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Sermon: Claiming Victory
by Chris Cumming We have just taken the Passover and all this past week or so, we have been going through our homes and property getting the leaven out. This is a physical task that teaches us about getting the sin out of our lives.
Getting sin out of our lives OR overcoming sin is one of the chief elements of the Salvation Process, which has as its goal, our entry into the Kingdom of God.
To enter into the Kingdom of God, with eternal life, we must overcome sin. The question is, however, just how do we do that? How do we overcome sin?
It is my purpose here to show you how to do just that as I encourage all of us to…
CLAIM VICTORY OVER SIN
First I am going to give all of us 7 tools or means by which we can claim this victory over sin. I will finish by showing you just how victory over sin is possible.
1) PRAISE
Ps 8:1-2 8:1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Matt 21:14-16 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. 15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
The strength which God has ordained for us is perfect praise. Perfect praise SILENCES the enemy and the avenger. Many of our problems would be solved if we could only get Satan and his demons to SHUT UP. PRAISE - be it spoken or sung to music works to SILENCE the enemy. Perfect praise led by God's Holy Spirit will completely silence the enemy.
God dwells in praise (Ps 22:3). God is manifested in praise. The manifest presence of God drives demons OUT. So, when you offer praise in that moment of temptation or in your fight with sin, God comes near and Satanic influences flee or are silenced.
Ps 50:23 23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Now let me tell you about King Jehoshaphat (King of Israel)
2 Chron 20: beginning in verse 2 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
Now to verse 13
13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
Now verse 17…
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. 20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. 24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
As we can see, Praise is much more than endearing words to our Creator. Praise is strength and power. It is an effective tool against sin and the works of Satan. When we offer praise in the face of temptation or sin, the processed is stopped. Praise to God gives us Victory over sin.
2) ACKNOWLEDGE GOD IN ALL OUR WAYS
Prov 3:1-7 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
If we acknowledge Him, God will direct our paths. Clearly He will direct us away from the process of sin. We acknowledge Him when we invoke the power of the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge Him when we offer Praise.
1 Cor 10:31 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Prov 23:17 17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Prov 16:3 3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
When we discussed Praise, Ps. 50:23 told us that if we order our conduct with Praise, God would show us Salvation. Here, in these verses, God is telling us that if we commit our Works to Him, our thoughts will be established. If we are thinking Godly thoughts because of our Praise and our Works, sin has no power in our lives. If we acknowledge God in all our ways, we have Victory over sin.
3) TRANSFORM YOUR THOUGHT LIFE. 1 John 2:13-14 (John is writing to both mature Christians and newer people to the faith)
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Notice, John is acknowledging a relationship between having the Word of God in a person and them having overcome the wicked one (Satan). He is talking about people being immersed in the Word of God. We immerse ourselves in the Word; it becomes a part of us every time we are in Bible Study, meditation, and digesting the food we receive in sermons.
Listen now as I read 6 scriptures that related directly to this point of transforming your thought life:
Ps 119:11-12 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. (Notice the Praise). John 8:31-32 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (free from Sin)
John 15:7-8 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Col 3:16-17 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Notice again, the element of Praise here.
2 John 2 2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
3 John 3 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
By immersing ourselves into the Word of God, we transform our thoughts.
We can actually use the words of God to combat the evil thoughts that enter our minds.
In doing so, we are overcoming sin. We are putting it out of our lives. We are gaining Victory over sin.
4) PRAYER In listing the means by which we can overcome sin, it is not surprising that I would include Prayer. What I want to do, however, is focus on one type of prayer and that is the Prayer for Strength. Strength to overcome the Sin Process. Clearly, we cannot do this by our own power. It takes the power of God which is the Holy Spirit.
Matt 26:40-41 (Jesus, the night He died) 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Luke 11:4 (a part of the Lord’s Prayer) 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
John 17:15 (Jesus again on the night He died setting an example for us) 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
2 Thess 3:3-5 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. 5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
This is only possible through direct contact with God.
2 Tim 4:18 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Again, Paul could not have this confidence without a fervent prayer life.
With prayer for strength we can gain Victory over sin.
5) MENTAL TECHNIQUES God has given us many symbols, elements and mental analogies that we can use to control our minds and thoughts. We can use these God-given mental techniques to stop sin the moment the first tempting thought touches our mind.
My personal favorite is the Solomonic Gate. It is my personal favorite because it absolutely works. Let us review how this works.
Illustration 1---The city gate of Megiddo
This is a simple rendering of the city of Megiddo, one of the cities Solomon fortified after becoming king and made it possible for him to become one of the richest people in all history. He immediately fortified three such cities on the main trade routes which went through his country between Egypt and Babylon. He was the designer of the Solomonic Gate.
As you can see, the city has a high thick wall all around. The weakest point in the wall is the opening or gate. To overcome this weakness, Solomon designed heavy fortifications to keep the attacking enemy out of the town. His physical model serves as a spiritual model for overcoming sin by stopping the first thought or temptation that leads to the actual act of sin.
The city is placed on a hill which means that the enemy must trudge uphill just to get to the outer gate. Notice the outer battlements with the approaching road from the left. On either side of the outer gate is a chamber or room. When the town is under attack, these rooms are full of soldiers which will attempt to kill anyone entering the outer gate. More soldiers are atop the outer walls and rain down arrows from above. There are also massive numbers of soldiers on the highest towers which flank the main gate. Should the attacking soldiers get past the outer gate, they must still move uphill to the main gate.
The main gate is actually more like a tunnel. On each side are three large chambers. These are the chambers where the elders sit in peace time. Much of the administration for the city is conducted from these gate chambers. The elders would interrogate outside visitors to insure that they brought nothing harmful into the city. In war, these chambers would each be filled with scores of soldiers who would flood out upon the enemy as they attempted to enter. As these soldiers were killed, more would be lowered through trap doors above the chambers. As just one mental technique, use this model in your spiritual battles over negative and evil thoughts and temptations that enter your conscious mind. Imagine the negative thought as an enemy soldier being overwhelmed by your “spiritual soldiers” who destroy the thoughts and sweep them from the city. Go now to page two for a different view of this city gate.
Illustration 2---The city gate of Megiddo –cross section from above.
With this cross section we can readily see the chambers filled with soldiers. One can easily see how enemy soldiers would have great difficulty going from the outer gates, through the main gate and into the city. One can make this model into a mental image to fight negative thoughts. The more it is used, the more effective it is at stopping sin before it begins. Mental techniques are effective because they are God-given models which are invoked by the power of the Holy Spirit in the mind of the true Christian using them.
The use of God-given mental techniques can help us in our Victory over sin.
6) PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO YOURSELF If we are to gain Victory over sin and use these tools we speak of here, we must constantly examine ourselves whether we be in the Salvation Process that God has called us to.
1 Cor 11:28 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
Gal 6:4 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
2 Cor 13:5 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Hag 1:5 5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
Self examination is essential to our Victory over sin.
7) PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO YOUR TEACHING Just as important as examining ourselves, is our paying close attention to what we are being taught, not only to prove what is true but to make sure that were are properly digesting the food we are fed and to use it to move forward in the Salvation Process.
1 Tim 4:16 (Paul writing to a new minister) 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
The message is clear. Continuing in doctrine and what we are taught works to save us---both the minister and the congregation. The minister learns ever bit as much as the hearer of the sermon because all true sermons are the inspiration of Almighty God.
Take in now, these scriptures written to Timothy, a minister…
2 Tim 3:14-17 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
1 Tim 4:13-14 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1 Tim 4:6 6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
If your ministers are true, listen carefully to the meat that they preach for in those true teachings are tools that will aid you in your Victory over sin.
Now, an important question: Just what makes our Victory over sin possible?
I have just given you 7 important and essential means of overcoming sin but what actually makes all these tools and elements work? In the remainder of this sermon, I want to look at these all important elements.
First, a key verse or two to show that all the elements we have spoken of are not of man but God as we have proved each point from His Word:
2 Cor 10:3-4 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Eph 6:13 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Read the rest of these verse through verse 18 to prove that all elements of the armor are God’s not man’s.)
Now to the elements that make our Victory over sin possible:
1) THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
Eph 1:7 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Acts 20:28 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Heb 9:22 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Victory is possible through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
2) THE INTERVENTION OF CHRIST
Heb 2:18 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Note: This word “succour” means to aid, relieve or help. Christ is there to help when we are tempted.
Jude 24-25 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Heb 7:25-26 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Victory is possible through the intervention of Christ.
3) THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST
Remember Point # 3 in our ways to claim Victory over sin by Transforming Our Thought Life by Immersing Ourselves in the Word of God? Notice now as God gives us an example of doing this very thing.
Matt 4:1-11
4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
This is just one example Christ left for us. Through these examples, we gain Victory over sin.
4) THE HOLY SPIRIT
Rom 8:9-14 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
We have the God-given tools, we have Christ and we have the Holy Spirit, so let us continue in the Salvation Process and declare our Victory over sin. ---end--- |