Places Where Christians Stand-Continued

Intro: our key verse for this series is Ephesians 6:13-having done all, to stand. The whole point about being a Christian is standing up one more time than we fall down. We fall, we have all failed, but when all is said and done, we¡¦re still standing.

Places Where Christians Stand-(continued)]

XI. God¡¦s Favor¡XPsalms 30:5

XII. God¡¦s Presence¡XPsalms 23:4

XIII. Above it all¡XEphesians 1:21-23 put all things under His feet and gave him to be head over all things to the church. This is an exciting place to stand as Christians, we stand above it all.

„[ There is nothing that is over us. Jesus has placed everything under our authority and dominion with Him.

„[ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above¡Xwe walk on higher ground, we don¡¦t walk to satisfy the natural man, but we live in the supernatural place with Jesus Christ.

Ill) a man was flying some supplies and heard the gnawing sound of mice in the back of the plane. He had been taught by his instructors that mice can¡¦t live in higher altitudes, so he went a little higher, but heard the gnawing sound. So he kept climbing until the gnawing stopped. That is where Christians go, we go a little higher than the enemy can stand.

XIV. At the End of the Race or Battle¡X2 Timothy 4:7¡XI have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Paul may have not had a perfect beginning, but he had a victorious end. The most important place for Christians to stand is on the other side of the finish line.

„[ It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. I reckon that the present sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us.

„[ A Christian that makes it half way is no better off than the worst sinner. A Christian that makes it 3/4 of the way is no better off than Satan himself. One of the saddest things to see, is someone who served God most of their lives, and fell off right at the end of the race.

Ill) years ago in the Olympic marathon a man was winning the race as he entered the stadium. But with the crowd so thick he got turned around and ran the wrong way. When he got back on track he noticed other runners had already finished and he collapsed in totally disappointment. It didn¡¦t matter that he was the best runner, what counts is did you finish the race.

XV. In Abundance¡XJohn 10:10¡Xthe thief comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly. God¡¦s people are to walk in the abundance of God. God wants to bless you in your rising up and setting down, your going out and your coming in, to make you the lender not the borrower, the head and not the tail.

„[ Psalms 23:1-the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want¡XGod has promised to provide for His own. As His children He has promised to supply all our need according to His riches in glory.

„[ Psalms 37;4¡Xif you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart. Delighting in the Lord is a walking with God.

„[ Asking is a key¡XJames 4:4¡Xye have not because ye ask not¡Xa lot of the lack in our lives can be traced to a lack of prayer and faith. If we believe we can speak to the mountains and they will be moved. Wishing and hoping is not asking in faith. To walk in the abundance of Jesus Christ we must ask to receive, seek to find and knock so it will be opened to us.

Close: I read a story of a young man who went to college and His dad gave him a bible to read. He wrote down verses that would help him in every need. The boy never picked up his Bible the entire semester and when he got home complained about a lack of finance. His dad got his Bible and showed him that there was money placed at every verse his dad had given him to read. All God¡¦s promises are yes and Amen, but we must go to where the promises are for our lives.