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Pastor Ken Crow

Romans 8:28-39 (King James Version)

28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This morning there is an aura of hopelessness and defeat that grips our society . The bad news and negativity dominate headlines. The worst nature of people is magnified in the media and very seldom is the positive reported .

Almost one half of Americans suffer from some form of mental depression.

How do we go from a mentality of defeat to having the mind of a victor?

My friend, the answer is to be found in Jesus.

Of late I have found ( and I believe that it has been in preparation for this message) myself paying a lot of attention to ESPN , the sports network.

ESPN television, ESPN radio and ESPN on the net .

On ESPN the focus is on winners in the athletic field.

Very little time is given to the defeated.

Have you noticed the Word of God is the same?

A whole lot of the Bible is devoted to those who are victorious in God and Christ.

How those who were defeated in life did not stay defeated.

How those who were dealt a short hand in life were able to overcome that short hand because of their relationship with God.

How that God changed their entire life by those just trusting in him.

Lets look at the mind of the victor in the Word of God this morning.

1. Expect Victory not defeat.

Here is one key verse that is a must have to have the mind of a victor.

Philippians 4:13 (King James Version)

13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

One thing I notice about athletic teams . They never rehearse loosing.

NEVER REHEARSE LOOSING IN YOUR MIND .

ONLY PRACTICE WINNING.

What causes depression is loosing over and over in the battlefield of the mind.

Do not allow the scary sight of things to remain in our thinking rather dwell on the promises of God.

Stand on the promises of God….

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

Through eternal ages let His praises ring,

Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing, standing,

Standing on the promises of God my Savior;

Standing, standing,

I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing on the promises I now can see

Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;

Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,

Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,

Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,

Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,

Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call

Resting in my Savior as my all in all,

Standing on the promises of God.

2 Peter 1:4 (King James Version)

4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.