VICTORY COMES FROM THE INSIDE
(Christ in you)FAITH BUILDERS FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH
Isa 41:10 (KJV) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isa 43:1 (KJV) But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
Isa 43:2 (KJV) When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isa 54:17 (KJV) No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Isa 59:19 (KJV) So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
HEBREWS THE 11TH CHAPTER, KNOWN AS THE ROLL CALL OF FAITH, DECLARES THESE POWERFUL FACTS:
Heb 11:33 (KJV) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34 (KJV) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
MY MAIN TEXT IS EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3 VERSE 16:
Eph 3:16 (KJV) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
I. " TO BE STRENGTHENED WITH " MIGHT.."
(DEFINITION OF "MIGHT"..."TO BE ABLE; TO BE CAPABLE OF; GREAT STRENGTH, POWER, FORCE OR VIGOR" )
A. GOD WANTS THE CHURCH TO BE STRONG--TO BE CAPABLE--TO HAVE VIGOR.
1. HE DOES NOT LEAVE OUR FATE TO CHANCE; TO HUMAN EFFORT.
2. HE STRENGTHENS US.
B. IT IS HIS PLAN THAT WE GO FORWARD AS A CONQUERING FORCE.
1. VICTORIOUS OVER THE FLESH.
2. VICTORIOUS OVER THE DEVIL.
II. " BY HIS SPIRIT " THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS THE ENABLING FACTOR.
A. GOD HAS GIVEN THE SPIRIT TO THE CHURCH TO EMPOWER AND EQUIPT THE CHURCH.
1. EVERYTHING WE DO FOR GOD IS A RESULT OF THE SPIRIT IN US. JESUS STATES IN JOHN 6:63:
John 6:63 (KJV) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
2. THE WORKINGS OF THE SPIRIT IN US CANNOT BE PRE- EMPTED BY THE ENEMY BECAUSE THE SPIRIT IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN US.
1 John 4:4 (KJV) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
III. " IN THE INNER MAN "
A. THE OUTER MAN WILL NEVER KNOW PEACE, JOY, FORGIVENESS, VICTORY, AND POWER UNTIL THE INNER MAN HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED.
1. GOD WANTS OUR SPIRIT ( THE INNER MAN) TO BE RIGHT. THE FLESH AND IT'S BEHAVIOUR WILL DEMONSTRATE THE HEALTH OF THE INNER MAN.
JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW THE 7TH CHAPTER AND THE 17TH VERSE:
Mat 7:17 (KJV) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
JAMES QUESTIONS IN JAMES 3:11,
James 3:11 (KJV) Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
FINALLY, PAUL VIVIDLY DELINEATES BETWEEN THE FRUITS OF THE FLESH AND THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT IN GALATIONS THE 5TH CHAPTER.
Gal 5:19 (KJV) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 (KJV) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 (KJV) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
2. IT IS THE INNER MAN TO WHOM GOD SENDS HIS STRENGTHENING SPIRIT.
1 John 2:27 (KJV) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Prov 4:23 (KJV) Keep thy heart(INNER MAN) with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
CONCLUSION:
WE ARE KNOWN BY THE LORD ACCORDING TO THE INNER MAN. IN FACT, OUR TRUE LIFE IS DEFINED BY THE INNER MAN. THE EXTERNAL MAN IS ONLY A SHELL, A CLOAK, A VESTURE.
GOD SENDS HIS SPIRIT TO THE REAL PERSON WHO LIVES INSIDE YOUR PRETTY LITTLE BODY.
THAT IS WHERE THE BATTLE RAGES; THAT IS WHERE THE VICTORY IS TO BE WON !