The Walk Of A Victor Series

THE FORWARD WALK – PART EIGHT

“THE WALK OF A VICTOR”

1 CHRONICLES 26:27 - ©LARRY L. THOMPSON (2003)

1 Chron. 26:27

“Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the Lord.”

Introduction:

Today is the next to last Sunday that we will be in this series, THE FORWARD WALK as we anticipate our FORWARD BY FAITH commitment Sunday on June 1st. Today I want us to examine and consider why we have experienced warfare in our lives as Christians. I want us to look at why some have had a battle in marriage, why some have fought a war with finances, why some have been engaged in a battle keeping your children pure while others have fought personal battles of oppression, depression or addiction. I want all of us to read this one verse together as a basis of this study today:

“Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the Lord.”

This verse speaks of the spoils of war that were won in the midst of a battle. These spoils of war won in the midst of battle rightfully belong to the victorious army. These soldiers of the Lord, however, gave a portion of all the plunder to the temple to express their love, dependence and dedication to God for the purpose of repairing or building up the Temple. Today, if you can grasp WHY the Lord has allowed you to be engaged in such intense spiritual warfare then you will understand that God has not only allowed the battle in your life but wants to use the battle for His glorious purpose in building His temple for His glory. Today, I am asking you to join with me in what may be one of the most spiritually instructive sermons the Lord has given to me in my 30 years of proclaiming truth. The Truth we will learn today is this: The Walk of the Victor is discovered only through the BATTLE; but through the battle we discover the BLESSINGS. Today I want to show you the Blessings that are ours through the Battles we face in life and how those battles are used to Honor the Lord and to build His people. Let’s look at the first battle…

I. Strength is Discovered Through the Struggle (Gen. 14:11-12)

“The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. [12] They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.”

We read when Abram’s nephew, Lot, was taken captive and held in bondage that Abram gathered 318 of his men and went after the four kings. Now look at the results of this battle in Genesis 14:15-16 (NIV)

“During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. [16] He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.”

What we need to see today is this truth: WE WILL ALL FACE STRUGGLES IN OUR LIFE. LIFE IS FILLED WITH DAILY BATTLES. In the midst of those battles we have to make a choice: In every battle we will either SURRENDER or by faith find His STRENGTH in our STRUGGLE.

Satan must have really been gloating about the apparent victory as the enemy carried away the entire population of two cities including the only ONE godly man who lived in the city. Lot was the only righteous man who could have stood in the struggle in the power of the Lord but his life was so compromised by his carnality that he was taken into captivity and led away in bondage. Imagine the Devil boasting, “There is a man of God. He is in my chains; he has lost all his possessions to me. I want you to take notice; all of you who dare to challenge my authority.”

However, Abram walked with God and he knew that by God’s power he would not surrender but find His strength for this present struggle! The result was Abram returned to Sodom and all witnessed the Walk of a VICTOR!

But don’t miss this vital truth of the WALK of a Victor: Genesis 14:18-20:

“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, [19] and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. [20] And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”

Do you see what else Abraham had in his possession other than God’s STRENGTH for the struggle? He also returned with the spoils of victory and with the spoils of victory he was able to strengthen the work of God and we have the first recorded example of tithing in the Bible. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS BIBLICAL TRUTH?