Sunday Service 11-8-09

Living the Victorious Life

Sermon 3

NOTES FROM SERMON HEARD AT:Spirit of Fire Evangelistic MinistriesPastor Jerry BeginTo listen to the sermon, visit:http://www.spiritoffire.org/To Comment on this sermon, look for the small "comment" button at the bottom of this Sunday's sermon. If you go to the bottom of the whole blog to comment, you will have scanned through notes of several earlier sermons. Note: sometimes the post does not come up, in which case press the preview button after you have written and then submit.

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Consider the man in the movie “O Brother Where art Thou?” who sold his soul to the devil because “I wasn’t using it anyways”- Is that like us? Are we using our souls?

We lose track of the true riches…the spiritual things. The treasures of this earth rot, rust, and decay. The Lord has allowed the warfare so that we can take possession of things, keep the blessings of God.

When Paul went into Ephesus, he spoke to them that Jesus Christ is head and we are part of the Kingdom. All these things will be added to us. The Kingdom of God is taken by violence and violent men and women are take it by force. You are getting robbed of the things of the Kingdom and life itself. You forget the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

When Gideon was threshing wheat- he was doing it in a well, hiding from his enemies. Are we standing up or are we hiding in a well?

God came and called him “Mighty man of God”. Gideon answered by saying, “Where is the God of my fathers?” in fact, the God of our fathers has always been there , but we have sold out to the enemy..
(Asheroth/Baal is the god of prosperity- people sacrificed to Baal to get the prosperity they wanted).

He was told to tear down the idol and the groves of his father. God prepared Gideon to be a warrior. We need to tear down those things that we sacrifice to.

Gideon went to tear down his fathers’s idol. The next morning they went to Gideon’s father, and said “Do you know what your son did?” His father said, “If Baal is God, let him defend himself “, changing the focus of worship in the land from Baal to God.

The enemy came on a regular basis and raped the people. Isn’t that what is happening now… is it because we allow the enemy to do anything ?

Gideon was told, in essence, “O mighty man of God, now that you have used your soul, reclaimed your city, and offered unto me a free sacrifice…” (My God loves us and provides for us . The children of the righteous do not beg bread).

“O mighty man of God, now you will be a soldier to conquer the enemies.”
Now he was trusting God, He gave them 300 faithful men. He conquered the enemies by little lamps.

We are not conquering the enemies because we are not using our souls, not valuing that precious gift that God has given us.

The enemy was no longer coming against the people, he was coming against God. because they had torn down the Ashteroth pole and sacrificed to God.

Every time God came to the people, they prospered. Every time they went away from God, they hurt.

Have we sold our souls to the enemy? It is time to tear down the Asheroth pole… we worship fear. We give our soul away. Don’t fear. God knows our need. He will supply.

1.They got rid of the Asheroth

2. They confessed their deeds. We must examine daily- perhaps several times a day- how the enemy has infiltrated our lives. How have we sinned against God? hate? impatience? anger?
Who do we sell our soul to? Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

If our deeds are of God, we manifest the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5).

Ask yourself: What am I getting my kicks from (who is Asheroth in my life?)- TV, books, food addictions, not just in goods, etc.

Are you using your soul? If not, you are going to lose it.
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Italicized font indicates direct quotes from notes handed out with the sermon

(from Page 2 on notes):

Foundational Steps

1. We learn the art of warfare from the Word of God. It is the Word of God. It is the Word that equips the Christian for a victorious life. The Scripture reveal the spiritual power of God and the Kingdom and through the Word success is established.

2Ti 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.

Heb 4:11-12
(11) Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
(12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(from P. 3 on notes )

We will find that it takes faith to establish the Word in our lives and to bring victory to light.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world (there needs to be action on our part, we need to overcome our enemy): and this is the victory (we win) that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Have you neglected the reality that Jesus is Lord of Lords and King of Kings?
The Lord will take the devil and throw him down into the pit forever. Jesus is head of the troops, which is us.
Without faith there is no victory.

Heb 10:34-39
(34) For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
(35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
(36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
(37) For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
(38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
(39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

3. Show sin no mercy. In the Old Testament Israel was to destroy that which would take them away from God. God told His people to war against those nations in the wilderness. The Canaanites were to be completely destroyed and so must sin in our lives.

1Sa 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.


2Co 10:5-6
(5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
(6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

If you sold your soul, God is there. Tear down the Asheroth. Confess your deeds. And God will be there to see you through. God is not going to bless until you are ready to protect that which He has given you. He is not going to give it to you so that you can sell your soul again.

Are you using your soul? Have you neglected it so much that you are willing to let it go.

Jesus died to give you your soul.
He suffered…
He died …
For your soul.
He translated you from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light
You are so lazy that you don’t even take the Word into your soul.
Don’t you think you should value your soul even more? Look at your deeds to see if they conform to the Kingdom.
The devil can’t take your soul.
Jesus bought it for you.

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