The Victorious Life; NOW

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

INTRO

For just a few moments would you open up your imagination with me? Imagine that the year is 701 BC. You are living in Jerusalem, and for the past few months you have been hearing stories about what has been happening in the regions to your north. You have heard of a foreign army, the Assyrians, being led by a new king that is hungry for new lands, new people, and all of their stuff. You have heard the stories of how your king has emptied the national treasury of all the gold and all the silver in an effort to “BUY PEACE.” You have seen the temple and the missing adornments, the stripped gold, and the missing jewels. You have heard the rumors that King Hezekiah sent King Sennacherib a huge ransom to spare the city. You have heard the Gossip from those on the wall that overheard the threats the inhabitants of the city would eat their own dung and drink their own urine just to try and survive. You know the strategies of siege warfare; that a lot of it is a waiting game: trap the inhabitants in the city, let them consume their supplies while they are cut off from restocking, feast on the game surrounding the city, prepare the weapons of war. You know the strategies, you see the enemy camping outside the walls, you see the swords, spears, bows, and chariots, you see them cutting down trees and beginning to build battering rams. FEAR IS BUZZING THROUGH THE CITY!!!

BUT GOD!!!

2 of the greatest words you, I, or anyone else could ever utter.

While the Jewish people may or may not have been worried or living in fear. While King Hezekiah was sending a ransom. WHile preparations for war were being made…GOD WAS AT WORK!!!

Isaiah 37:36–37 NKJV

36 Then the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh.

For the next several chapters Isaiah writes about promises of protection, provision, promotion, position, and purpose. He writes that God is doing and is going to do amazing things not only for the Jewish people, but for ALL the people of the world.

In Isaiah 42:1-7

Isaiah 42:1–7 NKJV

1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. 4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.” 5 Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

He says you have seen what I have done, but wait, and watch what I’m going to do.

YOUR VICTORY IS NOW, BUT WATCH THE VICTORY THAT’S AHEAD!

You can AND SHOULD live a victorious life now, BUT if you’ll hold true to the Word of God, believe and receive His promises, the VICTORY TO COME IS NEARLY UNIMAGINABLE!!!

You can read through Scripture and find promise after promise. You will find that some of those promises were specific for a time or person, but there are lots of promises that are for us right here and right now.

In Isaiah 42, the prophet has started talking about a promise that is and will be for all people for all times. God is talking about HIS Servant (SINGULAR) that would come for all people.

He was talking about the Messiah that would AND HAS taken away the sins of all that would receive what He did for us.

He was prophesying the VICTORY THAT WE CAN CHOOSE TO WALK IN AND LIVE IN NOW

In Isaiah 53 we see that the price or the cost of our Victory was His pain. The SERVANT would have to pay a great price to overcome the extreme weight and shame of our sin.

By the time we get to this mornings passage of Scripture we have seen...

THE PAST (What God has done in the past) The Angel of the Lord came and killed 185,000 men, THEREBY DELIVERING THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM FROM SENNACHERIB

THE PROPHECY in chapter 42 that the Servant would come and reign.

THE PRICE He would pay in Isaiah 53 which we know talked about what Jesus would do and provide for us at the crucifixion.

And in Isaiah 54 we see PROMISE to both Israel and to us.

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

I. Protection

NO WEAPON

The Jewish people of the day may have thought back to the Assyrians. They may have thought about the Babylonians. They may have considered spears, swords, sling, charioteers, siege machines, armed cavalry.

They likely would have still considered neighboring nations that sought conquest and power. regardless of the image that was sparked, regardless of the natural power those weapons may have possessed, God said those weapons would not Prosper.

Today when we hear, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” we may think of natural weapons, such as guns, knives, or nuclear bombs, but I think that we (as the Jewish people then) should hear that statement metaphorically.

In stead of thinking about swords, spears and siege weapons; or guns, knives, and nuclear bombs, we should think about the desires of the enemy of our souls and the weapons he is constantly forming against us.

Ephesians 6:11–18 (ESV)

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

II. Power

He promises us protection, but He doesn’t leave us powerless. Don’t leave here today and stare down the barrel of a bad guys gun quoting Isaiah 54:17. In Ephesians 6:17

Ephesians 6:17 (ESV)

17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

In the wilderness when Jesus was tempted by the devil this is exactly what He did. The enemy came with temptation, he came sling arrows trying to get Jesus to fail, and Jesus blocked the blows, and fired right back with the Word of God.

You cant sit here today, hearing “no weapon formed against me shall prosper” and leave expecting to ride all week on Sunday’s sermon.

If you don’t wake up every morning and prepare yourself for the attack, if you aren’t putting on the whole armor of God, spending time training with your sword by reading and studying the Word of God, taking time to pray, if you don’t expect a battle, you will certainly not be ready when it comes.

He doesn’t leave us powerless, but He gives us the weapons, wisdom, and will to walk in Victory.

History tells us that as Hezekiah heard the news of Sennacherib’s attacks, he began to prepare. As I said earlier, one of the strategies of siege warfare was to wait out the people that were trapped. As Sennacherib’s delegates stood outside the walls of Jerusalem saying that the inhabitants would be forced to drink their own urine, they were unaware that Hezekiah had made provisions.

One of the things that made Jerusalem great was its water supply. At the outer edge of the city was a natural spring that supplied the entire city with water. However, the walls were in disrepair and the water was exposed.

2 Chronicles 32:1–7 NKJV

1 After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that his purpose was to make war against Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his leaders and commanders to stop the water from the springs which were outside the city; and they helped him. 4 Thus many people gathered together who stopped all the springs and the brook that ran through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?” 5 And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the Millo in the City of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him.

He strengthened the walls, he armed the men, he setup a leadership structure for battle, and he rerouted the water.

HE PREPARED FOR BATTLE

AND

HE RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO EMPOWER HIS PEOPLE

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

If I started around the room this morning asking each of you what battles you face, most of you would likely tell me it is a warfare of the mind.

It is words whether spoken against you or imagined within you, that lead to self-doubt, depression, anxiety, temptation, guilt, shame, fear, among who knows what else.

BUT God said, “YOU shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.”

YOU!!!

Not me, Not Pastor Sam, Not Pastor Kim, Not a prayer team, or a Sunday School Teacher!

IT’S IN YOUR MIND THAT BATTLES OFTEN BEGIN AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO END...

IN YOUR MIND!

They have the potential to begin and end without every being given a proper birth!

We do that by realizing that We have the power to refute every tongue that rises against us in judgment.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (NKJV)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

The next time you begin to doubt yourself, feel depression or fear rise up, the next time you feel guilt or shame start to rear its ugly head, SPEAK TO THE ENEMEY, TAKE BACK YOUR DESTINY, AND REMEMBER THAT YOU BELONG TO THE LORD!!!!

We sing it, we get excited about it, then we leave and find ourselves with our head hung low feeling defeated.

STOP IT!!!

JUST STOP IT!!!

You aren’t just supposed to Walk in Victory in eternity, BUT YOU ARE ALREADY MORE THAN CONQUERORS NOW!!!

HE HAS GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED

HE IS JEHOVAH JIREH, THE LORD WILL PROVIDE!!

III. Provision

Isaiah 54:11–13 ESV

11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. 12 I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. 13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

Are verses 11 and 12 literal speaking of eternity, are they literal for a time in this life, or are they metaphorical speaking of the great blessings God gives us?

How about yes, maybe, and ABSOLUTELY!

The questions are what do we consider great blessings?

What do we consider provision?

Are we going to be happy with less than rubies, emeralds and pearls?

Are we going to rest on Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Are we going to recognize that the greatest provision He could ever give us was salvation?

He could have stopped with covering our sins, but He took it a step further and indwelt us with His Holy Spirit

Then He took it a step further and promised to ENDUE US WITH POWER!

If you’re sitting here today, and you haven’t received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, you are leaving a promise on the table; You are missing out on some of the Provision.

The word Isaiah uses is HERITAGE which literally means an INHERIATANCE.

To the best of my knowledge, I don’t have any rich relatives that are going to leave me a big inheritancE, BUT I HAVE A GOD THAT OWNS THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS

I recently heard a story about a person that randomly received a significant check in the mail. It was an inheritance, but the person that had passed was someone he didn’t know. Obviously a little hesitant, he tucked the money away in an account expecting that someday someone would show wanting their inheritance.

This morning I want to assure you that the heritage, or the inheritance that the Lord has left for each of you is YOURS FOR THE TAKING!

There is no need to be hesitant, or to tuck the promises away, scared to claim them and stand on them, because someday someone might come and take it from you.

THE VICTORY IS ALREADY YOURS!!!!

IT IS FOR TODAY AND FOR ETERNITY!!!

The Word of God is yes and amen!!

His promises are true, and they are for you!

They are yours to stand in faith, and receive them for you!

Part of THOSE PROMISES AND PART OF that provision is promotion

IV. Promotion

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

Your promotion came the day you called upon the name of the Lord. When you confessed Jesus as Lord and believed that God raised Him from the dead, YOU WERE PROMOTED.

servantS

Paul wrote in Colossians 1:21-23

Colossians 1:21–23 ESV

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Romans 8:14–17 ESV

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Come on Church, THESE ARE SHOUTING WORDS!!!

They aren’t my words, and while Paul may have been the writer, God is the author and these are His words for the Roman church in AD65, and these are His words for you this morning.

YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER AND LOVE AND A SOUND MIND!

IF YOU ARE HERE THIS MORNING AND A BELIEVER YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SPIRIT OF ADOPTION!

YOU ARE AN HEIR OF GOD, A JOINT HEIR WITH CHRIST!

YOU AND I LITERALLY SHARE THE INHERITANCE OF GOD WITH CHRIST!!!!

WHAT KIND OF VICTORY IS THAT????

BUT even as we share in His inheritance, we also share in His purpose!

V. Purpose

WORSHIP TEAM!!!

servantS

Zig Zigglar said (wrote) one time (maybe many times)

You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want. - Zig Zigglar

I love living a victorious life! I love knowing that I HAVE victory, even when I don’t feel like it!

I love when I am down and feeling defeated, that there are people that I can talk to that will grab my boot straps, and give me a hand getting back on my feet.

Maybe you need to be one of those people for someone.

Maybe you need to get to a place where you will just open your mouth and tell someone about Jesus

Maybe you need someone in your life that will remind you the you ARE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR!

The point is I don’t have to do this alone.

The point is YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS ALONE!

Maybe you’re here today, and you’ve heard all this today and you aren’t living a truly victorious life, becasue you have never called on the name of the Lord.

The plan of salvation is simple.

ABC Romans Road

But listen to the following words of the Prophet Isaiah directly after the passage we read today!

Isaiah 55:1–7 ESV

1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

If you have never asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life, TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!

If you have at some point you asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life, but you got lost along the way, you’ve made some bad choices, and to be frank, you’re not sure what your eternity looks like…TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!

PRAY

Maybe you’re here this morning and you don’t feel very victorious.

Maybe you’ve let your guard down.

Maybe your health has taken a bad turn

Maybe you doubt yourself, or doubt God’s love

Maybe it seems the devourer has taken control of your life and you feel like God has forsaken you...

Listen to the next few words from the prophet Isaiah...

Isaiah 55:8–11 ESV

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.