overcoming overcoming in the arena of spiritual conflict to him who overcomes I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame and sat down beside My Father on his throne —Revelation 3:21
Mar 08, 2016
overcomingovercoming
in the arena of spiritual conflict
to him who overcomes I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself
overcame and sat down beside My Father on his throne
—Revelation 3:21
facing and facing and accepting accepting
major major challenge is challenge is the only path the only path to greatnessto greatness
encountering trials…encountering trials…
consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort, or fall into various temptations;
be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith brings out endurance and steadfastness and patience; but
let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work,
so that you may be a people perfectly and fully developed with no defects, lacking in nothing
— James 1:2-4
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overviewoverview
the nature of the battlethe proving of faiththe arena of spiritual conflict…the place of power
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the nature of the the nature of the battlebattle
…and how it is won!
““on this rock, I will on this rock, I will build”build”
who do you say I am?
you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God
how blessed are you!…on this rock I will build my
Community and the gates of Hades — the powers of the infernal region — shall not overpower it — or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it
— Matthew 16.16
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which rock?which rock?
rock of faith and confessionif you acknowledge publicly with your
mouth that Jesus is Lord and trust in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be delivered
— Romans 10.9
rock of Abrahamconsider the rock from which you were
cut… consider Abraham your father— Isaiah 51.1-2
a promise that can be relied upon by all the seed… those with the kind of trust Abraham had – Abraham avinu for all of us
— Romans 4.16
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what kind of trust?what kind of trust?
kind of trust that Abraham had: reckoning death not too strong, calling non-existent things into existence
Abraham is our father in God’s sight because he trusted God as the one who gives life to the dead and calls nonexistent things into existence
— Romans 4.16-22
faith in resurrection power• manifesting in our own lives,
enabling us to overcome power of sinfulness…
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faith in resurrection faith in resurrection powerpower
those of us who have been immersed into the Messiah Jesus have been immersed into his death… we were buried with him; so that just as the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too may live a new life
… our old self was put to death on the execution stake with him, so that the entire body of our sinful propensities might be destroyed and we might no longer be enslaved to sin
now since we died with the Messiah, we trust that we will also live with him
— Romans 6.6
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nature of faith – trusting nature of faith – trusting
trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see
it was for this that Scripture attested the merit of the people of old
— Hebrews 11.1
faith is being confident about God’s promise, about God’s characterfaith forms the foundation upon which a life of holiness, pleasing to God, must standfaith is an active response…
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winning the war… in the winning the war… in the SpiritSpirit
faith key to winning battles• without faith, impossible please
God• enables kingdom advances
confident, overcoming faith• learned through testing experiences• Abraham waited years to receive
promise of a son, body ‘as good as dead’
• faith tested again by offering Isaac as sacrifice, concluding God could raise dead
— Hebrews 11.17-18
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the proving of faiththe proving of faith
enduring trials and tests
overviewoverview
faith given and confessedfaith established and expandedfaith trialled and testedfaith completed and matured
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faith given and confessedfaith given and confessed
a grace given to us by God• according to our gift, ministry-
calling— Romans 12.3-4
comes by hearing God’s word— Romans 10.17
• knowing scripture, hiding word in heart
• hearing inner voice of Spirit• prophecy confirming inner hope, faith
by faith we battle • by these prophecies… fight the good
fight — 1 Timothy 1.18
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faith established and faith established and expandedexpanded
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promise
word of Lord
vision… faith
faith of Abrahamfaith of Abraham
received promise of descendants, blessing, divine protection, blessing to nations
— Genesis 12
word of Lord came to him, confirming first promise, extending promise to land, establishing covenant with Abraham
— Genesis 15
faith tested, to willingness to sacrifice Isaac, Lords swears to bless Abraham
— Genesis 22
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trials and tests of faithtrials and tests of faith
response to trials determines our destiny
— Hebrews 11: ‘chapter of faith’• Noah built an ark to save his household• Abraham received potency to become a
father• Jacob blessed each of his sons• Moses parents hid him, unafraid of king• Moses left Egypt, obeyed Passover• Israel walked through Red Sea on dry land• Joshua, tribes caused walls of Jericho to
fall• others became mighty, conquered kingdoms,
had weaknesses turned to strength
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untested faith is untested faith is powerlesspowerless
everyone commended for faith endured opposition, hardship
• quenched power of fire, escaped edge of sword
• stretched on rack, beaten to death• mocked, whipped, chained,
imprisoned• stoned, sawn in two, murdered by
sword• destitute, persecuted, mistreated• ‘the world was not worthy of them’
— Hebrews 11: ‘chapter of faith’
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faith completed and faith completed and maturedmatured
how blessed the man who perseveres through temptation! for after he has passed the test, he will receive as his crown the Life which God has promised to those who love him
— James 1.12
the one who has entered God’s rest has also rested from his own work
— Hebrews 4.10
after waiting patiently, Abraham saw the promise fulfilled
— Hebrews 6.15
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faith in actionfaith in action
a personal testimony
faith in actionfaith in action
‘I will give you a perfect business’
• give up own idea, rest from ‘own works’
• learn to live a life of extravagant worship
• wait patientlythree to four years later
• initial failure, test of faith• perseverance• new door of opportunity• sacrifices necessary
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faith testedfaith tested
‘war of attrition’• debt• discouragement, depression• legal threats
dying to self• give up your mistaken tone of
distrust regarding God’s faithfulness
— Jeremiah 15.27
resting from own works• in repentance and rest is your
salvation— Isaiah 30.15
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faith proven and extendedfaith proven and extended
if you separate the precious from the vile, you will be my mouthpiece, my minister
— Jeremiah 15.19
you have within you a divine deposit which rises up to overcome every challenge…
— prophecy
enemy you see today, tomorrow you will see no more
get up… tell the people to go forward… divide the sea into two… the people will advance on dry ground
— Genesis 15
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faith completed and faith completed and fulfilledfulfilled
today, ten years later• business divided into two• prospered, loans repaid• one run by wife• one recently sold to partner• supported my work over last five
years• academies : Kenya, USA, Burkina
Faso• now released to fully pursue
ministrypromise fulfilled…
• ‘the perfect business’!
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facing and facing and accepting accepting major major
challenge is challenge is the only path the only path to greatnessto greatness
overcoming in overcoming in the arenathe arena
of spiritual conflict
overviewoverview
discerning the arena God is with us in the conflictprepared to sufferinspired by glorythe place of power
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overcomeovercome
1. to win a victory over2. to get on top of3. to deal with successfully4. decisively defeated in combat
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arenaarena
1. particular environment or walk of life
2. large structure for open-air sport and entertainment
3. central area of an ancient Roman amphitheatre
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discerning the arenadiscerning the arena
of spiritual conflict
making spiritual progressmaking spiritual progress
the Lord is my strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army;
he makes my feet like hinds feet and will make me to walk—not to stand still in terror, but to walk and
make spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble, suffering and responsibility
— Habakkuk 3:19
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high placeshigh places
responsibility• dedication, spiritual act of
worshiptrouble
• disruption, difficulty• still in control
suffering• painful• out of control; others in control
making spiritual progress• not to stand still in terror
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conflicts outside, fears conflicts outside, fears withinwithin
this body of ours had no rest… we were harassed at every turn — conflicts on the outside, fears
withinbut God, who comforts the
downcast, comforted us
— 2 Corinthians 7:5 also 6:3-10
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others desert usothers desert us
the first time I had to present my defence, no-one stood by me, everyone deserted me…
but the Lord stood by me and gave me power to proclaim the full message for all the nations to hear and I was rescued from the lion’s mouth;
the Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom
— 2 Timothy 4:14-16
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God is with usGod is with us
in the arena
God has not abandoned usGod has not abandoned us
we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed
— 2 Corinthians 4:9-12
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God is forming Messiah in God is forming Messiah in usus
we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us
— 2 Corinthians 4:7
I am suffering the pains of giving birth to you all over again – and this will go on until the Messiah takes shape in you
— Galatians 4.19
put on the new self which is continually being renewed in fuller and fuller knowledge, closer and closer to the image of its Creator
— Colossians 3.10
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God uses conflict…God uses conflict…
to form Messiah in us…I was given a thorn in my flesh, a
messenger from the Adversary to pound away at me
three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me, but he told me
‘my grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness;
therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah’s power may rest on me
— 2 Corinthians 12.9
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death gives way to lifedeath gives way to life
God’s workers headed for death…yet look! were alive!
as punished, yet not killed;
as having reason to be sad, yet always filled with joy;
as poor, yet making many people rich;
as having nothing, yet having everything!
— 2 Corinthians 6.9-10
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death gives way to lifedeath gives way to life
we always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body;
for we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,
so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body;
so then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you
—2 Corinthians 4.10-12
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prepared to sufferprepared to suffer
the ultimate calling
giving God freedomgiving God freedom
when we are prepared to share in suffering for Messiah’s sake, we give God great freedom to move through us
dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you, but
rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ,
so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed
— I Peter 4:12
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a privilege to suffer…a privilege to suffer…
on behalf of, for the Messiah’s sake
stand firm united in spirit, fighting with one accord for the faith of the Good News, not frightened by anything the opposition does;
this will be for them an indication that they are headed for destruction and you for deliverance and this from God because, for the Messiah’s sake,
it has been granted to you not only to trust in, but also to suffer on his behalf
— Philippians 1.27-30
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inspired by gloryinspired by glory
embracing suffering
inspired by gloryinspired by glory
our light, momentary affliction, this slight distress of the passing hour is ever more and more
abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory
— 2 Corinthians 4.17,18
I consider that the sufferings of this present life are not worth being compared with
the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us, and conferred on us!
— Romans 8:18
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living for the will of Godliving for the will of God
therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,
arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin;
as a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God
— 1 Peter 4:1-2
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our own life of no our own life of no importanceimportance
in every city the Holy Spirit keep warning me that imprisonment and persecution await me;
but I consider my own life of no importance to me whatsoever, as long as I can finish the course ahead of me,
the task I received from the Lord Jesus – to declare in depth the Good News of God’s love and kindness
—Acts 20:23also Acts 9:16; 14:22; 21:4-13
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the place of powerthe place of power
experiencing victory in the arena of spiritual
conflict
turning aside to a burning turning aside to a burning bushbush
he came to the mountain of God, to Horeb;
the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a fire blazing from the middle of a bush;
he looked and saw that although the bush was flaming with fire, yet the bush was not being burned up;
Moses said, I’m going to go over and see this amazing sight… when the Lord saw that he had gone over to see, God called to him…
— Exodus 3.1-10
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my personal braverymy personal bravery
the Lord is my strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army;
he makes my feet like hinds feet and will make me to walk – not to stand
still in terror, but to walk and make spiritual progress upon my high
places of trouble, suffering and responsibility
— Habakkuk 3:19
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open his eyes, Lordopen his eyes, Lord
don’t be afraid – those who are with us outnumber those who are with them!
Elisha prayed, Lord, I ask you to open his eyes, so that he can see,
then the Lord opened the young man’s eyes and he saw: there before him, all around Elisha,
the mountain was covered with horses and fiery chariots
— 2 Kings 6.14-23
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an indestructible life an indestructible life withinwithin
Paul discovered supernatural power of the indestructible life of Jesus, working in him
for this I labour unto weariness, striving with all the superhuman energy which he so mightily enkindles and works within me
— Colossians 1.28-29not in your own strength, for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you – energising and creating in you the power and desire – both to will and to work for his good pleasure and satisfaction and delight
— Philippians 2.13
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let my people golet my people go
““let my people go”let my people go”
Moses called, then commissioned:go and get my people, Moses
— Exodus 7-12
let my people go, so that they may worship me
• Pharoah refuses, becoming hardhearted
where are my people, Moses?• snakes• frogs• insects
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““let my people go”let my people go”
let my people go, that they may worship me
• death of livestock, hail, locusts• thick darkness over Egypt
“where are my people, Moses?”
let my people go, so that they may worship me
• death of firstborn• Passover lamb… deliverance
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““I will show my power”I will show my power”
brought glory to God’s name— Exodus 9.16 & 11.9
God’s judgement upon false gods of Egypt
— Exodus 12.12
a new revelation of God• Passover worship is established• record of God’s works for future
generationspeople thrust towards Promised Land
• not only freedom, also animals, wealth• beginning of serving God’s eternal
purpose
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he who led us in…he who led us in…will lead us outwill lead us out
in victory!
victory in sufferingvictory in suffering
you will have to suffer only a little while; after that, God who is full of grace,
the one who called you to his eternal glory in union with the Messiah
will himself restore, establish and strengthen you and make you firm
— I Peter 5:10,11
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victory in temptationvictory in temptation
God is faithful to his word and to his compassionate nature and
he can be trusted not to let you be tempted and tried … beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure but
with the temptation he will always also provide the way out—the means of escape to a landing place—
that you may be capable and strong and powerful, patiently to bear up under it
— 1 Corinthians 10.13
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victory in lifevictory in life
that you may really come to know — practically through experience for yourselves —
the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience;
that you may be filled through all your being unto all the fullness of God –
that is may have the richest measure of the divine Presence and
become a body wholly filled and flooded with God himself…
© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk
victory in lifevictory in life
now to him who, in consequence of the action of his power that is at work within us
is able to carry out his purpose and do superabundantly far over and above
all that we dare ask or think – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts hopes or dreams –
to him be glory in the Messianic Community and in the Messiah Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever…
— Ephesians 3.20-21
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victory in deathvictory in death
they overcame…
by the word of their testimony and
the blood of the lamb and because they did not love their lives to
death
— Revelation 12.11
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victory of his eternal victory of his eternal purposepurposeon this rock,
I will build my Community
and the gates of Hades, the powers of the infernal region,
shall not overpower it—or be strong to its detriment
or hold out against it
— Matthew 16:18
© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk
facing and facing and accepting accepting major major
challenge is challenge is the only path the only path to greatnessto greatness
as you pursue your dream…as you pursue your dream…
as you follow the Messiah
you will face challenges that threaten to overwhelm you
every step of the way :
faith grows within to meet the challenges that the Lord knows are ahead of us…
© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk
as you pursue your dream…as you pursue your dream…
God’s promise is :
when you pass through the waters,
you will not drown
when you pass through the fire,
you will not be burned
© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk
he who leads he who leads you into the you into the
arena of arena of spiritual spiritual conflictconflict
will lead you will lead you outout
… in victory!… in victory!
facing and facing and accepting accepting
major major challenge is challenge is the only path the only path to greatnessto greatness
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