Valiant, Vicious, and Victorious
Romans 8:35-37
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (KJV)
35 ¿Quién nos separará del amor de Cristo? ¿Tribulación, o angustia, o persecución, o hambre, o desnudez, o peligro, o espada? (RVG04)
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (KJV)
36 Como está escrito: Por causa de ti somos muertos todo el tiempo; somos contados como ovejas de matadero. (RVG04)
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (KJV)
37 Antes, en todas estas cosas somos más que vencedores por medio de Aquél que nos amó. (RVG04)
I. A Valiant Past
Paul was one who gave it all for what he believed. Even when he believed wrong, he was a fanatic about it.
Valiant means bold in action. Whether for right or for wrong.
Acts. 22:4
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. (KJV)
4 Y perseguí este Camino hasta la muerte, prendiendo y entregando en cárceles así hombres como mujeres; (RVG04)
1 Co. 15:9
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (KJV)
9 Porque yo soy el más pequeño de los apóstoles, que no soy digno de ser llamado apóstol, porque perseguí la iglesia de Dios. (RVG04)
David was also valiant. In his youth, he performed valiant acts without fanfare or seeking favor.
1 Samuel 17:34
34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: {lamb: or, kid} (KJV)
34 Y David respondió a Saúl: Tu siervo era pastor de las ovejas de su padre, y cuando venía un león, o un oso, y tomaba algún cordero del rebaño, (RVG04)
The heroic and the horrific have a way of stimulating our passion. We love to hear of how others have pushed the limits and lived to tell about it. Their feats give us courage to make attempts that we otherwise would ignore or they make us cower in disgrace.
II. A Vicious Present
1 Tim. 4:1
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (KJV)
1 Pero el Espíritu dice expresamente que en los postreros tiempos algunos apostatarán de la fe, escuchando a espíritus engañadores y a doctrinas de demonios; (RVG04)
2 Tim. 3:1-5
1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (KJV)
1 Sabe también esto, que en los postreros días vendrán tiempos peligrosos. (RVG04)
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (KJV)
2 Porque habrá hombres amadores de sí mismos, avaros, vanagloriosos, soberbios, blasfemos, desobedientes a sus padres, malagradecidos, sin santidad, (RVG04)
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, {false...: or, one who foments strife} (KJV)
3 sin afecto natural, desleales, calumniadores, incontinentes, crueles, aborrecedores de los que son buenos, (RVG04)
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (KJV)
4 traidores, impulsivos, engreídos, amadores de placeres más que amadores de Dios; (RVG04)
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (KJV)
5 teniendo apariencia de piedad, mas negando la eficacia de ella; a éstos evita. (RVG04)
We are living in times like never before and facing things that mankind has not confronted before.
--modern technology taking over and changing the way we live and do things
--the real threat of nuclear warfare at the hands of madmen dictators
Isa. 5:20
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! } (KJV)
20 ¡Ay de los que a lo malo dicen bueno, y a lo bueno malo; que hacen de la luz tinieblas, y de las tinieblas luz; que ponen lo amargo por dulce, y lo dulce por amargo! (RVG04)
Don't act all surprised at what is going on around you. It is going to get worse before it gets better. Just don't get caught up in the middle of all of it.
1 Thes. 5:4
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (KJV)
4 Mas vosotros, hermanos, no estáis en tinieblas, para que aquel día os sorprenda como ladrón. (RVG04)
Keep walking in the light, regardless of what others are doing.
2 Tim. 3:12,13
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (KJV)
12 Y también todos los que quieren vivir piadosamente en Cristo Jesús, padecerán persecución. (RVG04)
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (KJV)
13 Mas los malos hombres y los engañadores irán de mal en peor, engañando y siendo engañados. (RVG04)
God has not been taken by surprise. He knew that it was going to get real ugly before it all winds up.
He is not so worried about the fiery trials that are hitting you right between the eyeballs; He is concerned about your reaction and your recovery.
Are you going to get bitter, or will it make you a better christian?
You can fall out or you can fall on your knees.
Lord help us to get past this idea that Jesus needs to be our "fix-all". We are in an age that believes you are backslidden if you are not running with the "in crowd", wearing the name brand clothing, driving a car that is not more than two years old, and eating steak every other night. I've got news for you--you might be backslid if you have arrived to that life-style and think that you have arrived.
Over 80% of the christians in this world do not have even half of what you and I have on a bad day, but they have at least twice the victory.
III. A Victorious Future
1 Jn. 5:4
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (KJV)
4 Porque todo lo que es nacido de Dios vence al mundo; y ésta es la victoria que ha vencido al mundo, nuestra fe. (RVG04)
What matters from right now and for all the rest of eternity is not how valiant you past has been or how terribly vicious life has been even to this present day. The thing that is going to make the difference is my decision to walk in victory. The future for the church, the true bride of Christ, is certain victory. So our goal has to be to make sure that we do not jump off of the Old Gospel Ship.
Col. 3:2,3
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. {affection: or, mind} (KJV)
2 Poned vuestra mira en las cosas de arriba, no en las de la tierra. (RVG04)
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (KJV)
3 Porque muertos sois, y vuestra vida está escondida con Cristo en Dios. (RVG04)
My victory has nothing to do with how much money I have or don't have in the bank or in the billfold. It is not greater or lesser due to the number of friends that surround me. It has nothing to do with how anointed the preacher was in his preaching or if he was as dry as last years corn shucks.
We must remind ourselves that Christ has already overcome the wicked one. So if I am in Christ, I am an overcomer and victory is mine.
GET IN, GET OUT, OR GET RUN OVER.
