Battle Plan for Victory - Number 1

Battleplan for Victory - A series of five lessons that list scriptures that explain how a Christian wins victor Battle Plan for Victory - Number 1 KNOW YOUR CAPTAIN When we join God s army we submit ourselves for active duty to the Captain of our faith! We consecrate ourselves by separating from the enemy to God. Victory always begins with consecration and worship from the heart. We must have the same goals and objectives as our Captain. We must learn to hate what he hates and love what he loves remembering there is no such thing as neutral ground. We are either fighting for or against Jesus Christ and His kingdom. Our allegiance must be to the right King! 2 Chronicles 30:8-9 - Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. 2 Corinthians 8:5 - And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 6:13-14 - Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: b ut yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 1 / 13

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Psalm 60:4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 2 / 13

Battle Plan for Victory - Number 2 KNOW YOUR ORDERS We become battle ready as we learn to obey the instructions of our Captain immediately and implicitly, even when we do not understand them. God wants us to learn to make a conscious, deliberate decision to obey the Word of God over our feelings or reasonings. Israel had to learn obedience, dependence, and faith before they could conquer their enemies and possess the promised land. Learning obedience requires us to know the truth and have absolute confidence in God s character and love. We must never trust our own heart under any circumstance. Psalm 1:2-3 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly mandments. in his com Proverbs 19:16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 3 / 13

Jeremiah 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. Luke 6:46-48 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 1 John 2:3-6 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. - He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Exodus 23:22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 1:18-19 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare 4 / 13

; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Battle Plan for Victory - Number 3 KNOW YOUR WEAPONS To be an effective soldier, we must familiarize ourselves with our weapons of warfare and develop skill using them. We cannot fight successfully in God s army using the world s weapons. The only effective weapons available for this war are the weapons God has provided for us. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 1 Samuel 17:45-47 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands. Ephesians 6:11-17 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the 5 / 13

wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness ; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their 6 / 13

testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Hebrews 4:12 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. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Psalm 107:6-7 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way... Psalm 138:3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Psalm 118:5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. Battle Plan for Victory - Number 4 KNOW THE ENEMY 7 / 13

We must learn to recognize the enemy, and know his tactics and his objectives--but keep our focus on our work and on our Captain, not on the enemy or on ourselves. Like Israel in Nehemiah s day, we are alert to the tactics of the enemy, so we keep a sword near one hand, but keep working with a trowel in the other. A good soldier works to build God s kingdom, not his own. We resist the devil by doing God s work in God s way and submitting ourselves to Him. Protecting ourselves with our own defenses or fighting the battle using our own logic and reasoning is to give Satan an opportunity to defeat us. Satan 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them 2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Acts 26:17-18 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 8 / 13

2 Timothy 2:2 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. The Flesh Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth [wars] against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which inst the soul; war aga Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like... The World John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 9 / 13

1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pri de of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Battle Plan for Victory - Number 5 KNOW YOUR SOURCE OF VICTORY When we use God's weapons, God's way, God's power for victory is guaranteed. We must depend wholly on the Lord to fight the battle in His strength--not our own strength or skill. Our confidence must be in a PERSON. We do what the Captain says to do, then depend on Him to use what we do, and do what we cannot do. God enables us to do the right thing, but we must move forward and advance obediently, believing He will do as He has promised and fight our battles when we follow Him. Remember, we must fight on God s terms, using God s methods. Victory depends on our recognizing the battle is the Lord s and it is He who fights on our behalf! The minute we depend on ourselves alone, we are dead meat! 10 / 13

Psalm 35:1-7 A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. Psalm 146:3-5 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. H appy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 1 Samuel 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands. 2 Chronicles 20:1 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the L ORD our God. Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. 11 / 13

Jeremiah 51:20 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and wit h thee will I destroy kingdoms; Joshua 23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 146:3-5 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. Romans 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Hebrews 11:33-37 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 12 / 13

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to f ulfil the lusts thereof. 13 / 13