Well this morning, I too am going to tell you about a "Super Event" of sorts. As a matter of fact, I'm going to tell you about a contest that can be won. In this match the victory is already predetermined. It's what they call "a safe bet" or "a sure thing".
I'm really excited to talk to you on this topic this morning. I suppose most people enjoy a victory. It is great to be on a winning team. To tell you what I mean, I'd like you to reflect upon one of the great victories our country has known.
Perhaps this country's greatest military victory was when Japan announced its surrender on Aug. 14, 1945. I wasn't even born then, however in my study of history and in speaking with older folks, I've come to learn that all of America spent that day in great celebration. I believe that the reason everyone embraced that moment in time is because, whether at home or abroad, everyone felt they had a part in the "war effort" to begin with. While our troops were over seas, women went to work in the factories to keep our country's economy strong. Many families planted what they called "victory gardens". This was simply a vegetable garden that was tended to provide produce while supplies were sent to feed our soldiers. The government even had public lots that were loaned out expressly for this purpose. When the news of victory spread across the land, People were jumping up and down, shouting for joy, and dancing in the streets.
It's a natural reaction to celebrate a triumph. Whether it is a
sports event, job promotion, academic achievement, or maybe just setting
your own "personal best", there is usually some kind of celebrating. Why
is it then that so many Christians walk around defeated?
A. Most of the victories in the world are short-lived.
Most of our temporary, short-lived, worldly victories will matter little in eternity, but there are victories that can be meaningful, lasting, and forever glorious! God's people can experience much more in the victories we have in Him. Let me tell you about our victorious life in Christ.
(For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. ) (he said,) "I love Thee O LORD, my strength." The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. (Psalms 18:1-3)
Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. (Psalms 23:5)
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31)
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD. (Psalms 31:24)
Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place, and he will not be there. (Psalms 37:7-10)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God (2 Timothy 1:7-8)
O Lord, I call upon Thee; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to Thee! May my prayer be counted as incense before Thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering. Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds. (Psalms 141:1-5)
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed (Romans 3:23-25)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-9)
“You may be always victorious if you will never enter into any contest where the issue does not wholly depend upon yourself.” - Epictetus, Greek Stoic philosopher
Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones. (Psalms 116:15)
In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Thy vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to Thee. For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living. (Psalms 56:11-13)
Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. (Hebrews 2:14-15)
The father pulls the car over to a stop, and reaches back to try to catch the bee. Buzzing around towards him, the bee bumps against the front windshield where the father traps it in his fist. Holding it in his closed hand, the father waits for the inevitable sting. The bee stings the father's hand and in pain, the father let's go of the bee.
The bee is loose in the car again. The little girl again panics, "Daddy, it's going to sting me!"
The father gently says, "No honey, he's not going to sting you now. Look at my hand."
The bee's stinger is there in his hand.
1 Cor 15:55 -- "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
Jesus says to us, "Look at my hands."
He has Satan's sting,
the sting of death,
the sting of sin,
the sting of deceit,
the sting of feeling worthless. Jesus has
all of those stingers in His hands.
When you see that nail-scarred hand, realize that, on your behalf, Jesus
took all the pain that Satan could throw at Him. He reduced Satan to a big
black bee that's lost its stinger -- all Satan can do is buzz. That's
the victory that Jesus won for you
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will all be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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. "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ. 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. (1 Corinthians 15:51-58)