Jesus was victorious when he rose from the dead and we are promised to share in that victory (1 John 5:4-5). A victorious Christian life is a Spirit-filled life. This session will…
- Explain how the disciple’s personality can be used to bring defeat of achieve victory.
- Express how Jesus has assured victory for his disciples.
- Evaluate the degree to which I am living this victorious Christian life.
THE WAR WITHIN:
The natural man is made in the image of God, his moral law is stamped into his being, yet in our fallen state we sense the tension to live for God or be driven by our fleshly desires (Romans 7:19-24).
- What did Paul write about the carnal mind? (Romans 8:6-8)
- While not perfect, we must crucify the flesh that constantly fights the Spirit within.
- How does Paul explain how a servant of sin can be made free from sin? (Romans 6:17-18)
- Satan has weapons in at his disposal:
- Galatians 5:17
- 1 John 2:15
- 1 Peter 5:8
- When we entertain the flesh and give in to temptation, John Claypool used to say that we are playing the lower end of our keyboard.
VICTORY IN JESUS:
- What has Jesus done to secure our victory over the forces that fight against the Spirit of God within us?
- Romans 8:3
- John 16:33
- 1 John 3:8
- To resist temptation, John Piper once said that he pictured Jesus hanging hanging on the cross, so how can we follow through with our own desires when Jesus has done so much to set us free?
- Hebrews 9:26
- Romans 6:11
- 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
- 1 John 1:7
- The victory of Jesus can be ours (Galatians 2:20). Death to a life of defeat at the hands of the world, the flesh, and the devil produces a life that is victorious over these three powerful enemies.
- How is this victory experienced in the middle of a current struggle?
- Sin begins with temptation (Hebrews 4:15, 2:18)
- Sin is never to strong to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13)
- Sin can be overcome with prayer (it’s hard to sin while we’re talking with God – Matthew 26:41)
- Sin is evil thoughts and desire running through one’s mind (Matthew 5:27-28)
- The carnal Christian “window shops” our sin. The devil comes to the door and invite him in.
- The Spiritual Christian has a warning when sin approaches (2 Timothy 2:22)
- What are we to do after we have failed? (1 John 1:9-10)
- Those who suffer with Christ will one day reign with him in the future (2 Timothy 2:11-12)
- What step must you take to embrace the victory you already have available to you?