The Act: Jesus conquered this world

Transcription

1 The Act: Jesus conquered this world Matthew 28 As we know, Jesus is God God is Jesus. Thus, when we talk about characteristics of Jesus, we are talking about characteristics of God. Right? So, when studying the identity of Jesus, we see that he is a conqueror. Therefore, God is a conqueror. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, NIV) Who overcomes? An overcomer. What is an overcomer? A conqueror. How does this play into us? Check out what Paul says: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37, NIV) God has created us to benefit from his conquering. He has already conquered. We must simply activate this conquering, or overcoming, in our own life. But, how do we access God s victory in our own life? We apply his truth. Paul talks about how we defeat the Devil s lies in our life... Put on all of God s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:11, 14-17, NLT) Paul begins and ends with truth or the Word of God. We understand the sword, but why was the belt important? Unlocking the Bible ( says Almost everyone in those days wore some sort of long sheet or light robe typically as a heat-defeating undergarment quite similar to what you d see in some Middle Eastern countries today. But, if you were a solider, this arrangement would present a problem. A long robe would make it very difficult to move quickly (you d trip over your robe) and make you easily grabbed. So, what the soldiers would do is take a belt to fasten all the excess fabric more tightly to their body What this belt did was free the soldiers legs up to help them be ready for the fight, ready for action. Most scholars believe that this was the first thing a soldier would do in putting on armor fasten their belt. For with their robe, their undergarments fastened into place by the belt, they could now put on all the other armor. God s Identity as Conqueror and our identity as more than conquerors But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. 2 Corinthians 2:14 To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 1 Corinthians 15:57 because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 1 John 5:4 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD. Proverbs 21:31

2 So, the belt was put on first, because it allowed the soldier to be free and held the rest of his armor in place. The same is true for us! Knowing the truth of who we are in Christ, what God says about us, and who he is gives us the freedom to stand against the lies of the devil! We are free to fight back because we put on the belt of truth first. Also, knowing who we are, who he is and what he says about us holds the rest of our armor in place. Our identity in Jesus gives us righteousness Body Armor Our identity in Jesus gives us peace Shoes Our identity in Jesus gives us faith Shield Our identity in Jesus gives us salvation Helmet Once God s truth has held together our defense against Satan, we use it as our offense against Satan! Paul says God s Word is the Sword of the Spirit! We actively fight Satan s words with God s words - That is how we apply Jesus victory in our lives! God assures us in Isaiah that wherever his word is applied, it will accomplish and achieve his purpose The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. (Isaiah 55:10-11, NLT) God says his word always produces fruit. It will accomplish his purposes. God s word holds his purposes for you. It holds life, and freedom. It holds truth and justice. It holds his identity and your identity. Satan will attack it, but God s truth cannot be defeated. You are fighting with a sword and armor that cannot be defeated! That makes you more than a conqueror. You don t have to wait any longer. Victory is yours! We re going to start fighting the lies of the Devil in your life right now. On the following pages you will enter the battlefield. You re going to have to identify the lies Satan tells you. They will all have a pattern Fear Insecurity Inadequacy Unqualified Doubt Perfectionism Overachiever Of course, there are more. And these can fight us in different ways, but we have the Word of God as our undefeatable sword and the love of God as our confidence. On the next page, I have listed Bible verses to help fight your insecurities and giants. They will not be enough - you may have to do some searching. But, they will get you started.

3 When you re fighting worthlessness and a lack of self confidence Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Colossians 3:9-10, NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17) For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:13-14) Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. (Genesis 1:26) When you re fighting unrighteousness and feelings of being undeserving... God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. (Romans 3:25) It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians. 1:30) For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." (Romans 1:17) When you re fighting inadequacy and feeling unqualified... I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts and I am helped (Psalm 28:7) Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. (Psalm 23:1) (Psalm 34:4, 10) (Philippians 4:6, NLT) When you re fighting fear of missing God s will in your life and your purpose Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. (Psalm 143:8, NLT) You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. (Psalm 73:24, NLT) And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. (Psalm 57:2, NLT) (Philippians 1:6, ESV) As I wrote earlier, these are but a few verses to remind us of the truth found in God s Word. He offers so much more in the Bible! Don t be afraid to open it and claim the victory of freedom that Jesus won for you.

4 On the following pages use the truth of God s Word to personally and purposefully attack the giants standing in the way of freedom. The Thought Write down the thought that holds you captive The Truth Write down the Bible Verse or biblical concept that addresses the thought The Response In your own words, write down the biblical response to the thought

5 The Thought Write down the thought that holds you captive The Truth Write down the Bible Verse or biblical concept that addresses the thought The Response In your own words, write down the biblical response to the thought

6 What does it mean to be more than conquerors? What do we defend and attack with? Do you think having a Battle Plan (writing out the thought, the truth, and the response) will help in future spiritual battles?,! Wise Words: We are able because God is Able. - Louie Giglio, Goliath must fall God already has victory over anything you may face. God calls us to defend using the truth of who we are, who he is and what he has done. God calls us to attack using the truth of his Word. 4. We are more than conquerors, because we cannot lose.