THANKING GOD FOR OUR VICTORY
1 CORINTHIANS 15:57
Thanking Dad. A man of around 35 has been to a men’s movement weekend. While away he realizes that he’s never told his father he loves him, so he decides when he gets home he’ll do it. He gets home, picks up the phone and calls home. Dad answers the phone.
“Hi Dad, it’s me.”
“Oh, um, hi son! I’ll go get your mother…”
“No don’t get mom. It’s you I want to talk to.”
There’s a pause then, “Why? Do you need money.”
“No, dad. It’s just I’ve been remembering a lot about you, Dad, and the things you did for me, working all those years to put me through college, supporting us. My life is going well now and it’s because of what you did to get me started. I just thought about it and realized I’d never really said ‘Thanks…’”
Silence on the other end of the phone. The son continues
“I want to thank you for being a great Dad, and to tell you that I love you.”
Another pause, then the Dad replies....
“Son, you been drinking?…”
Having a great father while growing up surely helps us to become wiser and to make better choices in life. And, we ought to regularly thank our Dads for being there for us. We ought also never to forget all that our Heavenly Father has done for us to make our lives better. We ought to daily thank Him for all the victories we experience because of Him.
1. THE SOURCE OF OUR VICTORY
1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In your life you have a great enemy. This enemy hates you and is like a roaring lion that seeks to destroy you. He uses temptation and sin to destroy your fellowship with God and he uses trials and tribulations to cause you to live in fear and failure.
Even greater than our enemy Satan, though, is our Champion and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus has won the great victory over the one that hates us so much. And, we can live in victory over sin and darkness and anything that Satan throws at us because Christ Jesus has already won the victory! Satan is a defeated foe!
Remember this little verse, the next time you face fear.
"When fear and failure burden me,
And Satan the lion has roared,
I simply rest in the great victory,
Of Jesus Christ My Lord!"
2. SECURING OUR VICTORY
2 Cor 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
Rome- Generals would fight campaigns across the world. Victory parades would be celebrated. General leads riding a chariot with his army marching with him. Conquered enemies pulling carts filled with the spoils of war behind them. Incense burned the whole path giving a sweet aroma leading to the emperor where the General and his whole army would be praised and glorified.
* In our lives, Jesus Christ empowers us to live in victory over all of the enemies of our souls. A day is coming when those enemies are completely defeated and Jesus Christ will be glorified. We will be there and our lives will a sweet aroma of thanksgiving to the Lord God and we will also be glorified with Christ.
** WHAT VICTORIES DO BELIEVERS ENJOY?
(1) Victory Over Sin
2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
He Made- God devised a plan to remedy our sin debt- He loves you!
Him- Jesus, sinless perfection. Yet the sins of world were placed upon Him to pay the price for our sins
We- You, me, everyone. Jesus died on our behalf (for us) so that we could be made righteous IN HIM.
Rom 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
* When you come to Christ and truly repent, He removes sin, ALL sin. He removes failure, guilt, shame! When the Father looks at you, He sees you as though you had never sinned!
* Christ died for all, but only those who are “in Christ” are forgiven.
** We learn to live in victory as we are no longer defeated and destroyed by guilt and shame! We are clean! Forgiven! Loved!
(2) Victory Over Death
"Infinite Sea"- (Book in the 5th Wave series) The World is in ruins. Most people have been killed by Aliens. Rest are being hunted down. It looks hopeless. The remaining few begin to fight back and things begin to change. Cassie, filled with new hope said “When you look death in the eye, and death blinks first, nothing seems impossible anymore.”
1 Cor 15:54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory."
What is the greatest fear for most people? Death! But what happens when a believer dies? You go to Heaven!
** SO, this death thing, that we all live in such great fear of, results in our going to our Home in Heaven? “Is that the worst you can do?”
** So, When you look death in the eye, and death blinks first, nothing seems impossible anymore. We ought to live in victory knowing that the worst thing Satan can do to us, results in our going to heaven!!
(3) Victory Over Satan
Cleopatra/Marc Antony- After Julius Caesar died, Marc Antony, allied with his lover Cleopatra, warred with Octavius for power and lost. They retreated back to Alexandria. As Octavius was marching his armies into Alexandria to seize them, Antony fell on his sword and Cleopatra allowed an Asp to bite her. They committed suicide to avoid the great humiliation of being taken back to Rome by Octavius and ridiculed in a public display.
Col 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
When Jesus was crucified, Satan rejoiced. When Christ arose from the grave, Satan trembled in fear and humiliation. He was put Public Display and his failure was revealed!
* Jesus disarmed Satan- he is a defeated enemy. Still dangerous to us though because he still has authority over us when we sin. But as born again believers faithful to Jesus Christ we live in victory over Satan. He has no power over us that we don’t yield to him through sin!
3. LIVING IN VICTORY
1 Cor 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ has won the victory for us. That victory ought to change us. We ought to be different because of it. We ought to live differently.
What should the life of a victorious child of God look like?
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Because of Christ's victory, We ought to live with......
(1) A Steadfast Mind- steadfast and immovable.
Not swayed by temptations of this world.
Not trembling in fear when facing the storms of life.
Not afraid to take a stand on matters of morality in our society.
(2) A Servant’s Heart- abounding in good work that was modeled by the life of Jesus Christ.
Giving of one’s time and resources to serve God and help others.
Always observant of what God is doing and joining Him in the work.
Never seeking praise for self, but serving in such a way so that Christ is glorified.
(3) A Sure Hope- blessed assurance
Not living in fear and failure because we know Christ is in control.
Serving with all our heart because we know Christ is victorious.
Sacrificially serving because, even if the world never acknowledges our work and sacrifice, Christ is keenly aware of all that we do. And, one day, Jesus is coming for you and me and He is bringing our reward with Him.
Wrap-up
Paul regularly gave thanks to Jesus Christ and praised Him for the victorious life that we can experience through Him.
We ought to do the same.
* Is there any of you that has found victory in Jesus?
* Is there someone that would like to come and claim that victory in Him this morning?
