1 00:00:01,900 --> 00:00:05,700 certainly, it's good to be with all of you today to worship, God 2 00:00:05,700 --> 00:00:11,000 in spirit, and in truth, There's a reason why I decided to preach 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,400 on this passage and we'll get to that in just a minute. 4 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:19,300 But may I just say by way of introduction, I think that God's 5 00:00:19,300 --> 00:00:23,900 people and really the world is living in unprecedented times. 6 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:26,800 There are things that happen around us that have never 7 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:32,000 happened in my lifetime, and I realized that we have a global 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:37,900 pandemic that is ever before us. And ever-present, we have family 9 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:40,400 members that have been infected with this virus. 10 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,400 We've known people that have actually passed away from this 11 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:48,500 virus or at least we've known of people that have And really 12 00:00:48,500 --> 00:00:52,700 there are two great extremes when it comes to discussion of 13 00:00:52,700 --> 00:00:54,800 this. I've even heard conspiracy 14 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,100 theorists say that it was a way that another country, send it to 15 00:00:58,100 --> 00:01:02,400 us to lower population so they can get a strong hold over us 16 00:01:02,500 --> 00:01:04,700 and we would no longer be a world power. 17 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,800 I've actually heard many things and many different things that 18 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:12,800 people say as result of the pandemic that is before us on 19 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,000 the other end of the spectrum, some people think it's 20 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,700 absolutely nothing and we're making too big of a deal. 21 00:01:17,900 --> 00:01:20,400 About it. You know, I think in between 22 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,500 perhaps is the truth. It is real. 23 00:01:23,100 --> 00:01:26,900 It is a real virus. It is a real pandemic, but it's 24 00:01:26,900 --> 00:01:30,100 not the end of the world and it will not be the end of God's 25 00:01:30,100 --> 00:01:32,800 people. If you think about all the 26 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,700 negative things that are around us, it really causes us to be 27 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:39,200 depressed that the other day. You know, our iPhones. 28 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,900 Give us little excerpts or news, flashes, when something happens 29 00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:47,100 and just the other day, all of a sudden there was my phone. 30 00:01:47,100 --> 00:01:48,100 I looked at it. No. 31 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,000 There were people that actually storm the capital and did 32 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,500 horrible. Horrible things. 33 00:01:55,700 --> 00:01:59,800 I am not a military strategist. I'm not like King David, a 34 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,500 brilliant mind and Military strategist. 35 00:02:02,500 --> 00:02:06,400 I don't know anything about all that, but I do know this that 36 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,900 Jesus said in Matthew chapter 12, that A house divided against 37 00:02:09,900 --> 00:02:11,500 itself. Cannot stand. 38 00:02:12,300 --> 00:02:14,900 It's depressing when I look out into our country. 39 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,000 A country that I have loved all of my life and I've enjoyed 40 00:02:19,100 --> 00:02:23,400 living in the land of the free and living here in this country. 41 00:02:24,500 --> 00:02:27,100 I kind of think that perhaps I'm a patriotic person. 42 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,700 Absolutely. And I appreciate, especially 43 00:02:30,700 --> 00:02:33,100 those that have died so that we could have freedom. 44 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,700 I appreciate that very much. But, you know, when you think 45 00:02:36,700 --> 00:02:42,500 about all of that in our country and now you have citizens of the 46 00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:46,900 country rising up against itself, A house divided against 47 00:02:46,900 --> 00:02:50,500 itself, cannot stand. So, why in the world that I 48 00:02:50,508 --> 00:02:53,400 decide to preach on this passage, I'm going to tell you 49 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,100 why I decided to preach on this passes. 50 00:02:55,100 --> 00:02:58,600 I decided to preach on this passage because I needed it. 51 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,400 I needed it. Where's that going to leave 52 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:06,000 God's people if all of these things happen and all the bad 53 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,300 things that sometimes people think are going to happen? 54 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:11,700 What about God's people? What are we going to be on the 55 00:03:11,700 --> 00:03:12,800 table? We're going to be if we're 56 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:17,200 faithful. We're going to be more than 57 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:21,900 conquerors more than conquerors. Our text is found in Romans, 58 00:03:21,900 --> 00:03:25,600 chapter 8, beginning in verse 37. 59 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,900 Paul said this. Yet in all these things, we are 60 00:03:29,900 --> 00:03:32,200 more than conquerors through him who loved us? 61 00:03:33,300 --> 00:03:37,900 For, I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor 62 00:03:37,900 --> 00:03:42,400 principalities nor powers nor things present, nor things to 63 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:47,000 come nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall 64 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:51,200 be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in us in 65 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:55,300 Christ Jesus, our lord. You know, from a context 66 00:03:55,300 --> 00:03:58,900 perspective, the Apostle Paul writing to the church, there 67 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:02,000 Rome and he also is writing to us through those words. 68 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:06,300 But Paul was writing to a congregation that new beyond all 69 00:04:06,300 --> 00:04:08,200 others. What a conqueror was. 70 00:04:08,900 --> 00:04:14,100 They saw triumphs, they saw captives, they saw the treasure, 71 00:04:14,700 --> 00:04:17,000 they saw foreign Kings in Chains. 72 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:21,800 They saw generals receiving adoration and in the wake of all 73 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,200 of that in the wake of the victory. 74 00:04:23,300 --> 00:04:26,700 Victory. The Victorious side was a broken 75 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,500 subjugated people to those who knew conquerors. 76 00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:35,400 He invited to be more than conquerors and I think Paul was 77 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,300 telling them that through various onslaughts of their 78 00:04:38,300 --> 00:04:42,300 enemies Christians gain a victory, that's more than a 79 00:04:42,300 --> 00:04:45,800 victory. If they remain, faithful one 80 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,100 commentator wrote this and I thought I would share it with 81 00:04:48,100 --> 00:04:50,500 you. He said, and I quote, the 82 00:04:50,500 --> 00:04:56,000 Christians character strengthens And his favor with God increases 83 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,800 with each successful battle against the worst, that can be 84 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:04,200 brought against him by the World, by the flesh, or by the 85 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,000 devil. I thought they were rather 86 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,800 encouraging thoughts. But the question is this though, 87 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,800 how can we be more than conquerors? 88 00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:17,000 Let me to give five practical things and this is not an 89 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,300 exhaustive study and they're short little sermon. 90 00:05:19,700 --> 00:05:23,100 But these are five things that five Concepts that we can apply 91 00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:24,300 to. That we can know that we could 92 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:29,200 be more than conquerors one day. Number one, very important. 93 00:05:29,300 --> 00:05:32,200 We've got a breach, the wall of sin. 94 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:35,600 I appreciate it. So very much brother Carl's 95 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,300 remarks at the table, and Jesus taking away, sin and 96 00:05:39,300 --> 00:05:43,200 forgiveness, and he's right. But think about it this way, the 97 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,700 reason that man needs forgiveness is because when sin 98 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:51,000 was brought into the world, man's greatest problem with sin, 99 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:55,600 and there's a barrier or there's a wall between us and God that 100 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,900 separates us and that is sin. Have you ever stopped to 101 00:05:59,907 --> 00:06:03,000 consider why God hates sin so much? 102 00:06:03,900 --> 00:06:07,200 Now, this is beyond the obvious that God is pure and god is 103 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,200 perfect and all of that. But why does God hates sin so 104 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:14,400 much God hates sin? One of the reasons no doubt is 105 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:19,200 because sin is the only thing that'll keep man away from him 106 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,200 for eternity. The only thing that separates 107 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:26,900 man from God is sin. In Isaiah chapter, 59, 108 00:06:26,900 --> 00:06:32,400 beginning, there, in verse One Isaiah said, this behold the 109 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:36,600 Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save nor his ear 110 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,300 heavy. That it cannot hear, but your 111 00:06:39,300 --> 00:06:43,500 iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have 112 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:49,300 hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear you. you 113 00:06:49,300 --> 00:06:52,800 know, sometimes we think Especially when were younger 114 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,300 perhaps, and maybe we've rebelled against what we've been 115 00:06:56,300 --> 00:06:58,300 taught. Sometimes we rebelled against 116 00:06:58,300 --> 00:07:02,000 things that are right. And correct, and sometimes we do 117 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:03,900 that when were younger, sometimes we do that, when we're 118 00:07:03,900 --> 00:07:08,000 older And sometimes we think we're just resisting, I don't 119 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:12,200 know the rules or whatever. But, think about it this way, 120 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,300 because this is true. When we sin, we're not resisting 121 00:07:16,300 --> 00:07:21,200 any list of rules or codes out there when we sin, we sin 122 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,100 against one thing, one being, and that's God. 123 00:07:25,700 --> 00:07:28,500 David said, this David understood that he said against 124 00:07:28,500 --> 00:07:32,600 the you, and you only have, I sinned and done this evil in 125 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:36,000 your sight. When we sin, we violate the rig 126 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,700 lationship that we have with God, the Father, If I'm going to 127 00:07:40,700 --> 00:07:43,900 be victorious, though. One day, if I'm going to be more 128 00:07:43,900 --> 00:07:48,100 than a conqueror, I have to breach the wall of sin, man's 129 00:07:48,100 --> 00:07:52,000 greatest problem with sin. Therefore, man's greatest need 130 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,400 was forgiveness. As Carl pointed out, we will 131 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,900 never be victorious in the end unless sin is conquered. 132 00:07:59,500 --> 00:08:04,500 Now, this begins with forgiveness, I'm going to say 133 00:08:04,500 --> 00:08:07,800 some things about forgiveness. Okay. 134 00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:12,600 First, let me say this, I can't imagine life without 135 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,300 forgiveness. I can't imagine going my life 136 00:08:16,300 --> 00:08:20,100 without forgiveness. I also can't imagine going in my 137 00:08:20,100 --> 00:08:23,400 life and asking somebody to forgive me for something and 138 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:28,200 them saying, no or not forgiving me, perhaps a loved one or 139 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,900 whatever it might be, I can't even imagine that. 140 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,299 But especially I can't imagine not being forgiven by God. 141 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,400 It all begins with forgiveness because man is not perfect and 142 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,799 man does sin so we need forgiveness. 143 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,000 But there's a difference between, please get this 144 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:52,600 unconditional love. And conditional forgiveness. 145 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:59,100 Now, we don't forgive each other conditionally, but God does. 146 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,500 Now stay with me. I'm not, I'm not saying what you 147 00:09:03,500 --> 00:09:08,200 might think, I'm saying it is conditional upon what it's 148 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:12,400 conditional upon this in Matthew chapter 28, begins with 149 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,200 forgiveness. Price was paid as Carl pointed 150 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:19,800 out, but in Matthew chapter, 28, beginning in verse 18, Jesus 151 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,500 says all power or all authority is given unto me in heaven and 152 00:09:23,500 --> 00:09:27,300 in Earth go ye therefore and teach All Nations. 153 00:09:27,500 --> 00:09:30,500 Baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of 154 00:09:30,500 --> 00:09:33,800 the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things 155 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,500 whatsoever. I have commanded you and lo. 156 00:09:36,500 --> 00:09:39,900 I Am With, You Always even to the end of the world or the new 157 00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:42,600 King, James says, the End of the Age. 158 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,500 So, here we find if I'm going to be forgiven, I have to be a 159 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:52,700 disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is a follower of him. 160 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,000 That's what I have to be in marks account of the Great 161 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:00,000 Commission, verses, 15 and 16 Jesus says go into the world. 162 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:03,200 And preach the gospel to Every Creature. 163 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:07,100 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. 164 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,400 He that believeth not shall be damned. 165 00:10:09,700 --> 00:10:12,800 So I need to be a disciple. How am I disciple? 166 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:17,400 When I believe and I am baptized for the remission of sins but I 167 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,800 have to talk about the word, belief, very briefly. 168 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,600 There's a lot of people that believe in the concept that 169 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,900 there is a God in heaven and his son died on the cross. 170 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,700 There's a lot of people that believe in those facts. 171 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,200 But belief of the Bible, as you've heard me say many times 172 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,500 over the years, belief, in the Bible is not simple. 173 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:42,500 Acceptation effect, belief of the Bible has the forced to 174 00:10:42,500 --> 00:10:45,400 obey. So if I want the Forgiveness of 175 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,500 my sins, I have to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. 176 00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:53,300 When do I become a disciple of Us Christ, when I believe having 177 00:10:53,300 --> 00:10:56,100 the forced to obey. And I'm baptized for the 178 00:10:56,100 --> 00:11:00,100 remission of sins. One more passage though, in Luke 179 00:11:00,100 --> 00:11:03,400 chapter 24, Jesus had already died. 180 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:07,300 He was buried, he rose on the third day and he spends 40 days 181 00:11:07,300 --> 00:11:09,800 with his disciples and this is what he said. 182 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:15,100 In Luke 24, he said, repentance and remission of sins would be 183 00:11:15,100 --> 00:11:17,800 preached in his name, among all nations. 184 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,800 Beginning at Jerusalem, let's put the whole thing together. 185 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,900 If I want forgiveness of my sins, it comes with repentance. 186 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,900 Remission of sins is always connected to repentance. 187 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,600 Now we talked about God's conditional, forgiveness for 188 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,300 someone, that is a member of the Lord's church has. 189 00:11:38,300 --> 00:11:40,200 Been baptized for the remission of sins. 190 00:11:40,300 --> 00:11:43,400 What's the condition in the Epistle of John? 191 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:47,700 John says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to 192 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:51,200 forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 193 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,800 Yes. So what's the condition of God 194 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:58,800 for giving me my sins? I got to confess my sins to to 195 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:03,100 him. And that is confession with 196 00:12:03,100 --> 00:12:08,700 Godly sorrow or repentance. You know, confession without 197 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:13,300 repentance is meaningless. I got to make a change. 198 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:15,900 So putting this all together, if I want to breach the wall of 199 00:12:15,900 --> 00:12:18,300 sin, I need to be forgiven if I need to be forgiven. 200 00:12:18,300 --> 00:12:19,800 I am your disciple. How I am? 201 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,300 I, when I believe him. And I'm baptized, and when I 202 00:12:22,300 --> 00:12:26,100 repent, and I can have remission of sins. 203 00:12:26,100 --> 00:12:29,700 But we have to keep sin out of our life, folks, because sin 204 00:12:29,700 --> 00:12:32,500 does separate number two, though. 205 00:12:34,300 --> 00:12:36,700 To be more than conquerors that only do I need to breach the 206 00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:42,000 wall of sin, but I need to wield or I need to use the very best 207 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,900 weapons. Now, in a time when people are 208 00:12:44,900 --> 00:12:48,100 talking about battles and perhaps we might go to war and 209 00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:50,500 all these things. I want to talk about Mighty 210 00:12:50,500 --> 00:12:52,300 weapons. I want to talk about the 211 00:12:52,300 --> 00:12:55,200 greatest weapons for the child of God. 212 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:59,700 In 2nd Corinthians, chapter 10, and verse 4 for the weapons of 213 00:12:59,700 --> 00:13:05,400 our Warfare are not carnal, But Mighty In God for pulling down 214 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,900 strongholds. So these are the weapons. 215 00:13:08,900 --> 00:13:11,000 We don't fight against the world. 216 00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:13,400 We don't fight against fresh Flesh, and Blood. 217 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,100 We don't do that. The weapons of our Warfare are 218 00:13:16,100 --> 00:13:19,900 not carnal but they're Mighty in God for pulling down 219 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,800 strongholds, but not only that, we need some protection, don't 220 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,300 we? And the Bible talks about 221 00:13:27,300 --> 00:13:29,500 putting on the whole armor of God. 222 00:13:29,700 --> 00:13:33,600 We notice these passages with you beginning there in verse 10. 223 00:13:35,100 --> 00:13:38,100 Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His 224 00:13:38,100 --> 00:13:41,800 might put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to 225 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:43,600 stand against The Wiles of the devil. 226 00:13:44,300 --> 00:13:46,500 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. 227 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:49,200 But against principalities against Powers against the 228 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:53,300 rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of 229 00:13:53,300 --> 00:13:56,500 wickedness in the Heavenly places. 230 00:13:57,300 --> 00:14:00,200 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be 231 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:04,100 able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to 232 00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:07,000 stand. And stand, therefore, having 233 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:11,000 girded your waist with truth. Having put on the breastplate of 234 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,800 righteousness having shod your feet with the preparation of the 235 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:19,500 gospel of peace above, although taking the shield of Faith, 236 00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:23,700 which is which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of 237 00:14:23,700 --> 00:14:26,600 the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation. 238 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,800 And the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, want 239 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,900 to talk about two things here. By the way, everything I just 240 00:14:33,900 --> 00:14:38,800 said, except the Last day. They are defensive. 241 00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:48,800 Weaponry, they are protection. The only offensive weapon Is the 242 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:50,500 sword of the spirit, the word of God. 243 00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:53,500 More on that in just a minute. But I want to make a point here 244 00:14:53,500 --> 00:14:57,000 about the shield of Faith. Got an email from buddy of mine. 245 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,700 The other day was talking about Saul the things that are going 246 00:14:59,700 --> 00:15:02,500 on in our country and in the world and this nation, you know 247 00:15:02,500 --> 00:15:03,900 what, we just need to have more faith. 248 00:15:03,900 --> 00:15:07,500 He's right. If we're having trouble, 249 00:15:07,500 --> 00:15:10,300 handling, or worried about things that are happening around 250 00:15:10,300 --> 00:15:12,400 us, we need to increase our faith. 251 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,400 One of the greatest things Jesus said about faith. 252 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,500 I love this. Jesus said this about faith. 253 00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:23,100 He said, you have to have the faith of a mustard seed. 254 00:15:23,900 --> 00:15:27,200 He told his disciples that and having the faith of the mustard 255 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:28,900 seed is not meat. Doesn't mean that it's just 256 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:31,600 small. It means this it starts off 257 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:35,300 small but it grows to Greatness perhaps we're having trouble 258 00:15:35,700 --> 00:15:39,800 with the The worries of life because we have not increased 259 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:43,600 our faith. It's not grown to Greatness and 260 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,700 we look in our own eye, our human eye and we look around us 261 00:15:46,900 --> 00:15:49,300 and we get really worried about what's happening out there. 262 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,500 What about your faith? What about increasing your 263 00:15:52,500 --> 00:15:54,300 faith? What about having faith of a 264 00:15:54,300 --> 00:15:57,100 mustard seed? What about those things notice 265 00:15:57,100 --> 00:15:59,900 what he says? Here, Paul says, the shield of 266 00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:04,200 Faith, which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of 267 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,000 the wicked one. Let's take this phrase Shield of 268 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,200 faith and let's talk about what it was back then. 269 00:16:11,300 --> 00:16:16,500 The literal Shield was a shield that the Army used and by the 270 00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:19,300 way, they would have, I'm told they have a group that went 271 00:16:19,300 --> 00:16:22,100 forward behind the troops that were behind them. 272 00:16:22,100 --> 00:16:25,000 The first regiment would go, and they would have a, would be 273 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:28,600 behind the shield and those Shields weren't just some 274 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,500 handheld thing. Those Shields actually went 275 00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:33,600 down. Almost all the way to the ground 276 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,400 and they would get behind the shield. 277 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,100 They have the armor. I'm they get behind the shield 278 00:16:37,100 --> 00:16:40,600 like this, and they would walk toward the enemy in this way. 279 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:44,100 By hiding them self behind the shield. 280 00:16:44,300 --> 00:16:48,000 So when the darts would come their way it would Ricochet off 281 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,500 the shield. That's number one. 282 00:16:51,100 --> 00:16:54,100 Number two, I think this is very powerful. 283 00:16:54,300 --> 00:16:57,400 I heard this a long time ago. I think I heard it from Brian 284 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:02,500 Elliott, many years ago but used it ever since when somebody went 285 00:17:02,500 --> 00:17:06,200 into battle and have the shield, there was no protection from 286 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:10,000 behind. The people that were behind as 287 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,599 long as you pressed forward, we're on your side. 288 00:17:13,900 --> 00:17:18,900 But if you turn tail and ran away or quit, there was nothing 289 00:17:18,900 --> 00:17:23,200 that protected you from behind, and if the fiery darts of the 290 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,700 enemy would come, you would die. And that's true. 291 00:17:26,700 --> 00:17:30,800 When it comes to the child of God, spiritually, you only are 292 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:34,900 protected by the field of by The Shield of faith, if you're in 293 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:36,500 the fight and you're moving forward. 294 00:17:37,300 --> 00:17:39,100 You can't turn tail and you can't quit. 295 00:17:39,700 --> 00:17:42,800 If you want that kind of protection The Shield of Faith. 296 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:44,500 What about the sword of the spirit? 297 00:17:45,300 --> 00:17:48,600 The sword of the spirit is the only offensive weapon that we 298 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,000 have and that is the word of God to somebody might say this. 299 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:55,300 Well, how powerful is that? How powerful is that? 300 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:59,700 Well, the Bible tells me it is piercing in Hebrews 4:12. 301 00:18:00,700 --> 00:18:03,200 For the word of God is living and Powerful. 302 00:18:05,500 --> 00:18:08,400 And sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the 303 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:12,000 division of Soul and Spirit of the joints and Marrow and is a 304 00:18:12,008 --> 00:18:14,900 discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 305 00:18:14,900 --> 00:18:19,000 So one day if we're going to be more than conquerors, we have to 306 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:24,700 do the following breach. The wall of sin, use the best 307 00:18:24,700 --> 00:18:28,000 weapon and number three. And I know this is not popular. 308 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:32,800 We gotta follow orders. If we're in the Lord's army and 309 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:35,800 the battle is the Lord's, we have to listen to the Lord. 310 00:18:36,100 --> 00:18:39,000 He is our captain. In fact, in Hebrews chapter 2, 311 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:44,000 and verse 10 for it is fitting for him for whom are all things. 312 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:48,900 And by whom all are all things in bringing many sons to glory 313 00:18:48,900 --> 00:18:51,200 to make the captain of their salvation. 314 00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:58,200 Perfect through sufferings. He's our captain and folks, only 315 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,900 the only the obedient are victorious. 316 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:05,200 Hebrews 5 89 though. He were a son, yet, he learned 317 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,600 obedience by the things which he suffered and having been 318 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,900 perfected, he became the author of Eternal salvation to all 319 00:19:11,900 --> 00:19:16,700 those, that obey him. But next. 320 00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:22,200 If you're in a battle, folks. You got a fight. 321 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:28,300 And I'm not talking about physically fighting and I'm not 322 00:19:28,300 --> 00:19:32,000 talking about all the verbal battles that are going on in the 323 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,200 world either. Not talking about that at all. 324 00:19:35,100 --> 00:19:39,200 I'm talking about the kind of fight that the child of God must 325 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,400 fight. Well, first of all, what do you 326 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,200 fight for? For you have to fight for the 327 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:48,200 richest treasure and Mark 8:36 for what will it profit? 328 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,900 A man, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul. 329 00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:55,500 The very next verse says, What would a man give in exchange for 330 00:19:55,500 --> 00:19:58,000 his soul? Listen, we're in a fight with 331 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:04,100 the devil for our soul. Got a fight and what does it 332 00:20:04,100 --> 00:20:05,800 profit? A man if he gain the whole world 333 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:09,700 but I lost my own soul so we have to fight for the richest 334 00:20:09,700 --> 00:20:11,700 treasure. What's the richest treasure? 335 00:20:11,700 --> 00:20:14,000 The rich of Trent. Richest treasure is the Crown of 336 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,500 Life, do not fear any of those things which you are about to 337 00:20:17,500 --> 00:20:19,800 suffer. Indeed the devil is about to 338 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,200 throw some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you 339 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:27,100 will have tribulation 10 days, be faithful unto death and I 340 00:20:27,100 --> 00:20:30,000 will give you the Crown of Life. Now notice I've heard this 341 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:34,300 Illustrated like this. Ten days is a figurative phrase 342 00:20:34,300 --> 00:20:37,500 and it is it wasn't a literal 10 days. 343 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:41,600 But it's talking about or is referring to a short amount of 344 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,800 time. And with regards to Eternity, 10 345 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:49,700 days is nothing. I can do anything for 10 days, 346 00:20:49,700 --> 00:20:57,100 probably, I know it's going to be over soon, but Jesus was 347 00:20:57,100 --> 00:20:59,600 talking to people that were far more persecuted than you, and I 348 00:20:59,608 --> 00:21:03,500 ever will be, he was talking to the persecuted church. 349 00:21:03,500 --> 00:21:05,000 One of the seven churches of Asia. 350 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:10,100 The one in Smyrna, they were about to lose their life and 351 00:21:10,100 --> 00:21:13,500 what he was telling them through John the Revelator he was 352 00:21:13,500 --> 00:21:17,400 telling them in this letter, be faithful unto death. 353 00:21:17,500 --> 00:21:21,200 You know the context there does not necessarily mean be 354 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,200 faithful. All the days of your life until 355 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,400 you die, although that's implied. 356 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,600 The context here is with regards to what he was speaking of be 357 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:34,800 faithful. Even if it means your death, And 358 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,400 I will give you what? Crown of Life. 359 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:41,600 He was telling them to fight for that. 360 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:46,000 What kind of fight is it though? What kind of fight is 1st, 361 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:50,100 Timothy 6 and 12? It's the good fight of faith. 362 00:21:51,300 --> 00:21:54,100 Timothy Paul writing to Timothy says, fight the good fight of 363 00:21:54,100 --> 00:21:55,900 Faith. Lay hold on eternal life. 364 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,900 To which you were also called and have confessed a good 365 00:22:00,900 --> 00:22:04,700 confession in the presence of many witnesses. 366 00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:07,700 What else? Folks, we got to do this 367 00:22:07,700 --> 00:22:12,400 according to Jude 3, Beloved while I was very diligent to 368 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,700 write to you concerning the common salvation. 369 00:22:14,700 --> 00:22:18,700 I found it necessary to write to you exhorting, you to contend 370 00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:21,000 earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the 371 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,100 Saints. We have to contend for the 372 00:22:24,100 --> 00:22:26,600 faith. We got to stand for the truth 373 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:29,500 and stand for what's right? So what are we fighting for? 374 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,000 Let's talk about that quickly in summary. 375 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,400 What are we fighting for? We're fighting for the richest 376 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,700 treasure. What's the richest treasure? 377 00:22:36,700 --> 00:22:39,200 It's the Crown of Life. What kind of fight is? 378 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,100 It's the Fight of faith and when we fight the good fight of 379 00:22:42,100 --> 00:22:45,200 Faith, guess what we get to do, lay hold of eternal life and we 380 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:47,800 earnestly contend for the faith, that was once delivered to the 381 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:49,400 Saints. That's our fight. 382 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:51,700 That's our battle. We've been given the armor. 383 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:54,700 We've been given the weapon and we can live and we could fight 384 00:22:54,700 --> 00:23:00,300 that fight. But finally, last point and I 385 00:23:00,308 --> 00:23:04,100 think this is so important because if your eye is not 386 00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:08,500 single and you're not focused on the prize, it's easy to be 387 00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:12,200 derailed. If you're looking at other 388 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:16,400 peripheral things and you lose sight of things, you can be 389 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,300 derailed and you can get off track. 390 00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:23,600 So, here's our final point point number five, you got to see the 391 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:28,900 victory. You got to see the victory. 1st 392 00:23:28,900 --> 00:23:35,000 Corinthians 15:57. But thanks be to God. who gives 393 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:38,800 us the victory through, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, therefore, my 394 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:44,400 beloved Brethren be steadfast immovable, always abounding in 395 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:48,000 the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain 396 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:52,400 in the Lord, you know, the word steadfastly means firm and 397 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:56,200 unwavering What is the child of God to do? 398 00:23:56,300 --> 00:23:58,400 He needs to see the victory. How you going to do it? 399 00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:02,300 Be firm and unwavering, and unwavering be immovable. 400 00:24:02,500 --> 00:24:06,400 And notice this abounding in the work of the Lord, the word 401 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:12,300 abounding means to overdo it. Every how people say you're 402 00:24:12,300 --> 00:24:15,300 overdoing it and there's a lot of things in life that we're 403 00:24:15,300 --> 00:24:16,800 overdoing. You can actually do things that 404 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,800 are good, but overdo them like you can overdo it. 405 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:24,300 When it comes to exercise, you can they call that overtraining, 406 00:24:24,700 --> 00:24:26,700 you're overdoing it, and that's not good. 407 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:31,000 The same phraseology is used in, a poly positive sense here. 408 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,800 Abounding means to literally over, do it in the work of the 409 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:38,700 Lord. Above and beyond meaning this no 410 00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:41,300 matter how hard you try, no matter all that you do. 411 00:24:41,300 --> 00:24:45,300 It's not too much abounding in the work of the Lord. 412 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,200 You got to see the prize. You got to see the victory. 413 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:53,700 Last passage Revelation, 21 Verses 4, and verse 7. 414 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,200 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 415 00:24:59,900 --> 00:25:02,700 And there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying. 416 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,400 There should be no more pain for the former things have passed 417 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,600 away. He who overcomes shall inherit 418 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:16,000 all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. you 419 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,200 see in the wake of the Lord's army is sin and death, but up 420 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:23,800 ahead is triumph, I think it's important that we remember that 421 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:27,600 we win as one man said, one time I read the book of Revelation 422 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,300 and we win But finally, in conclusion. 423 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:38,200 You know the Bible pictures life in terms of the following and 424 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:40,400 you know every one of these things are very difficult. 425 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:44,700 The life that we are living is described with great. 426 00:25:44,700 --> 00:25:49,400 Intensity is described as a race that we're competing for. 427 00:25:49,900 --> 00:25:53,900 It's described as a fight that we must get in and it's a battle 428 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,600 and it's all the days of our life and it doesn't let up 429 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:02,900 That's how it's described. So don't feel bad. 430 00:26:02,900 --> 00:26:07,400 If your life is difficult or you're going trying to be a 431 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:10,200 Christian, but all these things are flying at you, and it's 432 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:11,600 difficult. Don't feel bad. 433 00:26:11,700 --> 00:26:13,500 The Bible says, it's going to be difficult. 434 00:26:15,100 --> 00:26:17,700 And I'll tell you this too. When you become a child of God, 435 00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:19,200 there's nothing in the word of God. 436 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:23,300 That says you're going to have an easier life or an easier time 437 00:26:23,300 --> 00:26:25,500 of it. All it says, is you'll have a 438 00:26:25,500 --> 00:26:30,000 better life after this life. And while you're in this life, 439 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,000 God will never leave your side if you want. 440 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,200 Leave him. That's all that were promised. 441 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:40,300 How we can be more than conquerors if we remain 442 00:26:40,300 --> 00:26:43,100 faithful. Breach the wall of sin. 443 00:26:44,500 --> 00:26:47,100 Use the best weapons. Put on the whole armor of God, 444 00:26:47,900 --> 00:26:51,100 follow orders from our later. That's Jesus Christ. 445 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:55,400 Let's fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal 446 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:58,400 life. And folks, you got to see the 447 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:01,000 victory. You got to keep your eye on the 448 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:04,300 prize. Will you be more than conquerors 449 00:27:04,300 --> 00:27:06,300 one day? Imagine this as I say, finally, 450 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:09,900 We're at the end and we're all done in. 451 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,400 And you've lived your life and you've gone through the battles 452 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,800 of life. And you get to the end. 453 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:22,200 And you're Victorious. and the victory that you've wanted, all 454 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:26,600 of your life is finally, before you And you hear the precious 455 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,600 words. Well done thou good. 456 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,300 And faithful servant enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. 457 00:27:32,900 --> 00:27:36,700 How wonderful that will be regardless of the price we had 458 00:27:36,700 --> 00:27:40,200 to pay in our life. Vince Lombardi, one of the 459 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:44,400 greatest coaches ever said this about being Victorious. 460 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:49,600 He said this, I firmly believe that any man's finest hour the 461 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:53,600 greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear is that moment 462 00:27:54,600 --> 00:28:00,500 that moment when he's given his whole heart for a good cause And 463 00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:04,600 he lies exhausted on the field of battle Victorious. 464 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:07,700 I picture that as the child of God. 465 00:28:08,900 --> 00:28:11,500 Spend it all, leave it all, leave it on the field, like they 466 00:28:11,500 --> 00:28:14,900 say, and one day, hear those precious words. 467 00:28:14,900 --> 00:28:18,200 Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord folks. 468 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:22,900 Not only will we be conquerors will be more than conquerors if 469 00:28:22,900 --> 00:28:24,500 we're faithful. I'm finished. 470 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:27,100 Thank you for your kind listening today and we had to 471 00:28:27,100 --> 00:28:31,300 discuss and I hope something was helpful to you in some way. 472 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,300 I know that these were things that I needed to hear, so I 473 00:28:34,300 --> 00:28:36,900 wrote this little sermon for that purpose. 474 00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:38,600 Hope it was beneficial to you as well. 475 00:28:39,300 --> 00:28:41,500 We never know the hearts and minds of those that are present. 476 00:28:41,500 --> 00:28:43,600 Maybe you're here today. You're not a child of God, you 477 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:47,400 can be and you need to be come believing in Jesus. 478 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,900 Repent of your sins confess, his name as the Son of God and be 479 00:28:50,900 --> 00:28:53,900 baptized in water for the remission of your sins. 480 00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:56,500 You need forgiveness that your greatest need and you could be 481 00:28:56,500 --> 00:28:59,200 forgiven and have remission of sins today. 482 00:29:00,900 --> 00:29:03,500 We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the 483 00:29:03,500 --> 00:29:09,300 Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 484 00:29:09,300 --> 00:29:12,400 would like any additional information, or you would like 485 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,500 to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 486 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:20,000 Please email us at info at her Church of Christ 487 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,000 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 488 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:29,600 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 489 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,700 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 490 00:29:33,700 --> 00:29:34,600 honored guest.