Servants Preparation Class #15 May 7, 2013 The Ways to Victory

The Holy 50 Days Read John 20:19-21:3

What is resurrection? Limited to Unlimited Visible to Invisible It is the “spiritual” world Practical meaning = overcoming the life of sin (death) so I can see and know God more clearly (life) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8)

Temptation Where does temptation come from? Read James 1:13-15 Development of Sin: Temptation has 2 Elements Temptation = Sinful Desire + Opportunity

Desires How do desires become sinful? Through my senses: “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?” (Job 31:1) “Set a guard, O L ORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.” (Psalm 141:3-4)

Desires How are sinful desires conceived?  through acting on those desires Sin = Temptation + Action No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Sin and Death “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:15) full grown sin = sin without repentance Death = Sin + No Repentance Death = (Desires + Opportunity + Action) + No repentance

Ways to Victory Resurrection is life (knowing God) overcoming death (sin) The way of victory is to control these 4 things: 1.Desire 2.Opportunity 3.Action 4.Repentance

Desires Garbage in  Garbage out Holy in  Holy out Must consecrate and sanctify my desires Guard your senses: 1 Cor. 6:18-20 Evaluate the following: music, television, media, internet, friends, conversations

Desires Consecrate my desires: 1.Partake of Holy Communion regularly 2.Spiritually edifying materials (books, sermons, spiritual media, hymns, Christian music, shows, bible studies, etc) 3.Read and meditate on the word of God

Consecrating My Desires Our weapon: the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17) “Ignorance of the holy books is the cause of all evil; if we enter into the battle with no weapon how can we expect to conquer?” St. John Chrysostom Read Joshua 1:7-9 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)

Opportunity Evaluate my opportunities: Places I go Friends I hang out with, etc Idle time Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Actions Must develop self-control: He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32) FASTING! Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit See Luke 22:63-65

Actions Must continue to strive (fight) – how? Be faithful to my spiritual canon Just ASK! (be a disciple) “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:4 Watch and pray

Repentance Do not allow the sin to become full-grown Confess regularly even if you don’t “feel” like it “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

“If impure thoughts trouble you, do not hide them, but tell them at once to your spiritual father and condemn them. The more a person conceals his thoughts, the more they multiply and gain strength. But an evil thought, when revealed, is immediately destroyed. If you hide things, they have great power over you, but if you could only speak of them before God, in the presence of another, then they will often wither away, and lose their power.” Sayings of Desert Fathers

Repentance 1.Do not allow the sin to become full grown 2.Confess regularly even if you don’t feel like it 3.Take communion and read your bible daily 4.Always be a disciple (spiritual guide)

Long-term Spiritual Growth

Unhealthy Spiritual Growth

Conclusion “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12) There will be many battles in the Promised Land but God wants to give us victory 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. Exodus 23:29-30

Conclusion 17 “If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’— 18 you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the L ORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: 19 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the L ORD your God brought you out. So shall the L ORD your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. 20 Moreover the L ORD your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed. 21 You shall not be terrified of them; for the L ORD your God, the great and awesome God, is among you. 22 And the L ORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 23 But the L ORD your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed. Numbers 7:17-23