In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of shining forth as a Christian and being clothed with the sun. He warns against deceiving others into thinking one is a Christian if they are not truly shining forth. The preacher also emphasizes the presence of the great red dragon, representing the Prince of Darkness, who seeks to devour and influence believers. He urges listeners to avoid participating in sinful activities and to abide in Christ instead. The sermon concludes with a call to be like the saints who conquered the devil through the blood of the lamb, their testimony, and their willingness to give up their lives for the Lord.

I'd like to read the text for today. These days I say, oh, when will Sunday come? It's as if those Sundays are too far away. Because I read a word, and I found such gold and diamonds worth in it, that I wished that Sunday would come and hurry up so that I could preach it and share it. Now let's read the word of the Lord. I was so blessed by this. I'm not going to go into all the points that this raises, but just take two of the more important parts. Revelations 12 verse 1. And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And she was with child, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven, and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven, and three thirds of the stars of the earth. And he threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. And she gave birth to a son, a male child who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she might be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Now we should actually continue with the context of this, but I'm just going to leave it with this which we've read and make some points, some highlights. Now here we have John who sees as a vision the woman who gives birth and the dragon. Shall we pray first? Father in heaven we ask that for Jesus' sake you would pour out your Holy Spirit in making us to understand this which you say in your word, lest it should be ineffective and like water on a duck's back. Amen. It says, and a great sign appeared in heaven, obviously meaning that something of enormous significance has happened. They see a woman who appears in the sun, she is clothed with the sun and the moon is under her feet. And on her head a crown of twelve stars. Now usually there are two favorite ways of expounding, commentating on this section. And two of the main explanations about this woman as to who she was. Some say it's the nation of Israel, the twelve tribes. And it points to the birth of Jesus. And the dragon being close by so that the moment the child is born that the dragon would swallow it up and destroy. We find here a struggle, a huge battle between God and Satan. Satan who is a killer, a murderer from the beginning. Who always resists God's working. If God does anything, Satan will resist that. Now it says that Satan's face was red with rage. If we try and make it to be in our language, white people can blush very much and it's very visible. Africans who are blessed with more skin color, it's not visible if they blush. And Satan tries with all his energy and with all that he can muster. Now the word Satan means the accuser. And he's consistently an accuser and accuses God's people even in front of God. The word of God is a condemnation of Israel. Because it's a sin. So there is this way of looking at it that this signifies Israel. And how when Jesus was to be born, Satan was right there doing his utmost to destroy him. The same Satan who had attacked and tried to destroy the prophets of old, the men of God of old, those who belonged to the Lord, and now Mary, this righteous soul who wanted to serve the Lord with all her heart, gave birth to a child. I am always astonished about Mary, that she was chosen by God to give birth to Jesus. The child was upright in the sight of the Lord. This was Mary, sanctified, chosen by God as the one who would give birth to Jesus. I often ask girls, are you one who could give birth to Christ, or are you busy with the things of the world, love letters, sending love messages across with your cell phones, that's all you're busy with? I once spoke to a certain woman who had fallen pregnant, an illegitimate pregnancy. I asked her, how could you do such a thing? She said, this is the first time it's happened, and I realize that I am a terrible sinner. She said, maybe I'm the first one and the last one who suffers the way I do. I said, how could you do such a thing? And so she explained and said, I was at a party, they were drinking booze, and I participated, I drank as well, and eventually I fell into sin. Just once, it was the first time, and I fell pregnant. I said to her, actually what's happened is your sin has found you out, because the pregnancy becomes visible to all eventually, you would have tried to hide what you had done. And I said, she said, well can I be forgiven, can I repent? I said to her, if you repent with all your heart, with true godly sorrow, the Lord can forgive. And after a time I thought, let me give her a phone call, I haven't explained it completely to her. And I said to her over the phone, look, you said about what happened to you, that you had been drinking as well, you need to thoroughly repent, be totally transparent before God and with the counsellor. And I said to her, And I said, for it is commonly known that women who are drinking in their pregnancy, they cause the child to already feel the harmful effects of that alcohol, same with smoking, and same with that man who had made her pregnant, I said, you be careful, because you have injected that child with rebelliousness and with that love of sin. For this beer or alcohol, or this smoking, it's like, I said to her, if you repent with all your heart, with true godly sorrow, the Lord can forgive you. And after a time I thought, let me give her a phone call, I haven't explained it completely to her. And I said to her over the phone, look, you said about what happened to you, that you had been drinking as well, you need to thoroughly repent, be totally transparent before God and with the counsellor. And until you truly repent in that congregation, you need to seek the Lord outside of that church, for you've sinned and transgressed greatly. And until you truly repent, and so that you together with the counsellor who will inform the church that you've truly returned to the Lord, I said, because this sin needs to be dealt with and you need to have godly sorrow over it. Now that's not to say that Mary was perfect, she was not perfect, but she hadn't sinned in these ways of sexual immorality, of drinking, and the Lord found her and chose her. She was determined to live for the Lord. And right there at the birth of the child, the male child, the dragon in all his rage and redness was there to swallow up the child. Think, for instance, of Herod, who was entered into by Satan, who made this murderous spirit to want to kill all the male children in Bethlehem, to remove the Saviour, just think of it, had he succeeded. Think of the terrible rage that Satan was in, so that there was such a bloodbath. And just think of it, the Lord Himself, it says in our text, snatched the child and the mother and took them into the wilderness, into the desert. Think of how God spoke to Joseph in a dream, take your wife and the child and go immediately to Egypt, to the desert, where Herod would have no power over him. Now it shows you that we can interpret it in a direction of Israel, but it doesn't only mean Israel. That's not the only exclusive interpretation of this, because often this woman depicted in the Bible is represented by the Church, She who is the true Bride of Jesus Christ, those who are genuine Christians, they are the Bride of Christ. Those who are married to Jesus, are you married to Jesus or are you still married to Satan? Now this woman, who is also representative and symbolic of the Church of Christ, says she was clothed with the sun and had a crown of twelve stars on her head, and the moon under her feet. Now this is the first main point I want to share with you. This is what made me to feel the urgency that Sunday would come quickly to share this with you. She was clothed with the sun. Remember in Ephesians where it's written that husbands should love their wives as Jesus loves His bride, the Church. Who gave Himself sacrificially for His bride to the point that she was given glory. The word says put on Jesus, be clothed with Him. Some people say how is it possible to be clothed with Jesus? Now if one says be clothed with a green suit or that white gown or whatever, that's more understandable. But to be clothed with Jesus, what does it depict? Now it is no small point, it is of major importance to us. It was of major worth. It was noteworthy that she, this woman, was clothed with the sun. Of greatest importance. Now Jesus is that sun. He is the sun. Sometimes the Bible refers to Him as the sun of righteousness. Now we might regard it as trivial and we are untouched by the command to be clothed with Christ. But John found it of greatest importance that this woman was clothed with the sun. He saw the sun shining in its glory around this woman. And in this woman. Now if you are clothed with Jesus, if you are a true child of God, you will be one clothed with Jesus. You hidden inside Him. Very troublesome are those who belong to Satan. Some of whom call themselves children of God. And they go off on a tangent saying that God doesn't notice the outside at all. It's only the inner man that God notices. I say well you are really the greatest fool. And so because they are not clothed with Christ, they would say it doesn't matter how you are dressed. Even if you are dressed like a prostitute, the Lord only sees the heart. Whether it's clothing that shows your nakedness or whatever. And I say well that's proof of the fact that you are not clothed with Christ, but rather the dragon. So it says here even on the outside you are clothed. And so I ask of you, are you clothed with the sun, that you are in Jesus, clothed with Him? And if this is pointless to you and of no meaning, I say well carry on with your sinful and worldly ways, but not with us. Rather go out into the world which you love so much. And if you truly are His, clothed with the sun. Tell those you have no joys anywhere in the ears of the earth, To clothe themselves in sin in glory, and which are same as in Heaven. This for you and this sin, Are you clothed with Christ ? Clothed in this way, that it describes that you are in Him? That you are clothed with this Beauty and this shine of the sun, where you work, the way you walk, the way you talk, that it is evident and perhaps because the language of be clothed with Christ is not clear to you and you disregard it, God has chosen to say this through John of this expression, clothed with the sun. Are you the sun to your wife? Do you let that sun shine forth to your wife, to your spouse, your husband, to the unsaved, to the world? That your feet are on top of the moon? Now the moon of itself has no brightness or shine, it gets its light from the sun completely, it simply reflects the light of the sun. We can symbolize the moon with being the world under your feet. It doesn't mean being clothed with the world, it doesn't say be in agreement with what is worldly. We are not of the world, but we belong to Christ and we are to display the sun shining through us, that we are clothed with him and that the world is under our feet. Examine your life, whether you are clothed with the sun. Can your wife? Can your wife testify that you shine forth as the sun does to her or you to your spouse, your children that they see that shine of God of the sun or do they see rather that which is of the world? Now, when you go home, whatever type of home it is, whether you have straw covering you as the roof or tiles, whatever it is, do you bring the sun to shine in your home? That it brings light and exposes the darkness. Can it be seen and evident that you're clothed with the sun that I could call your wife, call her up by name and say, tell me about your husband, does he bring the light and the sunshine into your home? So the woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Representative of the twelve apostles, remember then how he chose his disciples, he commissioned them, each of them being a person representing the gospel. Clothed with the sun, that heavenly sun. But here is the dragon. Going around like a roaring lion, seeing and finding out whom he can devour. Now this matter is never to be treated superficially, lightheartedly and flippantly, rather it shows us that this is of the greatest importance, how crucial it is to us. We who say we are the bride of Christ, are we shining like the sun? If you get angry, irritable, impatient, is that the shining of the sun? And if you find that you haven't been shining, that you remember also those people because maybe you need to be reconciled with people that you were darkness to. So you need to call out with all your heart to the Lord, you need to confess your sins properly, clear up every dark corner that you'll be clothed with the sun. That you would call out to the Lord and say, Lord, even in leaving this building, may I shine with you, that your son, that your presence will be evident to the family members, that you would call out to the Lord and say, Lord, even in leaving this building, may I shine with you, that your son, that your presence will be evident to the family members, that you would call out to the Lord and say, Lord, even in leaving this building, may I shine with you, that your son, that your presence will be evident to the family members, that you would call out to the Lord and say, Lord, even in leaving this building, may I shine with you, that your presence will be evident to the family members, that you would call out to the Lord and say, Lord, even in leaving this building, may I shine with you, that your presence will be evident to the family members, that you would call out to the Lord and say, Lord, even in leaving this building, may I shine with you, that your presence will be evident to the family members, that you would call out to the Lord and say, Lord, even in leaving this building, may I shine with you, that your presence will be evident to the family members, that you would call out to the Lord and say, Lord, even in leaving this building, may I shine with you, that your presence will be evident to the family members, that you would call out to the Lord and say, Lord, even in leaving this building, may I shine with you, that your presence will be evident to Just think of how it would transform the whole world, if only a third of you or half of you or a quarter of you would shine with this heavenly sun. How it would change the world. But if not, if you have this darkness, then you have this dragon within you and hell belongs to you. Look at how insects are attracted to light, maybe a candle light or a burning fire. Now you might bluff some people and deceive them into believing that you are a Christian, but if you are not shining forth, you are not clothed with the sun, there is the one, the most high, who sees the truth about you. Now let's leave the point about the woman clothed with the sun. I trust that it is sufficient for you. Now here is this great red dragon. This great red dragon, it says in verse three, great meaning he is the prince of darkness, the one who rules this world. Having seven heads. Though he is a single entity, yet he has other entities. Like some Christians who fit in and try to blend with whatever type they are with. In church, they have that appearance of being familiar and nice to church going people. With the world, they take on that appearance as well. They have another head. And ten horns and on his head were seven diadems. This is a great and awful monster, this dragon. Satan who claims to rule the world and he wants to deceive Christians. And his tail swept away a third of all of heaven. The stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. These who the tail of Satan cast down to the earth, these are the demons which exist in the world today. When Satan fell, he didn't fall alone, but with a third of all the angels. Satan takes great pride in getting those who join his team. Now, are you one of those who you deceived? A person falls and they take you along with them. This dragon is great and powerful to even rebel against God. To attack Jesus Christ. Trying his level best to resist the work of God. Be careful lest you on his team fighting against any work that the Lord is doing. Not one person would have survived in this world if it wasn't for the protection of God. This Satan who was an angel of angels there in heaven, he resisted the Lord and he was cast out. This dragon is great and powerful to even rebel against God. To attack Jesus Christ. Trying his level best to resist the work of God. Not one person would have survived in this world if it wasn't for the protection of God. This dragon is great and powerful to even rebel against God. Not one person would have survived in this world if it wasn't for the protection of God. You are a rebel and you are deceiving others with you. Thank the Lord. We praise God. And if it wasn't for God she would have perished. This woman and her son God protected him, snatched him away. One can see it in this way through his death and his resurrection ascended into heaven. And also the church of Christ protected by Christ. God having a special place inside him wherein the church can hide. God has his hiding place for you where Satan cannot get to you. Jesus commanded, abide in me. Don't try to do anything outside of him. Whatever act, whatever communication, let it always be with you hiding in Christ, abiding in him. For God has his place to protect us. If a person who has been converted and has come out of drink, alcohol, says, Oh, I've fallen yet again. And you examine him and ask, well, how did it happen? He says, well, I was in the pub thinking that I was now changed and I'd never be falling into this sin again. And one says to such a person, you foolish, you need to hide in Christ. How can you expect to abide in Christ if you're abiding in a bar or the place or the area of sin? Or a person says, Please pray with me. I've fallen yet again into sexual sin. I went to that place or those parlors, those prostitutes. And one asks that person, but why were you even there in that vicinity? Aren't you meant to be hiding in Christ? You cannot put your finger into the fire and expect not to be burned. You cannot participate with those who gossip, those who are busy with their sins and not be affected by it. You will be influenced. Gazing at your TV, is that abiding in Christ? Or is it the flames of hell getting closer to you? A certain preacher, not from us, but from another church, Bought a TV set. And he said, well, I bought it for my son. I bought another set for my daughter so that they would at least be at home. Otherwise, they'd leave home and go and watch TV somewhere else. But oh, how you spoil your children. You bring temptation. You become part of the dragon's work. And when the dragon was getting ready to eat this child, But God spoke to Joseph and he said, now take the child and the mother and flee to Egypt. That means that you should, and it's the same word, that word flee is used also, flee from youthful lust. You can't expect to be in lustful company and you don't get affected by it. If you're abiding in him, the Lord promises you, you'll never be tempted above your strength. Abide in that place, which Jesus has shown you, hiding in him, hiding in prayer. Let your refuge be in his word. Stay there where God wants you to be. Watching, waiting and praying. Now I've said this great dragon, if it was according to him, he would have swallowed every human being in this world, but for God. God who sets limits and sets the borders. The same with Job. Although Satan was allowed to get at him in different ways, God put a border which Satan could not trespass over. Job was protected by the Lord and the devil could not overstep. Now the same with you. The Lord has conquered. Jesus Christ has battled for you and defeated the dragon at the cross and you are to abide in him. That you abide in Christ. Should it be that you find yourself not abiding in him and you're being overthrown and there's victory over you and you're being conquered, well, confess your sins thoroughly so that Satan would have no hold, no grip over you. Though Satan is active, and he might be even active with you, even on the bench, but remember you have a hiding place. God has conquered him and you can abide in him there where Satan cannot trespass. That things are like they are in the world is because of Satan, the dragon. Look at the music. Rock and pop. Look at the music. Now Satan works. He influences music. He influences what people do, but you can be safely protected there where Christ hides you away, that you are completely covered and protected by him. Be clothed with the sun. Be with him so that day and night you are clothed with the sun, so that you give no room to the devil. Remember he is a great dragon. Don't give him any power. Remember he is a great dragon. Don't give him any power. Don't give him any power. Remember he is a great dragon. Don't give him any power. Let people always see in you the son. Let people always see in you the son. That you are clothed with the son. Like John who said I saw this woman clothed with the son. Remember the Lord gives you the victory. You need to be like the saints Who conqured the devil through the blood of the lamb the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death. I would be thrilled if you've heard this and the Lord has made you to understand. I would also be so saddened, disappointed if you continue with these ways of the dragon. I must preach the truth to you, even if you are one who rejects it, even if you are on the side of the dragon. But the Lord knows, and He is the one who will protect you. We don't want anybody with us that has grown lukewarm and that doesn't want to repent. We only want those who are on fire for the Lord. Stand and pray. Lord Jesus, we are standing up. We've heard about that woman clothed with the sun. Lord, I've asked the question of your people whether they're clothed with the sun or not. Lord, you hear their response. Amen.