Victory to Victory
We’re going to continue on the subject that we’ve been on the last few weeks and that is walking in God’s promises and walking in victory in our lives. We’ve heard messages along these lines from time to time, but we need to go back to them so that we can be built up and encouraged. If discouragement sets in, then we began to get negative and walk in doubt. When we’re in doubt we’re not going to receive anything from the Lord.
I) We need to be built up and encouraged in the Lord. (Proverbs 15:23) says, “A word spoken in due season, how good it is!” (KJV)
A) A fit word from God at the right time is very, very good. It ministers life, freedom, and victory to the person that hears it and receives it.
B) Turn with me to EPH 2:4-6.
1) This V says that we are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
a) Your victory is a direct result of your relationship with God.
(i) Really the victory that you have does not have any thing to do with your circumstances. It’s a gift from God. He’s already given it to you.
2) So if you’re not walking in victory you need to examine yourself.
a) There can be things in our lives that can be hindering us from walking in victory and from walking in the promises of God.
(i) Of course, we know sin is going to be a hindrance. But there are some things that we don’t even think about that can hinder us.
(ii) Things like, BITTERNESS. Now if you ask somebody “Are you bitter?” The answer will be, “Of course not.”
b) Let me give you a very simple definition of “BITTER OR BITTERNESS.”
(i) If you don’t have joy in your life then you’re probably in bitterness or angry about how your life is.
(ii) The Bible says in (JOB 21:25) “Another dieth in bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.”
(a) Bitterness or you could say the lack of significant joy in your life, will severely hinder you from receiving the blessings and pleasures of God’s promises.
c) Turn to Proverbs 17:22.
(i) A merry and joyful heart brings about God’s promises, but those that have a broken spirit; those that walk in bitterness, hatred, and negativism receive the worst in this life.
(ii) If you lack joy you need to spend more time in the presence of God. In his presence is the fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11).
C) Another area that the Lord quickened to my spirit on what to minister today was the words that come out of our mouth.
1) The Bible says that death and life are in the power of the tongue.
a) Every word that you speak is a seed and if you’re planting bad seeds you’re going to have a harvest of weeds. That would be a harvest of every bad thing that you’ve sown.
(i) (Galatians 6:7) says, “For whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”
(ii) If you sow negative seeds like; I always get sick, or I always lose my job, or I’m such a failure, that’s what you’re going to receive.
2) But there is another area that has to do with the words we speak and that has to do with SWEARING, FOOLISH JESTING, GOSSIPING, and USING THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN.
a) (Ephesians 4:29) says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.”
b) In (Ephesians 5:4) it says that the saints of God should not be partakers in FOOLISH TALKING or in EVIL JESTING.
c) In (Exodus 20:7) it says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
(i) Using the name of “GOD” or “JESUS CHRIST” or the name of the Holy Spirit, as a slang or as an expression is using the Lord’s name in vain.
(ii) Don’t go around saying, “OH GOD” unless you’re referring to God or talking to Him.
(iii) Don’t go around saying “Jesus Christ” unless you’re referring to Him or talking to Him.
II) 1COR 15:57
A) It is possible that we are doing things right, but we still don’t see the victory. The Word of God gives us some insight into that HEB 10:36
1) I like the way the NIV puts it, (Hebrews 10:36) “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (NIV)
a) When the KJV says “You have need of patience”, the NIV says “persevere” the Greek literal says it’s a steadfastness, constancy, and it an endurance.
2) While we’re waiting in patience, doing the will of God, we should still be checking ourselves.
a) (1COR 11:31) Says, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
B) There are some important things that you should know in order to have this victory.
1) 1st look at ROM 8:28
a) It’s essential to know that all things will work out for good if you love the Lord.
b) Notice that there is a condition to that V., “To them that Love God.”
(i) The word “love” here is the Greek word “Agapao” which comes from “agape”
(ii) This is the highest form of love, an unconditional love.
(iii) This is the best love that we could have for the Lord. And the Lord says that if you have this kind of love for me, all things will work out for good.
(a) God has a way of turning situations around for His glory.
(b) But your love for the Lord is the key.
c) Let’s just go to a little side thought here about love.
(i) JOHN 21:15-17
d) Back in (Romans 8:28) It Says, “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.” (KJV)
(i) The beginning of that V says that “We know” You have to have that knowing & that attitude that God will turn the situation around.
(ii) Other wise you will get into negativism & that will bring defeat.
2) The 2ND thing that you need to know to have victory is found in PHIL 4:13 (1st was to know that God will turn the situation around.)
a) It’s important to realize that you can have victory through Jesus, & that’s where victory comes from.
b) If you don’t understand that then you will be defeated before you even start.
3) 3rd ROM 6:14
a) It’s very important that you realize that you are not under sin’s dominion, nor are you under the curse of it.
b) (2COR 5:21) Says, “For he hath made him {to be} sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
(i) If you have, (what I call), a sin consciousness, it’s going to hinder your relationship with God.
(ii) HEB 9:14
(a) The NIV says, “Cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
(b) You can’t really be serving God in the fullest with a sin consciousness.
(iii) (HEB 10:22) Says, “Let us draw near (that’s talking about God) with a true heart (or you could say “Pure Conscience”) in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
c) If we’re coming to God & want to walk from victory to victory it’s important to have that “Pure Conscience.”
(i) We need to know that we’re no longer under sin.
C) There’s 3 steps that we all need to take to have that victory. JAMES 4:7
1) 1st of all submit yourself to God.
a) That means serving Him & being obedient to Him.
2) Then He says “Resist the Devil”
a) Resist those temptations to sin, resist evil thoughts, resist those works of the Devil.
b) Then the Devil will flee.
3) Then in (V 8) he says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”
a) When you draw nigh unto God & He draws nigh unto you, then you have victory.
b) But notice that the submitting to God comes before the drawing nigh unto Him.
4) Look at DEUT 28:1
a) In order for us to have this kind of victory, to where we are set high above all nations, we need to follow these conditions.
(i) 1st of all he says, “HARKEN unto the voice of the Lord,” The word “Harken” means “listen intently to.”
(ii) The word “OBSERVE,” means “To guard, & to protect.”
(iii) Then he says, “And do all His commandments.”
b) In other words he’s saying, “Listen intently to the Word of God, protect & guard that Word in your heart, & do it.”
III) Turn with me to 1COR 9:24-27
A) In (V 24) he tells us to run this race of LIFE.
1) He goes on to say, “Don’t just run it any old way, run to WIN.”
B) Then in (V 25) he says, “Be temperate in all things”
1) The RSV says, “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.”
a) We as Christians need to be temperate or use self-control in all things.
b) The NIV says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.”
C) He then ends this chapter with “I keep under my body, & bring it into subjection.”
1) These are the thing that are essential for victory. But to sun it all up, if you want to go from victory to victory you have to sell out for God. He has to be 1st in your life.
SUN AM 5/12/91 TFC & WOLCC SUM AM 4/25/93 and W. O. L. C. C. someday Sunday, March 15, 1998