VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING
Dr. Lewis Gregory
INTRODUCTION: Everybody likes a winner. In war winning is essential, in sports it’s nice, in everything it’s important. You personally want to be a winner: successful on your job, with your family, in everything you do. We need victory in our lives, but how can we be victorious? We’ve all heard about “victorious Christian living”, but not many people know what that really means, much less how to achieve it. Today we are going to examine Victorious Christian Living. Far too many Christians, including ministers, have too much failure and defeat. This is NOT victory! God intends for us to enjoy a life of victory right here and now!
I. WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF VICTORY?
A. There is only one true victor—Jesus Christ the conquering king. He is the Source of victory! Jesus said, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33) You can have that same victory. Jesus told us to pray that His kingdom would come here on Earth as it is in Heaven. Once you receive Jesus Christ, King Jesus comes to take up residence within you. Your heart becomes His throne. So now, God’s kingdom is within you. The Kingdom of Heaven is a spiritual kingdom. It is the realm of God’s presence. This Heavenly Kingdom is found only in the person of Jesus Christ the Lord. Jesus is the victor, He is the conqueror, and He is the triumphant victorious king. All hail King Jesus!
B. Heaven on Earth, that’s the life victorious life which Christ offers. We can live victoriously because the Victor, Jesus Christ Himself, indwells us. Jesus has conquered Satan, death and hell. Jesus is victor over all things. Thus, we can be victorious over all things through Christ Jesus our Lord—our indwelling King. Hallelujah!
II. WHAT IS VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING?
Consider some biblical terms that describe victory in the New Testament:
A. Strong: in union with Christ - Ephesians 6:10, And yet we are told in Isaiah 33:23 that “The lame take the prey.” 2 Corinthians 12:10 “When I am weak, then I am strong.” Matthew 26:41 “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” In Philippians 4:13 the Apostle Paul declares, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Because of Christ in you, you’re always in the place of strength, never weakness. Your flesh remains weak, but you are always strong in the Lord!
B. Triumphant: in union with Christ - 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, 3:5-6, God always causes us to triumph in Christ. When God causes something that is Grace.
C. Conqueror: in union with Christ - Romans 8:37, We are more than conquerors through Christ.
D. Overcomer: in union with Christ - 1 John 5:4-5, This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith (in Christ).
E. Authority: in union with Christ - Ephesians 2:5-6, You are Seated with Christ in heavenly places. Romans 5:17 You reign in this life by one Christ Jesus. Because of your union with Christ, you are in the place of authority and power. You are truly victorious in Christ!
III. WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING?
In union with Christ, you have Victory over sin, victory over fear, victory over worry, victory over circumstances, victory over adversity, victory over difficult people, and victory over anything else that comes your way.
A. Victory over sin: besetting sins, sinful habits, etc. One man had a habit of lying, especially to his wife. I shared with him that it is not about us trying to gain the victory over our sins, but rather relying upon the victorious Christ to live His victorious life through us. Once he realized the futility of his fleshly efforts, he gave up. He returned to the cross where he accepted his crucifixion with Christ, so that he could live by the life of another—Jesus Christ. Christ is now his life. Therefore, he began to experience victory over sin. There is victory in Jesus!
B. Victory over fear & worry: A man in his mid 40s was paralyzed by fear and worry so bad that he could hardly function. He developed Agoraphobia; he had a fear of crowds. He felt very insecure and inadequate around people. He rarely went anywhere he didn’t have to go. He lived with his mother and worked a night job at a factory by himself so he did not need to be around people. Yet, after I shared with him about the victory that is in Jesus, the Lord set him free, healed him of his emotional wounds, and made him whole! He even attended a retreat we conducted that very weekend. It was the first time in many years that he had gone anywhere with a group of strangers by himself. Yet, he did great and his mother was delighted in the change that she saw in his life. There is victory in Jesus!
C. Victory over circumstances: While flying to a mission trip in Mexico, I changed planes in Houston, Texas. There was a gate change, but the passengers at the previous gate were not properly notified. When we got to the other gate, the door to the plane had already been closed. Nobody else was allowed to board. I prayed and asked God to open the door. The airline personnel got special permission to open the door to the plane so we could board the plane! Hallelujah! God opens a door that no one can shut! There is victory in Jesus!
D. Victory over adversity: I was laid off (along with 43 other people) from my church staff position at First Baptist Church Atlanta, Georgia. Yet, when I got the news the Lord enabled me to remain peaceful, confident and expectant. I asked the Lord what He had to say about the layoff. He brought to my mind Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” He assured me that He was my Shepherd, and that all my needs were met in Him! I asked the Lord what we should do next. He answered, “It’s time to buy a house.” We had been waiting on the Lord to allow us to buy a house for 5 years. But once the Lord said it was time to buy a house, within three months we bought a house! Immediately, the Lord began opening new doors of ministry for us. And even though we lost 95% of our income when I was laid off, we never missed a payment on any of our expenses! There is victory in Jesus!
E. Victory over difficult people: A co-worker challenged me about my ministry. He accused me of being a heretic. He said I was teaching false doctrine. A meeting was scheduled with a group of pastors to evaluate me. The Lord told me not to even think about it. For the next several weeks before the scheduled meeting, every time I was tempted to worry about it, the Lord would remind me not to give it a second thought. He assured me He was taking care of it. He reminded me of what David said in 1 Samuel 17:47, “The battle is the Lord’s!” We never even had the meeting. My accuser was laid off from his job. Since no one else agreed with his accusations, the whole matter was dropped. There is victory in Jesus!
F. Victory over everything: Regardless of what happens to you, the Lord will make a way. While I was on a mission trip in Brazil, I was walking along the side of the road in a parking lot. Suddenly, I heard a car approaching. It sounded dangerously close. Immediately, I jumped toward the building, just as the driver swerved off the road right where I had just been standing. There is victory in Jesus!
IV. WHAT ABOUT YOU?
A. You can have the victory through Jesus Christ your Lord.
B. Nothing is too hard for the Lord! Even you and your problems.
C. The Lord is present to help in your time of need. He is available to make a difference in your life.
D. He will enable you to be instant in season and out of season (whether it is planned or unplanned). Therefore, in all things, at all times you can now be victorious in Christ. And that’s victorious Christian living! Hallelujah!
V. CONCLUSION: ARE YOU LIVING A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE?
You can live a victorious life. 1. But you must first stop trying to live your life in the energy of your flesh (relying upon your human strength and abilities). 2. You must give up and refuse to try anymore. 3. Surrender your life completely to the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is the Victor. 4. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His presence and power. 5. Now trust Christ to live His victorious life through you. And then you will be living victoriously through Christ!
Source Ministries © 2017
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VIDEO Message Victorious Christian Living - https://youtu.be/C-KIfwhXwF0
