Being More Than in a Less Than World.

Growing up I LOVED wrestling. LOVED IT. I would watch every chance I got, My mom even took me to see matches live in Lakeland at the civic center. I constructed a wrestling ring out of water hoses and fence posts and had fun with friends as we pretended to be wrestling super-stars. There were a few all time greats though. I bet you know a few - even if you never watched. Hulk Hogan (Brother) - He would conquer in the “squared circle” (a square? circle?) Rick (The Nature Boy) Flair (WHOOOO) Both of them were world champions. They were the conquerors of the wrestling ring. If they were ever defeated - it was a big deal! They typically always made a comeback. Today want to spend the next few moment talking about not just a conqueror - but being more than a conqueror.

Let’s go to the book of Conquerors, The Bible, God’s Word.

Romans 8:37 (NKJV)

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

We don’t just wake up one day and decide to be a conqueror. Even more so - we don’t decide to be MORE THAN A CONQUEROR. Especially in a LESS THAN WORLD. We become more than conquerors when we learn that we must empty out the spoiled ideology of man, and become more focused on the things of God. He must increase and I must decrease - GOD MUST BECOME THE VERY HEART OF WHAT DRIVES US TO DO EVERYTHING WE DO.

WE BECOME MORE THAN CONQUERORS - ONLY THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US.

Conquer with Prayer.

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

A. Many Christians lack victory because they neglect to pray.

Some pray over the “big” stuff but forget that it is the “little foxes, that spoil the vine” - Song of Sol. 2:15

Song of Solomon 2:15 (NKJV)

The little foxes that spoil the vines,

B. If we plan to be MORE than Conquerors - we must pray about everything. Both great and small. We pray.

“The conquerors guidebook (the Bible) gives us a key to victory. We are to pray without ceasing.” - PW

1 Thessalonians 5:17 CSB

pray constantly,

Conqueror with Promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

A. Some Christians fail when it comes to reading, remembering, and relying on God’s Promises. We unsuccessfully depend on our own strength.

I am not giving a testimony as to what Jamie and I have gone through over the last few months, I am am saving this for a message on Psalm 16 coming in the future - But what I will tell you is that had I not been fully relying on God - I would have given up. It was one thing after the next, and it seemed like every turn was a new situation. People in our church came along side us and loved on us, supported us, prayed for us, provided for us - a great illustration of God at work through His people... We could faithfully place our trust in God because His promises never fail. God is faithful and God is Good.

B. If we are to be MORE than conquerors - we must trust God and depend on His promises.

1 Kings 8:56 (CSB)

“Blessed be the Lord! He has given rest to his people Israel according to all he has said. Not one of all the good promises he made through his servant Moses has failed.

Say it with me: GOD KEEPS HIS WORD!

Conquer with Praise.

Psalm 71:14 (CSB)

But I will hope continually and will praise you more and more.

A. Many Christians have grown stagnate in giving their praise, giving their time, attending worship, doing anything other than being the frozen chosen, with a negative attitude, and all of these result in a lack of victory. You Were Meant For More!

B. If we are to become MORE than conquerors - we must praise the Lord more.

Psalm 146:2 (CSB)

I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live.

Psalm 34:1 (CSB)

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.

Not just in the good times, not just on the mountain top, not just when all the things in this LESS THAN WORLD seem to line up - but even in the DARK HOURS, even when we don’t understand, even when there is earthly pain, even when we are at the end of the rope. WE LOOK UP TO SEE JESUS HOLDING US UP! AND WE PRAISE HIM.

We must first accept the gift of Salvation to become More than a conqueror.

Romans 8:38-39(CSB)For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

Romans 3:23 (CSB)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 (CSB)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:13 (CSB)

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The moment you call on the name of the Lord for salvation you become MORE THAN A CONQUEROR. (through Him(Christ that Loves you)

Many of us in this room today have gone through things that we never thought we would make it through and we can utter these words - “BUT GOD” - He saw us safely through. Weeping lasted for a while but JOY has come. We didn’t see how God was working it all out for good, or how we were more than conquerors, or even some may have began to doubt the love of God - let me illustrate as we get ready to close.

How is it that God can take the bad things that happen to us and somehow, some way, bring good about? No man can do this, but God can and does because He has the whole picture in mind.

Drew was a young child who loved to put puzzles together. One day Drew’s father bought a puzzle in a box marked “Map of the United States”—that was all, just the words with no picture. At home, Drew opened the box and excitedly poured out the brightly colored, multi-shaped pieces. But he was stumped. He had no idea where to begin. In his mind, all he saw were a lot of pieces that made absolutely no sense. After several frustrating minutes, Drew said, “Dad, would you help me put this together? There must be something missing.” His father got on the floor with him and within a few minutes the puzzle began to take shape. “Dad, how did you do this so quickly? How did you know which pieces went where?”

“Son, you only saw the blank box and all the pieces. I’ve been fortunate enough to see the whole picture. I knew what our country looked like even before we started this puzzle.”

In the same way, God knows exactly how the pieces of our lives will work together, because He alone sees the whole picture. Thus, the believer can rest assured that God is putting everything together in the best way possible

I want to close with this same verse but from a different Bible translation - The New Living Translation

NO! Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loves us. Romans 8:37.

PESONAL SERMON NOTES:

HOME QUESTIONS:

How can I become MORE than a Conqueror this week?