More than Conquerors
Introduction: In ancient Rome, crowds by the tens of thousands would gather in the Colosseum to watch as Christians were torn apart by wild animals. Paul Rader, commenting on his visit to this famous landmark, said, "I stood uncovered to the heavens above, where He sits for whom they gladly died, and asked myself, 'Would I, could I, die for Him tonight to get this gospel to the ends of the earth?'" Rader continued, "I prayed most fervently in that Roman arena for the spirit of a martyr, and for the working of the Holy Spirit in my heart, as He worked in Paul's heart when He brought him on his handcuffed way to Rome." Those early Christians "lived on the threshold of heaven, within a heartbeat of home, no possessions to hold them back." (sermonillustrations.com:Our Daily Bread)
Scripture: “who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” - Romans 8:35– 37
How are we more than conquerors? Many conquests have casualties, so much loss, you wonder if the victory was worth the sacrifice? To take Omaha Beach, America lost 2,400 soldiers. And eventually came out the conqueror. Was it worth it? I believe so. If we lose, Hitler would have steamrolled the world. What does our conquest over sin through Jesus cost us? What do we lose being a conqueror? Let's face it, we didn't conquer anything. We didn't conquer death. We didn't conquer Hell. We didn't conquer sin. Jesus did. We are just piggybacking on the work he has already done on the cross. So, what do we lose in this victory. Nothing. Nothing that was wanted or needed in the first place – like gold in the furnace that loses the dross! The only thing lost was the impurities. Through Christ, we are not just conquerors, we are more than conquerors!
Transition: Lets look at the first three things that we are more than conquerors of in verse 35, because the last four fall somewhere under, if not under all of the first three.
I. Through Jesus, We have more than conquered Trouble
John 16:33 says "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Tribulation is as certain as death. It is a promise. But these tribulations don't stop us from trusting in God, they are more likely to cause us to cling to him more closely. Sometimes that is the whole point of the trouble that we have.
The Christian worship band, Mercy Me sings a song called “Bring the Rain”.
In this song they sing:
“And I know there will be days
when this life brings me pain.
But if that's what it takes to praise you,
Jesus bring the rain.”
Instead of stopping all of our trials, and tribulations, the Lord will sometimes expose us to all of them entirely. In troubles are beyond our ability to solve, we have no where else to run, we have no where else to go but to him. Like a husband in the hospital with his wife and the doctor comes out and gives the dreadful news that it is out of their hands. He then has nowhere to go but to turn to God in prayer. His money can't help him. His family can't save her. Her stage of cancer doesn't care about His position in life. He then has to appeal to the highest power he knows: God.
The key words in verse 37, are not “more than conquerors”. The key words are “through him who loved us”. God lets us know that it isn't our strength that gets us through the storms. It isn't your wisdom or mine, that sees us through the dangerous fog of false doctrine. It isn't our abilities that save us from our hardships but the ability, the strength, and the wisdom of Him (Christ) who loved us.
And with all of the pain of trouble, there is growth. Even in nature we see that resistance causes strength. I've read that the more weight you put on a palm tree the straighter it grows. Here, we are promised trouble, but what shall separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing. Job went through one devastating trial after another and at the end he was the better for it. He was doubly blessed. He had more after the trials than before he went through them. In some way, whether here or in heaven, the same is true for every believer. We will gain something valuable after the trouble.
Sometimes we can feel like an obscure floating branch on the ocean getting thrown all around; sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes with subtlety and sometimes with great ferocity. We are at the mercy of the waves, and we wonder how long we have before the water sinks us. But the truth is, We are not created to sink, in fact, we are not created to float either. When we are in Jesus, and in the church that is set upon the rock of faith in Jesus, not faith in money, or faith in people, places or things, but when we trust completely in Jesus, then those tidal waves will break upon us, not us upon them. In Jesus we are More than Conquerors!
Without faith in Jesus, our tribulations will crush us. We have to expect to meet this enemy as long as we are here on earth.
Transition: One of the effects of Tribulation is anxiety (distress) but . . .
II. Through Jesus, We have more than conquered Anxiety
Jesus already warned us of trouble but He encourages us to take heart. And Jesus said “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” -Matthew 6:34
It's not just the Storm that causes so much pain, but the prospect of the storm that causes pain. Some people would rather feel physical pain than suffer from the fear of it. There is pain in fear. How many times have we seen the ominous storm clouds building up on the horizon? My wife and I were watching a show about Tornadoes and about a woman who was so terrified of them, that she constantly was on the lookout for them. She had to get medical help. The anxiety was more than she could bear.
Sometimes, its just the possibility of an upcoming storm, trial, or conflict can immobilize us with fear.
Have you ever been so worried that you couldn't calm yourself, or sleep at night, or eat anything?
Now consider that unbelieving friend who was worried about a certain circumstance and perhaps they even asked you to pray for them. And then later you would ask them about it and they had to think real hard to recall what they were worried about in the first place. That trial has long been gone and so has the fear of it. If they who should worry don't, then why do we who shouldn't, do so constantly?
Consider those who were just as worried about something but they suffered in silence because they feared that sharing the burden would make it twice as heavy. 'No sense in troubling this person with it, because I want them to remain happy to keep me happy.' And then there are those silent sufferers, who, because of a lack of trust, refuse to share their burden because they're afraid that if anyone knew of their trouble it may change the way they are perceived.
If unbelievers, who have no divine intercessor, they have no divine counselor, or divine protector; can forget their worries so quickly, then why do we Christians, who have an all powerful, all knowing, and all loving savior, worry so often. We have a Savior who can actually change things! So why should we, of all people be worried, or distressed? Paul said “Do not be anxious about anything, . .”
The unbelievers are running aimlessly, to and fro, having fun, eating and drinking, and marrying and giving marriage, and never worry about anything or anyone. Just like Babylon their spiritual motto is “let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die” Instead of repenting of sin and making peace with God, they simply make peace with death, and ignore the wages of sin. If they would have spent that little time repenting instead of playing, they would have had an eternity to enjoy life and enjoy it to the full.
Unbelievers have every reason to be worried, Hell is on their doorstep, they are headed toward eternal pain and everlasting fire, and yet their trials and tribulations seem to be the last thing on their minds. They go on enjoying life without care or concern. Like, the Egyptian Plover or the Crocodile bird goes into the Crocodile's mouth to get a morsel to eat, it never seems concerned at all that the Crocodile only has to quickly close its jaws and it's life is over. The unbelievers lap up all the pleasure they can, blissfully ignorant to the danger they're in. They should be afraid that at any moment, if they should lose their life they would be doomed. Their peace comes from ignorance, our peace comes from God. Why? Because it's not them, but us who can be in the ark and not drown. It's not them, but us, who can be in the lion's den and not get devoured. It's not them but us, who can dance in the furnace and never burn!
Because we are more than Conquerors through HIM who loved us!
Transition: Paul mentions several things that fall under this last category . . .
III. Through Jesus, We have more than conquered Persecution
Tribulation is promised and so is Persecution:
“In fact, everyone who wants to live godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” -2 Timothy 3:12
Those who don't want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, needn't worry. The world will love you. The world will embrace you, and hug you and keep you as their own (Jn. 15:19) Those who genuinely love Christ will have their good name slandered. You will have at some point, people either make false, damaging, or insulting statements about you because of your faith. Brothers & Sisters you can count on it!
The wickedness of the world can not stand the righteousness of God's saints. Michael Brown, in his 'line of fire' column for Charisma magazine wrote this week: “It shouldn't surprise us that sinners sin and the ungodly commit godless acts. Why should we be surprised when darkness resists the light.”
The world always has and always will use the biggest magnifying glasses (fault-finders) to search your past for those “gotcha” sins, they will sift through your closets for some skeleton long since forgotten. Anything to portray you as a hypocrite, liar, bigot, nazi, islamaphobic, homophobic, Bible-thumper, hater, holy roller, racist, religious nut. Get used to it and get over it!
The world is saying we will only tolerate you if you agree with us. Sadly, some kind, loving, well-meaning Christians think “We aren't going to win anybody by being 'mean'. As if the worlds standard of “mean” were true. As if love were mean. As if honesty were cruel. As if holiness and biblical integrity were some how evil things. Some Christians fear the disapproval of the world so much they talk themselves into believing they must be worldly to win the world. They must submit to darkness to smuggle in the light. No! You are the light! Come out from among them and be ye separate! God doesn't give us the spirit of fear but the spirit of POWER and LOVE and a SOUND MIND! Throw away the bowl and let your light shine!
Today we have a tidal wave of confusion in the church, because many Christians and even pastors are tying themselves in knots trying not to offend anyone, not to hurt anyone, trying to accommodate everyone, breaking their arms to please and appease everyone that they are allowing every wicked thing to go on right in front of their faces.
In Luke 22:66-69 Jesus stood boldly before the chief priests and scribes and he told them the truth about the Messiah, even though He knew it would bring accusations, persecutions, and eventually lead to the crucifixion that would lead to his death. And yet he never capitulated to receive their approval. In Christ we can be killed all day long and yet we are still more than conquerors!
Everything they use to discourage and destroy us, we use to encourage and empower us! We embrace their mockery. They may cause us tears but later we can turn and smile to God, and thank him for their persecution. One of Julian's nobles said “We Christians laugh at your cruelty and grow the more resolute.”
Conclusion: Ill. During China's Boxer Rebellion of 1900, insurgents captured a mission station, blocked all the gates but one, and in front of that one gate placed a cross flat on the ground. Then the word was passed to those inside that any who trampled the cross underfoot would be permitted their freedom and life, but that any refusing would be shot. Terribly frightened, the first seven students trampled the cross under their feet and were allowed to go free. But the eighth student, a young girl, refused to commit the sacrilegious act. Kneeling beside the cross in prayer for strength, she arose and moved carefully around the cross, and went out to face the firing squad. Strengthened by her example, every one of the remaining ninety-two students followed her to the firing squad.
(Sermonillustrations.com: Today in the Word Feb.1989)
It only takes one bold Christian to stand up and be the example among a lukewarm, hypersensitive, cowardly church age to change that perception
Matthew Poole said “We conquer when we ourselves are conquered . . . we beat our enemies by their own weapons.”
Total surrender leads to total victory.
If you want that kind of power. If you want that kind of protection. If you want that kind of love, You can become more than Conqueror through him who loved you.
(Altar Call)
