Babylon's Fall and the Call to Faithful Witness

This world we live in, it's a lot of smoke and mirrors, and it parades in front of you things, lifestyles, choices, and it sells you on this. Your life would be so much better if you did what we do. And it is so easy to fall in that trap. But the end of that trap is complete destruction, not just of you, of the whole system. What we need is a moment we see Jesus for who he is, lord of lords and king of kings. A moment we come and say whatever you have for me, that I will do. Paul put it this way. He'd write most of his letters beginning like this. Paul, a bondservant with the lord Jesus Christ. Here's what Paul did. Whatever you want, God, I'm yours. [01:05:54] (70 seconds)  #BondservantOfChrist

It didn't deter Isaiah. He said that don't matter. I've seen the Lord high and lifted up. And if that's your job for me, that's your job for me. Make me faithful. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. And if we see him for who he is, then here's our driving desire. I just wanna be with him. That's all I want. I just wanna be with him. Why? Because for whatever reason, because of his grace, he called me. He chose me. He said, I've got a job. I've got a task for you. And so my prayer is make me faithful. That that's who I would be. Just to be with him. [01:04:16] (53 seconds)  #IWantToBeWithHim

Now I told you, all of this is here so we're not surprised. This is the world we live in. This is what we swim around in every day. It's a world that says, let us flaunt to you what we have. Let us show you how great we are. Let's let's parade our things in front of you. And the message is clear. If you would just be like us, you can have these things. But if you're not gonna be like us, then you become our enemy, and we will come after you. And one day, even that system collapses. [00:56:30] (41 seconds)  #DontBeDeceived

And now because they are the ones who oppose the Babylonian system, because they're the ones that stand up and say that's not right, because they're the ones that say I'd rather follow Jesus than the world, They are targeted and they are executed. It is a way of her saying, you cannot stop me. And when she flexes her muscles and demonstrates her power and says, will shut that down, she gets intoxicated off that power. She gets drunk off that power. She wants more of that. And it becomes a vicious cycle [00:46:53] (39 seconds)  #PersecutedForFaith

John tells us, verse 17, for God has put in their heart to carry out this purpose of being of one mind. It's their destruction. It's the destruction of Babylon. It's the final battle, and God orchestrates it in a way where it's his purpose that this happens. They attack the lamb and the lamb conquers them. They think they're doing something, but God says that's my purpose all along. They are really not the ones in control. And they're so frustrated and angry by this that they attacked the system they built to perpetuate this. [00:55:35] (34 seconds)  #GodOrchestratesVictory

The angel says, the waters you saw where the prostitute is seated are people's multitudes and nations and language. It's a global reach. She she's global. She's ever she may have a city that dominates as her hub, but this idea reaches all the way around the globe. It's fascinating. But for whatever reason, a lot of nations are fascinated by America. When I travel, I get treated differently because I'm an American. I I have nothing more to offer. It's nothing special. But for some reason, there's something they think we have that they want. [00:44:48] (42 seconds)  #GlobalReachOfBabylon

It's a lot to take in, but here's the great question. So what does all that mean? I mean, that's in the future. If we really think, well, you and I, if we really believe in Jesus, we're following Jesus, we're gonna be raptured out. What does any of this matter to us? It matters today because it determines how we live. Go back to what it said. It it said that the lamb conquered them. Why did Jesus win? John tells us why Jesus won. He he tells us what that is. But before you dive into what it is, think. [00:57:11] (33 seconds)  #ThisMattersToday

This morning, can you say that? I mean, really, why do you follow Jesus? Is it because of what he can do for you, or is it because of who he is? Would you stand with me? With our heads bowed, our eyes closed. In these few moments, musicians are gonna come. We're gonna have a time where we sing. And I always make an invitation for you to come forward. There are places to pray. These steps become like an altar. You could come and pray. God, break me from the system of this world. God, open my eyes to the ways I believe things that aren't true. Help me remember the calling that you chose me for a purpose. Make me faithful. [01:07:10] (45 seconds)  #RememberYourCalling