David the Victor, Part 4

Let's pray together. Father, we thank you so much for the wonderful gift of salvation that allows us to experience the glory of the Lord Jesus. Thank you that those of us who know you have a name written down in glory. And one day, Father, we will be with you forever. Until that time, help us to live in accordance with your word, that we might glorify your wonderful name. We thank you for this year and all that it's brought. We look forward to what the new year will bring. As we close out this year, Lord, help us to remain true to your word, that we might honor you during this holiday season.

We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. We have been having a study in 1 and 2 Samuel, looking at the life of David, coming to understand this man and all that God did in and through him. We've taken some time in 2 Samuel 8 to springboard into what it means to have spiritual victory. 2 Samuel 8 is about David being the ultimate victor. He was a victorious warrior. He was a soldier for his God. But in there, we understand that we are to be victorious warriors as well. And so we've spent some time looking at what it means to gain victory over sin, especially those sins that so easily beset us, according to Hebrews chapter 12.

And because we are victorious warriors, because we are, as the Bible says, overwhelming conquerors, we have to ask ourselves the question, why is it I find myself falling to defeat when temptation comes, when trials come my way?

And so we've been looking at some principles. We've given you four of them. We're going to conclude them this evening. We gave you the first principle which said that if I'm going to live a victorious life, it's reproduced by obedience.

Without being obedient to God, I can never gain victory over sin. So the very first principle was that the victorious life is reproduced by obedience.

Number two was that the victorious life realizes the importance of spiritual discipline. No man is ever victorious in anything without discipline, especially in the Christian life. And so we looked at some of those spiritual disciplines that we are to embark on as we examine our lives and stay true to God's Word. Number three, we realize that in order to live a victorious life, we refuse, we refuse to count my life as anything.

Acts 20 verse number 24, Paul refused to look at his life and say my life is worth something because it really was worth nothing compared to the life that Christ had for him.

And so he was willing to set aside his life even though dangers and turmoil awaited him. His life was not dear to him. And if your life is dear to you, you will go down to defeat every time when it comes to sin. And so we saw where we must refuse to count our life as dear to us. And then number four principle we covered last week is you must remember the Lord. Without remembering the Lord, then we can't gain victory. So many times we forget all that God has done and all that God's called us to. If you weren't here last week, you need to go back and get the CD that you might understand what it means to remember the Lord.

But remember this, remember this, that the effectiveness of your memory will determine the efficiency of your victory. The less you remember, the more you'll fall to defeat. The more you remember, the more victorious you will become. That is so important. That's why Paul told Timothy, remember the Lord. Remember the Lord Jesus. Remember him in all of his humanity and in all of his divinity. Because he is God, he is supernatural. He can take you through the difficulties. Because God became man, he can sympathize with your weaknesses.

So Timothy, whatever you do in your ministry, remember Jesus Christ, the descendant of David, risen from the dead. Which leads us to our fifth principle and it's this. Once you remember the Lord, rest in his sovereignty. Rest in his sovereign plan for your life. You ever been in those situations where you wonder, you know, how can this be happening to me at this time in my life? Or why is this happening to me at this time in my life? How is it that when I think that things are going well, all of a sudden things begin to crumble round about me?

Sometimes you sit back, take a deep breath, having remembered the Lord, rest in the fact that God in his sovereign plan has allowed this trial, has allowed this temptation to come my way at this day and not some other day. We forget about that. This becomes a very crucial element to living a victorious life. Remember when David in 2 Samuel chapter 7 was seeking the Lord because he wanted to build a house for the Lord. Remember, remember what God told David. He said these words. 2 Samuel 7 verse number 8.

Now therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture from following the sheep that you should be ruler over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you and I will make you a great name like the names of the great men who are on the earth. I will also appoint a place for my people Israel and I will plant them that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again nor will the wicked afflict them anymore as formerly even from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel and I will give you rest from all your enemies.

God says David you need to remember I chose you. I took you from where you were in the pastures in the backside of Bethlehem and I made you ruler over your people Israel. You must remember that I have directed every one of your steps. I have subdued all your enemies. I have taken you from where you were to where you are today. David needed to understand that God was in complete control of his life and he was taking care of David. That's why 1 Corinthians 10.13 becomes so important. Remember it is a very familiar verse.

It goes no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. Whatever temptation, whatever trial is coming your way know this it is common to man. Nobody in this room, nobody who has ever lived has faced a trial that is an uncommon trial. That is others have gone before you. Others have experienced your same kind of difficulty. You can't go back and say nobody has faced what I am facing. You can't ever say that because the trials that you face are common to man. That's why you don't know what Paul's throne in the flesh was.

You can guess but you don't know because you see if you knew what Paul's throne in the flesh was you would say well Paul he doesn't know what I am going through. He can say yeah God's grace is sufficient for me but he is not going through what I am going through right now.

No you don't know what it was. You don't know how bad it was and God meant it that way. But he also said the temptation you go through is very common to man. Then he says this he says and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. God is so much in control of your life that he is not going to allow something to come your way that is so severe you can't handle it. You can't take care of it through the power of Almighty God. He says but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also that you may be able to endure it.

So you can never say this is so severe I can't endure it. I can't handle it. Yes you can because God has provided an escape route and when you are walking in the Spirit trusting him realizing that he is sovereign he is not going to allow a trial or temptation to come your way that is so severe you cannot endure it and you cannot find the way of escape. God is faithful. Folks that is important because some of us think you know this is just so overbearing for me. No it's not. It's not. Get perspective.

Rest in God's sovereignty. He has allowed something to come your way for a purpose. Remember what Peter says? I like what Peter says. He says in this you greatly rejoice even though now for a little while if necessary you have been distressed by various trials. Think about that. In this you greatly rejoice. He says I want to tell you something about trials. Trials are temporary. They are temporary. They are not eternal. He says even though now for a little while this is just a temporary trial. Whatever you are going through right now I want you to think of your life right now.

I want you to think of what it is you are going through right now that seems to be so overbearing or maybe it is just something that is irritating the living daylights out of you. It's temporary. It's not forever. And then he says this. Even though now for a little while if necessary you have been distressed. In other words you have it therefore it is necessary. So not only is your trial temporary your trial is very timely. Do you think that God is ever not on time? Do you ever think that God doesn't do things perfectly set just for you?

No he does. So Peter says let me tell you something about your trials. They are temporary. They are timely. He also says they are taxing. Because he says you are distressed. And trials can become very taxing. But notice what he says.

He says they are also thrilling. Because he says they are that the proof of your faith being more precious than gold which is perishable even though tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. This is a thrilling thing. Get perspective. Get a perspective on your trial. Get a perspective on your temptation. It's only for a little while. It's temporary. If necessary that means it's timely. You have it now.

Didn't have it yesterday. Didn't have it last week. Didn't have it last year. But you got it right now.

And it could be taxing. But let me tell you what makes it so thrilling. And that is that your faith is being tested to prove how rich and how beautiful that faith is. God is refining you. God is making you into the perfect individual he wants you to be. He is making you sparkle for his glory. Folks you have to rest in the sovereignty of Almighty God. We tend not to do that. We get overburdened by the trial, the temptation, the difficulty. And we become so weighed down by it we can't see anything other than ourselves.

And God says rest in me. Remember Proverbs chapter 16 verse 34. The Lord has made everything for its own purpose. Do you believe that? Next phrase. Even the wicked for the day of evil. That's what the Bible says.

God makes everything for his own purpose. He makes even the evil man the wicked man. Because he has a purpose for the wicked man ruling. For the wicked man in office. He has a purpose behind all that. Rest in the fact that God is sovereign. He's in complete control. You're not he is. Turn with me to the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3.

Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse number 11. He has made everything appropriate in its time. Really? Everything? That's what it says. He has made everything appropriate in its time. It says in verse number 14. I know that everything God does will remain forever. Wow. Really? Everything God does remains forever. That means everything God does is concrete. It's set in stone. Now whatever God does it remains forever. Then it says there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. In other words whatever God does it's absolutely set in stone.

And you can't add anything to what God does to make it better. And you can't take away from anything that God does to make it worse or better. It is exactly as God wants it to be. Psalm 18 30. As for God his way is perfect. And so I begin to realize that God has a plan. I'm a part of that plan. And while things might not go the way I would hope they would go or the way I dreamed they would go. They're always going the way God decreed them to go. And God's in charge. And Solomon says that God he has a way.

It remains forever. It's concrete. You can't add anything to it. You can't take anything from it to make it any better or any worse than it already is. That means not only is his way concrete his way is complete. It's complete. It's perfect. It's all put together. And then he says for God has so worked that men should fear God. Fear him. God's way is convicting. Why? Because the reason you're in the situation you're in is because you don't fear God the way you ought to fear him. And that's why God's doing what he's doing.

He wants you to fear him. He wants you to tremble before him. He wants you to realize that he's in complete control. He's got it all together. And when you realize that you do fear him. Because he's got a plan. It works as he designed it. Solomon will go on to say in Ecclesiastes 7 verse number 13. Consider the work of God for who is able to straighten what he has bent. In the day of prosperity be happy. But in the day of adversity consider God has made the one as well as the other. So that man may not discover anything that will be after him.

God creates the day of adversity and the day of prosperity. If you're experiencing prosperity tonight be happy. If you're experiencing adversity tonight consider this. God does what he does so you will have no idea what he's going to do next. You're not in control he says. I am. Rest in the sovereign purposes of God. Remember who he is. Remember the Lord. Remember how great he is. And then rest in the fact of his greatness. Rest in the fact of his faithfulness. Rest in the fact of his goodness, his mercy, his kindness.

Because he has a plan for your life. It's running right on schedule. Nothing's going to change it. Nothing you do is going to change it. So you sit back and you take a deep breath and say God you have designed this day, these circumstances, these situations to happen to me right now.

Because I need to fear you. I need to realize that you're molding me and making me into the man, the woman you want me to be. That I might glorify your name. Folks this is important for all of us. Because whatever it is you're going through today, and I have no idea what that is. One guy said to me the other day, he says, do you have a video camera in my house? Because everything you said last week was exactly what took place in my house this past week. So I'm just asking, did you send someone in to put a video camera or some kind of taping device in my house to listen to my conversations and to know what's going on?

I said no I don't. That's just the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God working in your heart and in your life. I don't know what's going on in your house. I have no idea. It's like you don't know what's going on in my house. But God does. God does. And God designs every message that's preached for you. Not for your spouse. I know some of you are going like, this is for you buddy. Hey listen to this. Get it together. Get it now buddy because if you don't get it now our marriage is going to be bad. No it's for you.

It's not for your spouse. It's not for your kids. That's the pitfall we all fall into. Boy I wish so and so was here. Boy they need to hear that. Well guess what? They're not here. They're not hearing it. But you are here and you are hearing it. So God designed it that way, right? See God's in charge. You know the most important doctrine in the Christian life is the doctrine of God's sovereign control. We'll talk about this at great length on Sunday. We'll talk about the Kingdom of God. And they ask, where's the Kingdom?

When's it going to come? And Christ answers the question in a way that they weren't prepared to hear. But they had a misconception of God's Kingdom. But He is the ruler of the world. See we have a hard time with that. But as believers we should rest in the fact that God Himself is absolutely sovereign. He controls it all. So whatever it is you're going through today, whatever it is you're going to go through next week or the week after, you need to remember the Lord and all that He's done. Having remembered Him because you don't want to forget.

If you forget you'll fail. You need to rest in who He is. Rest in the sovereign control of Almighty God that you might be able to sit back and say, you know what God? You designed this trial on this day specifically for me that the testing will prove my faith that I might be able to live for the glory and honor of Almighty God. Folks that's just powerful, powerful truth. And you can put your head on your pillow at night and say, you know what God? I can't control it. What's He say? Solomon, in the day of adversity consider, He made one as well as the other, so you have no control over anything.

See that's our biggest problem. We want to control everything. We want to control our ministry. We want to control our marriage. We want to control our work. We want to control our kids. And God says, you know what?

You just can't do that. That's my job. That's what I do. But we want to usurp God's authority and we want to be in charge. And the minute we're not in control and things just get a little shaky, we go, oh no, what am I going to do? What am I going to do? We get all worried about it. And God says, rest in my sovereign control.

I have it all taken care of. I'm going to bring this trial upon you at this time because you need to fear me, you need to trust me and follow me. Folks, that's for every one of us this evening. Now, having rest in God's sovereignty, which is principle number five, the victorious life is reinforced by your utter dependency upon the Holy Spirit. That's principle number six. The victorious life is reinforced by your utter dependency upon the Holy Spirit. See, now you're free to say, okay, God, I can't do this.

I can't overcome this trial. I can't overcome this temptation. I need to walk in the Spirit. That's what it says over the book of Galatians, Galatians chapter five, verse 16. But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, the Spirit against the flesh. For these are in opposition to one another so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now, the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing.

You know those things relate to you? You walk in the flesh. You're jealous, causing dissension, envious. You're not walking in the Spirit, you're walking in the flesh. You're not dependent upon the Lord, involved in sorcery, immoralities, impurities. You walk in the flesh. You're not being led by the Spirit, because the Spirit of God doesn't lead you into those things. Your carnal flesh leads you into those things. See? And then he says this, and these like, and things like these of which I forewarned you, just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Whoa. Now he gets even further. He says like, if this is an habitual practice of yours, if you are continually a jealous person, if you are continually an envious person, if your life is characterized by these qualities, you'll never inherit the kingdom of God. It makes you rethink what it is you're doing in life, right? Now, that doesn't mean as a Christian you don't get envious or jealous or have outbursts of anger. We do. But if it's habitual in your life, that's what characterizes your life, Paul says, you know what?

You'll never inherit the kingdom of God, because you're demonstrating the fact that you're living like an unbeliever, not a believer. And then he says these words, but the fruit of the Spirit is love and joy and peace and patience and kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. I mean, this is the fruit of the Spirit. If you're being led by the Spirit, these things are evident. There's joy in your life. There's peace in your life. There's patience in your life. There is self-control in your life, if you are led by the Spirit.

If you're not, then those other things are evident. Then he says, now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let's not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. You'll walk by the Spirit. How do you do that? How do you do that? How do you walk in the spiritual realm? The same way you walk in the physical realm, one step at a time. You don't run in the Spirit, you walk in the Spirit.

And so, you walk depending upon the Spirit in every step you take. As you walk physically, one step at a time, when one foot leaves the ground to put all of its weight on another foot, all your dependency is on that one leg. Now in the spiritual realm, all your dependency is upon the Spirit of God, because you can't make it without Him. You think you can, but you can't. It's all about depending upon the Spirit of God. That's why the victorious life is reinforced by utter dependency upon the Spirit of God.

This is what your strength is. God told Zechariah, through the prophet Zechariah to Zerubbabel, it's not by power, not by might, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. You think you're going to go and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem? Let me tell you something, you can't do it physically, you've got to do it spiritually.

It's all by my Spirit. Without my Spirit directing the nation of Israel, it is not going to happen. Paul says in Galatians 3, oh, you foolish Galatians, having begun in the Spirit, are you now trying to be perfected in the flesh? Are you trying to live the Christian life in your own energy, in your own power? Are you trying to muster up enough spirituality to live for God? Are you trying to do it all on your own? You can't do it. You've got to walk in the Spirit. Philippians 3, verse number 3, Paul says, we are the circumcision, we are the marked ones.

We are the ones who glory in Christ Jesus, who put no confidence in the flesh, and we worship God in Spirit. Who are the marked ones? They're the ones who don't put any confidence in their flesh, because they realize that their flesh is going to lead them the wrong way. All their confidence is in the Spirit of God, and that's the way we are to live our lives. That's why in 2 Samuel 7, verse number 1, when David had arrest from all of his enemies, what did he do? He spent time going back and reading the first five books of our Old Testament, the Torah, the law of God.

From there, he realized what he needed to do to build a house for his God. He was so concerned about God. He was consumed with God. And God came to Nathan and spoke to Nathan about David not doing that, and David rejoiced in the fact that God was sovereign, he had a plan, he was going to subject himself to that plan, and that God had a plan that went beyond anything David could ever imagine. And in 2 Samuel 8, he went to war, and he won. Why? That's what it says. 2 Samuel 8, verse number 6, then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants of David, bringing tribute, and the Lord helped David wherever he went.

Verse number 14, he put garrisons in Edom, in all Edom he put garrisons, and all Edomites became servants of David, and the Lord helped David wherever he went. You see, he was dependent upon the Lord. He went to battle, totally trusting God to accomplish great things, totally dependent upon God to do for him what only God could do. God won the battles. David was a great warrior. Never forget that. But he was only as great as his dependency upon the Lord. That's why we told you the principle of 2 Samuel 7, 2 Samuel 8 is this.

Intimacy, okay, leads to dependency, which leads to victory. Intimacy breeds dependency, and dependency breeds victory. And that's why David was victorious, because he was intimate with his God. Now, he's not always that way, but in 2 Samuel 7 and 2 Samuel 8 he is. Okay, in 2 Samuel 7 and 11 he's not. Okay, but we'll get to that in the new year. But that's what's happening in David's life. At this point he is, to show you that you're not always intimate with the Lord. You're not always walking with the Lord.

That intimacy is a cultivation that takes place daily. That's why you've got to walk in the Spirit, so you don't fulfill the lusts of the flesh. And that's why the Bible says, in 2 Timothy 1, 7, that God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, and of love, and of self-discipline.

God's given us a spirit that we might understand how to discipline and control our lives, but we can't do it without the Spirit of God. So, Paul says in Ephesians 5, 18, be not drunk with wine, which is dissipation, but be filled, or be controlled by the Spirit of God. And what makes this so unique in Ephesians 5 is this. Paul says, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine for that dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.

Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God even the Father. And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Now, this is so important. Why? Because how do you know you're controlled by the Spirit of God? How do you know you are filled? The word filled means to be controlled or dominated by. How do you know you're dominated by the Spirit of God? Number one, you speak differently.

Number two, you sing joyfully. Number three, you say thanks obediently. And number four, you submit willingly. That's how you know. Do you speak differently than those who are not controlled by the Spirit of God? Do you sing joyfully? Do you say thanks obediently? Do you submit willingly? That's the characteristic of those who are filled with the Spirit. They're controlled and dominated by God's Spirit. How does that happen? How do I walk in the Spirit? How do I... How has my life dominated by the Spirit?

Turn to Colossians chapter 3. Colossians chapter 3, Paul says this, in verse number 16, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. In other words, let it be at home in your heart. Don't let God's Word become a stranger to you. With all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give me thanks through Him to God the Father. In wise and husbands be subject to yourselves or subject to one another.

The same characteristics that flow from Ephesians 5, 18 are the same characteristics that flow from Colossians 3, 16. Meaning that if I am to be dominated by God's Spirit, I can't let God's Word become a stranger to my life. God's Word must dominate my life. When God's Word dominates my life, when God's Word is a part of all that I'm doing, the Spirit of God is controlling me and dominating my life because I'm filled with God's Word. So I can walk in the Spirit. I'm walking dependently upon God, His Word, His Spirit that I might know that every step I take, I have to trust God to accomplish His work in my life and to follow His Word.

A victorious life is reinforced by utter dependency upon the Spirit of God. Principle number seven, the victorious life requires making the difficult decisions. It requires making the difficult decisions. In 1 Corinthians 6, verse number 18, Paul says, flee immorality. 1 Corinthians 10, verse number 14, he says, flee idolatry. In 2 Timothy 2, 22 to 24, he says, flee youthful lusts. In 1 Timothy 6, verse number 11, he says, flee the love of money. It always requires making a difficult decision. Don't think that becoming a victorious warrior is easy.

It requires making the difficult decisions, the hard decisions. That's why Christ says, if your right eye offends you, pluck it out.

If your right hand offends you, cut it off. Make the tough choice. Do the drastic thing. Do whatever you have to do to preserve your life, to protect your life. Make the most difficult decision you have to in order to live a pure and holy life. And whatever it takes, whatever it costs, make that decision for the sake of the kingdom of God and His glory. You will have to always make a difficult choice because sin is pleasurable. It's called the passing pleasures of sin for a season. Don't let anybody tell you that sin's not pleasurable.

It is. Bible says it is. Okay? But it's a passing pleasure of sin. And Moses was able to choose to endure affliction with the people of God rather than the passing pleasures of sin for a season. He made the right choice. He made the difficult choice. It'd be easy to stay in Egypt. It'd be easy to stay with all the riches and the wealth of Egypt. It'd be easy to be there because that's where the passing pleasures of sin lie. But instead, he chose to endure ill treatment with the people of God. He made the most difficult choice, but he made the right choice.

He made the best choice because it was the God honoring choice. See? What choice is God asking you to make today? What is He asking you to get rid of, to cut out, to break off? Maybe it's a relationship. You've got to break it off because it doesn't honor the Lord. Maybe it's an attitude that's permeated your life. It's eaten you alive. You've got to cut it off. You've got to put off the old man and put on the new man and walk in the Spirit of God. Maybe it's a difficult choice of what it is you're watching.

You're not going to watch it anymore. Maybe it's relationships you have with people, friendships, that maybe are not the best friendships for your family and you've got to break them off for the sake of your family. What will you do to make the difficult decision? If there's anything that's hindering your growth and you don't cut it off, it will always hinder your growth. Bad company will always, always lead to bad morals. You've got to make the right choices in life. You can't make the right choices unless you walk in the Spirit.

You should know what God's Word says. And then the rubber meets the road. We say, okay, now that I know what God says, I got to make the choice.

I got to choose. Will I be obedient? Will I be disobedient? Will I obey what God says in His Word or will I disobey what God says in His Word?

That's the choice you got to make. When it comes to temptation, you got to make the right choice. Joseph made the right choice. Part of his wife was a beautiful woman, but Joseph made the right choice. But he went to prison because he made the right choice. See? See, if he had made the wrong choice, he'd experience the passing pleasures of sin and escape prison. That's right. He would have. But he would not have had the favor of God and he would not have been the leader of Israel that Israel needed at that time in Egypt.

You see, he made the right choice even though it cost him. Very few people can do that. But those who walk in the Spirit can. And those who walk in the Spirit are resting in the fact that God's sovereign over all. He's got a plan. Because they remembered the Lord. Remember who He was, what He did. That's how you gain victory over sin. And then, number eight, right? Is that where we're at, number eight? Ah, yeah. Number eight, always recognizes the consequences of sin. Always recognizes the consequences of sin.

Sometimes we don't recognize the consequences. Sometimes we don't want to face the consequences, so we put them in the back of our minds. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever man sows, that shall he also reap. The law of the harvest. Okay? There's no exception clause in that. Doesn't say, except those who do this or do that. No, no exception clause. Some of you today in this room are experiencing the consequences of your sin that will never ever leave you. David sinned with Bathsheba. And God restored David.

God forgave David, but he experienced the consequences of his sin for the rest of his life. That's just the law of the harvest. Can't get around it. It's there. So what do you do? What do you do? Some of you today are experiencing the consequences of sin. What do you do? Are you going to live in the past? Are you going to become bitter? The consequences are what the consequences are. And by the grace of God, you move on. By the grace and power of God, you move forward saying, God, I cannot change what has happened, but I want to have the right attitude amidst what's happening.

And I need to rest in your sovereignty. You trust in your spirit and walk obediently to your word. Even though all around me, there is great pain. That's hard, but that's what God requires. Because if you don't do that, you'll never become victorious. You'll go down to defeat. Your life will become bitter, angry, resentful. And believe me, it's seen on your face. Bitterness is always seen on the outside, although it manifests itself tremendously on the inside. We can see the residual effects on the outside of your face.

Can we not? Sure. It's there. Because the sins of the soul are seen by the saints. We can see them. Because you can't hide those things. They come out with angry words. They come out with bitter feelings. They come out with sarcasm and jealousy and outbursts. They come out. And so, you're going to have to understand the consequences of sin. They're great. The marriage bed is undefiled, Hebrews 13.4. The marriage bed is undefiled. It is a place of absolute purity and beauty. But fornicators and adulterers, God will judge.

He will do that. That's what He said. Solomon said it this way, Book of Proverbs 6th chapter. He says, Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is the one who goes into his neighbor's wife, whoever touches her will not go unpunished. Maybe you're here tonight and you're thinking about having an affair with somebody. Remember Proverbs chapter 6. You will not go unpunished. The consequences of your sin will remain.

In fact, he goes on to say these words in verse number 32. The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense. He who would destroy himself does it. Wounds and disgrace he will find. His reproach will not be blotted out. For jealousy enrages a man and he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not accept any ransom nor will he be content though you give him many gifts. The consequences are forever. See we forget that. I've sinned and I have a spirit of consequence. I'm doing pretty good.

See that, see you forget. There is a way it would seem to write to a man, but the ends are over the ways of not life, death, right? Death. You see God in His grace allows you to live every time you sin. You don't deserve to live. The wages of sin is death, but we don't die physically. We have a death-like existence because we live separated from the living God. And God in His grace allows you to live and you sin and don't experience immediate consequences. You think, I'm free, I can do it again. I can do it again.

I can do it again. And God in His grace, His mercy is trying to bring you back to Him, trying to draw you back, but you refuse. And then all of a sudden the hammer comes down and the consequences are devastating. Does God forgive? Oh, you bet He does. Does God restore? You bet He does. But if you're a drunk driver and you hit someone, kill them, they're dead forever. That person's not coming back. The consequences are there. The person died that you hit while you were drunk. Does God forgive? Yes, He does.

Does God restore? Yes, He does. But that person you hit is still dead. They're not coming back to life. God can use all that. For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes. God has a greater purpose. You might not see it today, but He's got a greater purpose. But you must realize the consequences of sin. By the way, if you remember the Lord and you rest in His sovereignty and you walk in the Spirit, then what's gonna happen is that you realize the consequences of sin.

You'll be sensitive to those things because the Spirit of God would have spoken to you and you'd be able to say, you know what, that's something I cannot do. And number nine, is that where we're at, number nine? I think there's nine. Yeah, there is nine. The victorious life is always rewarded by God. It's always rewarded by God. That's why in the book of Revelation, Revelation 2 and 3, the promise given to the overcomer, the victorious man, victorious woman. Chapter 2, verse number 7 is a tree of life.

We had time to talk to you about that. We talked to you about the fact the tree of life represents God's sufficiency. And then in chapter 2, verse number 10 and 11, talks about the crown of life that speaks of one's immortality. Then the bread of life that speaks of one's quality of life. Then in chapter 2, there's the power of life, which speaks of intimacy. Then there's a book of life, which speaks of security. The name of life, which speaks of dignity. And the throat of life, which speaks of unity.

All that God promises to those who overcome, to those who are victorious warriors, to those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who put their faith and trust in Him. They become overwhelming conquerors. They became the participants with God on His throne, speaking of unity, the quality of life, the immortality in life, the sufficiency in life. God grants to those who overcome, because they are rewarded by God. Remember Joseph, back in Genesis chapter 39? That great chapter where he flees Potiphar's wife?

It says that throughout that whole process, the whole key to Genesis 39, is how Joseph was made prosperous by God. He had been sold in slavery by his brothers. He'd experienced all kind of difficulty. And yet God did something great in Joseph's life, because as you read through the book of Genesis, you don't see bitterness in Joseph's life, do you? Don't see anger, a vengeful spirit? You don't see that in his life. You see a man subjecting himself to the will of God, the sovereignty of God in his life, resting in the fact that God had a plan, even though it wasn't as Joseph had designed it.

Oh, there was a plan where all of his brothers would bow down before him. He just didn't understand it until later in life. But God gave him a dream so he could see it. He told his brothers, they became jealous, didn't they? Angry. They became so angry with him. And by the way, that's why Joseph received the coat of many colors. When we go through our Jesse Tree devotional book in the month of December, and we talk about the prophecy and center around Joseph, he received a coat of many colors, because as the text says, he was the younger son, but he was the favored son.

He wasn't favored because he was the youngest. He wasn't favored because he was the best. He was favored because of his character. He received the coat because of his character. It was so uniquely different than the other brothers. And his father made him this coat because of his character. And all throughout the life of Joseph, you see his character exemplified in his behavior, in his attitude, in his responses to negativity in his life. And when he made the right choice, God was with him. Listen to what the text says.

Now, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt and parted for an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the body. God bought him from the Israelites who had taken him down there. And the Lord was with Joseph. So he became, listen carefully, a successful man. Wow. He wasn't expecting to be successful. He was sold into slavery by his brothers. And as, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.

Listen, when you are victorious and rewarded by God, everybody else sees it. The unbeliever sees it. This guy's got favor in the eyes of God. This guy's different. He's so much different than everybody else. The text says, so Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant. He made him overseer of his house and all that he owned, he put in his charge. It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptians house on account of Joseph.

God blessed the unbeliever's house because of Joseph. That's how successful Joseph was. It wasn't bitter. As brothers, angry because his life had changed so drastically. Never knew whether or not he'd ever see his father again, his family again, had no idea. And then it says these words, thus the Lord's blessing was upon all that he owned in the house and in the field, so that everything he owned in Joseph's charge with him there, he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate, that Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

Potiphar gave him everything. You're just in charge of my house. You're in charge of all. If God's going to bless you, he's going to bless me because of you. You're in charge of everything. That's power. That's power. Pharaoh served Joseph. Joseph was the powerful one in the end on all of Egypt. But Potiphar saw that this man, Joseph, was favored by God. Then it says, it came about these events that his master's wife looked with desire at Joseph and she said, lie with me. But he refused and said to his master's wife, behold with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house and he has put all that he owns in my charge.

There is no one greater in this house than I and he has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God? He realized the consequences of sin. I'm going to sin against God. I can't do that. It came about as she spoke to Joseph day after day that he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her. Didn't listen.

Didn't listen. He didn't even pray about it because he didn't have to pray about it. He knew what God said about it. And when you know what God says about something, you have to pray about it.

You just got to be obedient to it. That happened one day that he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the household was there inside. She caught him by his garment saying, lie with me. He left his garment in her hand and fled and went outside. When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, she called to the men of her household and said to them, see he has brought in a Hebrew to us to make sport of us. He came into me to lie with me and I screamed. And it came about when he heard that I raised my voice and screamed, they left his garment beside me and fled and went outside.

So he left his garment beside her until his master came home. That she spoke to him with these words, the Hebrew slave whom he brought to us came into me to make sport of me. And it happened as I raised my voice and screamed, they left his garment beside me and fled outside. Can you imagine what Joseph was thinking? Joseph didn't hear this. He just thought, thank you Lord for letting me be obedient. Thank you Lord for letting me flee. God you're so good to me. I am just so glad that you watched over me.

Thank you Jesus for all you've done. You're so good to me. Thank you Lord for helping me make the right choice. Now it came about when his master heard the words of his wife, but she spoke to him saying, this is what your slave did to me. That his anger burned. So Joseph's master took him and put him into jail, the place where the King's prisoners were confined. And he was there in the jail. Joseph's like, are you kidding me? I did the right thing. You're going to throw me in prison. What's this about?

Oh, read on. But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. And the chief jailer committed to Joseph's charge, all the prisoners who were in the jail. So wherever was done there, he was responsible for it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the Lord was with him and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper. This guy was so successful that no matter where he was, everybody said, you're in charge.

You're the guy, you're the man. There's something about Joseph that sets him apart from everybody else. God made him to prosper. He was rewarded by God. Why? Because he was a victorious warrior. And the lesson you get out of these last four weeks is this. When you're victorious by following God's word and being and living as an overwhelming conqueror, your life will be completely rewarded by a God that's pleased with your obedience. Isn't that what you want? That's what I want. May God give us the grace to accomplish that.

Let's pray. Father, we thank you, Lord, for tonight, this chance to be in your word. Truly, Lord, you are a great God and you alone are worthy of praise. Help us to live according to the principles of your word, that we might live for you and not for ourselves. Thank you, Jesus, for who you are. In Jesus name. Amen.