More Than Conquerors

Romans 8:35–37 NIV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

We face Trials, hardships, dangers, risks, suffering, sorrow, and so much more every day.

tribulation and hardship are not things that happen only to sinners

The joy of our salvation when we first get saved can be so comforting that we think we will not have troubles again

Jesus said that in the world we would have tribulation

But he has overcome the world

Sometimes these troubles leave us feeling separated from God

as though He does not care

or worse, as though He isn’t there

Paul is reassuring us that If God is for us, who can be against us

asks the rhetorical question - who shall separate us from the love of Christ

In All These Things

In all these things we are more than conquerors

Nowhere is it promised that we will not face these things

trouble, hardship, persecution

famine, nakedness

danger and sword

Yet “in all these things” --- we, as Christians do face trials

as we discussed recently — there has no temptation taken us except what is common to men

But God Is Faithful

In every trial, God will make a way —

But you must seek it

look for it

choose it

IN all These Things - We are more than conquerors -

we are overcomers

How can we live this victorious life of being “more than conquerors”?

Conquer with More Prayer

Paul wrote in Phil 4:6, “But in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving … let your requests be made known unto God”

Paul knew something about this

he had set the example personally when he was in Philippi

Many Christians lack victory because they neglect to pray. Some pray about the big things that happen but forget that it is “the little foxes, that spoil the vines” (Song of Sol. 2:15).

Paul said “in everything”

If you neglect to pray about the normal things, you may get worn down by the time the big trials come

If we are to be more than conquerors, we must pray about everything, both the small and great, continuing always in prayer. The Scripture admonishes, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).

As we live in constant prayer, we constantly remind ourselves of the immediate presence of God

and His power to help

Smith Wigglesworth never ten minutes without prayer -

Conquer with More Promises

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Cor. 1:20).

Some Christians fail when it comes to reading, remembering, and relying on God’s promises. They unsuccessfully depend on their own strength.

they measure themselves by themselves - determine what is possible by what others do

Set their values by what is popular in culture

Measure success and failure by the world around them

limit God by other people’s experiences

If we are to be more than conquerors, we must trust God and depend on his promises. The Scripture says, “There hath not failed one word of all his good promise” (1 Kings 8:56).

Not one word has failed!!!!

A thousand may fall at your left, and ten thousand at your right hand…!

Through faith we understand that the things taht are seen were not made from what was already there - (Heb.11:3)

God creates Ex-Nihlio -

God is not limited to what you have already seen - or what anyone else has already experienced -

Put You Trust In Him

we must rely on His promises if we are to conquer

we must believe we can go boldly to His throne of grace

Conquer with More Peace

“And the peace of God … shall keep your hearts and minds” (Phil. 4:7).

So many Christians fail to be victorious because they lack God’s peace. They live with fear and doubts rather than with faith and confidence.

They live in constant worry - meditating on the threats of the devil rather than the promises of God

When we lack peace, we are often not able to give peace -

those who live in fear often react in violence and strife

Paul said “think on these things”

If we are to be more than conquerors, we must partake of God’s peace.

Jesus said, “My peace I give unto you.… Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:27).

We must simply accept the peace he offers.

the kind of peace that allowed Jesus to sleep in the midst of the storm -and expect he disciples to do the same

Conquer with More Praise

“But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more” (Ps. 71:14).

Many Christians are remiss when it comes to praising the Lord. They wear long faces, possess negative attitudes, and lack victory.

It is truly amazing how many Christians there are who praise God all morning on Sunday and complain for the rest of the week -

grouchy, rude, hateful, gossiping, short tempered, and more - so many people who claim to be Christian fail to live a life of genuine praise -

If we are to be more than conquerors, we must praise the Lord more.

The psalmist said, “While I live I will praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being” (Ps. 146:2).

He also said, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps. 34:1).

We have reason to praise also

psalm 73 says “I almost gave up when I considered the prosperity of the wicked ....

Until I went into the house of the Lord - and considered his end

How they are brought into desolation in a moment — set in slippery places

But I am continually with you - you have held my right hand - you will guide me with counsel,, and afterward receive me in glory!!

Psalm 73:25–26 NKJV

25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

That is the example Paul had set when He was arrested in Philippi

it was there that he was in the prison, after being beaten, and began to praise God with songs

it was in that praise that the earthquake came and the chains fell off

Many of you breakthroughs may only come in the midst of your genuine and heartfelt praise

BTW - praise that is calculated for the reward expected is hardly praise

In other words - praise that has an object of reward as its objective is more like works of worship

praise that is truly praise has no objective other than to praise God becasue he is worthy of praise

genuine praise is just that — expressing exaltation toward HIM

you will be amazed at how He responds toward you!

So, in tribulation, and distress, and dangers and all of life’s trials, let us be more than conquerors

in all these things let us Pray

in all these things lets is meditate on God’s promises

In all these things let is rest in God’s peace

in all these things let is Praise God for His goodness!

In all these things, you are more than Conquerors through Him who love You!

Romans 8:38–39 NKJV

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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.