Victory in Jesus Christ

Sermon Date:  March 29, 2015

Sermon Topic: Victory in Jesus

Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1, Philippians 1:6, Ecclesiastes 9:1, Romans 6:14-15 , 1 Peter 2:11, 1 Corinthians 13:1, 1 John 3:9, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Job 8:7, Isaiah 26:3, 2 Corinthians 3:5, 1 John 2:6, Ephesians 4:32, 1 Peter 1:6-7

Sermon Notes:

Hebrews 12:1 - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. In the 3 verses we find words of encouragement. Chapter 12 is a carryover from Chapter 11. Hebrews Chapter 11 is called the Hall of Faith. Men and women of God dealt with trials, persecution, delays and destruction, but their faith did not fail.

You will have to deal with things in life and you will need the God-kind of faith to be victorious. 

We must live by faith in what God has said. Whatever translation of the bible you read, it does not change what God has already said. All of the versions of the Bible say that the wages of sin is death, but God is eternal life.

To have victory, we must make the final authority in your life. God never promised us an easy flight - he promised you a safe landing.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous. Living a life of righteousness is no cake walk. When you get in the word, you become a threat to Satan.

Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Jesus never fails at anything, he's already started. When he hung on the cross, it was finished. Everything was complete.

Don't be wary and faint in the mind. The way each day looks to you, depends on who you look to and what you are looking at. 

Everything else is subject to fail, but the word of God stands forever.

We know people who have overcome trials and obstacles by trusting in the Lord. Some didn’t have degrees or even a high school diploma, but they had a relationship with God.

Lay aside every weight and the sin, which easily beset us. What is that one sin that every time you look around you’re attached to it?

It may not hurt someone, but it’s a sin. You haven’t killed anyone but you kill their character with gossip.

Lay aside old religious ways. Some are so attuned to religious order that if the spirit lead us to do something outside of the bulletin, they would be lost.

The spirit moves all throughout worship service.

According to his mercy, he saved us so we don’t deserve anything.

Lay aside weaknesses that hinder progress. Arrogance and attitude. A gossip will separate friends. This Christian journey that we are on, is not a race, it’s a marathon.

Ecclesiastes 9:1 – For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

What goes around comes around. Being a disciple of Christ is demanding. Thru much tribulation, we enter God’s kingdom. Romans 6:14-15 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Sin has consequences. Be not deceived, you will reap what you sow.

You can’t judge others. If you spent half of the time minding your own business, and the other half leaving other’s business alone you would be in good shape. We must pray for each other.

It could happen to the best of us.

1 Peter 2:11 – Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul Abstain from things that easily beset you. Anything can be sinful – it depends on the nature in which you do things.

1 Corinthians 13:1 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. We must make progress. You have to reach a point in your Christian walk where you don’t do those things anymore.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Your neighbor isn’t going to always behave how you want them to, but if you don’t love your neighbor, you don’t love God.

1 John 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Avoid sin by a new life in Christ. The holy spirit is in us. When we are lead by the spirit we don’t commit sin.

1 Corinthians 9:27 – But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. I must control my actions. The flesh is always lusting. When you are saved your flesh continues to lust.

You aren’t under the control of the holy sprit when you are mumbling and whispering about others. When we come in the house of worship, the devil comes along too.

We look to Jesus. Job 8:7 – Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. God blesses us through obedience. Those who obey and serve him will spend their days in pleasure.

Our weapons are not carnal. I don’t need to argue with you. Sho forth the love of Christ. The love of Christ constrains us.

Isaiah 26:3 – Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. War is in your mind. Keep your mind on god. Set your mind on Jesus, because he is the author and finisher of your faith.

2 Corinthians 3:5 – Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Our sufficiency is of God. My strength, peace and direction, come from God. Everything that we need is wrapped up in God.

Whatever state I’m in, I’ve learned to be content.

God supplies our needs – he’s our resource – our comfort and victory.

We are redeemed from the bondage of sin, because of Christ.

We must avoid sin. We must cooperate with Christ to avoid sin. God works with us. He’s our example in servant hood, denying ourselves, persecution and affliction. He suffered.

We are called to follow his example. 1 John 2:6 – 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

How did Jesus walk? When he was reviled, he reviled not. When he was beaten, persecuted, spat on, he said, “Father, forgive them.”

Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Forgive as God forgives us. If God didn’t love us as much as he does. If he forgive us like we forgive others, we’d be in trouble.

Run with patience, the race that’s set before us.

Have patience, the race that’s set before us.

Have patience with people. Is there anyone that you don’t have patience with?

1 Corinthians 13 – And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Your faith will be tested.

1 Peter 1:6-7 – 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: The trial of your faith will be your glory when Christ comes back. The word purifies us.

Once you get God’s word in your spirit, you can’t stand around and hear foolishness. You cant listen to someone lying on someone else.

We have to look to Jesus – looking to Jesus requires abiding in his teaching. You must stay in the word.

Spend time with God. Spend more time with God than others, because spending time with God allows us to spend time with others.

Everyday repeat, “Father, I thank you for this day’s grace!”

Thank you, God for this moment!