Life on earth is a life in the battle Field

The purpose of Life

2 Corinthians 3:5–6 ESV

5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

It is not just enjoyment

Competing each other

Creating wealth

Freedom from problems

It is about Jesus - We are Christ’s and He is living and working through Us.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 but for the purpose of this message read,

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 ESV

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The earth is a battle field

We can only disconnect ourselves from the earth by disconnecting our hearts from it.

Our body is permanently connected to earth because the body comes from the ground.

Our spirit is heavenly and belongs to God.

Three reasons God denies our requests at times.

God does not deny our prayer but denies the request. He always hears our prayers.

To avoid pride (vain boasting)

To qualify us and give us His grace (when grace is given instead of the answer expected, it means the grace is equivalent or sufficient as the answer expected)

To keep us from fighting wrong spiritual battles. i.e. competing or copying others, only living and praying to fight against demons. etc.

Romans 12:1–8 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Three ways, How to empower your self as a christian.

Use the power of the spoken word

Use the power of unity

Use the power of submission

All these three advocates for success in life.

Three Spiritual Laws for believers in the New Testament.

Grace (Extended Love, super abounding Love)

Peace

Mercy

Three things that the gospel of Jesus ministers to a believer

Faith

Hope

Love

2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.