Essentials for Walking in Victory
David Blythe
June 4, 2008
And I have found it to be the most incredible life I have ever known
And in light of this – I want to help you to understand the most basic elements in Victorious Christian living
Living each and every day in step with God – and allowing His Spirit to guide and direct your mind – path – decisions – responses – and ultimately your actions
And I want to begin by sharing a little of my past with you – because though I said the Christian walk for me is the most incredible life I have known
You must understand – it wasn’t always that way for me
You see – much of my early adult life – I was a mess spiritually
My early recollections of church and God was what I refer to as the Big Thumb Theory
I thought the God I knew was an angry God – who was ready to crush me when I stepped out of line
That He expected perfection from me –
And this caused me to live a life full of -
• Doubt
• Fear
• Confusion
It rendered me completely Ineffective and Defeated
I felt like I was:
• Unable and Ill-Equipped
• Like I could never be good enough
• I could never measure up to this standard called Christianity
• Constantly Succumbed to temptation and obstacles in my life
I came to the conclusion that I have later found out many Christians believe
That a Victorious Christian Life (for me) was unattainable – I just wasn’t able
So I was continually in doubt and I walked around as a discouraged young man
And discouragement has a way of making you give up – it causes us to lose our focus – to walk away from God
And I sure did – Many of you know my story
My life went to levels I never dreamed or imagined for myself
My choices nearly destroyed my life
And I share this with you because statistically – people in your stage of life fall away from their relationship with Christ in greater degrees than any other
It is estimated that 70 – 80% of Christian young people – walk away from their faith within one year of High School graduation
And as time goes on – the fallout continues
To me this is simply unacceptable – but I know why it occurs in such great ways
Because I was one – who walked away myself
But when I said I walked away from God – He never walked away from me
He held on to me with a death grip – and at the right time – when I was at an all time low and I realized just how much I needed Him – He picked me back up
And when I finally submitted my life completely to Him – not partially – but completely
He put my feet on a new path that brought me Strength – Hope – and an entirely New Purpose – but most importantly it brought me VICTORY
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Turn in your Bibles to: Ephesians 3:14-21 READ
You Guys – I truly believe that God wants for us (above all) to walk in Complete Victory as Christians
Being Strengthened with Power & Might – through His Spirit
Filled with the Fullness of God – in the Inner Man
This is something that I could never seem to grasp
I think that I can speak on behalf of most of our pastors and anyone in a leadership capacity within the church – when I say:
Much of the time we spend ministering –counseling and helping the people of God – Is convincing them of:
• Who they are in Christ
• Reminding them of the unlimited power they posses through the Holy Spirit – which inhabits them
• Teaching them to stand upon the promises of God spelled out in the Word
• Encouraging them to rise up and take their inheritance as a son of the Living God
The truth is – that we All need to be reminded of this – And tonight – I hope to do just that
I want to Remind of Who you are in Christ – Have you forgotten that:
• You are the Righteousness of God?
• You were Chosen by God?
• You were purchased by a great price – The Blood of Jesus Christ
• That your sins are not just forgiven – but completely forgotten?
• Sin holds no dominion over you
• You are a New Creation – the old has passed away – behold all things are New
• You are loved beyond all comprehension
• You cannot even grasp this kind of love in your human reasoning or thinking – God is crazy about you!
• You were made in the very Image of God?
• You partake of His Divine Nature?
• You are Joint Heirs with Christ
• That the power of Holy Spirit that resides in you – is unlimited
• You are Justified and Set Free from the Law of Sin and Death
• You are Complete and Whole In Christ Jesus
At times – we need to be reminded of these truths
But I also want to remind you of some of the Promises of God – found in the scriptures
These promises have shown me that I have everything I need to live a Christ honoring life
These promises and my belief in them – as well as exercising them – are the very elements we all need to keep or relationship with Christ strong and vibrant
There are literally hundreds of these found in the Bible
But I want to quickly focus on 24 that are meaningful to me – and should be meaningful to you
You might want to write these scripture references down for future review
These are things that God promises you and me
These are things that enable us to walk upright with conviction – purpose – and ultimately in victory
First and Foremost – He promises us the Power of Precious Holy Spirit
• Luke 11:13 – He gives the Power of the HS to those who ask
• To Empower you
• To Give you a Boldness to share your faith and
• To Prompt you with the things to say while sharing
• Providing Discernment and Wisdom
• A Convicting Force to prevent you from doing that which is wrong
• To Strengthen and Solidify your walk with Christ so that you lack nothing\
He promises us – That All Things Are Possible
• Mark 9:23- If you Believe All things are Possible
• John 15:16 – He has appointed you to bear fruit that remains, that whatever you ask the Father in the name of Jesus, he will give you
He promises us – That HE shall supply All your needs
• Phil 4:19 According to his riches in Glory by Jesus Christ
• And He has Unlimited Resources and Riches
Confidence
• Proverbs 3:26 - For the Lord shall be your confidence
Power Over Satan
• 1 John 4:4 – Greater is he who is in you
• 1 John 5:18 – Whoever is born of God keeps himself and the wicked one does not touch him
• James 4:7 – Resist the devil and he will flee from you
• Luke 10:19 – I give you the authority and power over the enemy and nothing shall hurt you
Help in time of Need
• Hebrews 4:16 – We will find grace and mercy in our time of need
Freedom from Fear
• 1 John 4:18 - Perfect love casts out all fear
Everlasting Mercy
• Psalm 136 – His mercies endure forever
• Lamentations 3:22-23 – His mercies are new every morning!
Power over Temptation
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. But with temptation, always comes a way of escape
• 2 Peter 2:9 – God knows how to deliver the Godly out of temptation
Freedom from Bondage
• John 8:31-36 – If the Son sets you free – you are free indeed – you are no longer a slave to sin
• Romans 6:16-23 – You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness
He will Keep you from Stumbling
• Proverbs 3:21-23 Sound Wisdom & Discretion are life to our soul and grace to our neck… you will walk safely and your foot will not stumble
Hope
• Hebrews 6:19 – This Hope we have is an anchor of the Soul, both Sure and Steadfast
Strength in time of Trouble
• Psalm 37:39 – But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord – He is their strength in time of trouble
Guidance
• Proverbs 3:6 – When you acknowledge Him in all your ways – He will direct your path
• John 16:13 – The Spirit of Truth will guide you
Peace
• Isaiah 26:3 - He will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him
• John 14:27 - Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid for My peace I give to you!
Wisdom
• Proverbs 2:6-7 – The Lord gives wisdom – He stores up wisdom for the upright
• James 1:5 God gives wisdom liberally and without reproach to those who ask him
Victory Over your Enemies
• Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon formed against you shall prosper
Victory over the World
• 1 John 5:4 – For whatever is born of God overcomes the world
Victory over Death
• I Corinthians 15:54-58 – Death is swallowed up in victory – we are promised eternal life in Christ Jesus
No Condemnation
• Romans 8:1 There is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit
Blameless in the Eyes of God
• 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 and 5:23, we are preserved blameless at the coming of the Lord
• Jude 24 we are presented faultless before the presence of His glory with Exceeding Joy
Favor
• Proverbs 3:1-4 – When we keep His commands, we find favor and High Esteem in the sight of God and man
• Proverbs 8:35 Whoever finds God obtains favor from the Lord
He will Renew our Strength
• Psalm 29:11 – The Lord gives strength to His people
• Isaiah 40:29-31- He increases our Strength
Everlasting Life
• John 3:15-16 – We will not perish but have everlasting life through Christ
Now these are just a few promises from Gods Word – but they are enough to convince me of who I am and what I obtain as a result of Knowing Jesus Christ!
And it should convince you too!
You need to stand upon these promises – believe and apply them to your life
The Bible says “We walk by Faith and not by Sight”
Sometimes that can be difficult considering that we live in such a visual world
But, John 1 – states “The Word was God” and continues on to say ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”
All the seeing of God you need is right here in this book
All the Promises – All the Passion – And most importantly – Your Purpose and Position as a son or daughter of the Living God
Spending time in this book is an essential part of successful living
It is another way of having communion with God
It contains the very ingredient you need for Power in your walk and victory over discouragement and failure
The Word of God is described throughout the Bible in terms that prove its importance
Hebrews 4:12
“Living and Powerful, and Sharper than any Two-Edged Sword”
Psalm 119 the Psalmist says:
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”
Jeremiah 23:29 - It is described as “Fire” and
“Like a Hammer that Breaks the Rock in Pieces”
David Said: Psalm 119:11
“Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You”
Ephesians 6:17 - It is called the “Sword of the Spirit”
This should be a clear indication that you need to be in the Word! Because it is essential to victorious living
Filling your spirit and mind with the written Word of God – will bring to your remembrance Words of Life in times of struggle and temptation
There is Power in the written and spoken Word of God!
So – Believe in these promises – and stand upon them – let it be the firm foundation you need to be everything you can be in Christ Jesus!
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Now I want to talk to you about what I believe is the quintessential aspect of the Christian walk
Learning to walk in the Spirit
Well what does that mean Pastor David? Let me explain it to you
Galatians 6:16-17 “I say then; Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish”
The reason Christians fall and succumb to temptations is because of our struggle with our flesh
We struggle daily with Our Flesh and often guess who wins?
This is not because the Flesh is more powerful than the Spirit that resides within you…..
It is because we don’t utilize the power of the Spirit
You see – the Flesh vs. The Spirit – is the authentic – real-life scenario of good versus evil
It is Christ versus Satan.
It is Righteousness vs. Carnality – and the two are diametrically opposed to one another……………… As the Word states, they are “Contrary to one another”
The man walking in the flesh lives by feeding and nurturing his flesh
He is quite simply self-absorbed
The flesh needs to be entertained and requires stimulation and attention
The flesh wants to be satisfied first and foremost – and takes a back seat to no one
The flesh never wants to be denied and it knows absolutely no discipline
The flesh never considers any consequence that may arise from its actions
It lives only for today and to fulfill its desires
There comes a point in a person’s life – when they have fed the flesh to such a degree – that their flesh now controls them
The flesh is in the driver’s seat – taking direction from no one
Including your conscience and can even tune out the convictions of the Holy Spirit
This is walking in the FLESH ladies and gentlemen
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As believers in Christ – we have this ability to walk in the Spirit daily
And when I bottomed out and recommitted my life to Christ – I developed a new-found desire to know more about the power of the Holy Spirit
My hunger for God led me to understand what walking in the Spirit meant
Walking in the Spirit has allowed me to be victorious and deny my flesh.
And understand this – There is NO Spirit man – nor is there any walking in the Spirit – until you have asked Christ to be the Lord of your life
When you accept Him as your Savior – His precious Holy Spirit resides in you
The by-product of the Holy Spirit in your life is the fruit of the Spirit.
Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness
Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness Self-Control Galatians 5:22
This fruit doesn’t just happen – It grows like anything else
You don’t simply wake up one day and possess all of these qualities
The Holy Spirit has planted these seeds in you
You must feed – nurture – and cultivate the Spirit man to see them grow
This fruit – is the Manifestation of the Believer’s Character
It is the Divine Nature of Christ working within us
As in every other aspect of our life – God has given us the ability to make our own decisions
It is called free will ------- He allows us to either accept or reject Him
The Holy Spirit draws us to Christ – but ultimately we decide whether we will serve Him or not
Likewise, this same free will exists when it comes to the level of commitment in our walk with Christ
Do you just want to get by knowing that you have salvation – or do you strive to grow deeper in your walk?
The depth of your relationship with Christ will determine your ability to walk in the Spirit and deny the flesh
The Power of the Holy Spirit in your life and the fruit thereof – can only be limited by you
Now, understand – The Holy Spirit will not prevent you from getting angry – but He will remind you that it is wrong before you lash out at someone
The Holy Spirit does not physically stop you in your tracks from acting out in sin – but He will convict you before you make the choice to do so
So, the person who walks in the Spirit – Hears the warnings from the Holy Spirit
and responds accordingly
Then utilizes the power of the HS within – to overcome temptation and walk away from acting out sin
Those who walk in the Spirit do not grieve the Holy Spirit – by tuning Him out
They know the voice of God – and furthermore they honor and react positively to it
They flee from sin and shut down lust – anger – greed – or any temptation before the flesh man can entertain it
I want to go back to our opening scripture Ephesians 3 specifically verse 20
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us”
The words, “According to His power that is at work within us” tells a story
I understand it to mean that His power working in my life may be less or more than the power at work within someone else's
What I am trying to convey to you is this: The degree in which the fruit of the Spirit is present and active in your life……
Will be determined by your openness to the Holy Spirit
The power of the Spirit within you is limitless
It can make any of your current struggles disappear
It is all you need to live a victorious life
You see – to walk in the Spirit you must be Spirit minded
You must spend each day in communion with God
If you rely solely on a Sunday Church sermon as your strength throughout the week – you are kidding yourself
You must daily seek Christ on your own
Why is our human nature such – that we wait until troubled times come before we get real serious about calling upon God?
We need to be ready for the day ahead – and be prayed up – and begin each day with Christ
You need to begin each day by speaking with God – let it simply begin by praising God
For who He is and all He has done in your life
Thank Him for His many blessings and ask for His continued protection for that day
Ask Him for protection over your mind – your thought processes and against all the stuff that the world is going to throw your way
I often mentally follow the scripture in Ephesians 6 – where the apostle Paul writes of putting on the Full Armor of God
I even visualize myself applying that armor to my body as protection
• Belt of Truth The Shield of Faith
• Breastplate of Righteousness Helmet of Salvation
• Sword of the Spirit Shod my feet with the Gospel of Peace
And by the way – The Armor of God is one more promise of God – Specifically dealing with Spiritual Warfare
Those who choose to Walk in the Spirit make a conscious effort to eliminate the many harmful influences from their life
Those things that run contrary to the Word of God
Those things that affect us and keep our attention and focus away from the things of God
The types of entertainment and activities that you partake
Because ultimately – you are a by-product of what you consume
The kind of music you listen to
Much of today’s music is filled with filth of all kinds
These lyrics and messages are pumped right into your spirit
What about the Videos you rent? – The Movies you watch?
The Books and magazines you Read
Is it the kind of stuff that enhances your walk with God – or tear you away from HIM
All of the above will have a huge bearing on what you produce in life
If you consume trash – you will in turn produce trash
When you feed yourself a continual diet of things that run contrary to a life lived for Christ – is it any wonder these things start to be manifested with you?
And yes – that is what happens – you begin to manifest these things in your life
In your thinking – and ultimately in your actions
Is it any wonder why we have such a hard time denying our flesh – when our flesh man is who is getting fed regularly?
Ladies and Gentlemen – it is time to feed the Spirit Man and allow him to be paramount in your life
Because when you pursue God and his righteousness – you will produce Christ likeness
And hopefully – that is what you truly desire
It is time for the Spirit man to be securely in the driver’s seat of your life and decisions
When you seek God with all of your being – He naturally becomes the focus of your life.
That is when Walking in the Spirit becomes a continual state for you
That is when you obtain power on your Christian Walk – that is when confidence is produced
That is when you face each day ahead with a belief that nothing can hinder – stop – distract – or allow you to stumble
And that is a great place to be
Because like Zechariah 4:6
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts”
Listen – I know that in some cases tonight – I am preaching to the choir
There are some of you who live in victory and have grasped the truth of preparing yourself daily to stay committed to your faith
But there are some here who may not be Walking in Victory
Maybe you have found yourself continually battling habitual sin – or a stronghold in your life
Perhaps you have become so discouraged – you are to the point of wanting to give up
Maybe lately – you are finding yourself going the wrong direction on too many times
I want to encourage you tonight – to stay strong
Stay focused – and refuse to let a discouragement do you in
Know your identity in Christ – Learn everyday to walk in the Spirit
This is not rocket science – it is basic and yet it produces a desired result
What I have shared with you is the door to victory – the question remains – will you walk through it?
In your own free will – will you choose to receive it and abide in it?
This will determine your ability to walk in the Spirit and deny your flesh
And this will ultimately allow you to walk a Christian life of victorious faith and not discouragement
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