Background of Victory (continued)
The Biblical Scope of Victory (continued)
Stop for a moment for one short look into your own soul, saved by His infinite grace. Then take a long look around the whole wide world and see the church spires in nearly every land; the Bible printed in more than a thousand tongues; the Christian institutions, the homes, the seminaries, the Bible schools and colleges making, training, and sending out Christian men and women into all walks of life, at home and to the ends of the earth. Then take an upward look to the innumerable company of the redeemed from every kindred and tongue and people and nations, and listen to their paean of victory. All this and infinitely more - the fruitage of one Man's one obedience!
Oh, dear reader, victory is not merely a personal thing! The victory in just one life is immeasurable in its extent. Victory in your life today will be felt in the life of Christians in the islands of the sea. It will reverberate throughout the entire Church of Christ
A man who had been a Christian for twenty years was living in defeat. For seven years he had not been to his church. Over the radio he heard the announcement of a series of meetings to be held there. He was utterly miserable and under conviction, and the Spirit drew him to the meetings where he was brought into a marvelous personal victory. Was it his alone? No, indeed. Very shortly his wife and three children, his mother-in-law and aged father-in-law were saved. The Lord used him to bring one after another of his business associates to Christ and was laying upon him a great burden to carry the message of salvation and victory through Christ to the ends of the earth.
Are you convinced that personal defeat spells collective defeat, and that personal victory means collective victory? Then in which are you living: in defeat or in victory?
But we have not yet exhausted the scope of victory. God has not made this marvelous provision primarily for your sake or for the sake of others through you; but for the sake of His dear Son and for the glory of His name who, at such infinite cost, voluntarily covered the black trail of sin with the red trail of His own precious blood, blazing the path to victory by way of the Cross. Your victory and mine is primarily for the Victor's sake. Through it God celebrates His victory over His enemies. Paul, who was one of the greatest enemies of Christ and the greatest opponent of His gospel, was now a captive by his own will, following in the train of His triumphal procession ( Corinthians 2:14). He was there as Christ's trophy, celebrating Christ's victory over satan, sin and self. Oh! What an incentive to live victoriously to know that every victory in one's life registers before a sinning, scoffing world the victory of the Christ of Calvary!
Thirdly, the plan is to present victory, not as an experience in the Christian life which might be regarded as optional, but as the essence of the Christ life, and s something obligatory. It is to present victory, not as the specialty of the more spiritually minded of the Body of Christ, but as the very warp and woof of Christianity itself, so that one can scarcely merit the name of Christian - that name which stands for the great Overcomer (Phil. 2:9, 10) - who is living in continuous defeat. It is to present victory, not as an unattainable ideal but as a life based on the divine principle of obedience to and dependence upon God.
Lastly, the plan is to present the Lord Jesus Christ as the Victor, whose victory we share through our union with Him. In Him is both our provision and our pattern. In John 8 Jesus gave a second signpost on the pathway to victory. Truth merely as truth cannot set us free. Victory is not a creed, nor is it a special teaching, nor a pet doctrine of a few extremists and fanatics, nor is it a set of rules merely to guide one's conduct.
Victory is a Person. If you are in the Victor and the Victor is in you, then you have victory, and in no other way. Our Lord rang the liberty bell when He said:
John 8:36: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
~Ruth Paxson~
(continued with # 9 - "Defeat Through the First man in Eden")
Friday, July 18, 2014
The Blessings of Inadequacy
Paul never claimed he was capable of accomplishing all that God called him to do. He simply learned to look beyond his own inadequacy to the sufficiency of Christ. If we'll adopt the same practice, we, too, can discover the blessings hidden in our own experiences of inadequacy.
Our insufficiency drives us to God. When we realize a situation is bigger than we can handle, we're quick to open the Bible and diligently pray for guidance and power.
Inadequacy relieves us of the burden of self-effort and self-reliance. The Lord has us right where He wants us--at the end of our rope with nothing left to give.
Inability motivates reliance on divine power. We'll never be adequate until we draw from the Holy Spirit's inexhaustible strength. He does in and through us what God never intended that we do on our own.
By using weak, inadequate people, God demonstrates what great things He can do. He actually delights in choosing unlikely individuals to carry out His purposes. There's no limit to what He can do through someone willing to give Him full control.
Inadequacy challenges our faith. Paul says, "Our adequacy is from God" (v. 5). Those who focus on the reliability of this promise and step out in obedience will grow in faith.
Why go through all the fear, pressure, and frustration that accompany feelings of inadequacy when there's an alternative? Let the Lord make you adequate: rely upon Him and allow Christ to live in and through you. He will replace your anxiety with a quiet spirit of contentment.
~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~
Thursday, July 17, 2014
War In Your Heart # 7
Background of Victory (continued)
The Background of Victory (continued)
Again, the scope of victory has been limited by thinking of it only in terms of personal victory, which one usually regards as optional, rather than grasping its tremendous collective significance - that the defeat or victory of on Christian spells to that degree the defeat or victory of the entire Church. To admit this as fact makes victory obligatory.
In reading through the Bible to trace the causes and consequences of defeat, I was terrified to see the relation between personal sin and collective defeat. Achan's sin of covetousness caused the humiliating defeat of all Israel, when the "wrath [of God] fell on all the congregation of Israel, and that man perished not alone in his iniquity" (Josh. 22:20). Miriam's sin of jealousy, with its consequent murmuring against her own brother Moses, held up the journeying of all Israel for a whole week. The sin of unbelief and rebellion of the ten spies caused the Israel of that generation to wander forty years in the wilderness and die there. It is written of one king after another following the reign of Jeroboam that they "walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin (1 Kings 15:34). The greatest tragedy in human history was Adam's sin against humanity when by one sin of disobedience he took with him into sin and death the whole human race. Stop for one moment to look out over the present-day world strewn with human wreckage; then look back over the centuries, tracing that black trail of sin over human history to its origin in the garden of Eden, and contemplate the frightful, the ghastly harvest of one man's one disobedience. "No man liveth unto himself," and that is speaking of you and of me. Personal sin on the part of one Christian spells collective defeat for the whole Church.
A pastor was defending himself for being a movie fan on the ground that he went only to "good movies." When asked about his influence upon the young people in his church who had not such capacity for discrimination (?) and who went to "good" and bad alike, his reply was that he took no responsibility for his influence in such cases, for the mother was responsible for making such choices for her child. But God says that "no man liveth unto himself" and that at the judgment seat of Christ that pastor will be "judged" according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10).
But I was thrilled beyond expression to see also the relation between personal and collective victory. Caleb "wholly followed the Lord." With what result? Marvelous personal victory! Out of Israel's hundreds of thousands, he was one of the two who survived the wilderness, entered Canaan and possessed his inheritance there. Was it is personal victory only? Oh, no! At eighty-five years of age he conquered the toughest crowd in Canaan - those giants, the sons of Anak who terrified and overwhelmed the younger men forty years before. He took the walled cities and gained a magnificent collective victory for all Israel. Is that all? No, he secured the possession of the land for his seed. His victory brought blessing to his children and his children's children. Joshua, the other of the two overcomers in the wilderness, also came into Canaan as a conqueror, to conquer thirty-five kings: to take the whole land and give it for an inheritance unto Israel. Of several kings who came after David it was said: "And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the ways of David his father." Paul, imprisoned, beaten, bruised, and with his feet in the stocks, at midnight sang the song of victory and of praise to the Lord. Personal victory of the most glorious caliber! What a trail of victories followed the salvation of the jailer and his household - the founding of the Church at Philippi! The greatest triumph of history was Christ's sacrifice for all humanity when by one act of obedience He purchased salvation for the whole human race and provided the way of deliverance from the bondslavery of satan and sin.
~Ruth Paxson~
(continued with # 8)
The Background of Victory (continued)
Again, the scope of victory has been limited by thinking of it only in terms of personal victory, which one usually regards as optional, rather than grasping its tremendous collective significance - that the defeat or victory of on Christian spells to that degree the defeat or victory of the entire Church. To admit this as fact makes victory obligatory.
In reading through the Bible to trace the causes and consequences of defeat, I was terrified to see the relation between personal sin and collective defeat. Achan's sin of covetousness caused the humiliating defeat of all Israel, when the "wrath [of God] fell on all the congregation of Israel, and that man perished not alone in his iniquity" (Josh. 22:20). Miriam's sin of jealousy, with its consequent murmuring against her own brother Moses, held up the journeying of all Israel for a whole week. The sin of unbelief and rebellion of the ten spies caused the Israel of that generation to wander forty years in the wilderness and die there. It is written of one king after another following the reign of Jeroboam that they "walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin (1 Kings 15:34). The greatest tragedy in human history was Adam's sin against humanity when by one sin of disobedience he took with him into sin and death the whole human race. Stop for one moment to look out over the present-day world strewn with human wreckage; then look back over the centuries, tracing that black trail of sin over human history to its origin in the garden of Eden, and contemplate the frightful, the ghastly harvest of one man's one disobedience. "No man liveth unto himself," and that is speaking of you and of me. Personal sin on the part of one Christian spells collective defeat for the whole Church.
A pastor was defending himself for being a movie fan on the ground that he went only to "good movies." When asked about his influence upon the young people in his church who had not such capacity for discrimination (?) and who went to "good" and bad alike, his reply was that he took no responsibility for his influence in such cases, for the mother was responsible for making such choices for her child. But God says that "no man liveth unto himself" and that at the judgment seat of Christ that pastor will be "judged" according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10).
But I was thrilled beyond expression to see also the relation between personal and collective victory. Caleb "wholly followed the Lord." With what result? Marvelous personal victory! Out of Israel's hundreds of thousands, he was one of the two who survived the wilderness, entered Canaan and possessed his inheritance there. Was it is personal victory only? Oh, no! At eighty-five years of age he conquered the toughest crowd in Canaan - those giants, the sons of Anak who terrified and overwhelmed the younger men forty years before. He took the walled cities and gained a magnificent collective victory for all Israel. Is that all? No, he secured the possession of the land for his seed. His victory brought blessing to his children and his children's children. Joshua, the other of the two overcomers in the wilderness, also came into Canaan as a conqueror, to conquer thirty-five kings: to take the whole land and give it for an inheritance unto Israel. Of several kings who came after David it was said: "And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the ways of David his father." Paul, imprisoned, beaten, bruised, and with his feet in the stocks, at midnight sang the song of victory and of praise to the Lord. Personal victory of the most glorious caliber! What a trail of victories followed the salvation of the jailer and his household - the founding of the Church at Philippi! The greatest triumph of history was Christ's sacrifice for all humanity when by one act of obedience He purchased salvation for the whole human race and provided the way of deliverance from the bondslavery of satan and sin.
~Ruth Paxson~
(continued with # 8)
Overcoming the Barrier of Inadequacy
No one likes feelings of inadequacy, but they are something we must learn to handle, as none of us can avoid them permanently. Tragically, though, many people live with a cloud over their head because in their thinking, they never measure up. For some, this may be due to childhood experiences that negatively affected their self-image. For others, the problem stems from a lack of success related to work, relationships, marriage, parenting, or any number of things.
The area Paul deals with in today's passage is our Christian life. He asks a question that points to a common insecurity: "Who is adequate for these things?" (v. 16). Have you ever avoided serving the Lord in ways that challenge your comfort zone? If so, you've probably missed a tremendous opportunity to overcome feelings of inadequacy. He's promised to lead us "in triumph in Christ," (v. 14) but unless we believe Him and step out in faith, we'll never experience the life He has planned for us.
Feeling inadequate is not a sin, but using it as an excuse is. When the Lord challenges you to do something that you feel is beyond your abilities, you have two options. You can focus on Christ and proceed in triumph or focus on yourself and withdraw in defeat.
It's really a matter of faith. God would never ask you to do something without empowering you to accomplish it. This doesn't necessarily mean you will do it perfectly, but each step of obedience is a victory. The alternative is to play it safe, but then you'll miss out on God's best for your life.
~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
War In The Heart # 6
Background of Victory (continued)
Signposts Along the Pathway of Victory (continued)
Hudson Taylor gave this testimony: "I have seen it long enough in the Bible. Now I believe it to be a living reality. God has made me a new man." Oh! dear reader, have you seen this truth in God's Word? Has it become a reality to you? Has God made you a new man? The one purpose of this book is to make known this truth that it may set free those in defeat. "Th Word of truth never leaves us where it finds us."
The Second Signpost: John 8:36: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. If the Son ... shall make you "free."
Jesus had told them the truth regarding themselves as sinners, and of Himself as their Saviour. He had revealed fully their need for freedom and His ability and willingness to set them free.
The Plan
The plan of the book is fourfold:
First - The Background of Victory.
Second - the Biblical Scope of Victory
Third - Victory the Essence of the Christ-life.
Fourth - The Lord Jesus Christ the Victor
The Background of Victory
By knowing the cause and the consequences of defeat we shall better understand the necessity and the nature of victory. To do this we will face the fact of defeat, personal and collective, in and through the first Adam. Then we will face the fact of victory, personal and collective, in and through the Last Adam. Such a study will disclose the unchanging and unchangeable principles underlying defeat and victory all down through the ages.
The Biblical Scope of Victory
Because both the inworking and the outreach of victory in Christian experience have been so greatly limited, the teaching on this subject has failed to unveil its marvelous privileges and potentialities and so to incite desire for it. Such teaching has also failed to warn of the perils and losses of defeat, and so has robbed of incentive. The months spent on this study have given me a new revelation of the compass and comprehensiveness of this matchless truth, and a new conception of the primary place God has given to it in His plan of redemption
Too frequently the scope of victory has been limited by relating it only to the past tense of redemption, that of deliverance from the sphere over which satan is sovereign and in which sin rules. But victory has its past, present and future tense, even as salvation has (Titus 2:11-14). To truly apprehend this truth is one of the greatest incentives to live victoriously. May I state it scripturally - we are redeemed to reign. Redeemed - The past tense of victory - deliverance from the sphere of satan's dominion and bondslavery into the sphere of Christ's dominion and bondslavery.
Colossians 1:13, 14: Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption.
Redeemed to Reign in Life - The present tense of victory - deliverance from the bondage to sin and self into the glorious liberty of the Son through the Spirit.
Romans 5:17: Much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.
Redeemed to Reign on Earth - The future tense of victory, the overcomer receiving his regal reward, reigning with the Overcomer.
Revelation 5:9-10: For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: ans we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 3:21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Oh! Doesn't it thrill you? Here and now are are a people in whom there is regal blood; sons of God, heirs to the throne; now sharing with the Son the throne of His Father; one day to sit with Him on His own throne. Oh! What an incentive to live as the Victor lives!
~Ruth Paxson~
(continued with # 7)
Signposts Along the Pathway of Victory (continued)
Hudson Taylor gave this testimony: "I have seen it long enough in the Bible. Now I believe it to be a living reality. God has made me a new man." Oh! dear reader, have you seen this truth in God's Word? Has it become a reality to you? Has God made you a new man? The one purpose of this book is to make known this truth that it may set free those in defeat. "Th Word of truth never leaves us where it finds us."
The Second Signpost: John 8:36: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. If the Son ... shall make you "free."
Jesus had told them the truth regarding themselves as sinners, and of Himself as their Saviour. He had revealed fully their need for freedom and His ability and willingness to set them free.
The Plan
The plan of the book is fourfold:
First - The Background of Victory.
Second - the Biblical Scope of Victory
Third - Victory the Essence of the Christ-life.
Fourth - The Lord Jesus Christ the Victor
The Background of Victory
By knowing the cause and the consequences of defeat we shall better understand the necessity and the nature of victory. To do this we will face the fact of defeat, personal and collective, in and through the first Adam. Then we will face the fact of victory, personal and collective, in and through the Last Adam. Such a study will disclose the unchanging and unchangeable principles underlying defeat and victory all down through the ages.
The Biblical Scope of Victory
Because both the inworking and the outreach of victory in Christian experience have been so greatly limited, the teaching on this subject has failed to unveil its marvelous privileges and potentialities and so to incite desire for it. Such teaching has also failed to warn of the perils and losses of defeat, and so has robbed of incentive. The months spent on this study have given me a new revelation of the compass and comprehensiveness of this matchless truth, and a new conception of the primary place God has given to it in His plan of redemption
Too frequently the scope of victory has been limited by relating it only to the past tense of redemption, that of deliverance from the sphere over which satan is sovereign and in which sin rules. But victory has its past, present and future tense, even as salvation has (Titus 2:11-14). To truly apprehend this truth is one of the greatest incentives to live victoriously. May I state it scripturally - we are redeemed to reign. Redeemed - The past tense of victory - deliverance from the sphere of satan's dominion and bondslavery into the sphere of Christ's dominion and bondslavery.
Colossians 1:13, 14: Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption.
Redeemed to Reign in Life - The present tense of victory - deliverance from the bondage to sin and self into the glorious liberty of the Son through the Spirit.
Romans 5:17: Much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.
Redeemed to Reign on Earth - The future tense of victory, the overcomer receiving his regal reward, reigning with the Overcomer.
Revelation 5:9-10: For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: ans we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 3:21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Oh! Doesn't it thrill you? Here and now are are a people in whom there is regal blood; sons of God, heirs to the throne; now sharing with the Son the throne of His Father; one day to sit with Him on His own throne. Oh! What an incentive to live as the Victor lives!
~Ruth Paxson~
(continued with # 7)
Live Intentionally
Paul was a man who lived life to the full. His goals were to know Christ, abide in His power, fellowship in His suffering, and preach the gospel (Phil. 3:10; 1 Cor.1:17). In doing so, he aligned his aspirations with the Lord's, diligently worked to fulfill his calling, and persevered through opposition, persecution, and suffering. He could face the end of his life with confidence since he'd "fought the good fight," "finished the course," and "kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7).
We'd all like to be able to say the same at the end of our lives, but that means we have to follow Paul's example. How are you doing at setting goals for your life? Have you thought beyond the immediate and set some long-term objectives? Our culture is so fast-paced that few of us take the time to actually consider where we're going. But you don't want to finish your life and find out you were on a course other than God's, fighting the wrong fight, and struggling to keep the faith.
Why not set aside some time this week to get alone with the Lord. Then ask His help in setting goals that will take you where He wants you to go. Consider every area of your life--personal, relational, financial, and vocational--but make spiritual goals your primary emphasis. Then write them down.
If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting. Maybe it's time to get out of your rut and find a new path. God will help you change direction and accomplish new goals that align with His will. Don't settle for the mediocrity of an unplanned life. Start living intentionally.
~Dr. Charles Stanley~
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
War In Your Heart # 5
Background of Victory (continued)
Colossians 3:16, 17: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; ... and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
John told us this:
3 John 3: For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
Peter told us this:
1 Peter 1:22: Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.
When I was visiting a mission station in China for meetings in a girls school, one missionary told me not to expect her to do any personal work. Furthermore, she said she was soon going on furlough and would not return to China because her health. But she was honest enough to acknowledge that her real sickness was spiritual; she was living in absolute defeat. I quoted verses from Scripture on victory. She knew all of them and could quote them verbatim. She had received and read every book on victory she had heard of, and could teach others the Biblical way of victory; but she herself was living in such devastating defeat that it had wrecked her life, both spiritually and physically. She had become what Paul terms in 1 Corinthians 9:27 "a castaway," one disqualified and disapproved for service because she had failed to meet the requirements.
Even though the meetings were for girls in their teens, God had led me to make known the truth of freedom from bondage to sin through union with Christ in His death and resurrection. God purposed that message for that missionary. The truth she clearly apprehended was appropriated, applied, acted upon, and it made her gloriously free.
God purposed just that message for that classical teacher also. When asked why he had so long refused to accept Christ as Saviour, he said that for years he had believed Christ had come to be his Saviour and was able to save him from his sins, but he was a bondslave to unmentionable sin. Not until he heard that the Lord Jesus Christ was able to deliver one from the dominion of sin did he believe the Saviour was sufficient to meet his need. The saint and the sinner both need to know the truth that the Saviour is also Lord, and that He came not only to deliver from sin's penalty, but likewise from its power.
The present day Church is replete with "castaways." Even on the mission field there are those who with scrupulous fidelity go the round of the routine of duties, but with little dynamic power. Why is this so. Largely because the truth that sets free is so little known or apprehended, so feebly acted upon.
~Ruth Paxson~
(continued with # 6)
Colossians 3:16, 17: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; ... and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
John told us this:
3 John 3: For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
Peter told us this:
1 Peter 1:22: Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.
When I was visiting a mission station in China for meetings in a girls school, one missionary told me not to expect her to do any personal work. Furthermore, she said she was soon going on furlough and would not return to China because her health. But she was honest enough to acknowledge that her real sickness was spiritual; she was living in absolute defeat. I quoted verses from Scripture on victory. She knew all of them and could quote them verbatim. She had received and read every book on victory she had heard of, and could teach others the Biblical way of victory; but she herself was living in such devastating defeat that it had wrecked her life, both spiritually and physically. She had become what Paul terms in 1 Corinthians 9:27 "a castaway," one disqualified and disapproved for service because she had failed to meet the requirements.
Even though the meetings were for girls in their teens, God had led me to make known the truth of freedom from bondage to sin through union with Christ in His death and resurrection. God purposed that message for that missionary. The truth she clearly apprehended was appropriated, applied, acted upon, and it made her gloriously free.
God purposed just that message for that classical teacher also. When asked why he had so long refused to accept Christ as Saviour, he said that for years he had believed Christ had come to be his Saviour and was able to save him from his sins, but he was a bondslave to unmentionable sin. Not until he heard that the Lord Jesus Christ was able to deliver one from the dominion of sin did he believe the Saviour was sufficient to meet his need. The saint and the sinner both need to know the truth that the Saviour is also Lord, and that He came not only to deliver from sin's penalty, but likewise from its power.
The present day Church is replete with "castaways." Even on the mission field there are those who with scrupulous fidelity go the round of the routine of duties, but with little dynamic power. Why is this so. Largely because the truth that sets free is so little known or apprehended, so feebly acted upon.
~Ruth Paxson~
(continued with # 6)
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