Will God Surprise in Missions: More than Conquerors (3)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nay (37)
Nay (37)
We may be sheep for the slaughter but not in the defeated way one might think.
It is though death that we conquer, though it is an odd way to conquer, nevertheless it is true as we will see in the verses that follow.
The word “nay” is set in contrast to simply being defeated in death as the loser; we are more than conquerors.
In ALL Things (37)
In ALL Things (37)
We talked about this phrase last time as we reviewed Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
It does not in a couple things
Nor, does it say in several things.
Neither, does it say in many things.
It says All Things.
What does all things mean?
It means everything.
It means all things.
How many things are we more that conquerors? This is a pop quiz church.
How many things are we more that conquerors? This is a pop quiz church.
We are more than conquerors. (37)
We are more than conquerors. (37)
This phase is all one word in Greek.
It means to surprisingly to defeat.
It means to surprisingly to defeat.
This is a Will God Surprise in Missions moment right here.
This is a Will God Surprise in Missions moment right here.
God uses his people through the working of the Holy Spirit to cross boundaries that others cannot.
God used countless numbers of his people to change the course of the world.
Christians have been killed and maimed countless and torturous ways but over the course of time the strongholds have been pulled down.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
You might be thinking that those are lofty word, but what does that have to do with me/us? Let’s take a minute to think through these words.
You might be thinking that those are lofty word, but what does that have to do with me/us? Let’s take a minute to think through these words.
First, who are the whose?
The first who is “we” meaning Paul and the members of the Corinthian church and by extension through time “us”, sitting right here.
Do you see that in verse 3, we do not war after the flesh.
The next who is God. (4)
The next who are those with imaginations against God. (5)
The next who is Christ (5) bringing obedience to Christ. (5)
Now look closely at verse 6
Now look closely at verse 6
Who is ready to revenge all disobedience? I think it is referring to Christ in verse 5.
Who is ready to revenge all disobedience? I think it is referring to Christ in verse 5.
Notice “all disobedience” is a wide range and I think it mean all.
Now, the second part of that verse, “when your obedience is fulfilled”
Now, the second part of that verse, “when your obedience is fulfilled”
Who is the who in this phrase? I think by extension we can easily say it is you and me right here today.
Who is the who in this phrase? I think by extension we can easily say it is you and me right here today.
I think we can conclude from these verses, Paul is saying that when we are OBEDIENT our weapons are not carnal weapon in this warfare. God uses those weapons mightily to pull down strongholds, casts down ALL imaginations to bring EVERY thought to obedience to Christ.
I think we can conclude from these verses, Paul is saying that when we are OBEDIENT our weapons are not carnal weapon in this warfare. God uses those weapons mightily to pull down strongholds, casts down ALL imaginations to bring EVERY thought to obedience to Christ.
There is a condition there, if we want to be part of this battle and we should want too, it is our obedience.
There is a condition there, if we want to be part of this battle and we should want too, it is our obedience.
Do you want to be in the fight? Be obedient!
Do you want to be in the fight? Be obedient!
Back in Romans; I think we can see in Romans 8 there has to be obedience on our part and in obedience we are surprisingly more than conquerors.
Back in Romans; I think we can see in Romans 8 there has to be obedience on our part and in obedience we are surprisingly more than conquerors.
Another meaning of more than conquerors is to surpassingly defeat.
Another meaning of more than conquerors is to surpassingly defeat.
I think we can say it means a defeat that is beyond what we expected.
I think we can say it means a defeat that is beyond what we expected.
When my kids were young and still at home, we got them involved in Tae Kwon Doe and we went to our first regional tournament. The different events at the meet were forms and sparing and they were based upon age. Our school did really well in all the events. There was an awards ceremony at the end and one family name was called many times during the ceremony. The announcer finally said toward the end this family has dominated here today in every event.
We certainly could say that family surpassed our expectation.
The last meaning of more than conquerors is to utterly defeat in total victory.
The last meaning of more than conquerors is to utterly defeat in total victory.
The victory we are talking about here is supreme victory.
This victory is when there is no longer an enemy.
We do not know what victory is because in this culture the enemy does not want the true enemy destroyed.
The enemy is not destroyed because the enemy enjoys the chaos and clammier of the battle.
If the enemy is not defeated then it can regroup and put up another fight.
This world does not want a destroyed enemy because this world system wants the fear, devastation, heartache, and lose.
One question one may ask is, can a human eye distinguish true victory and from false?
One question one may ask is, can a human eye distinguish true victory and from false?
We look at history and we read about so many that have died for the cause of Christ and it is hard to see the victory.
Paul’s use of this word in Greek is not just victory but it is utter victory, it is supreme victory, hyper-victory.
It is “more than conquerors” written in the text.
The problem we have is this.
It is hard for our eye to see this hyper-victory that Paul is talking about.
What shall we then say to these things?
What shall we then say to these things?
Paul tells us this is the way things are, what do we do because they are hard to see with our eyes?
Paul tells us this is the way things are, what do we do because they are hard to see with our eyes?
Jesus told the disciples about the coming victory before it came to pass.
Jesus told the disciples about the coming victory before it came to pass.
The victory is in the death of Jesus Christ when He endure the punishment for sin; as a man for man and as God for every man that believes.
The victory is in the death of Jesus Christ when He endure the punishment for sin; as a man for man and as God for every man that believes.
Jesus told of the victory and what the disciples needed to know before the victory came. Turn to John 14.
Jesus told of the victory and what the disciples needed to know before the victory came. Turn to John 14.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
I am going to hit some of the high points here you can fill in the blanks later.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
You might ask this question.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
This is what “more than conquerors” may feel like.
This is what “more than conquerors” may feel like.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
The trouble we have is like this but we will see what “more than conquerors” really is when we see Jesus.
The trouble we have is like this but we will see what “more than conquerors” really is when we see Jesus.
31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Paul is telling us that just as the Father was with Jesus; He is with us and we cannot be separated from Him.
Paul is telling us that just as the Father was with Jesus; He is with us and we cannot be separated from Him.