Download... November 29, 2009. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: Revelations 16:12-16
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
There are needs illustrated all around us in the world today of the "physical." Yet there is a greater need spiritually amongst souls. There is only one still that will satisfy the soul's hunger, and meet their needs. Only God can make the changes needed. We need to know what the Role of the Church Today is in God's church and in His Will.
The river Euphrates ran out of the city of Babylon. There are many or various ways, that many people interpret these scriptures, but let's just see what He wants us to know. Not what He told somebody else, and what they told us, but what He this morning wants us to know. Babylon is a "type" of the captivity of God's people. Psalms 137:1-4, 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? Not able to sing the songs of Zion,in a strange land. It was a grief to God's people, while learning the language of their captives. The children were taught it, while many of their customs also were lost, while held captive, for generations to come.
It is not very different today, while people find themselves captive, to various or many false religions(IE:Babylon). The redeemed did then, and now can soon forget their understanding of their customs and language. They lost also their God-given heritages, and became lost spiritually through their consequential backsliding, as in the river Euphrates drying up a "life source." God's children did/will forget the language of the Gospel, and will cause the True message to "dry up." The historical type here is of the The Word of God running out of the church, so God's army and people could escape "that," city. Some have likened the kings of the east as representing the deliverance from captivity. The Persians, Cyrus, etc., who came from the east were coming out against Babylon to deliver them from captivity. Not just by the word of God, drying up the river,...but making A Way Out for those captives.
Who are the kings of the east today? It would be fair to realize that God's church, are the "kings of the east,"...today. Those that are in the Church, delivered from sin, who have a personal message or testimony, would be considered as those "kings of the east, of those prior bible times. It is those mentioned that have the message of deliverance From sin, and not "just forgiven". We need that escape from sin, to remain clean for God. It is only that message that is really attractive to those desiring a life pleasing to God.
Revelations 16:16 There is a great gathering and battle going on in the world today. Several places in the world you would be asked to choose a side. It would be unavoidable in some parts of the world.
Br David Goble told about a novel that had a written depiction of the world leaders of the opposing sides in an arena to "club it out." It is not permitted to stand on the sidelines., You Had to choose a side.
So it happens in our times that the drug pusher enters a neighborhood. The mobster wants solicit a following to dominate. You are forced in some places to take sides. You are on one side or the other. You are either allowing those "things" to go on, or you are fighting against it! No middle ground. God conquerors and goes out to conqueror. Revelations 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Christ is riding in the book of Revelations that white horse and has the two-edged sword. The horse is not in the stable. God is going out, as the church must choose his side. Hang on for dear life if you are on a "galloping horse." God wants His church to "gallop," not cantering, nor trotting,...but galloping! Ask yourself,..Am I on the horse? Or am I The horse, galloping, not trotting. God is calling us to the battle! There is no "in-between" time to nurse our "wounds." He's wants this battle or "river Euphrates" dried up to defeat Babylon! God wants this battle to happen, for the defeat of falseness.
Who's side are you on? There are only two sides, not a third side. Gathering For the Truth,..or gathering to oppose the truth! Are we doing our best to place our confidence in Jesus? Revelations 16:13 Here we see the symbol of an unclean spirit of frogs,..or plagues. Plagues make you fully uncomfortable. A frog is a type of "animal" which is of an incomplete metamorphosis or incomplete change. Conversely the butterfly is also of a metamorphosis but of a complete transformation. A unattractive caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly. A complete change. Whereas the tadpole become another slimey evolved creature. Not a complete but a partial change. What message does Babylon offer today? Part way,..but not a complete change! So ugly as sinners are today, God desires to completely change you, or as that complete change of incomplete metamorphosis. God Can make the change from fleshly habits of vulgarity to habits of purity! There is God's side, or the frog's side,...which side are you?
The book of Esther was written in Aramaic, not Hebrew, while they were in captivity. As that illustation your children will began to speak the captor's language. A current today illustration is how the Slavic people living here in America, share that their children want to mesh in with the American ways, and not be differentiated by their original cultures. Because they want to be like everybody else. But if it spiritually is not of what the bible really teaches, God's gospel will be "lost" to them. Our children will speak the language that we speak! What change from the fleshly, selfish elements of this life are we showing them? There needs to be a strong cohesion of God's Way,.. to prevent the loss of that heritage from God. Society desperately needs to see the difference! Otherwise our children will see a "mixed" language, and eventually the original language God has provided, will be unknown to them! They will lose any desire to acclimate to it. The mixed example slowly and assertively takes over to the non-original heritages.
Br Goble told of a very well respected sociologists (who Br Goble expected to divulge liberal viewpoints) instead validated that there needed to be a strong cohesiveness to the word of God, otherwise it's values would be lost. The whole value of the scripture would be lost, and just "melt," into oblivion. This would inevitably cause all of our spiritual integrity to be lost. There is a spirit of devils working miracles Revelations 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. These teachings which are "partial", an incomplete understanding of God's word will cause you to be found on the wrong side of the battle. The evidence is all around us today with the confusion and division amongst the various institutions. Some teach of a rapture, when some will be called to go to heaven, and some will remain here on the earth.
Yet actually when Jesus comes back, time will stop, and the judgment for all will take place.
Matthew 25:31-33,41,46 31:When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 41: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 46: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. No room for rapture is made here when Christ judgment will be the final say, without more time given for some, for a second chance not promised anywhere in God's word. Our chance is this life, to do what we have been given according to our knowledge. It is not a mixed message, only one lifetime chance, which has given us the understanding needed to make our choice. The ones truly living for Christ will not be ashamed, clothed in their garments of white, from living wholly and holy for God.
There's a battle going on, whose side am I on? Am I wounded, do I have the proper weapons? People are dying both physically, more importantly,.. spiritually. America has the luxury of a more protected mode of true worship. Many other countries do not have our (so far) freedom of worship, without the repercussions. Because of our relative ease for worship, we get caught up in the trivial arguments of verbs and adjectives, instead of the reality of lives lost for the cause of the gospel. Religious arguments waste such precious time, because of our "luxuries." Other countries see literal battles of warfare because of their faith. The real battle is between Truth and error, God and evil, etc. Our spiritual life depends on us fighting the battle against error, to ensure our eternal inheritance, and,..the salvation of other lost souls. Keep the battle "clear", of it being about good and evil, truth, and heresy.
God is gathering people today who are facing "slaughter" in this battle. God wants his people to take out the "sword" of the word and slaughter those spiritual conditions that would present itself against our soul. There is a battle going on! It is not a video game battle, or an argument with another! It is for our soul and truth, which is what it will take to secure our souls, and reach others likewise. Many people are losing their spiritual lives, and in many other cases their physical lives also. You cannot successfully remain on the sidelines, and serve God. God help us to do what we can do. in this great battle. There is no hiding place.
Revelations 16:17-21 17:And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. When the vial of truth is finished being poured out, it will be done! People are still hiding in the little mountain messages or in dens and caves, mountains or islands. God is sending His message to gather His people where there will be no more of mountains, etc. to hide in, but to stand clearly upon the sea of glass. But you must make that decision to be gathered on God's side of Truth and Judgement. We must Not accept the mixed message of being okay in our sins. Just a profession of religion and being "baptized" will not give you victory in this great battle. There is a way out, but you must find it in the message of judgment, and deliverance from sin. Too many teach that because you are human and God gave His life as a sacrifice, you are not required much on your part. Yet there must be a change to be ready for heaven. Wherein does the judgment come in from God's word in that message of no requirements? Your habits of drugs, tobacco ,alcohol, pornography etc. must change and freedom of sin must take place. There Is a battle going on, which side are you on? Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. All those who love the law of God will have that peace of real change., as a warm rain, and not as in falling hailstone. The Role of the Church today. What Side Are You On ?
