OceanSide church of Christ

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NEEDED:  MORE BATTLES WON

Victor M. Eskew

INTRODUCTION

A.             The Christian life is a victorious life (I Cor. 15:57).

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

B.              Daily, however, we are on the battlefront.

1.                Sometimes we are victorious in our daily skirmishes with the enemy.

2.                At other times, we are not as successful.

C.              If possible, each one of us needs to learn how to win more of the daily battles of life.  Why?

1.                A win today helps to prepare us for the bigger battle of tomorrow.

2.                Failure provides the enemy with the opportunity to overcome us.

D.             Let’s talk about some of the battles we fight wherein we need to do more winning.

I.        SIN AND TEMPTATION

A.             We group these two things together, not because they are both exactly the same, but because they are closely connected.

1.                To be tempted is not sin.  Even our Lord was tempted in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1).

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2.                Temptation, however, can lead to sin which is an evil (James 1:14-15).

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:  and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

B.              Temptation and sin come in all shapes and sizes and colors.  That which appeals to one does not appeal to another.

1.                One child lies and another is disobedient.

2.                One person struggles with sexual sin while another battles prejudice.

3.                One is a talebearer and gossip while someone else murmurs and complains.

4.                One does not grow in grace and knowledge and another forsakes the Lord completely.

5.                One cusses his fellowman and another fails to give thanks to the Father in heaven for his blessings.

C.              There are three major steps we cam implement in order to overcome the daily struggles with temptation and sin.

1.                Fully understand your lusts and desires, and do not make provision for them (Rom. 13:14).

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

2.                Study the Word of God.

a.         Psalm 119:11.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

b.         This was the means Jesus used to overcome temptation in the wilderness.  Three times He responded to Satan using the words:  “It is written” (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10).

3.                Develop a deep conviction that enables you to refuse sin (Ex., The Rechabites, Jer. 35).

a.               God commanded Jeremiah to bring the Rechabites into the house of God and set wine before them (Jer. 35:1-2).

b.               Jeremiah obeyed the words of God (Jer. 35:3-5).

c.               The Rechabites refused the wine because of a previous command of one of their forefathers (Jer. 35:6).

But they said, We will drink no wine:  for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons forever.

II.      INDIFFERENCE

A.        Definition:  Marked by a lack of interest or concern:  APATHY.

                        1.         Indifference about Bible class.

                        2.         Indifference about worship services.

                        3.         Indifference about the works of the church.

                        4.         Indifference about one’s brothers and sisters in Christ.

                        5.         Indifference about the lost.

                        6.         Indifference about Christian growth.

                        7.         Indifference about besetting sins.

B.        The passionless Christian is like the dynamite box in Calvin Miller’s book, The Table of Inwardness.

                        1.         On the top of the box was written:  DANGER DYNAMITE!

                        2.         Within was paraphernalia that could be found in any workroom.

C.        Our indifference and lack of passion ought to concern us.  Our Lord wants more.  He wants hearts filled with passion (Rom. 12:11).

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

D.        Maybe a few who are listening are struggling with indifference.  Maybe you acknowledge this as a spiritual problem.  Maybe you are really listening right now.  Perhaps you are asking the question:  “How do I renew my spiritual passion?”

                        1.         Refocus your desires.

a.         Blessings are promised for those wh0 long for righteousness (Matt. 5:6).

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled.

b.         Those who are indifferent are not longing after the water of life or the meat of the Word.  Jesus noted that their desires are elsewhere (Luke 8:14).

And that which fell among thorns are they, which when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with the cares and the riches and the pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

                        2.         You must renew your love for the Master.

                                    a.         Love can be directed toward worldly things.

                                    b.         Love can wane, even when one is going through the right motions.

c.         This was the state of the church atEphesus.  They needed to change, turn, repent (Rev. 2:4-5).

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

d.               God wants “all” the love of our hearts (Mark 12:30).

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God will all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:  this is the first commandment.

                        3.         Your must renew your mind with the Word of God.

a.         The indifference do not resemble the Lord Jesus Christ very much.  Instead, they look more like the mold of the world.

b.         This must be counteracted with a diligent study of God’s Word (Rom. 12:2).

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

4.                Your must re-attach to the body of Christ.

a.               The indifferent often severe themselves from the body of Christ, if not totally, then in part.

b.               This action causes them to be both apart from Christ and apart from the support of their brethren.

c.               Their carnal, earthly, worldly friends corrupt their morals (I Cor. 15:33).

d.               They need Christ and their brethren to assist them and support them in living the Christian life (Eph. 4:16).

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

CONCLUSION

A.             If more brethren could win over temptation, sin, and indifference, their spiritual lives would be radically altered.

B.              Our Lord came so we can win.  Defeat was not in His agenda.

C.              Let’s live the victorious life that Jesus came to give us.