Victorious Life, The

Introduction

Completed a series about- Kingdom of God- being …

kingdom minded people, and

kingdom builders.

There are seasons of life we go through as Christians.

There are also seasons in the eternal plan of God.

Mtt 16:1-3

Important to understand the season we are in so we know how to live and prepare ourselves.

Since 9/11/2001- an increasing release of wickedness.

Rom 5:20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. NLT

Along with the outpouring of sin, we also the increasing outpouring of God’s Spirit.

We are living in a time of great opportunity.

God doesn’t push, but He does give invitations and make opportunities. Don’t let them pass you by.

Kathie Walters

Kathie Walters talks about the angel of Change.

Two things we can do with change …

embrace change, or

resist change

If we do not change we will break.

Mk 2:22 "No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."

We must learn how to respond to change.

Christians are supposed not merely to endure change, nor even prosper from it, but to cause it. Harry Emerson Fosdick

The church/Christians can often be …

impediment to change,

set up camp in our last place of revelation,

God- calling us to advance His Kingdom in our world.

Three truths we need to live victorious lives

Rev 12:10-12 NASU

Rv 12:11 Our brothers won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. TEV

1. The Blood of Lamb

We are a covenant people …

we have entered a sacred agreement w/God.

God has purchased us from every nation.

A covenant people does not mean

a perfect people, or

a people w/o sin- but a people pursuing God.

Isa 53:5-6

There are two aspects to the blood of Jesus Christ …

Jesus overcame the worse the enemy had for Him

By His death/resurrection He destroyed the power of death that the devil had over mankind.

Those who trust in Jesus share in the same victory.

Through Jesus sacrifice on the cross sin is forgiven

When we accept in faith what Jesus has done for us, our sins are forgiven.

We are not to continue in sin, but every sin we have committed has been nailed to the cross of Christ.

Rom 6:1-2

Amazed in the story about Lot …

Gen 19:16 But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city. NASU

Lot hesitated, did not take the angel’s warnings seriously- they had to seize his hand.

God, out of his mercy rescued Lot from destruction.

In same way we are rescued from spiritual destruction

We must understand how much God loves us.

We have been created for eternity and it is time to begin to live like we are eternal- now, today.

The enemies main weapon today is accusation.

Lk 22:31-32

Jesus prayed for Peter- we must pray for one another.

2. The Truth Which They Proclaimed

A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is where it all begins for a Christian.

Mtt 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, ’MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’" NASU

We need- knowledge of Gods Word to walk in victory

The Word of God is a weapon God has given to us.

Eph 6:12-13, 17

Our mouth can be our greatest enemy …

we grumble/complain,

deny the truth,

promote a lifestyle unbelief

speak failure/death over our own lives.

I cannot serve a great God and remain small.

Since I serve a great God,

His greatness shall be seen in my life.

God’s promises are bigger than my problems.

(Pastor Clyde Oliver)

3. Willing To Give Up Their Lives And Die

We live in a culture of self-gratification and self-focus

The cross of Jesus Christ is essential in dealing with the selfishness in our own hearts.

By becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ, the cross keeps us focused on our transformation. It also keeps us from the quicksand of self-pity, gratuitous over-indulgence and unforgiveness. Francis Frangipane

We are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

Jesus makes a distinction between salvation and discipleship.

Salvation is open to all who will come by faith, while discipleship is for believers willing to pay a price.