Surrounded by Victory

^NAU Titus 3:3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, ⁵ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. ⁹ But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰ Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, ¹¹ knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

^NAU Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Observation:  The Holy Spirit is the guarantee, the down payment, the assurance of my ultimate transformation.  This Spirit of the New Covenant who causes me to walk in the ways of my Savior is the assurance of an ultimate transformation and sinless existence.  The victories He brings today are a foretaste of the ultimate victory promised at the resurrection:  

1 Corinthians 15:54-58  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.  ⁵⁵ "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"  ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;  ⁵⁷ but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  ⁵⁸ 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. 

In this passage I hear Paul saying, lay hold of the victory now, because of the victory that is coming.  On the flip side, lay hold of the victory now because of the victory that has come.  

Romans 8:33-37  ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.  ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.  ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  ³⁶ As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."  ³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 

Our existence is to be a victorious one because we are surrounded by victories past and future.  The victory of the cross and the victory of the advent.  These two mighty acts of God have the power through the guarantee of His Spirit to inspire love, devotion, faithfulness, and obedience.  What an awesome, awesome, assurance.

Application/Prayer:  Jesus you are my victor.  You have conquered sin and taken me captive to righteousness.  "It has not appeared as yet what I will be.  But I know when You appear, I will be like You.  For I will see You as You are."  (1 John 3:2 personalized).  

In the mean time I will seek to be like You to the best of my fallen ability.  I choose to die to self.  To let go of my rights and embrace the freedom of Your sacred constraint in my life.  I receive Your patience.  The ability to suffer with grace and gratitude.  When my children whine, when I don't get what I want, when I'm grumpy Lord, these are the times I need Your victory in my life the most.  Take me to the cross and teach me the true meaning of self-sacrifice.  I want to find my life by loosing it.  

From where does my help come from?

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

 My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

(Psalm 121:1-4 ESV)

Observation:  It is easy to look to the hills.  The stand so bold and so prominent in our view.  The hills can inspire, but they can also overwhelm.  If your simply taking them in, why they can be breath-taking.  But if you are seeking to climb and to conquer... than they can overwhelm... they can disarm courage and confidence.



Application:  Lately my hills have felt like follow-up for The Radical Teachings of Jesus, and the Foster Care Church initiative for the valley.  I have talked of these hills.  I have made them bigger than they are.  I have exalted them.  But this morning Jesus is saying to my heart:

Jim, your help doesn't come from the hills.  Your help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.  I will keep you from all harm.  I will watch over you.  I do not slumber nor sleep.  Tonight as you were resting, I was working.  Tonight as you slept secure in my love, my mighty hand was orchestrating and designing answers to the prayers I will inspire you to pray for this foster initiative and the follow-up to the Radical Teachings.  Trust me son.  Look to me. I am your help.

Prayer:  Jesus I thank You this morning that You are my help.  Thank You that You are always on the job.  Always working for my blessing and benefit.  Jesus I praise You today that You climbed Calvary's hill, not focusing on the massiveness of that challenge, but choosing to look in faith and trust to Your Father saying, "Not my will, but thy will be done."

Lord this is my prayer for this foster initiative and for this follow-up.  "Not my will, but thine be done."  Jesus I have been afraid of these things because of the greater hill of my reputation.  What will people say if I fail?  What will people say of me if I don't produce or don't come through.  Father forgive me for this kind of thinking.  Forgive me Jesus for seeking to "make a name for myself."  Jesus Your name is the only name that matters.  Your renown is the only thing worth living for.  Jesus I just want You to be lifted high this morning.  I want You to be exalted.  I want You to be made known.  Jesus, Your promise is:

"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."" (John 12:32 NKJV)

Jesus, be lifted high in me.  Be lifted high in Your church.  Be lifted high in the valley.  Be lifted high in our home.  Be exalted Lord Jesus... above heaven and earth.  

"No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." (John 3:13 NKJV)

Jesus, Lucifer sought to exalt himself above the stars of heaven, above the thrown of the Most High, but You chose to humble yourself.  When Satan was seeking to ascend, You said, I will descend.  When Satan was seeking to accuse, You said I will bear the accusation... I will take Jim's sin upon myself.

O Jesus I exalt Your Holy Name.  Thank You Jesus for bearing the penalty of my sin.  Thank You for being sin for me that I might become the righteousness of God.  Thank You for becoming the author and perfecter of my faith on Calvary's cross.  Thank You for praying for my forgiveness.  Thank You for always living to make intercession for me.   Thank You for being a friend to me when I have only been friendly to You.  O Jesus draw me close.  Draw me to You heart.  Draw me to Your side.  Love me personally.  Lead me personally.  Be my personal Lord and Savior.  Come in and sup with me.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20 NKJV)