE ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT OBEYED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

·         2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we,(meaning the disciples of Jesus Christ) according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

·         Paul said it like this:2Th 1:7-8  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  (8)  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

JUST AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, HAD YOU ENTERED THE SHIP, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED, NOW IF YOU ENTER THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST YOU WILL BE SAVED.

ENTRANCE IS BY HEARING, AND BELIEVING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE, REPENTING OF YOUR PAST SINS, CONFESSING JESUS AS LORD, AND BEING BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF THOSE SINS, AND ARISING TO WALK A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST.

 

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, HELP US TO SEE THE URGENCY OF THIS ACTION.  HELP US TO GET OUR LOVED ONES, AND FRIENDS INTO THIS GLORIOUS CHURCH THAT YOU HAVE BUILT.  AMEN.