Sunday Service 11-15-09
Living the Victorious Life
Sermon 4
Living the Victorious Life
Sermon 4
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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We have been born again but are we protecting our rights as a Christian? Are we using our souls?
Do you find things wearing down fast, losing opportunities, etc. God created us the head and not the tail, but we need to know that there is an enemy who is sent to destroy us.
We are like Gideon, afraid and hiding, so involved with the world that we gave up our spirituality. We don’t see the value. We have forgotten what it costs.
READ THE STORY OF GIDEON
Jdg 7:1-25
The angel came and said, “Mighty man of God”. He was saying “You are that mighty man who is going to deliver the people from their enemies.”
As a Christian, you are that mighty man.
Blessings are supposed to flow.
Ask yourself, “Am I equipped to find the victory when the time comes? Am I ready to hear that it is going to be through me that victory comes?”
Are we really mighty men and mighty women of God?
When Gideon is convinced that God is speaking to him, he is told to destroy the idol that Gideon’s father created. We have our own Baal/ Ashteroth, such as worshipping our jobs. The destruction of the idol was the equivalent of destroying a cathedral today. When he destroyed the temple the people went to his father, and his father said, “If Baal is god, let him take care of himself”.
Jdg 7:1-7
(1) Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
(2) And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
There were too many warriors, and then they would brag (vaunt themselves), thinking they had done it themselves.
Deu 8:1-20
(1) All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
(2) And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
(3) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
(4) Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
(5) Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
(6) Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
(7) For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
(8) A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
(9) A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
(10) When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
(11) Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
(12) Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
(13) And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
(14) Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
(15) Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
(16) Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
(17) And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
(18) But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
(19) And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
(20) As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.
In Deut, Gideon’s situation is explained. They went before other gods, forgetting what the Lord has done, forgetting to obey His commandments and follow after Him.
Gideon began to conquer the enemy by destroying the idol worship, focusing on the Lord.
He had to be aware of the Lord only.
God wants you to know that it is always HE who does things, not our works, not us. It is God who supplies.
Judges
(3) Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
God said, All those who are fearful, go home. God is looking for a few men who have faith in God.
(4) And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there:
He did this because you need to see God in everything.
and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
(5) So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
(6) And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
Most people got down on their knees and drank of the water- not looking for the enemy. We need always be watchful that there is an enemy. If we are unaware, the devil can attack in the areas that you are not aware.
(7) And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
If we aren’t aware of the enemy, the next step- obedience to do things that appear not to make sense- will be difficult.
God is going to ask you to obey and it will sound stupid, but it is a matter of obedience.
1.If we depart from God- we will be attacked from the enemy- no protection, chaos.
2. Tear down your idols.
3. Sacrifice to God and not to idols.
4. Have FAITH in God. Not be fearful. It is God Who will do it.
5. Always be aware the enemy is around. Satan goes around and studies our weaknesses and will attack when we last expect it.
6. Obedience. Do what the Lord tells you to do. Study God’s Word and follow it as well as you possibly can.
READ DEUT 28- LEARN OF HIS PROSPERITY
God will destroy your enemies when you obey Him and take down idols in your midst.
Jer 1:8
(8) Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
The First step is no fear.
The Next step- Keep watch to be sure the enemy does not steal, kill, or destroy. He wants you to look back, to not pay attention. He wants to get your soul.
Be watchful, all the time.
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Italicized font indicates direct quotes from notes handed out with the sermon
Foundational steps:
1. It is the Word of God. We learn the art of our warfare from the Word of God. It is the Word that equips the Christian for a victorious life. The Scriptures 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.
2. Don’t fear, have faith.
We will find that it takes faith to establish the Word in our lives and to bring victory to light.
1Jn 5:4-5
(4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
(5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
The Word said it. 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.
Why aren’t you healing the sick and casting out devils? Fear? That’s why He does not enlist you in the warfare.
Have no vain imaginations-
3. Show sin no fear.
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.
4 SO THAT WE MAY SEE THE POWER OF GOD
Deu 4:33-49
(33) Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
(34) Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
(35) Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
(36) Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.
(37) And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;
(38) To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.
(39) Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
(40) Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.
(41) Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;
(42) That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:
(43) Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.
(44) And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:
(45) These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt,
(46) On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Bethpeor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt:
(47) And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;
(48) From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,
(49) And all the plain on this side Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah.
Be ready to pray, in essence, “Lord, would you show me what the devil has for me today? I am looking and not putting my head in the sand.”
The encounter with God is in the battle field.
Be watchful, because satan comes as a roaring lion.
We are in those days where the enemy cannot be feared anymore.
In the early days, people would lay their lives down for God.
You have to be a man/woman of faith.
Be watchful so that the enemy will not attack..
Worship God.
Walk in faith.
Obey God and you will see the power.
If just a few would be like Gideon, then we would probably have seen a lot of victories.
Incredible things will happen if you just trust God.
You will see God move.
Ministry involves obedience without fear, always watching.
READ GIDEON- SEE THE PRINCIPLES, THE CHANGE FROM FEAR TO FAITH