The Source of our Power

David Peterson / General

Revelation 2023 / Atonement; Salvation; Victory; Spiritual Warfare / Revelation 12:10–12

Introduction

I. The Source of the Devil’s Power (Revelation 12:10b)

1. The devil is the accuser (v. 10b)

2. His power is in leading us into sin and death

a. Sin distorts our relationship to reality, to God

We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice. (Small Catechism)

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7)

b. Sin brings fear of death

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

II. The Devil’s Power was Broken (Revelation 12:10a, 11a)

1. Christ’s work described in vivid imagery (vv. 1-9)

2. Christ work fits the pattern—the lamb and OT Imagery

3. Christ brought at-one-ment

III. The Source of Our Power (Revelation 12:11)

1. We overcome by constantly looking to Christ (the blood of the lamb)

At least twice in the past year, I’ve been late for a meeting or an appointment and haven’t been able to find my car keys. Certain that either my wife or one of my children had misplaced them, I’ve frantically run from room to room assigning blame. “Who was playing with my keys? I put them right here on the counter and now they’re gone. They didn’t just vanish into thin air! Who picked them up? Where are they? I’m late.” And right when I’m about ready to order mass executions, I walk into my bedroom one last time to look (huffing and puffing, moaning and groaning), put my hand in my pocket, and find my keys. They’d been there the whole time.

Every time I tell that story, people laugh. And rightfully so. Who frantically looks for car keys that are in his pocket? Me. That’s who.

The truth is, we all typically live this way: frantically and frustratingly searching for something we already have. The gospel is God’s good news announcement that everything we need we already possess in Christ. Because of Jesus’ finished work, Christians already have all of the justification, approval, significance, security, freedom, validation, love, righteousness, and rescue that we desperately long for, and look for in a thousand things infinitely smaller than Jesus …. [Unfortunately], we allow our internal voice, one that constantly says, “Do this and live,” to drown out the external voice that shouts, “It is finished!”

Source: Tullian Tchividjian, “God’s Word in Two Words,” Christianity Today (8-29-13)

2. We overcome by our testimony to Christ

Kathy Troccoli has been a successful Christian singer, songwriter, author, and speaker for over three decades. She also found success in secular music through hits on the Billboard charts, and a collaboration with the legendary group, The Beach Boys.

Kathy initially grew up in a family that wasn’t too religious and once said, “The Bible in my family was a book on the end table that was never touched.” However, in 1978, while working during the summer at a local pool, Kathy’s spirituality was challenged when she noticed a co-worker faithfully reading her Bible during her lunch breaks.

As Kathy began to talk to her colleague about her love for the Bible, the friend began to answer her questions in a way she had never heard before. Kathy said, “I never heard about Jesus in the way she described Him to me.” The co-worker subsequently gave Kathy a copy of the New Testament to read, and invited her to church, where she committed her life to Christ.

Today, Kathy has found success as a Christian artist and received many awards which includes Dove Awards, besides Grammy nominations. But her journey in the Christian faith began because a co-worker served faithfully as a witness for Jesus.

Source: Staff, “Kathy Troccoli: Singing For The King,” Joy Magazine (Accessed 8/25/21)

3. We overcome by letting go of this life, which is the essence of faith/trust

Conclusion