Victory Over Spiritual Problems

VICTORY OVER SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS

By

Jerry Falwell

A. INTRODUCTION

Last week I told you victory is possible. Today, I want to teach you to get victory over problems.

The biggest problem facing America is not racism, corporate greed, the budget, environment factors or people being de-humanized by technology. The biggest problem is moral and spiritual decay.

George Gallup, the man who continually polls Americans says, “Our society is coming to the end

of its emotional resources.” He says when that happens, “It is inevitable that people will turn to God.” He says there is a search for spirituality.

1. Victory over spiritual laxity.

a. Spiritual victory is promised to every Christian over our old way of living. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

b. “Though our outward man perish (or is decaying), yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (II Corinthians 4:16). God can give us victory.

c. “Let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

2. Victory over desire for things. God has promised to supply all of the needs of the Christian—not all of his desires.

a. “The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want (for anything I need)” (Psalm 23:1).

b. “I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).

c. “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

3. Victory over ignorance.

a. There are many requirements of the Christian life that immature Christians do not know. This is because when we are born again, we are ignorant of God’s plan for our life. Yet, God has promised that He will guide the Christian. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:80).

b. God has said He would send the Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truths (John 16:13).

c. If we lack wisdom, we can ask God and He will give us wisdom, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:6).

4. Victory over discouragement.

a. Many Christians are defeated by their emotions. I have often said, “God cannot use a discouraged person.” Therefore, God wants us to be victorious over our depression so we can serve Him.

b. The basis of our victory over discouragement is the fact that Christ, “Hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4).

c. We are exhorted to “sorrow not even as others which have no hope. For if we believe Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (I Thessalonians 4:13-14).

d. “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart” (Psalm 27:14).

e. Sometimes our discouragement turns into anger. When we are angry, our outward frustration shows lack of trust in God. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31).

f. Finally, Christians should not be internally depressed or worried. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).

5. Victory over persecution.

a. We in America have suffered very little for the cause of Christ. America has been a nation influenced by Christianity. Therefore, we have known very little persecution. But we do not know what is going to happen in the future. We should realize that we are personally promised victory when we are persecuted.

First, Jesus promised persecution. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The second basis for our victory over per-secution is the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35-39).

The third basis for our victory is the fact that Christ has already died for us. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).

b. God has promised that the Christian can have victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God” (I John 5:4-5).