The Victorious Christian Life
1) The Possibility of a victorious life...
a) Victory on Earth
The Bible teaches glorious victory over sin for every believer.
1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
John isn’t speaking of victory in Heaven, but victory on Earth -
DAILY VICTORY!
b) Hinderance
If this verse is not true in a believer’s life then there is something wrong.
See, the devil will do anything he can to keep this knowledge from you.
Why? Because knowledge is power!
He doesn’t want you to know the truth. He doesn’t want you to know your "rights" as a Christian.
He tries to hide your inheritance from you.
He’ll do all he can to hinder the believer.
He’ll tell you that you don’t need to study your Word,
and if you’re in the Word he’ll try to distort the truth.
Why? Because Jesus said, "the truth shall set you free".
What is the truth? Jesus!
The Way, The Truth and The Life!
With Jesus comes VICTORY!
With Jesus comes TRIUMPH!
What does this mean to the devil?
Well the devil does’nt mind a religious person. A powerless Christian doesn’t bother him!
But he fears the power of a triumphant life!!!
Well Church, the victorious life is possible. Not just to the sanctified few, but the whole Body of Christ!
And Church it’s not only possible...It’s necessary!!!
2)The promise of the victorious life...
a) Some New Testament Promises
Joh 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
These are Jesus’ own promises to you.
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Jesus doesn’t want us to experience just a little bit of the victorious life, but to have it more abundantly.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This is strong language.
2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.
ALWAYS! Not just sometimes! Ours is the victory through Christ!
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Here’s a promise of victory over every temptation for every believer.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Not just victorious. We are abundant, super abounding, victorious conquerors who will triumph over sin, sickness, death, the devil and his cohorts, temptation, etc.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust (will or desire) of the flesh.
3) The principle of the victorious life...
a) By faith...
The principle is that the victorious life is a gift from God received by/through faith.
Our salvation is a gift.
We did not deserve it or earn it in the least.
Victory is a gift. We cannot attain it with our own strength. That is impossible!
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
The believer is saved and begins a new life in the Spirit.
Most Christians are like the foolish Galatians that try to continue in the flesh by works.
Victory is the work of the Savior in us, not our accomplishment in the least.
Our "strength is made perfect in weakness" 2 Cor. 12:9.
As we confess our inability to gain victory and yield to the mighty power of Christ, He gains the victory.
Upon conversion we gain victory over our addictions and habits.
We gain victory over ourselves and our pet sins.
It’s up to us to claim it and walk in it!!!
But the victory is there, Church!
Jesus is there!
A wise man once said that "Faith does nothing".
Why are those words of wisdom?
Because he went on to say "Faith does nothing; Faith let’s God do it all". (Dr. C.G. Trumbull)
See, sometimes we’re so busy trying to things ourselves that we push God out of that situation.
We make decisions without even consulting God.
We use prayer as a last resort.
We value our own opinions over the Bible’s divine teaching.
Here’s a word to the Church today...LET GO AND LET GOD!!! Amen!?!
A major qualification for victorious living is to have a broken and contrite spirit.
We need to know that we can do nothing of ourselves.
These days everybody wants to be independent, but we need to be dependent on God.
It’s essential to victorious living!
Victory is in trusting, not trying!!!
4) The secret of Victorious living...
a) Identification (intro)
(everyone turn your Bibles to Romans chapter 6)
I believe the secret to victorious living is our identification with Christ.
Romans 6:4-22 is what most people refer to as the victory chapter.
In the cross of Christ two important truths are taught- substitution and identification.
To the sinner we teach substitution- "look and live"
To the saint we teach identification - "look and die"
b) Identification with Christ’s death...
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man (our Adamic sin nature) is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
In Galatians 2:20 Paul said "I am crucified with Christ".
That’s absolute identification with Christ’s death.
Everybody say "I died with Christ"
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
See death frees a man from the power and dominion of sin.
We have to crucify the flesh and walk in the spirit if we want to see victory!
c) Identification with Christ’s burial...
Everyone say " I am Buried with Christ.
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Dead things ought to be buried.
We have to experience the burial in order to take part in the ressurrection.
d) Identification with Christ’s resurrection...
Everyone say "I rose with Christ".
If we, in the likeness of his death and burial, die, and are buried then...
...Rom 6:5 says...we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
e) Identification with Christ’s present triumphant life...
Rom 6:4...even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:6...that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Everyone say "I will live triumphantly"
How? Romans 6:10 gives us the answer...By living a life unto God!!!
Glorify God in your living and He will bless you! Amen!?!
The secret is that the indwelling Christ lives in the heart of each believer for the purpose of becoming Lord and Master of that life.
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
See, I am dead, and the living Christ lives and rules in my yielded body and gains constant triumphant victory for me.
It’s not what I can do, but what He can do through me.
5) The Requisite In A Victorious Life... (Requirement)
a) Yielding...
Everyone say "I must yield".
"We must decrease, so He can increase".
If it’s true that you are dead to sin with Christ, then there is only one thing left for you to do.
Yield yourself to God!!!
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Assume your new position by faith. You are now "alive from the dead".
You’re now living on resurrection ground!!!
We’re on the victory side of the cross!!!
Sin and the world have no hold on you.
When the devil comes knocking, when sin is at your door, don’t try to fight it own your own.
It’s a spiritual battle!
Don’t be overcome by demonic powers.
Yield to a force far more powerful - The power of the resurrected Christ!
6) The Choice Of A Victorious Life...
a) Victory or defeat...
As a Christian you still have your own free will. If you choose victory, I believe you will receive it as a gift from God.
But if you reject this gift of victory you’ll continue to live a defeated Christian life.
b) Righteousness or sin
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
The choice is yours...Righteousness or sin!
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
If it’s freedom you want it’s yours for the taking. Make a choice.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Warning: If you choose uncleaness it will lead down from iniquity to iniquity.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
The choice is yours. Who will you surrender yourself "and your members" to.
Now that we’re free from sin let’s become bondservants to Jesus.
That is the only way to live a victorious Christian life.
Conclusion:
What happens if you try this and fail?
Remember that 1 John 1:9 is still true.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
He has not failed.
Your fall does not weaken Christ.
He is faithful to forgive, and He will cause this fall to strengthen you against similar failures.
Do not rely on past victories for future victories.
Always rely on Christ alone.
I encourage you to memorize the promises.
Quote them to the Devil when he tries to discourage you.
Rest in the Lord constantly.
Victory can only be ours as we obey all the Commands of the Spirit to us personally.
The only time that you can live the victorious life is NOW!
Begin today.
Let us not only know the truth doctrinally. Let us know the truth experimentally as it becomes evident in our lives.
Closing Scripture...
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
