HOW TO BE VICTORIOUS IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE
1PET 5:8-9, EPH 6:8
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
Ephesians 6:8 (NKJV)
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
PT-1
UTILIZING THE RESOURCES OF GOD
**WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THE BATTLE, BUT UTILIZING THE RESOURCES THAT GOD HAS MADE AVAILABLE TO US, JESUS WAS AND IS AND ALWAYS BE THE MASTER OF OVERCOMING THE ADVERSARY, WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HE DID AND APPLY THESE PRECEPTS TO OUR LIVES AND BECOME VICTORIOUS OURSELVES!!
1. HE WAS FOUND IN THE PLACE OF GOD- OUR JOURNEY WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THE MORE WE FIND OURSELVES IN “GOD’S PLACE(OR GOD’S HOUSE):
Luke 2:46 (NKJV)
46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
**THROUGHOUT JESUS MINISTRY YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND HIM IN OR NEAR THE TEMPLE OR SYNAGOGUE**
Matthew 13:54 (NKJV)
54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
Luke 4:16 (NKJV)
16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
**THE HOUSE OF GOD IS A VALUABLE, AND UNUSED PLACE BY MOST BELIEVERS**
**HOW OFTEN YOU ENTER THERE IS A GOOD INDICATOR OF HOW STRONG YOU ARE AS A CHRISTIAN
Hebrews 10: 25 (NKJV)
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
2. HE MAINTAINED FELLOWSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD:
**YOU ARE TRULY KNOWN BY THE COMPANY YOU KEEP!!
Luke 2:46 (NKJV)
46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
HEBREWS 10:23-24
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
Ephesians 5:19-21 (NKJV)
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
3. HE PRACTICED THE PRECEPTS OF GOD’S WORD:
**THE ONLY WAY WE CAN PRACTICE THEM IS TO KNOW THEM, THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW THEM IS TO STUDY THEM, AND WE HAVE VALUABLE RESOURCES HERE TO HELP ME AND YOU TO GROW IN THIS AREA ALSO!!
A. STUDY OF GOD’S WORD:
Luke 2:47 (NKJV)
47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
Matthew 13:54 (NKJV)
54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
B. BAPTISM:
Matthew 3:13-17 (NKJV)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
C. FASTING AND PRAYER:
Matthew 4:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
Luke 6:12 (NKJV)
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke 22:44 (NKJV)
44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
**FRIENDS, WE CAN BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS IF WE WILL FOLLOW THESE STEPS IN JESUS LIFE, AND WE CAN BE VICTORIOUS IN OUR WALK!!
