THE RESILIENT CHRISTIAN

TEXT -- 2ND COR. 4:7-10

(2 Cor 4:7 KJV) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

(2 Cor 4:8 KJV) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

(2 Cor 4:9 KJV) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

(2 Cor 4:10 KJV) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

 

INTRODUCTION:

I believe God gives to every Christian the ability and the capability to overcome every trial, temptation, satanic attack or anything else which endangers his walk with the Lord. However, I do not believe that this ability and capability resides in the personality or natural talents of the individual.

I believe the Christian’s secret to spiritual success and victory over the this fleshly world is made possible by an enduement of spiritual life and power which can only come from God.

2nd Co. 10:4 and 5

(2 Cor 10:4 KJV) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

(2 Cor 10:5 KJV) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Romans 8:35-39

(Rom 8:35 KJV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

(Rom 8:36 KJV) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

(Rom 8:37 KJV) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

(Rom 8:38 KJV) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

(Rom 8:39 KJV) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

God has given to us the privilege of living in victory; of bouncing back from temporary setbacks; of overcoming sin and the devil; of experiencing the conquering life.

 Let’s consider the requirements for such a marvelous and wonderful way to live.

A. You must have made a complete and sincere surrender to Christ as Lord of your life.

Romans 12:1

(Rom 12:1 KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

  1. It must be a definite surrender.

2. It must be a continuing surrender.

3. It must be a present time surrender.

 

B. You must genuinely love and worship Jesus as Lord of your life.

Phillipians 2:9-11

(Phil 2:9 KJV) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

(Phil 2:10 KJV) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

(Phil 2:11 KJV) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  1. You must make a life commitment to Him.

2. That commitment must affect your life style.

3. You must learn to obey His Word, the Bible.

C. You must conquer the power of fleshly lusts.

Romans 13:14

(Rom 13:14 KJV) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

1st Peter 2:11

(1 Pet 2:11 KJV) Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

  1. The cravings for pleasure.

2. Appetites and habits.

3. Any unchristian behavior.

  

D. You must do the works of God. Live to please Him.

Matthew 5:16

(Mat 5:16 KJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

1. Live righteously.

2. Be compassionate.

3. Love the Truth.

4. Hate sin.

Nothing can whip the Christian who is sold out to God. Nothing can "put his lights out." Nothing can "knock his block off." Nothing can "put him down for the count."

Psalms 125:2

(Psa 125:2 KJV) As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.