I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR

OPENING

SCRIPTURE READING

PRAYER

CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Romans 8:18-39.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

To show believers that because they are more than conquerors through Christ, they can endure present suffering with patience, depend on the Spirit with confidence, and move forward with courage, knowing that God has secured their victory.

INTRODUCTION

I’d like for you to take the Word of God with me, please, and turn to Romans 8:18-39.

ILLUSTRATION

In December of 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles, was sent to hold the little Belgian town of Bastogne. What they found when they arrived was brutal beyond anything they had seen.

Temperatures plunged below freezing.

Snow fell relentlessly.

Medical supplies were gone.

Ammunition was running out.

Food was scarce.

The men had only the clothes on their backs. And before long, the Germans surrounded the town entirely, cutting off every road, every supply line, and every escape route.

The Germans sent a message demanding surrender. Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe sent back a one-word reply: “Nuts!”

What gave those men such confidence? It wasn’t that the situation looked good. It wasn’t that they were stronger, or better supplied, or more prepared. It was because they had received word that General Patton and the Third Army were fighting their way toward them. Help was coming. Reinforcements were on the move. Victory was not a matter of “if,” but “when.”

So they held the line. Cold, hungry, exhausted, surrounded — but unbroken. They fought on because they knew something the enemy did not know: deliverance was already on its way.

Stephen Ambrose, the historian behind Band of Brothers, wrote that the morale of those men did not rest on what they saw around them, but on what they knew was coming. When relief finally arrived on December 26th, those soldiers didn’t rise as defeated survivors — they stood as conquerors who refused to quit because they believed the promise of help.

TRANSITION

My friends, in Romans 8, Paul is doing the same thing for every believer. He lifts our eyes from the cold, hard battlefield of present suffering and reminds us of what is already on the way. He says, in verse 37,

Romans 8:37 KJV 1900

37 …we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Listen, he didn’t say we are more than conquerors because life is easy, but because your victory is already secured in Christ.

And so like those soldiers, we can stand form in Christ, not in our strength, but in His promise. Because of this understanding, let me share with you three important truths regarding our lives for Christ today as we learn this fundamental identity truth: We are more than conquerors.

I CAN PATIENTLY ENDURE THE DIFFICULTIES OF THIS LIFE | VV. 18-25

In verses 18-25, we find this, write it down. Because I am more than a conqueror, I can patiently endure the difficulties of this life. Look at verse 18 again,

Romans 8:18 KJV 1900

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Every trial, every temptation, every challenge we have we can endure because we are more than conquerors. When we are going through the trials, though, sometimes we feel as if we can’t overcome, that the weight is to hard to bear. And so, we must adjust our perspective.

Paul lays out a few reasons as to why we can patiently endure.

BECAUSE I SEE THE FUTURE GLORY | VS. 18

In verse 18, it is because I see the future glory of eternity with my Savior. These present sufferings don’t even remotely come close the what awaits.

Oh my friends, while we don’t know everything that awaits us, we have been given a glimpse.

No more death, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more arthritis, no more cancer, no more broken limbs, no more tears, no more suffering. Streets of gold, walls of jasper, food in abundance, and much, much, more.

But the greatest future glory is knowing that we will be with Jesus and He will be with us. “And so shall we ever be with the Lord,” God’s Word declares.

BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE GROANING OF CREATION | VV. 19-22

If that wasn’t good enough, Paul continues in verses 19-22 with another reason we can patiently endure, because I understand the groaning of creation. Look at verse 21,

Romans 8:21 KJV 1900

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

The reason for pain, suffering, difficulties, and more is because of sin. As a Christian, as a child of God, we understand the reason even the world itself struggles. Because of this understanding, we are more than conquerors.

When you listen to a lost person, who doesn’t know the Word of God, or the God of the Word, they can’t fathom why wickedness abounds. They can’t comprehend how a loving God would allow such wickedness and perverseness. But as a child of God, we do understand that the Lord has a plan and purpose for every situation.

Because of this we can patiently endure.

BECAUSE I KNOW MY REDEMPTION IS GUARANTEED | VV. 23-25

And then God gives us one more truth. We can patiently endure becuse I know my redemption is guaranteed. Look at verse 23,

Romans 8:23 KJV 1900

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Did you know that one day this mortal will put on immortality, and this corruption will become incorruptible? That’s a Bible truth. No matter what happens to me in this life, my redemption is guaranteed. I’m waiting for the final moment of this when either through death, or the rapture, my race is run and won and I see Jesus face to face.

So my friends, patiently endure what this life throws at you.

I CAN HUMBLY RELY UPON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP ME | VV. 26-32

But please don’t do it in your own strength. God did not leave us to patiently endure ourselves. In fact, He’s given us the Holy Spirit to help us. We see this truth in verses 26-32. We are more than overcomes, therefore, I can humble rely upon the Holy Spirit to help me. Look at verse 26 to begin.

Romans 8:26 KJV 1900

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

God never intended for us to go through life in our own strength. From the very beginning, He walked with us and talked with us, but then sin entered in and created a rift in that system. Therefore, God sent Jesus so that through Him, God’s Spirit could come and indwell every believer. And yet, He does so much more

HE INTERCEDES FOR ME | VV. 26-27

Verses 26 and 27 remind us that He intercedes for us. When we don’t know how to pray or what to pray, the Holy Spirit steps in.

ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever struggled to know what to say in a given situation? And in that situation you were thankful for a friend who understood the need and spoke up on your behalf? That is the what Spirit does to God for us.

He intercedes to the throne of grace for us.

HE WORKS ALL THINGS FOR MY GOOD | VS. 28

Additionally, He works all things for my good. Look at verse 28,

Romans 8:28 KJV 1900

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.

As God’s children, as we live for Christ, the Holy Spirit actively works all of the sorrows and sufferings in our lives for our good. We may not understand how He is going to accomplish this, but we can take it to the bank that He is accomplishing good from the struggles.

HE GUIDES AND MOLDS ME FROM START TO FINISH | VV. 29-30

And then He guides and molds me from start to finish. Look at verses 29 and 30 quickly,

Romans 8:29–30 KJV 1900

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

One of the primary ways in which the Holy Spirit helps us is through conforming us to Christ’s image, who He is. He actively works out our spiritual muscles and shape so that we think, act, and look like Jesus in all we say and do.

I find this refreshing. God keeps working on me. I struggle, and I know you do as well. We sometimes carry weights we out not to carry. Sometimes we sin and that sin easily besets us. And that can discourage us. But then, we are reminded that He continues to work on us until the day of Jesus Christ. He never gives up on us. He freely and actively works on us and help us.

HE FREELY GIVES ME ALL THINGS IN CHRIST | VV. 31-32

And then we find in verses 31 and 32, that the Holy Spirit also freely gives us all things in Christ. Look at those verses,

Romans 8:31–32 KJV 1900

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?

What a blessing. I mean, what can we then? We’ve got so much going for us. God gives us freely everything we need through the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t say He’ll give us everything we want, butHe does say He will give us everything we need.

Paul said it this way to th Philippian believers,

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

There is nothing that we need, that God’ does not provide. Therefore, we can humbly rely upon the Holy Spirit for help. Are we more than conquerors? Of course we are. God has said it. This is who we are in Jesus Christ.

Because of this, we can patiently endure veery difficulty in this life. Because we are more than conquerors, we can humbly rely upon the Holy Spirit to help us.

I CAN BRAVELY CHARGE FORWARD FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST | VV. 33-39

And lastly in verses 33-39, we can bravely charge forward for the cause of Christ. Look at these verses through verse 37 with me,

Romans 8:33–37 KJV 1900

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.

Paul begins to ask three questions to rouse our spirits.

BECAUSE NO ONE CAN SUCCESSFULLY ACCUSE ME | VV. 33-34

No one can successfully accuse you of anything. The Bible says that one of the names of Satan is the accuser of the brethren. He goes before God and attack us. But then, God’s Word declares, our Savior, our Advocate, our attorney, if you will, stands up in our defense and destroys the enemies attack.

There is not one person that can successfully accuse us.

BECAUSE NOTHING CAN DEFEAT ME | VV. 35-37

Oh my friends, we can bravely charge forward because nothing can defeat us. Verse 35 goes through a list of seven different challenges we could face in this life and asks which of these could ever separate us from God’s love? And the answer found in verse 37, is not one.

Even though verse 36 seems bleak, yes we are killed all the day long. Yes, we may lose our life for Christ, but that did not separate us from God’s love.

ILLUSTRATION: In Acts 7, the deacon Stephen was out bravely pressing forward for Jesus and was attacked by an angry mob who ultimately stoned him to death. But Stephen’s testimony of what transpired during this ought to embolden us for Jesus. We read in Acts 7:56,

Acts 7:56 KJV 1900

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Jesus Himself, stood up to receive Stephen into Paradise. The worst anyone can do to a child of God is usher then into eternity where nothing can ever touch them again.

Our problem when faced with difficulties is simply having the wrong perspective on life. We focus too much on the joys and comforts of this life and not enough on eternity. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:33,

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

God’s Word challenges us in Colossians 3:1-2,

Colossians 3:1–2 KJV 1900

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Nothing can defeat you. Therefore, charge forward for Christ.

BECAUSE NOTHING CAN SEPARATE ME FROM THE LOVE OF GOD | VV. 38-39

And nothing can separate you from God’s love. Finish the passage with me in verses 38 and 39,

Romans 8:38–39 KJV 1900

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.

This list is an all-inclusive list. Both the physical world and the spiritual world could ever separate us from God’s love.

CONCLUSION

My friends, when Paul says, “We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us,” he is not giving us a slogan to place on a T-shirt. He is declaring a reality that God Himself has placed on our lives. This is who we are in Christ. This is our identity. This is the truth that sustains us in every hardship, every trial, and every moment of spiritual conflict.

Because we are more than conquerors, we can patiently endure the difficulties of this life.

Because we are more than conquerors, we can humbly rely upon the Holy Spirit to help us.

And because we are more than conquerors, we can bravely charge forward for the cause of Christ.

So here is the call for every believer today: Live every single day in the victory Christ has already secured for you.

Do not live like you are defeated. Do not live as if the world holds the final word over your life. Do not live for the temporary comforts of this earth.

Live for Jesus.

Live for His kingdom.

Live with your eyes on eternity.

And when your race is run, and you see Jesus face to face, you will stand—not as a defeated survivor of life’s battles—but as a conqueror who lived every day for the glory of God.