Walking in Victory
Message Summary:
In Sunday’s message, Pastor John Carter continued to teach us about the power and authority of the Church. The Church carries the power and authority of Jesus to transform society. Jesus has given us the keys of His Kingdom, and we must understand and know the hope of our calling, the great inheritance we have in Christ, and the power that belongs to us who believe (Eph. 1). For the first key, Jesus said he would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. That means we (the Church) have victory.
But you only have victory, when you have an enemy. To win, you have to have someone to win against. Victory is unnecessary if you don’t have forces that oppose you. As a body, we need to recognize that we have an enemy who is actively working against us. That is why it is so important that you live a lifestyle that causes you to win. God’s power is available for us who believe. We have to activate the power of God in our lives by faith. We have to stand on His Word and unlock the power of the Word as we speak it over our lives by faith. This is how we fight our enemy.
Jesus in His resurrection did not just defeat our sin; He also defeated all powers and principalities in heaven and on Earth. includes Satan and all of His spiritual forces he uses against God’s people. Jesus has won the victory over it all. All things are under His feet. And as His body, all things are under our feet, as well. We need to learn how to manifest the victory that Jesus won for us in His death and resurrection in our everyday lives. But we need to avoid making one of two common mistakes: 1) To act like Satan isn’t real and isn’t there, or 2) To become obsessed and hyper-focused on demonic activity in life. We need to keep the balance and proper view that we do have an enemy who is very much at work, but that we do not need to fear, because Jesus has given us power over the enemy. We must live like the power-filled Church which has been given authority to live a life of victory!
Scriptures:
[Matthew 16:18-19 NKJV] 18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
[Ephesians 1:19-23 NKJV] 19 …and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
[Colossians 1:13, 16-18 NKJV] 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ... 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Discussion Questions:
According to Ephesians 1:19-23, what is the power that Christ has given to His Church?
Why is it important to acknowledge that we have an enemy who actively works against us?
How did Jesus win the victory over the enemy?
Why do we need to learn how to manifest the victory that Jesus won for us?
How do we wield the power that Jesus gave us as the Church?
Life Application:
Over the next week, as you study the key scriptures, examine your life and ask yourself where you need to see victory. Where do you need God to help you manifest the victory He won for you in your own life? God sent His Son to die on the cross so that you could experience victory over your sin and your enemy. You don’t have to accept or self-manage areas of your life that remain stuck in sin or struggle. God wants you to experience victory in every area of your life! He wants you to learn how to wield the power and authority He has given to His Church, and learn how to manifest victory in your own life! Ask the Lord to help you. He is ready and waiting to partner with you to help free you to experience real victory.