More than Conquerors

Romans 8:31–39 (NASB95)

I. Introduction

Edmund Hilary the first man who conquered Mount Everest was asked by an interviewer about his passions for climbing mountains. He gave this reply: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."

Alexander the Great was one of the most successful military commanders in history. He defeated many of his enemies except for his greatest enemy, which was himself as he was conquered by his own lusts; he died as a drunken mess.

The Christian conquers his own sin in order to conquer the world within him and the world around him.

We’ve not only conquered the outside world but we have been given the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and the Name of Jesus to conquer the world inside.

II. We Conquer with persistant prayer

God tells us “But in everything by prayer…let your requests be known to God(Philippians 4:6)

Many Christians lack power for victory over sin in their life because they lack a meaningful prayer life. Sure they will say grace over dinner & pray at church. But ask them when was the last time they got in their prayer closets and really cried out to God? We cant gain victory in our life if we operate in our own strength!

In mark 9 we see a boy possessed by a demon. The disciples tried to cast the evil spirit out of the boy but they failed. The father then brought his boy to Jesus. Immediately when the evil spirit saw Jesus it threw the boy into a convulsion, he fell to the ground and started foaming at the mouth.

Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and delivered the boy. Later, the disciples ask

Jesus in private “Why couldn’t we drive out the evil spirit from the boy”. Jesus responded “This kind can only come out by prayer and fasting”

James says that the fervant prayer of a righteous person availith much. That it has great power!

One example of this

is told in a story by an Overseas Missionary Fellowship missionary at his home church. While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, I traveled every two weeks through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This requires camping overnight halfway.

On one of these trips, I saw two men fighting in the city. One was seriously hurt, so I treated him and witnessed to him about the Lord Jesus Christ. I then returned home without incident.

Upon arriving in the city several weeks later, I was approached by the man I had treated earlier. He told me he had known that I carried money and medicine. He said, “Some friends and I followed you into the jungle knowing you would camp over night. We waited for you to go asleep and planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. Just as we were about to move into your campsite, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.” I laughed at this and said, “I was certainly all alone out in the jungle campsite.”

The young man pressed the point, “No sir, I was not the only one to see the guards. My five friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.”

At this point of the church presentation in Michigan, one of the men in the church stood up and interrupted the missionary. He asked, “Can you tell me the exact date when this happened?” The missionary thought for awhile and recalled the date.

The man in the congregation then gave his side of the story. He stated, “On that night in Africa it was day here. I was preparing to play golf. As I put my bags in the car, I felt the Lord leading me to pray for you.

In fact, the urging was so great that I called men of this church together to pray for you. Will all of those men who met to pray please stand?”

The men who had met that day to pray together stood – there were 26 of them!

There is tremendous power in in prayer. Jesus said knock and the door will be opened for you and in James it tells us that we have not because we ask not.

If we are going to be more than conquerors, we need to be people of prayer!

III. We Conquer by trusting in God’s promises

2 Corinthians 1:20 says...”For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

The scriptures tell us that “God cannot lie”. That he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But we have satan, the father of lies and the accuser of the brethen.

He tempted adam and even in the garden. Satan said “surely you will not die” and in doing so, called God a liar. Satan did it in the garden and he is still doing it today. One of his chief aims is to get us to doubt the goodness of God.

Many Christians would conquer sin and have victory in their life, if they would just remember God’s promises to them.

Satan will tell you “You are all alone”

God will tell you I am with you, always”

Satan will tell you “How can he ever forgive you for your past”

God says “there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”

Satan says “It’s all about you. As he did with them temptation of Christ saying he would give him all the kingdoms of the world if he fell down and worshiped him

God says “esteem others above yourself and that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive”.

If we are to be more than conquerors, we need to trust Him more and know that He is faithful and God does what He says he will do!

IIII. We Conquer with by God’s peace

Philippians 4:7-and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Now there are two types of peace. There is the peace of God and the peace with God.

The peace with God is we move from being God’s enemy to Gods friend and receive the gift of salvation he has for us.

Now the peace of God is something we experience throughout our life as God showers us with blessings. The thing to remember is that peace isn’t the absence of problems but its the presence of God!

Romans 16:20 says this...The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

A good way to discern Gods will about a situation or a decision you have to make is to ask yourself “Do I have peace about it”?

If something or someone continually disturbs the peace of God in our life, then it needs to go. We experience God’s peace when we draw near to him and bask in his glory and meditate on His promises.

Some Christians can fail to have victory in their life because they have fear and doubts about circumstances instead of confidence and faith in Christ.

God tells us that he has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power and a sound mind.

God tells us that perfect love cast out all fear.

God tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God.

If we are to be more than conquerors, we need to have more of God’s peace!

Also...

V. We Conquer with praise

“He inhabits the praises of His people.”  Psa. 22:3

Praise is the enemies kryptonite. Satan can’t stands it when the child of God praise their father. Their is great power in praise. I think about the cartoon winnie the pooh. Winnie the pooh was a bear who always seemed optimistic, positive and inspirational. On the other hand, another character in the show named e-or. E-or is pessimistic, gloomy, depressed, and a old grey stuffed donkey.

We have to be careful, not to be an E-or. There is such much God has done that we can thank Him for. When we praise him there is something released. Someone once asked, “What do you gain out of praying and praising God”? The person replied “It’s not so much of what I gain but, what I lose. I lose anger, bitterness, sorrow, greed, envy, lust, and so much more!

VI. Conclusion

What about you? Are you tired of living a defeated life? We are not mere victims in a fallen world but, we conquerors in Christ! By prayer, trusting in His promises, experiencing His peace, and praising His Holy name!