Learning To Live Like A Winner

Eph 1:15-23

Who’s the winner… who’s the loser? (Eph 1:15-23)

· We need God’s wisdom to understand who we are in Christ… what it means to be an heir with Him, to reign with Him, & to be seated with Him in the heavenly places.

· Until we grasp the position, privileges & power that are ours in Christ… we’ll be a candidate for defeat in spiritual warfare.

· We need to see our enemy as he is… Satan is a defeated foe.

· We are not fighting to gain the victory… we are fighting from a position of victory.

· Christ thoroughly defeated & disarmed Satan at the cross. (Col 2:15)

· Satan & all his forces are under Christ’s feet. (Eph 1:22)

· Freedom is our birthright in Christ… we have no reason to fear the enemy.

· Even so, spiritual warfare is real, serious & mortally dangerous.

· Satan cannot touch us unless God allows it… we are in Christ.

· Promise… the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack. (2Tim 4:18)

o The promise is for everyone who is in Christ.

· If Satan is defeated, why is everything such a mess?

o We have been delivered from the power of darkness… not the presence of it. (Col 1:13)

· Why are so many losers on the winning team? Why so many Christians living defeated lives?

· It’s tragic when we allow Satan to convince us with a lie that we are defeated, & bound.

· If we’re winners in the end (Rev 19:11-16), why can’t we live as winners today?

· The power is there… all the power we’ll ever need to make right choices & walk in victory.

· If power is available but we are weak & defeated… we are obviously not connected. (Jn 15)

In God’s presence is fullness of joy & victory.

· Scripture’s central promise is that God is with us… live in His presence. (Mt 28:20)

· That I myself may be in them… Jesus’ deepest desire is to be one with you… (Jn 17:26)

o Your victory in spiritual warfare is totally dependent on Christ being formed in you.

o Experiencing the presence of God is our greatest source of power against the enemy.

o If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish. (Jn 15:7)

o Focus must be on staying connected to Jesus. (Heb 12:2)

· How can we “see” the Lord & experience His abiding presence?

· Do you really believe what you believe is really real? (Truth Project)

o Examine yourself (what you do) to see if your faith is in the Lord. (2Cor 13:5)

Do I live vitally connected to Christ the vine? What do I do to consciously dwell in the presence of God?

Resting In Christ.

· Christ has achieved the victory over Satan at the cross… we can have victory in our lives.

· Three steps to finding rest thru Christ by resting in His victory & letting Him lead us.

1. Do you see your relationship with God in terms of your performance? Do you feel love & accepted by God when you do “religious” things. If so, meditate on truth that while you were still a sinner, Jesus died for you… you are accepted in Him. (Rm 5:8; Eph 1:6)

2. Jesus, the good shepherd, leads his sheep, he doesn’t drive them. (Ps 23:1-2; Jn 10:3-4) “I just have to do more” is not from God. Ask God to free you from trying to achieve by works of the flesh what has already been provided by Christ on the cross.

3. Purpose to no longer try to earn His love & acceptance, but because He loves & accepts you… enter into the rest Christ has for you, & from that place of rest, serve Him.

· If we don’t trust & rest in Christ, our striving to serve Him in the flesh will only lead to defeat, frustration, joyless service & hypocrisy.

· Your primary calling is to get to know your heavenly Father better. (Eph 1:17)

o Hungering for Himself & His righteousness is what He desires & what leads to victory.

· God’s incomparable great power is available to those who trust & wait. (Eph 1:19)

· God’s great power was displayed when He raised Christ from the dead. (v.20)

o That same power gives us the power to live victorious Christian lives.

· Spiritual warfare is not a matter of gritting our teeth & hanging on for dear life… Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God… the work is completed, & there is no doubt about the outcome of the war because the enemy is already defeated. (v.21) Rest in His victory.

If we’re truly aware of our need… we will earnestly seek the Lord. (Jer 29:13)

· Seek the Lord & His strength… seek His face continually. (Ps 105:4)

· What is my bedrock belief regarding my need for Jesus Christ in my daily life?

· The people who had cast out demons & done many wonderful works in name of Christ were quite sure of their salvation. (Mt 7:21-23)

o Jesus said to them, “I never knew you, depart from me…”

o Do you realize that it is possible to have a false sense of forgiveness?

o Do you realize that it is possible to have false peace, false comfort, & false guidance?

· How can you know that you possess true forgiveness?

o What do you hunger & thirst for… your supreme desire?

o Are you out for blessings of Christian life & salvation, or do you hunger & long to know God & to become more & more like the Lord Jesus Christ?

· We must truly recognize that we can only enter the Kingdom thru the door of need & abject poverty of spirit. Blessed are the poor in spirit… (Mt 5:3)

· Christ can put into anyone who is “poor” enough to receive it, His own disposition.

· When we come to end of ourselves & just yield ourselves completely to the indwelling H Spirit… only then does the power of H Spirit become the fruit of our lives.

· Do you really believe what you believe is really real?

o Examine yourself (what you do) to see if your faith is in the Lord. (2Cor 13:5)