How many of you have seen the newest Chronicles of Narnia movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader? Once the DVD is out, we’ll watch it here. The movie is not exactly how the book was written but I found it entertaining and still carried many Biblical principles. The basic story line goes like this: Several people end up in a ship with a Prince who is in a quest for a better world. As the ship travels to different islands, battles of good versus evil occur!
Of course the movie and story is fictional and it is mostly for entertainment. Why do I mention it? We all need R&R and entertainment but let us not forget the reality of the Christian life.
Narnia is fantasy, but
for us Christians today, our reality is:
- we are in a “ship” called the Church,
- our Captain is Jesus Christ,
- we are bound for heaven,
- as we “travel” on earth, we will face many battles!
The good news is our Captain Jesus is always victorious and He has promised all His Believers the assurance of getting to heaven. But before we get to heaven, our Captain Jesus calls us to experience victory over spiritual battles while still here on earth!
If you are a true Believer of Jesus Christ, God has brought you to His ship bound for heaven. But again as Christians wait for that glorious day, Christians are involved in a spiritual battle here one earth. What do we need to win the spiritual battles in life? The end of the Letter to the Romans gives us biblical principles to live by. Please open your Bibles to Romans 15…
We noted in previous message from Romans 15 that Christians are to follow the Apostle Paul’s example of depending on God’s Word and Power. Look briefly again with me Romans 15 v17-19…..
What do we need to win the spiritual battles in life?
It starts with 2 important things:
1. Have total faith in Jesus Christ!
2. Have total dependence on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit!
Now, many Christians will stop here and say; “these 2 things are all we need!”
I will not strongly argue with Christians who say that because many of us are not really doing so well in these areas. Think about these 2 things for a moment. Quietly in your heart, from 0 to 100%, where are you in commitment to these 2 areas?
If your commitment number is 0%, please consider this: If you reject Jesus Christ as your only Savior and God, you will remain an enemy of God. However, God’s offer to His Eternal Kingdom is available to you right now; believe and receive Christ as your Savior and Lord! Get “on-board” the ship of Jesus Christ bound for heaven!
Now for many of us whose commitment to the Lord ranges from 1-99%, God tells us in Romans 15-16 our other needs to win the spiritual battles in life. Read along with me starting with v25 of Romans 15………..
What our other needs to win the spiritual battles in our lives on earth? May I suggest 4 P’s from our passage: Provisions, Prayers, People, Praises!
Before talking about these 4 P’s, let us get a glimpse of the results of winning the battles. Look again at v19-20 of Romans 16 with me….
The result of the Christian life is to glorify God to the world, bring joy to other Christians, and crush evil! Who wants to bring the glory of God to the world, bring joy to our loved ones, and crush evil???
Let’s get on board the ship of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit! This ship is the church! And besides the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, what else are we to depend on?
While Christians wait for Christ’s return, Christians still have material needs and they are to depend on God’s Provisions!
Romans 15:25-29 speaks of sharing monetary and material wealth to those in need! And those in need are to receive the blessings from those who share!
What does this mean in practical terms for us today? Macedonia and Achaia were able to share because they had something to share. Where did they get their material blessings? - Likely through jobs they had! God states in 2 Thessalonians 3:10b, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We are to share our material wealth to those in need but everyone should look for opportunities to work for a living.
And like Paul and the saints in Jerusalem, Christians who are in need are to receive with joy the blessings given to them.
The next thing we need to win spiritual battles in life is basic to the Christian life.
A Christian life without prayer is a defeated one!
We are to pray for one another (Rom 15:30-33):
- health and safety
- service to the Lord
- encouragement
- peace
And what do we read in Romans 16? We might go back to this chapter in the future and look at some of the details; but for today, let us note 2 general observations:
Let us note the warning first.
a. Watch out for people who will contradict the Bible (v17).
We are to be alert! And what are we to put on to battle the enemy? – full armor of God!
This is a given: Christians will face oppositions on earth. But,
b. God will bring all sorts of people to help us in our lives!
And there are several interesting things about these people who will help us:
1. Many are godly women! The apostle Paul honored and treasured these godly women, even adopting one as his mom! If people tell you that the apostle Paul was a male chauvinist, take them here to Romans 16! God through Paul honors women! Brothers in Christ, how are we honoring our godly women? Sisters in Christ, how are you doing in your calling to be godly?
2. Married Couples can be a help to us! The apostle was not married but he treasured friendships and partnerships with couples.
3. New Converts like Epenetus can help us!
4. Relatives can help us!
5. Entire households can be of help to us!
6. Godly men are needed! Brothers in Christ, are we pursuing godliness? (recommend books by Jerry Bridges)
And look again at the second part of v23…..
7. Godly government employees can be of help to us!
Do we have a good God or what???
God is good! All the time!
Then, shouldn’t we praise Him often?
Winning spiritual battles is proportional to our worship!
Remember what we noted several weeks ago?
Don’t be a Christian Zombie, be a _________!
Always Worship God with our Attitudes, Minds, and Bodies!
And what can we note about worship and praise in our passage? Besides worshiping God as individual Christians, we are to praise God jointly as a church! This is clear from the Apostle Paul, the churches in Macedonian, Achaia, Jerusalem, and the Christians in Rome! And let us never forget the focus of our Praise to God: look again at v25-27 with me…..
