Pastor Bender's sermon from October 14, 2007 PM service

Here is the text from the sermon that Pastor preached on Sunday night. I encourage you to read it, but not only to read it, but apply the truth to your life.

Christ Causes Us To Triumph

Text: II Corinthians 2.14 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ,”

Definition of Triumph(Webster’s): A complete and thoroughly decisive victory; to exult in victory, to get the better of after a hard struggle.

Introduction:
So many of us struggle to find real victory in our lives. We put forth our best effort, we pray many prayers and we actively fight temptation. Yet it seems that after all our hard work, we still do not achieve the level of victory that causes us to triumph. The kind of victory that causes us to shout for joy, the kind of victory that causes us to shout for joy, the kind of victory that we continue to rejoice in weeks later, the kind of victory that puts failure permanently finally in the past and leaves it there!

No, for many of us a triumphant victory is an elusive thing, always hovering just beyond our reach, tantalizing us with the nearness and mocking us for our failure. Every Christian since the Dawn of the Church Age has yearned for this triumph. Some have achieved final success while others went to their grave in faith yet not receiving the answer they so desperately longed for.

We all have these challenges. A besetting sin, perhaps, spoken of by the Apostle in Hebrews 12:1. You know, the sin that will creep up on you every time you let your guard down. The one sin that you commit when you are spiritually weak or sick, that old sin that has plagued you for so long. Perhaps your challenge is to your faith. Maybe you’re a worrier, a doubter. You know that your all-powerful God can handle it but you can’t let it alone, you keep on wrestling with it.

Perhaps your challenge is for spiritual growth. You know that God is calling you to a higher standard of living but you are not surrendered enough to His will to take that step. As a result, you go back and forth and up and down in your spirit. One day you love God and the church and the next day you can’t stand the thought of it. Why? Because its time to grow up and the spirit of a man or woman likes to be coddles and pampered and it goes against the grain to do what God tells you to do.

So, how do we achieve a state of triumphant victory? How do we maintain the state of triumphant victory? And, is a state of triumphant victory even possible in this present world? The answer is yes, it is possible, it can be achieved and it can be maintained. The answer is found in I Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Therefore, our victory comes through Jesus. It is only achievable in and through Him.

I. How do we achieve a state of triumphant victory?
By trusting in and depending on Jesus. You see, church, by ourselves we are nothing, we can do nothing. By ourselves, we are doomed to shipwreck and failure. Jesus says in John 15:5 “for without me ye can do nothing.” This is the description of a person living outside the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. They literally are a failure in all things that matter. They may have wealth, they may have earthly fame, they may have many friends and from the outside may appear immensely successful, but without Christ, their homes are a wreck, their success is bittersweet and their souls and the souls of their families are headed for Hell. This is not success! And yet we in the church are so quick to look to these people and elevate them onto a pedestal to our children as heroes! Friends, our heroes need to be men and women of much faith, not mean and women of much finance! Triumphant victory only comes through Christ. He, and He alone gives us the victory. Victory over sin, self, and Satan. Victory over despair, disease, and Death itself. Victory over our past, victory in our present and confidence for victory in our future. If you want something to exult in, to rejoice over, and to shout about, give Him Praise, Glory and Honor! Hallelujah!

Where is your triumph tonight? I pray that God will once again pour out His Spirit among us and give us the victory! Are you not tired of the same old line of reasoning, do not even your own excuses wear thin after awhile, are you weary of this world’s non-satisfying water? Do you long for the living water of a present, up to date, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ?

The truth is, we have been too busy to take a drink. I’m reminded of that verse in Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Praise the Lord! You and I need to stop the hurried pace of our life and drink long and deep from the wells of salvation. Brother, Sister, it really satisfy’s! When you taste and see how good the Lord is, it will make you wonder why you ever drank from any other well!

Do you want triumphant victory in this service? It is just as simple as drawing near to God. He has promised in James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” That first part is a universal truth. If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. The second part is an invitation to the lost and the backsliders to cleanse their hands of all sins committed. This is what we call and what the Bible calls, Salvation. The third part of this verse is for saved people who want real, triumphant victory in their lives. They are double minded, they waver between two options, and they need to have their hearts purified. This is what we call sanctification, when God the Holy Spirit purify’s the heart by faith as spoken of in Acts 15:8-9.

So we see that the only victory we can triumph over, is that victory that comes through and from Christ and not ourselves. Whatever it is you are struggling with, God wants to deliver you tonight in this service! The question is, are you willing to surrender to His will and do the work that needs to be done in your life?

II. How do we maintain the state of triumphant victory?

Again, we must turn to the scriptures for our help. In Jude 24 we read that we are to give glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever to Him who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

All of this is stated in scripture to remind us that Jesus can keep us! He is able. But there is a sticking point. He is able if we will let Him. It is true that nothing can separate us from God’s love. However, God’s love is extended to all the world, even sinners. But the Bible tells us in Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that he will not hear.” Sin can and sin does bring separation between God and man. The only way we can maintain victory is to let God work in our lives and get out of the sin business!

Many people struggle with this issue. They want to keep God and His presence alive in their hearts. They want to maintain that wonderful feeling of God’s nearness. It feels good to be close to God not separated from Him. Why? Because in Psalms 16:11 it states that “In thy Presence is fullness of joy;” It does feel wonderful when God is present and at work in our lives.

Now, here’s the difficulty. At some point in your Christian walk, God is going to ask you to do something that you don’t want to do. It’s going to definitely rub you the wrong way! What are you going to do about it?

Well you could do what a lot of people do and put it off ‘till later. However, I wish to remind you that delayed obedience is disobedience! Maybe you say, “I’m not convicted over this yet.” By the way this is another means of saying I don’t feel bad about it. Friend, it doesn’t matter whether or not you feel conviction bearing down on you. If you understand God’s Word and He says you should be doing x, y, or z then you had better just set your teeth and do it. You may never feel a lightening bolt of conviction or the thunder of His voice, God is already speaking. He’s speaking through your Pastor, through your teachers and in the stillness of your own thought life.

Perhaps you are one of these people who say, “Well, Pastor, that’s just your opinion. I don’t see it that way!” Let me tell you that there are many people who use this line of excuse in order to undermine what God has plainly stated in the Bible. You see my opinion on things does matter because I’m the shepherd of this flock of God’s sheep. My scriptural appointment and command is to watch over your soul and to help you grow in grace. How can I watch over you and help you grow if you undermine my God given calling to point you in the right direction. We all come to the Lord with many wrong ideas, thoughts and ways of living. It is the job of pastors and teachers to show you where you are wrong and help you correct it. I can’t do that if you call everything you disagree with, and opinion. I’ll do my best never to preach opinion but to speak plainly from God’s Will in preaching, and I will do my part to be faithful and true to scripture.

You will maintain your victorious, triumphant state by listening to God’s Word, obeying God’s Word and by honoring the God-given authority over you. Ultimately, you will maintain by keeping your faith in Christ and trusting Him to keep you from falling.

III. Is it possible to have triumphant victory in this world?

The answer is a resounding, “Yes!” Jesus tells us in John 16:33 “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” This is true in our day even as it was true in Jesus’ day. By His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus made it possible for us to achieve real, lasting victory in this world. When Jesus told the woman caught in the act of adultery to “Go and sin no more” He wasn’t just speaking words. No, you see what He commands us to perform, He also will empower us to perform! We must learn to lean on Jesus for our triumphant victory.

If we haven’t learned it yet we need to learn it now. We are not a reliable source of strength. As the songwriter so aptly penned, “The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.” To have real victory and to triumph in it means to fight our battles with Jesus at our side. Then the victory will be His and not ours. Then we can praise Him for His saving, sanctifying and keeping power.

In Conclusion: Let us give thanks to God who causes us to triumph in Christ! This wonderful glow of the glory and presence of God comes to those who are fully surrendered to do all of God’s will.

Where are you tonight? Do you have real victory? Do you shout in triumph over the Devil? Are your sins in the past, forgiven? Have you forsaken the old ways to walk with Christ in a new life?

You no longer have to see others living triumphantly and victoriously while you slump in defeat. God will give you the victory through Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord!