ENCOUNTER • Week 10
Thinking like a Conqueror-RIGHT MIND
Aim
· To empower the student to live a life filled with victory.
· To teach the learner how to stand and maintain a victorious lifestyle through all adversities.
Absorb (include or incorporate as part of oneself; take in; suck up)
How do we walk as conquerors?
2Cor. 2:14 Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and He revealing through us the odor of the knowledge of Him in every place.
1. Victory is part of God’s nature.
One of the Lord’s Names is “Jehovah Nissi”, the Lord my Victory. It is very important to know that God has never ever been unsuccessful in anything and that He has never failed or made a mistake ever before. He has always been super successful in all things.
Exodus 17:15 (CEV), Moses built an altar and named it "The LORD gives Me Victory."
The Word teaches us in Genesis 1 that we were created in God’s image, which means that we were created to be victorious and to live the life of a conqueror!
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death.
Romans 8:37 But in all these things we are more than conquers through Him who loved us.
2. God called and appointed us.
We must know that God chose, appointed and anointed us to fulfil our purpose as children of God. God has given us authority and we have God’s full backing to fulfil our purpose as disciple makers.
Matthew 28:18-20 And coming up Jesus talked with them, saying; All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the completion of the age. Amen.
Galatians 1:15-16 “ it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen;
3. The prerequisite for victory -Faith
1John 5:4-5 Anything which comes from God (is born of God) is able to overcome the world: and the power by which we have overcome the world is our faith. Who is able to overcome the world but the man who has faith that Jesus is the Son of God?
Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
4. What is faith?
Faith is the ability to see the unseen, to have vision or spiritual sight.
Hebrews 11:1(NLT) What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
KJV – NOW faith is….
· Faith or the ability to see empowers us to live victoriously.
· Jesus did not go to the cross grudgingly, complaining, murmuring, cursing and unforgiving. No He went to the cross willingly, strong and full of joy. Why? He saw the unseen, the fruit, the many sons being made righteous!
· Jesus had the victory of the cross in His heart before He even hanged on the cross! Faith see!
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the ages were framed by a word of God, so that the things being seen not to have come into being out of the things that appear.
Hebrews 12:2 (MSG) Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now He is there, in the place of honour, right alongside God!
5. The enemy does everything in his ability to steal our faith, vision and victory.
· 1Peter 5:8,9 Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour; 9 whom firmly resist in the faith!
· Hebrews 12:1-2(New Living Translation)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.
Faith is the ability to have sight!! The enemy will try to blind you or make you short sighted so that you can’t see and gain the victory.
· 2 Corinthians 4:4(New Living Translation)
Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them.
· James 4:7 Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (submit to His heart-the vision)
· 2 Peter 1:9(New Living Translation)
But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very short-sighted. They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.
6. How do we allow the enemy to steal our faith and sight? (Hebrews 12:1-2)
· By believing the lies of the devil.
· By allowing sin into our lives.
· By spending too much time with faithless people.
· By allowing arguments and seeds of accusations to be planted in our souls.
· By not being in a relationship with God. A relationship with God is not about doing the right things and reading about Him, but spending time with Him, knowing Him.
7. How do we develop faith, sight, vision and victory?
· Faith comes from God the only One who can open our eyes.
2 Peter 1:1-9(New Living Translation)This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and Apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to all of you who share the same precious faith we have, faith given to us by Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour, who makes us right with God.
· We grow in faith, vision and victory as we get to know God better.
May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better. (Col1:9,10; 2Pet1:2,3)
As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!
· Hear and obey the received instruction from the word of God.
And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature. (2Pet.1:4) So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. (1Tim4:15; Phil1:10,11)
· Live a life of faith, vision and victory.
A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2Pet1.5-8; 1Cor.9:24-27)
· Meditate the word
Rom.10:17 Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:8 But what does it say? "The Word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart"; that is, the Word of Faith which we proclaim;
FAITH SEES WHAT GODS SEES, FAITH HEARS HIS VOICE!
Faith is being in harmony with his heart! Faith is intimately knowing God through daily encounters!
Faith never sees the problem or the obstacle! Faith sees the impossible as possible! Faith sees the promise already manifested!
Faith sees the answer, the solution!
Faith says yes to challenges!
Faith is obedience!
Faith cries out: send me oh Lord! Use me!
Faith declares every promise is Yes and Amen!
Faith willingly dies to self and live unto Him and thru Him!
Faith sees the enemy defeated before entering into the battle!
Faith is founded in the finished work of the cross and echo’s with Him: IT IS FIINISHED!
Adjust (arrange or put in the correct order or position; make suitable; harmonise)
· Examine yourself in terms of your faith and ability to have sight.
· Repent of believing negative reports and for not being full of faith.
· Commit to spend more time with God and to develop Godly virtues.
· Commit to live a life of victory and to protect what God has given you.
Advance (move forward; make progress)
Speak to your cell leader and make yourself accountable for developing your faith, vision and victory. Get to God and get to know God.
Armed
1 John 5:4 (GNB) because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.
2Co 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.