certainly, it's good to be with all of you today to worship, God
in spirit, and in truth, There's a reason why I decided to preach
on this passage and we'll get to that in just a minute.
But may I just say by way of introduction, I think that God's
people and really the world is living in unprecedented times.
There are things that happen around us that have never
happened in my lifetime, and I realized that we have a global
pandemic that is ever before us. And ever-present, we have family
members that have been infected with this virus.
We've known people that have actually passed away from this
virus or at least we've known of people that have And really
there are two great extremes when it comes to discussion of
this. I've even heard conspiracy
theorists say that it was a way that another country, send it to
us to lower population so they can get a strong hold over us
and we would no longer be a world power.
I've actually heard many things and many different things that
people say as result of the pandemic that is before us on
the other end of the spectrum, some people think it's
absolutely nothing and we're making too big of a deal.
About it. You know, I think in between
perhaps is the truth. It is real.
It is a real virus. It is a real pandemic, but it's
not the end of the world and it will not be the end of God's
people. If you think about all the
negative things that are around us, it really causes us to be
depressed that the other day. You know, our iPhones.
Give us little excerpts or news, flashes, when something happens
and just the other day, all of a sudden there was my phone.
I looked at it. No.
There were people that actually storm the capital and did
horrible. Horrible things.
I am not a military strategist. I'm not like King David, a
brilliant mind and Military strategist.
I don't know anything about all that, but I do know this that
Jesus said in Matthew chapter 12, that A house divided against
itself. Cannot stand.
It's depressing when I look out into our country.
A country that I have loved all of my life and I've enjoyed
living in the land of the free and living here in this country.
I kind of think that perhaps I'm a patriotic person.
Absolutely. And I appreciate, especially
those that have died so that we could have freedom.
I appreciate that very much. But, you know, when you think
about all of that in our country and now you have citizens of the
country rising up against itself, A house divided against
itself, cannot stand. So, why in the world that I
decide to preach on this passage, I'm going to tell you
why I decided to preach on this passes.
I decided to preach on this passage because I needed it.
I needed it. Where's that going to leave
God's people if all of these things happen and all the bad
things that sometimes people think are going to happen?
What about God's people? What are we going to be on the
table? We're going to be if we're
faithful. We're going to be more than
conquerors more than conquerors. Our text is found in Romans,
chapter 8, beginning in verse 37.
Paul said this. Yet in all these things, we are
more than conquerors through him who loved us?
For, I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities nor powers nor things present, nor things to
come nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall
be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in us in
Christ Jesus, our lord. You know, from a context
perspective, the Apostle Paul writing to the church, there
Rome and he also is writing to us through those words.
But Paul was writing to a congregation that new beyond all
others. What a conqueror was.
They saw triumphs, they saw captives, they saw the treasure,
they saw foreign Kings in Chains.
They saw generals receiving adoration and in the wake of all
of that in the wake of the victory.
Victory. The Victorious side was a broken
subjugated people to those who knew conquerors.
He invited to be more than conquerors and I think Paul was
telling them that through various onslaughts of their
enemies Christians gain a victory, that's more than a
victory. If they remain, faithful one
commentator wrote this and I thought I would share it with
you. He said, and I quote, the
Christians character strengthens And his favor with God increases
with each successful battle against the worst, that can be
brought against him by the World, by the flesh, or by the
devil. I thought they were rather
encouraging thoughts. But the question is this though,
how can we be more than conquerors?
Let me to give five practical things and this is not an
exhaustive study and they're short little sermon.
But these are five things that five Concepts that we can apply
to. That we can know that we could
be more than conquerors one day. Number one, very important.
We've got a breach, the wall of sin.
I appreciate it. So very much brother Carl's
remarks at the table, and Jesus taking away, sin and
forgiveness, and he's right. But think about it this way, the
reason that man needs forgiveness is because when sin
was brought into the world, man's greatest problem with sin,
and there's a barrier or there's a wall between us and God that
separates us and that is sin. Have you ever stopped to
consider why God hates sin so much?
Now, this is beyond the obvious that God is pure and god is
perfect and all of that. But why does God hates sin so
much God hates sin? One of the reasons no doubt is
because sin is the only thing that'll keep man away from him
for eternity. The only thing that separates
man from God is sin. In Isaiah chapter, 59,
beginning, there, in verse One Isaiah said, this behold the
Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save nor his ear
heavy. That it cannot hear, but your
iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have
hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear you. you
know, sometimes we think Especially when were younger
perhaps, and maybe we've rebelled against what we've been
taught. Sometimes we rebelled against
things that are right. And correct, and sometimes we do
that when were younger, sometimes we do that, when we're
older And sometimes we think we're just resisting, I don't
know the rules or whatever. But, think about it this way,
because this is true. When we sin, we're not resisting
any list of rules or codes out there when we sin, we sin
against one thing, one being, and that's God.
David said, this David understood that he said against
the you, and you only have, I sinned and done this evil in
your sight. When we sin, we violate the rig
lationship that we have with God, the Father, If I'm going to
be victorious, though. One day, if I'm going to be more
than a conqueror, I have to breach the wall of sin, man's
greatest problem with sin. Therefore, man's greatest need
was forgiveness. As Carl pointed out, we will
never be victorious in the end unless sin is conquered.
Now, this begins with forgiveness, I'm going to say
some things about forgiveness. Okay.
First, let me say this, I can't imagine life without
forgiveness. I can't imagine going my life
without forgiveness. I also can't imagine going in my
life and asking somebody to forgive me for something and
them saying, no or not forgiving me, perhaps a loved one or
whatever it might be, I can't even imagine that.
But especially I can't imagine not being forgiven by God.
It all begins with forgiveness because man is not perfect and
man does sin so we need forgiveness.
But there's a difference between, please get this
unconditional love. And conditional forgiveness.
Now, we don't forgive each other conditionally, but God does.
Now stay with me. I'm not, I'm not saying what you
might think, I'm saying it is conditional upon what it's
conditional upon this in Matthew chapter 28, begins with
forgiveness. Price was paid as Carl pointed
out, but in Matthew chapter, 28, beginning in verse 18, Jesus
says all power or all authority is given unto me in heaven and
in Earth go ye therefore and teach All Nations.
Baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever. I have commanded you and lo.
I Am With, You Always even to the end of the world or the new
King, James says, the End of the Age.
So, here we find if I'm going to be forgiven, I have to be a
disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is a follower of him.
That's what I have to be in marks account of the Great
Commission, verses, 15 and 16 Jesus says go into the world.
And preach the gospel to Every Creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.
He that believeth not shall be damned.
So I need to be a disciple. How am I disciple?
When I believe and I am baptized for the remission of sins but I
have to talk about the word, belief, very briefly.
There's a lot of people that believe in the concept that
there is a God in heaven and his son died on the cross.
There's a lot of people that believe in those facts.
But belief of the Bible, as you've heard me say many times
over the years, belief, in the Bible is not simple.
Acceptation effect, belief of the Bible has the forced to
obey. So if I want the Forgiveness of
my sins, I have to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
When do I become a disciple of Us Christ, when I believe having
the forced to obey. And I'm baptized for the
remission of sins. One more passage though, in Luke
chapter 24, Jesus had already died.
He was buried, he rose on the third day and he spends 40 days
with his disciples and this is what he said.
In Luke 24, he said, repentance and remission of sins would be
preached in his name, among all nations.
Beginning at Jerusalem, let's put the whole thing together.
If I want forgiveness of my sins, it comes with repentance.
Remission of sins is always connected to repentance.
Now we talked about God's conditional, forgiveness for
someone, that is a member of the Lord's church has.
Been baptized for the remission of sins.
What's the condition in the Epistle of John?
John says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Yes. So what's the condition of God
for giving me my sins? I got to confess my sins to to
him. And that is confession with
Godly sorrow or repentance. You know, confession without
repentance is meaningless. I got to make a change.
So putting this all together, if I want to breach the wall of
sin, I need to be forgiven if I need to be forgiven.
I am your disciple. How I am?
I, when I believe him. And I'm baptized, and when I
repent, and I can have remission of sins.
But we have to keep sin out of our life, folks, because sin
does separate number two, though.
To be more than conquerors that only do I need to breach the
wall of sin, but I need to wield or I need to use the very best
weapons. Now, in a time when people are
talking about battles and perhaps we might go to war and
all these things. I want to talk about Mighty
weapons. I want to talk about the
greatest weapons for the child of God.
In 2nd Corinthians, chapter 10, and verse 4 for the weapons of
our Warfare are not carnal, But Mighty In God for pulling down
strongholds. So these are the weapons.
We don't fight against the world.
We don't fight against fresh Flesh, and Blood.
We don't do that. The weapons of our Warfare are
not carnal but they're Mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, but not only that, we need some protection, don't
we? And the Bible talks about
putting on the whole armor of God.
We notice these passages with you beginning there in verse 10.
Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His
might put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
stand against The Wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.
But against principalities against Powers against the
rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the Heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be
able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to
stand. And stand, therefore, having
girded your waist with truth. Having put on the breastplate of
righteousness having shod your feet with the preparation of the
gospel of peace above, although taking the shield of Faith,
which is which you will 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, want
to talk about two things here. By the way, everything I just
said, except the Last day. They are defensive.
Weaponry, they are protection. The only offensive weapon Is the
sword of the spirit, the word of God.
More on that in just a minute. But I want to make a point here
about the shield of Faith. Got an email from buddy of mine.
The other day was talking about Saul the things that are going
on in our country and in the world and this nation, you know
what, we just need to have more faith.
He's right. If we're having trouble,
handling, or worried about things that are happening around
us, we need to increase our faith.
One of the greatest things Jesus said about faith.
I love this. Jesus said this about faith.
He said, you have to have the faith of a mustard seed.
He told his disciples that and having the faith of the mustard
seed is not meat. Doesn't mean that it's just
small. It means this it starts off
small but it grows to Greatness perhaps we're having trouble
with the The worries of life because we have not increased
our faith. It's not grown to Greatness and
we look in our own eye, our human eye and we look around us
and we get really worried about what's happening out there.
What about your faith? What about increasing your
faith? What about having faith of a
mustard seed? What about those things notice
what he says? Here, Paul says, the shield of
Faith, which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked one. Let's take this phrase Shield of
faith and let's talk about what it was back then.
The literal Shield was a shield that the Army used and by the
way, they would have, I'm told they have a group that went
forward behind the troops that were behind them.
The first regiment would go, and they would have a, would be
behind the shield and those Shields weren't just some
handheld thing. Those Shields actually went
down. Almost all the way to the ground
and they would get behind the shield.
They have the armor. I'm they get behind the shield
like this, and they would walk toward the enemy in this way.
By hiding them self behind the shield.
So when the darts would come their way it would Ricochet off
the shield. That's number one.
Number two, I think this is very powerful.
I heard this a long time ago. I think I heard it from Brian
Elliott, many years ago but used it ever since when somebody went
into battle and have the shield, there was no protection from
behind. The people that were behind as
long as you pressed forward, we're on your side.
But if you turn tail and ran away or quit, there was nothing
that protected you from behind, and if the fiery darts of the
enemy would come, you would die. And that's true.
When it comes to the child of God, spiritually, you only are
protected by the field of by The Shield of faith, if you're in
the fight and you're moving forward.
You can't turn tail and you can't quit.
If you want that kind of protection The Shield of Faith.
What about the sword of the spirit?
The sword of the spirit is the only offensive weapon that we
have and that is the word of God to somebody might say this.
Well, how powerful is that? How powerful is that?
Well, the Bible tells me it is piercing in Hebrews 4:12.
For the word of God is living and Powerful.
And sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the
division of Soul and Spirit of the joints and Marrow and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
So one day if we're going to be more than conquerors, we have to
do the following breach. The wall of sin, use the best
weapon and number three. And I know this is not popular.
We gotta follow orders. If we're in the Lord's army and
the battle is the Lord's, we have to listen to the Lord.
He is our captain. In fact, in Hebrews chapter 2,
and verse 10 for it is fitting for him for whom are all things.
And by whom all are all things in bringing many sons to glory
to make the captain of their salvation.
Perfect through sufferings. He's our captain and folks, only
the only the obedient are victorious.
Hebrews 5 89 though. He were a son, yet, he learned
obedience by the things which he suffered and having been
perfected, he became the author of Eternal salvation to all
those, that obey him. But next.
If you're in a battle, folks. You got a fight.
And I'm not talking about physically fighting and I'm not
talking about all the verbal battles that are going on in the
world either. Not talking about that at all.
I'm talking about the kind of fight that the child of God must
fight. Well, first of all, what do you
fight for? For you have to fight for the
richest treasure and Mark 8:36 for what will it profit?
A man, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul.
The very next verse says, What would a man give in exchange for
his soul? Listen, we're in a fight with
the devil for our soul. Got a fight and what does it
profit? A man if he gain the whole world
but I lost my own soul so we have to fight for the richest
treasure. What's the richest treasure?
The rich of Trent. Richest treasure is the Crown of
Life, do not fear any of those things which you are about to
suffer. Indeed the devil is about to
throw some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you
will have tribulation 10 days, be faithful unto death and I
will give you the Crown of Life. Now notice I've heard this
Illustrated like this. Ten days is a figurative phrase
and it is it wasn't a literal 10 days.
But it's talking about or is referring to a short amount of
time. And with regards to Eternity, 10
days is nothing. I can do anything for 10 days,
probably, I know it's going to be over soon, but Jesus was
talking to people that were far more persecuted than you, and I
ever will be, he was talking to the persecuted church.
One of the seven churches of Asia.
The one in Smyrna, they were about to lose their life and
what he was telling them through John the Revelator he was
telling them in this letter, be faithful unto death.
You know the context there does not necessarily mean be
faithful. All the days of your life until
you die, although that's implied.
The context here is with regards to what he was speaking of be
faithful. Even if it means your death, And
I will give you what? Crown of Life.
He was telling them to fight for that.
What kind of fight is it though? What kind of fight is 1st,
Timothy 6 and 12? It's the good fight of faith.
Timothy Paul writing to Timothy says, fight the good fight of
Faith. Lay hold on eternal life.
To which you were also called and have confessed a good
confession in the presence of many witnesses.
What else? Folks, we got to do this
according to Jude 3, Beloved while I was very diligent to
write to you concerning the common salvation.
I found it necessary to write to you exhorting, you to contend
earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the
Saints. We have to contend for the
faith. We got to stand for the truth
and stand for what's right? So what are we fighting for?
Let's talk about that quickly in summary.
What are we fighting for? We're fighting for the richest
treasure. What's the richest treasure?
It's the Crown of Life. What kind of fight is?
It's the Fight of faith and when we fight the good fight of
Faith, guess what we get to do, lay hold of eternal life and we
earnestly contend for the faith, that was once delivered to the
Saints. That's our fight.
That's our battle. We've been given the armor.
We've been given the weapon and we can live and we could fight
that fight. But finally, last point and I
think this is so important because if your eye is not
single and you're not focused on the prize, it's easy to be
derailed. If you're looking at other
peripheral things and you lose sight of things, you can be
derailed and you can get off track.
So, here's our final point point number five, you got to see the
victory. You got to see the victory. 1st
Corinthians 15:57. But thanks be to God. who gives
us the victory through, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, therefore, my
beloved Brethren be steadfast immovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain
in the Lord, you know, the word steadfastly means firm and
unwavering What is the child of God to do?
He needs to see the victory. How you going to do it?
Be firm and unwavering, and unwavering be immovable.
And notice this abounding in the work of the Lord, the word
abounding means to overdo it. Every how people say you're
overdoing it and there's a lot of things in life that we're
overdoing. You can actually do things that
are good, but overdo them like you can overdo it.
When it comes to exercise, you can they call that overtraining,
you're overdoing it, and that's not good.
The same phraseology is used in, a poly positive sense here.
Abounding means to literally over, do it in the work of the
Lord. Above and beyond meaning this no
matter how hard you try, no matter all that you do.
It's not too much abounding in the work of the Lord.
You got to see the prize. You got to see the victory.
Last passage Revelation, 21 Verses 4, and verse 7.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
And there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying.
There should be no more pain for the former things have passed
away. He who overcomes shall inherit
all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. you
see in the wake of the Lord's army is sin and death, but up
ahead is triumph, I think it's important that we remember that
we win as one man said, one time I read the book of Revelation
and we win But finally, in conclusion.
You know the Bible pictures life in terms of the following and
you know every one of these things are very difficult.
The life that we are living is described with great.
Intensity is described as a race that we're competing for.
It's described as a fight that we must get in and it's a battle
and it's all the days of our life and it doesn't let up
That's how it's described. So don't feel bad.
If your life is difficult or you're going trying to be a
Christian, but all these things are flying at you, and it's
difficult. Don't feel bad.
The Bible says, it's going to be difficult.
And I'll tell you this too. When you become a child of God,
there's nothing in the word of God.
That says you're going to have an easier life or an easier time
of it. All it says, is you'll have a
better life after this life. And while you're in this life,
God will never leave your side if you want.
Leave him. That's all that were promised.
How we can be more than conquerors if we remain
faithful. Breach the wall of sin.
Use the best weapons. Put on the whole armor of God,
follow orders from our later. That's Jesus Christ.
Let's fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal
life. And folks, you got to see the
victory. You got to keep your eye on the
prize. Will you be more than conquerors
one day? Imagine this as I say, finally,
We're at the end and we're all done in.
And you've lived your life and you've gone through the battles
of life. And you get to the end.
And you're Victorious. and the victory that you've wanted, all
of your life is finally, before you And you hear the precious
words. Well done thou good.
And faithful servant enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
How wonderful that will be regardless of the price we had
to pay in our life. Vince Lombardi, one of the
greatest coaches ever said this about being Victorious.
He said this, I firmly believe that any man's finest hour the
greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear is that moment
that moment when he's given his whole heart for a good cause And
he lies exhausted on the field of battle Victorious.
I picture that as the child of God.
Spend it all, leave it all, leave it on the field, like they
say, and one day, hear those precious words.
Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord folks.
Not only will we be conquerors will be more than conquerors if
we're faithful. I'm finished.
Thank you for your kind listening today and we had to
discuss and I hope something was helpful to you in some way.
I know that these were things that I needed to hear, so I
wrote this little sermon for that purpose.
Hope it was beneficial to you as well.
We never know the hearts and minds of those that are present.
Maybe you're here today. You're not a child of God, you
can be and you need to be come believing in Jesus.
Repent of your sins confess, his name as the Son of God and be
baptized in water for the remission of your sins.
You need forgiveness that your greatest need and you could be
forgiven and have remission of sins today.
We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the
Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you
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