MISSION WOODS CHURCH
Sunday, February 8, 2026
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  • Surely The Presence Of The Lord (Hymn #219)
  • Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
  • Onward, Christian Soldiers
  • The Battle Belongs to the Lord

      • Revelation 20:7-8ESV

      • Revelation 20:9-10ESV

      • Revelation 20:11ESV

      • Revelation 20:12ESV

      • Revelation 20:13-14ESV

      • Revelation 20:15ESV

  • This last week as we were reading this scripture at our Bible Study on Monday night as we read v. 10 Revelation 20:10
    Revelation 20:10 ESV
    and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
    One person in our group celebrated “Yay!”

    “Yay!”

    And there is indeed reason to celebrate. In John’s vision he has seen and heard so much.
    Visions of the slain lamb a clear reference to Jesus, standing along side the throne.
    Elders who repeatedly fall down in worship of the Lamb.
    4 Creatures similar of those we see in Ezekiel serving at the throne and worshipping the Lamb.
    The Lamb is one depiction of Jesus we have seen. Way back in the opening chapter we read: Rev 1:13-16
    Revelation 1:13–16 ESV
    and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
    Chapter 2 he is described this way: Rev 3:7
    Revelation 3:7 ESV
    … the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
    Chapter 5 he is described as Rev 5:5
    Revelation 5:5 ESV
    …the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,…
    And verse 6 the prevalent image Rev 5:6
    Revelation 5:6 ESV
    …a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…
    In chapter 17 we heard of the Lamb described as a conqueror and Rev. 17:14
    Revelation 17:14 ESV
    …Lord of lords and King of kings…
    And finally in Chapter 19 Rev 19:11-13
    Revelation 19:11–13 ESV
    The one sitting on [the white horse] is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
    Revelation 19:15–16 ESV
    From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
    Clearly the image of the Savior is not one of weakness. It is one of power, and not a power that is going to face defeat, but one that will stand in ultimate victory.

    “Yay!”

    In the back of my head I hear my seminary roommate singing “Victory In Jesus”.
    And indeed there is victory in Jesus.
    Yet the Scripture also points us to something else as we read the final part of our reading there is judgment.
    The earth and sky flee, and all the dead stand before the throne as the books are opened. We read, Rev 20:12
    Revelation 20:12 ESV
    And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
    Somewhere books are kept recording what we have done. The good, the bad and the ugly, none of it escapes the gaze of an all knowing God. It is a thought that should give all of us pause.
    Anyone with any sense of self-awareness cannot help but begin to recall moments of impatience, anger, thoughts and perhaps actions that were impure. And one can become fearful.
    We find ourselves living with the knowledge of the error of our ways. I’m reminded of Paul’s lament he shared with the early church in Rome, Rom 7:15-25
    Romans 7:15–25 ESV
    For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
    That last verse rings hope: Rom 7:25
    Romans 7:25 ESV
    Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
    And is quickly followed up by Romans 8, which for me is one of the most life giving passages in those times when we condemn ourselves based upon our sin and forget the work of Christ:
    Romans 8:1–2 ESV
    There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
    Getting back to Revelation - we must recognize who our enemy as Christians is - the devil himself, the accuser, deceiver and we see his ultimate defeat: Rev 20:10
    Revelation 20:10 ESV
    and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
    The battle is done and it is won. Yay!
    Christ has won the battle! Yay!
    Satan is defeated! Yay!
    So what does that mean for you and I today?
    We continue to struggle with sin in our lives.
    We continue to see evil in this world.
    We continue to fight against the inequities we see in our world: poverty, racism, classism, fascism.
    Does the fact that the battle has ultimately been won mean that we can just sit back in our Lay-Z-Boy and chill?
    The answer is NO!
    John’s vision that is Revelation is as stated from the beginning Rev 1:1
    Revelation 1:1 ESV
    The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
    Yes, it is true that Jesus is revealed throughout the book of Revelation as the ultimate victor but that should not cause us to sit out of the battle but instead to give us hope in the midst of the battle.
    Do you see someone hungry? Feed them.
    Do you see someone thirsty? Give them drink.
    Do you see someone sick? Visit them.
    Do you see someone imprisoned? Visit them
    These suggestions come right from Matthew 25, where for those that do such things Jesus said, Mt 25:40
    Matthew 25:40 ESV
    And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
    Knowing the victory we have in Jesus makes the endurance of the hardship of doing good more tolerable. It doesn’t mean it’s not hard, it doesn’t mean it seems pleasant at the time. Hebrews 12:11 “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
    Today the Seahawks and the Patriots face off in the Superbowl. Friday the Winter Olympics opened in Italy, and we see all of these athletes that continue to press to be the best they can be.
    Yes the battle has been won. The verse I probably reflect on most often in my personal life is Paul’s word to the Philippians 3:12
    Philippians 3:12 ESV
    Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
    Or as the NIV puts it Phil 3:12
    Philippians 3:12 NIV
    Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
    The truth is as Christians Jesus already has hold of us. Yet, we are called to press on. How are you pressing on?
    What needs are you seeing and filling around you?
    How are you showing Christ’s love to others in your sphere of influence?
    Press on - Jesus has got you.
    I’m going to share this illustration that I’ve shared beforfe because I think it is so powerful. A friend of mine, Tod Bolsinger is an avid rock climber. In describing freedom in Christ he once related it to rock climbing. He spoke of free climbing - which is without ropes and said, “There’s no freedom in free climbing, because you’re not free to try and fail.” Failure is not an option. Freedom is being roped in, knowing that you can go for it because your belayer has you. You’re locked in. You’re secure.
    This is the freedom we have in Christ, because Jesus has already made us His own. You’re free to press on to do the good things God has called us to. You’re free to try and fail and try again.

    The Battle Is Done

    Let me pray for you.

      • Revelation 20:10NIV2011

      • Revelation 1:13–16NIV2011

      • Revelation 3:7NIV2011

      • Revelation 5:5NIV2011

      • Revelation 5:6NIV2011

      • Revelation 17:14NIV2011

      • Revelation 19:11–13NIV2011

      • Revelation 19:15–16NIV2011

      • Revelation 20:12NIV2011

      • Romans 7:15–25NIV2011

      • Romans 7:25NIV2011

      • Romans 8:1–2NIV2011

      • Revelation 20:10NIV2011

      • Revelation 1:1NIV2011

      • Matthew 25:40NIV2011

      • Philippians 3:12NIV2011

      • Philippians 3:12NIV2011

  • We Are An Offering
  • The Lord Bless You And Keep You (Benediction)
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MISSION WOODS CHURCH
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