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“CONQUERED OR UNCONQUERABLE?"1 JOHN 5:1-5INTRO: Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." The words of that verse should be an inspiration to every Christian; knowing that through Christ I can be unconquerable!" When the apostle Paul penned those words he was in a dark, dank prison in Rome, prisoner of the Emperor Nero. Yet, despite his circumstances, he could still write those blessed words, "I can do ALL THINGS through Christ which strengtheneth me." Paul was unconquerable! What about you tonight? You have two choices you can make: either to be conquered or unconquerable. The choice you make will adversely affect not only you, but others as well. So choose wisely! When Life throws you its worst how do you respond? The Story is told of the Hymn-writer Eugene L. Clark. His most famous song, "Nothing Is Impossible," rose to be the anthem of his Life. Although his fingers once flew across the piano keyboard, he became the victim of crippling arthritis. And eyes that once could seemingly read whole music scores at a single glance, were now totally blind. But Eugene Clark, former director and organist for the broadcast "Back To The Bible" never learned the meaning of the word "Quit!" It finally became impossible for Clark to continue playing the organ or piano, but when bed-ridden, never to get up again, he requested that they bring to his bedside a dictating machine . With this marvelous electric invention and his most valuable possession, a keen mind, he continued to give to the world his beautiful musical offerings. His Trust in the LORD became monumental. Great odds did not stifle Eugene Clark's ability and desire to serve Christ and be a Blessing to millions around the world. The words to his song are:I read in the Bible the promise of GodThat nothing for Him is too hard.Impossible things He has promised to doIf we faithfully Trust in His WORD.Nothing is impossible when you put your trust in God,Nothing is impossible when you're trusting in His WORD,Harken to the Voice of God to thee:"Is there anything too hard for Me?"Then put your Trust in God aloneAnd rest upon His WORD;For everything, 0 Everything,Yes, Everything is Possible-With God. (1) Someone has aptly pointed out, "Your outcome in life doesn't depend on your income, but on how you overcome!" Are you an overcomer or just overcome? A conqueror or conquered? John gives three ways for us to be "unconquerable!" WE ARE UNCONQUERABLE:(1) BY BEING BORN AGAIN1 JOHN 5:4a—“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world..."A. A NEW BIRTH. I want you to note the words—“born of God”. The phrase means “begotten of God”. It implies not an earthly birth but a heavenly birth—a birth from above. Jesus told Nicodemus, "Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). To be born anew is to undergo such a radical change that it is…a new birth; it is to have something happen to the soul which can only be described as being born all over again; and the whole process is not a human achievement, because it comes from the grace and power of God. (William Barclay. Daily Study Bible. e-Sword. Version 9.6.0. Copyright 1990-2010. Rick Meyers. All Right Reserved Worldwide). B. A NEEDED BLESSING. Being born again assures us victory at the end of this life, but not only then, but all through life! We read in 1 John 4:4—“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.” The word "overcome" used there is translated from a Greek word which means "mightest prevail". How do we “overcome the world” and the Wicked One? Revelation 12:11 tells us how we overcome—“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. “ Friends, the victory is already ours! God has already given it to us through His Son Christ Jesus! We must only claim in by faith! 1 Corinthians 15:57 tells us—“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 8:37—"In ALL...things we are MORE THAN CONQUERS through Him that loved us." Without the new birth our lives would end in defeat. Without the new birth we would be conquered not unconquerable. So how do we overcome? :By His Shed Blood (Rev. 12:11).By His Spirit (lsaiah 59:19).By His Sacred Word (Psalm 119:11,105).We are UNCONQUERABLE, BY BEING BORN AGAIN and secondly, (2) BY HAVING BELIEVING FAITH1 JOHN 5:4b-5—"And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even OUR FAITH. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he thatbelieveth that Jesus is the Son of God?"A. A WALK OF FAITH. According to 2 Corinthians 5:7, we are to "walk by faith, not by sight". The Bible is replete with exhortations for God people to walk by faith and not by sight—for God’s people to trust in the Lord and not in themselves. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Faith is believing God is in control in all circumstances without doubting! For NOTHING is impossible with God! (Mark 9:29; 11:22-24).B. A WALK OF FUTILITY. Instead of walking by faith many believers today walk in futility. As a result their:THEIR POWER IS LIMITED.THEIR PRAYERS ARE LIMITED.THEIR POTENTIAL IS LIMITED. The work of God is limited greatly by our unbelief! The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6—“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Mark 6:4-6 says—“But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”We are UNCONQUERABLE, BY BEING BORN AGAIN and BY HAVING BELIEVING FAITH and lastly,(3) BY KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS1 JOHN 5:2-3—"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. "A. THE PRIORITY AND EXCELLENCE OF LOVE. Friends, Love is the GREATEST COMMANDMENT! In Luke 10:25-28 we read—“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” This commandment is found in Deu_6:5. It is the “first” and greatest of all; first, not in “order of time,” but of “importance; greatest” in dignity, in excellence, in extent, and duration. It is the fountain of all others. All beings are to be loved according to their excellence. As God is the most excellent and glorious of all beings, he is to be loved supremely. If he is loved aright, then our affections will be directed toward all created objects in a right manner. (Albert Barnes. Albert Barnes’ Notes on The Bible. e-Sword. Version 9.6.0. Copyright 1990-2010. Rick Meyers. All Right Reserved Worldwide). The Bible gives us the excellence of love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. The word “excellence” means “superiority”. (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. Volume 1, A-M. p. 221). The Bible says—“ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.’ B. THE PROPER EXPRESSION OF LOVE. Love is not expressed in words but in action—deeds and truth. 1 John 3:18-19 tells us—“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” If we truly love, we will keep His commandments! Our Lord said in John 14:15—“ If ye love me, keep my commandments.” In v21 of that same chapter Jesus said—“ He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” And again in v23—“ If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” 1 John 2:3 says—“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” Fine words will never take the place of fine deeds; and no amount of talk of Christian love will take the place of a kindly action to a man in need, involving some self-sacrifice, for in that action the principle of the Cross is operative again. (William Barclay. Daily Study Bible. e-Sword. Version 9.6.0. Copyright 1990-2010. Rick Meyers. All Right Reserved Worldwide). CLOSING: The BIBLE exhorts us in 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." Satan desires to "conquer" the child of God, but by Faith and by showing Christ's Love and by keeping His commandments, we can be "unconquerable!" Are you "unconquerable?" You can have sweet VICTORY with Christ!NOTES: 1. Lindsay Terry. Stories Behind Popular Songs and Hymns. Pp. 168- 170. PREPARED BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING. ................
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