Rhema Ehiemere - The Game of Thrones

God doesn’t want anything to compete with His place in our life. He might use people as channels and resources to bless us but He wants us to know that ultimately, He is the source of every blessing in our life. In Isaiah 6, there were two kings and two thrones; King Uzziah and The Lord. Although, Judah prospered under King Uzziah, it was really God that made Judah prosper. However, Prophet Isaiah never saw the Lord in the right perspective and in His full glory till King Uzziah died. In this sermon, you will be challenged to see God in the right perspective and understand that worship is not just what we say, but ultimately how we see God.

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On your way to your seats, look at your neighbor and tell them this: This is Game of Thrones. On April 17th, 2011, HBO premiered an American fantasy drama series called Game of Thrones. Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard about Game of Thrones. I didn’t say you like it or don’t like it; you’ve heard about Game of Thrones. Personally, I enjoy action movies and thrillers; I love those types of films, right? I’m not particularly drawn to fantasy—it’s just not my thing. So, I tried to get into Game of Thrones, but it didn’t want to get into me. However, whether you like Game of Thrones or not, you cannot deny that it was a huge success. Game of Thrones garnered 59 Primetime Emmy Awards over 73 episodes in eight seasons—the highest so far for any drama series. Game of Thrones stands in a class all by itself. That’s all I know about it—well, that’s what I Googled, so hopefully it’s true.

What I love about Game of Thrones, and I’ve watched a little of it, is that after the first three episodes, I thought, «Okay, that’s it.» But what I appreciate most is the plot and the background of the story. Among other themes, Game of Thrones highlights several noble houses of Westeros and the complicated war for control of the Iron Throne, which of course involves infighting, betrayal, bloodshed, alliances, and all those elements. I have a question for you: Why is there so much conflict and clamor when thrones are involved? Why are thrones such a big deal? Why do we witness so much murder, massacre, and mayhem when kings and thrones are discussed, whether in biblical times or modern history? You don’t have to look far for the answer—the answer is simple: The throne symbolizes supreme and sovereign power and authority. Follow me. Whoever sits on the throne controls not just everything but everyone. Let me say that again: Whoever sits on the throne controls not only everything but also everyone.

I have a question for you, Church: Who is seated on your throne? Who is controlling your life? Who has the remote control over your attitude, thoughts, and feelings? Who have you given permission to push the buttons of your life? Is it your past mistakes that are on the throne of your life, controlling everything? Is your attitude sitting on the throne? Is your past negativity, or what others said about you, or what they told you that you would never do, occupying the throne of your life? I know you’re smiling now, and you’re laughing, and you seem well put together—you’re giving me a high five—but some of you are just one word away from being triggered. I know you’re well-dressed and composed, but you are like a time bomb waiting to explode.

Listen to me: I can tell who is on your throne by how you act with your tribe. Wow! I can tell who is on your throne by how you interact with your tribe. Prove it, Pastor? I’m glad you asked! In Revelations 5, John the Revelator saw a vision of who would open the books and loose the seals thereof. A voice said, «Weep not, for the Lion of Judah has prevailed.» The Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed. When he turned to see, instead of seeing a lion, he saw a Lamb on the throne.

Look at Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb on the throne. I can tell who is on your throne by what happens and how you act with your tribe. Lions represent strength and power, while lambs represent sacrifice and innocence. Anyone associates lions with thrones and lambs with tribulations. When Jesus showed up with his stripes, he was their Lion. He was protecting them and providing for them, caring for them. But when Jesus died on the cross—herein lies the problem—what we don’t understand is that some thrones look like crosses. The reason why lions cannot be on the throne is that they don’t want to be sacrificed; they want to sacrifice. Jesus is not the Lion on the throne; He is the Lamb upon the throne. Now behold the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

I want to address this issue because many people think that in order to be king on the throne, you have to be a lion. But Jesus says, «No, no, no, I am the Lamb upon the throne.» Compared to the lion, the lamb is defenseless and vulnerable. Did you know that lambs don’t have a defense mechanism? They simply run away. They depend entirely on their mothers for protection. So, here you are trying to be a lion, fighting everyone and everything with a negative attitude, a big mouth, and thoughts of robbing and taking everything, thinking that this will qualify you for the throne. But here we find the defenseless lamb—without strength, without connections, without power or might, without experience—just trusting.