GOD’S PLAN FOR VICTORY IN 2004
1 Cor 15:57-58 KJV 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
We have Stepped into a New Year. People are Looking with Great Hope for this year to be Better than the Last.
For many people, this is a Time for Reflection: People think of the Good Times & the Bad Times of the Past Year. Many Focus on the New Year and Hope for Things to be Different in their Lives with the Future Year. Of Course, Many People Make Resolutions è Statements of Intent by which they Plan to Improve their Lives in the Coming Year. I Personally, am not one to Make Resolutions. I Like to Set Goals, and Make Plans to Obtain those Goals.
As Christians, I Believe that Our Thoughts, Words, & Our Prayers in these First Few Days of 2004 Will Set The Stage or the Landmarks / Boundaries for the Entire Year.
What do you Want to Be in 2004? What do you Want to Do in 2004? How do you Want your Life to be Different in 2004?
This is A Time to Prepare Our Hearts & Minds for Greater Devotion and Greater Service to God in 2004. So, Determine to Get Out of your Spiritual Rut. Determine to Draw Closer to God. Determine to Be Faithful and Obedient to Christ in the New Year. You Hold The Keys to Your Future, They are in Your Hands. The Choices you Make and the Actions you Take Now will Determine your Destiny in 2004.
I. In Our Text, PAUL TELLS US THAT VICTORY BELONGS TO US. We all Face Trials, Troubles, and Hardships in Life, but No Matter What our Struggles May Be, It is Important to Know that Victory is Sure, and we Give Thanks to God, because He Gives us the Victory through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Ps 34:19 KJV 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. TLB 19 The good man does not escape all troubles-he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one. 1 John 5:4-5 NIV 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. If there is Anyone Who Has the Right to Victory, it is the Born Again Believer. Someone said, “The Christian Walk is Not a Fight for Victory, rather, it is a Struggle to Maintain the Victory that Christ has already Won for Us.” In the OT the Israelites Had to Possess the Land Given them by God as an Inheritance. We Christians have been Given the Victory as an Inheritance, and we too, must Possess Our Inheritance. We Do it with Faith in the Word of God, and with the spiritual weapons of our warare. You are On the Winning Team when you Walk with God!
II. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE CAN BE STRONG in the LORD.
Eph 6:10-11 NIV 0 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
The NLT for 1 Cor 15:58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. Be Strong and Steady. Without Jesus we are Helpless, Hopeless, and Hell-Bound. But God never Intended we Live the Christian Life Alone, or in our own strength.
Psalm 27:1-4 NLT 1The LORD is my light and my salvation-- so why should I be afraid? The LORD protects me from danger-- so why should I tremble? 2When evil people come to destroy me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear. Even if they attack me,
I remain confident. God Himself is Our Ever-Present Companion. He is For Us, He is With Us, and He has Come to Dwell Within Us through the Person of the Holy Spirit. So Let Him Fill your Life With His Mighty Power and Strength.
III. PAUL’S CHARGE TO US IS: BE STEADFAST & UNMOVABLE è STAND FIRM. NLT Be Strong and Steady. Don’t Be a Yo-Yo Christian, Up & Down, Up & Down. Be Constant. Be Steadfast. Be Like a Rock. Stay Focused on the Lord and on Your Position of Victory in Him.
Gal 5:1 KJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Keep Standing Firm and Do Not Let Anything Bring you Down. Keep your Eyes on The Lord. Peter Walked on the Water, but then he looked at the Storm Raging around him and Began to Sink. He Cried out for Help and Jesus reached out to him. When Peter put his Hand in the Hand of Christ, there was No Way he could Sink. When you Put your Hand in the Hand of Christ, there is No Way you Can Lose.
Be Strong and Steady, Be Steadfast and Firm in your Faith.
Don’t Be a Spiritual Wimp. Be a Real Man of God. Be a Real Woman of God.
Keep Yourself Spiritually Fit.
Do those things that Build Spiritual Strength & Stability into your life: Spend Time in Prayer, Fellowshipping with the Lord. Get into the Word of God, both in Private Devotions and in Church where you can Hear the Word of God Preached and Taught.
Get Involved with your Church è Fellowship with Other Christians who will Encourage you and Help you to Grow in the Lord.
Three Things are Vital for a Baby to Grow and Develop: 1) An Atmosphere of Love, 2) Proper Nutrition, 3) Exercise. A Babe in Christ Finds all Three in Church. 1) The Love of the Family of God, 2) The Nutrition of the Word of God, 3) Exercise in Serving God and People in Jesus Name è Letting God work through you to meet Needs in the Lives of Other People.
If you are Weak Spiritually, If you are Defeated and Discouraged, If you are Easily Knocked Down Spiritually, You Need to Get Into Church. And I Don’t Mean Just for Sunday Worship. You Need Bible Study. You Need Prayer Meeting. You Need the Other Services of the Church. As you Avail yourself of the Programs and Services of the Church, You Will Grow Spiritually, and You Can Show Yourself as Mature in the Lord by Your Steadiness, by Your Sound Judgment, and by Firm Resolution.
IV. GIVE YOURSELF FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD. V 58b “always abounding in the work of the Lord,” NLT “always [be] enthusiastic about the Lord’s work” Many Christians WILL NEVER
Experience Victory in their lives because they Live Self-Centered Lives.
If you Live to Please yourself, You will never have Satisfaction and Fulfillment in Life. But if you will Dedicate Your Life to Helping Others in the Name of Christ You Will Find Great Blessing. The Greatest Need of People Everywhere is to Know Christ in Salvation. Outside of Christ, People are Lost. They are Under Condemnation. If they Die, they will Spend Eternity Separated from God in that Horrible Place called Hell. They Need to Hear the Gospel of Redeeming Love. They Need the Savior. They Need the New Birth. They Need Forgiveness for their Sins. And You Hold The Keys to their Future in your Hands. You Can Share Christ with them and Lead them to Eternal Life.
Go to Work in God’s Vineyard. Serve the Lord with Gladness.
Get Involved in Serving God in His Church.
Get Involved in Reaching Out to People with the Love of God.
When you Do … There will be Great Reward. God’s Blessing will be on you now, and there will be a Crown of Righteousness for you when you get to Heaven.
