module 10-overcoming in the arena of spiritual conflict

overcomingovercoming

in the arena of spiritual conflict

to him who overcomes I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself

overcame and sat down beside My Father on his throne

—Revelation 3:21

facing and facing and accepting accepting

major major challenge is challenge is the only path the only path to greatnessto greatness

encountering trials…encountering trials…

consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort, or fall into various temptations;

be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith brings out endurance and steadfastness and patience; but

let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work,

so that you may be a people perfectly and fully developed with no defects, lacking in nothing

— James 1:2-4

© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk© john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk

overviewoverview

the nature of the battlethe proving of faiththe arena of spiritual conflict…the place of power


the nature of the the nature of the battlebattle

…and how it is won!

““on this rock, I will on this rock, I will build”build”

who do you say I am?

you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God

how blessed are you!…on this rock I will build my

Community and the gates of Hades — the powers of the infernal region — shall not overpower it — or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it

— Matthew 16.16


which rock?which rock?

rock of faith and confessionif you acknowledge publicly with your

mouth that Jesus is Lord and trust in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be delivered

— Romans 10.9

rock of Abrahamconsider the rock from which you were

cut… consider Abraham your father— Isaiah 51.1-2

a promise that can be relied upon by all the seed… those with the kind of trust Abraham had – Abraham avinu for all of us

— Romans 4.16


what kind of trust?what kind of trust?

kind of trust that Abraham had: reckoning death not too strong, calling non-existent things into existence

Abraham is our father in God’s sight because he trusted God as the one who gives life to the dead and calls nonexistent things into existence

— Romans 4.16-22

faith in resurrection power• manifesting in our own lives,

enabling us to overcome power of sinfulness…


faith in resurrection faith in resurrection powerpower

those of us who have been immersed into the Messiah Jesus have been immersed into his death… we were buried with him; so that just as the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too may live a new life

… our old self was put to death on the execution stake with him, so that the entire body of our sinful propensities might be destroyed and we might no longer be enslaved to sin

now since we died with the Messiah, we trust that we will also live with him

— Romans 6.6


nature of faith – trusting nature of faith – trusting

trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see

it was for this that Scripture attested the merit of the people of old

— Hebrews 11.1

faith is being confident about God’s promise, about God’s characterfaith forms the foundation upon which a life of holiness, pleasing to God, must standfaith is an active response…


winning the war… in the winning the war… in the SpiritSpirit

faith key to winning battles• without faith, impossible please

God• enables kingdom advances

confident, overcoming faith• learned through testing experiences• Abraham waited years to receive

promise of a son, body ‘as good as dead’

• faith tested again by offering Isaac as sacrifice, concluding God could raise dead

— Hebrews 11.17-18


the proving of faiththe proving of faith

enduring trials and tests

overviewoverview

faith given and confessedfaith established and expandedfaith trialled and testedfaith completed and matured


faith given and confessedfaith given and confessed

a grace given to us by God• according to our gift, ministry-

calling— Romans 12.3-4

comes by hearing God’s word— Romans 10.17

• knowing scripture, hiding word in heart

• hearing inner voice of Spirit• prophecy confirming inner hope, faith

by faith we battle • by these prophecies… fight the good

fight — 1 Timothy 1.18


faith established and faith established and expandedexpanded


promise

word of Lord

vision… faith

faith of Abrahamfaith of Abraham

received promise of descendants, blessing, divine protection, blessing to nations

— Genesis 12

word of Lord came to him, confirming first promise, extending promise to land, establishing covenant with Abraham

— Genesis 15

faith tested, to willingness to sacrifice Isaac, Lords swears to bless Abraham

— Genesis 22


trials and tests of faithtrials and tests of faith

response to trials determines our destiny

— Hebrews 11: ‘chapter of faith’• Noah built an ark to save his household• Abraham received potency to become a

father• Jacob blessed each of his sons• Moses parents hid him, unafraid of king• Moses left Egypt, obeyed Passover• Israel walked through Red Sea on dry land• Joshua, tribes caused walls of Jericho to

fall• others became mighty, conquered kingdoms,

had weaknesses turned to strength


untested faith is untested faith is powerlesspowerless

everyone commended for faith endured opposition, hardship

• quenched power of fire, escaped edge of sword

• stretched on rack, beaten to death• mocked, whipped, chained,

imprisoned• stoned, sawn in two, murdered by

sword• destitute, persecuted, mistreated• ‘the world was not worthy of them’

— Hebrews 11: ‘chapter of faith’


faith completed and faith completed and maturedmatured

how blessed the man who perseveres through temptation! for after he has passed the test, he will receive as his crown the Life which God has promised to those who love him

— James 1.12

the one who has entered God’s rest has also rested from his own work

— Hebrews 4.10

after waiting patiently, Abraham saw the promise fulfilled

— Hebrews 6.15


faith in actionfaith in action

a personal testimony

faith in actionfaith in action

‘I will give you a perfect business’

• give up own idea, rest from ‘own works’

• learn to live a life of extravagant worship

• wait patientlythree to four years later

• initial failure, test of faith• perseverance• new door of opportunity• sacrifices necessary


faith testedfaith tested

‘war of attrition’• debt• discouragement, depression• legal threats

dying to self• give up your mistaken tone of

distrust regarding God’s faithfulness

— Jeremiah 15.27

resting from own works• in repentance and rest is your

salvation— Isaiah 30.15


faith proven and extendedfaith proven and extended

if you separate the precious from the vile, you will be my mouthpiece, my minister

— Jeremiah 15.19

you have within you a divine deposit which rises up to overcome every challenge…

— prophecy

enemy you see today, tomorrow you will see no more

get up… tell the people to go forward… divide the sea into two… the people will advance on dry ground

— Genesis 15


faith completed and faith completed and fulfilledfulfilled

today, ten years later• business divided into two• prospered, loans repaid• one run by wife• one recently sold to partner• supported my work over last five

years• academies : Kenya, USA, Burkina

Faso• now released to fully pursue

ministrypromise fulfilled…

• ‘the perfect business’!


facing and facing and accepting accepting major major

challenge is challenge is the only path the only path to greatnessto greatness

overcoming in overcoming in the arenathe arena

of spiritual conflict

overviewoverview

discerning the arena God is with us in the conflictprepared to sufferinspired by glorythe place of power


overcomeovercome

1. to win a victory over2. to get on top of3. to deal with successfully4. decisively defeated in combat


arenaarena

1. particular environment or walk of life

2. large structure for open-air sport and entertainment

3. central area of an ancient Roman amphitheatre


discerning the arenadiscerning the arena

of spiritual conflict

making spiritual progressmaking spiritual progress

the Lord is my strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army;

he makes my feet like hinds feet and will make me to walk—not to stand still in terror, but to walk and

make spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble, suffering and responsibility

— Habakkuk 3:19


high placeshigh places

responsibility• dedication, spiritual act of

worshiptrouble

• disruption, difficulty• still in control

suffering• painful• out of control; others in control

making spiritual progress• not to stand still in terror


conflicts outside, fears conflicts outside, fears withinwithin

this body of ours had no rest… we were harassed at every turn — conflicts on the outside, fears

withinbut God, who comforts the

downcast, comforted us

— 2 Corinthians 7:5 also 6:3-10


others desert usothers desert us

the first time I had to present my defence, no-one stood by me, everyone deserted me…

but the Lord stood by me and gave me power to proclaim the full message for all the nations to hear and I was rescued from the lion’s mouth;

the Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom

— 2 Timothy 4:14-16


God is with usGod is with us

in the arena

God has not abandoned usGod has not abandoned us

we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed

— 2 Corinthians 4:9-12


God is forming Messiah in God is forming Messiah in usus

we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us

— 2 Corinthians 4:7

I am suffering the pains of giving birth to you all over again – and this will go on until the Messiah takes shape in you

— Galatians 4.19

put on the new self which is continually being renewed in fuller and fuller knowledge, closer and closer to the image of its Creator

— Colossians 3.10


God uses conflict…God uses conflict…

to form Messiah in us…I was given a thorn in my flesh, a

messenger from the Adversary to pound away at me

three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me, but he told me

‘my grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness;

therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah’s power may rest on me

— 2 Corinthians 12.9


death gives way to lifedeath gives way to life

God’s workers headed for death…yet look! were alive!

as punished, yet not killed;

as having reason to be sad, yet always filled with joy;

as poor, yet making many people rich;

as having nothing, yet having everything!

— 2 Corinthians 6.9-10


death gives way to lifedeath gives way to life

we always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body;

for we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,

so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body;

so then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you

—2 Corinthians 4.10-12


prepared to sufferprepared to suffer

the ultimate calling

giving God freedomgiving God freedom

when we are prepared to share in suffering for Messiah’s sake, we give God great freedom to move through us

dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you, but

rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ,

so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed

— I Peter 4:12


a privilege to suffer…a privilege to suffer…

on behalf of, for the Messiah’s sake

stand firm united in spirit, fighting with one accord for the faith of the Good News, not frightened by anything the opposition does;

this will be for them an indication that they are headed for destruction and you for deliverance and this from God because, for the Messiah’s sake,

it has been granted to you not only to trust in, but also to suffer on his behalf

— Philippians 1.27-30


inspired by gloryinspired by glory

embracing suffering

inspired by gloryinspired by glory

our light, momentary affliction, this slight distress of the passing hour is ever more and more

abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory

— 2 Corinthians 4.17,18

I consider that the sufferings of this present life are not worth being compared with

the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us, and conferred on us!

— Romans 8:18


living for the will of Godliving for the will of God

therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,

arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin;

as a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God

— 1 Peter 4:1-2


our own life of no our own life of no importanceimportance

in every city the Holy Spirit keep warning me that imprisonment and persecution await me;

but I consider my own life of no importance to me whatsoever, as long as I can finish the course ahead of me,

the task I received from the Lord Jesus – to declare in depth the Good News of God’s love and kindness

—Acts 20:23also Acts 9:16; 14:22; 21:4-13


the place of powerthe place of power

experiencing victory in the arena of spiritual

conflict

turning aside to a burning turning aside to a burning bushbush

he came to the mountain of God, to Horeb;

the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a fire blazing from the middle of a bush;

he looked and saw that although the bush was flaming with fire, yet the bush was not being burned up;

Moses said, I’m going to go over and see this amazing sight… when the Lord saw that he had gone over to see, God called to him…

— Exodus 3.1-10


my personal braverymy personal bravery

the Lord is my strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army;

he makes my feet like hinds feet and will make me to walk – not to stand

still in terror, but to walk and make spiritual progress upon my high

places of trouble, suffering and responsibility

— Habakkuk 3:19


open his eyes, Lordopen his eyes, Lord

don’t be afraid – those who are with us outnumber those who are with them!

Elisha prayed, Lord, I ask you to open his eyes, so that he can see,

then the Lord opened the young man’s eyes and he saw: there before him, all around Elisha,

the mountain was covered with horses and fiery chariots

— 2 Kings 6.14-23


an indestructible life an indestructible life withinwithin

Paul discovered supernatural power of the indestructible life of Jesus, working in him

for this I labour unto weariness, striving with all the superhuman energy which he so mightily enkindles and works within me

— Colossians 1.28-29not in your own strength, for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you – energising and creating in you the power and desire – both to will and to work for his good pleasure and satisfaction and delight

— Philippians 2.13


let my people golet my people go

““let my people go”let my people go”

Moses called, then commissioned:go and get my people, Moses

— Exodus 7-12

let my people go, so that they may worship me

• Pharoah refuses, becoming hardhearted

where are my people, Moses?• snakes• frogs• insects


““let my people go”let my people go”

let my people go, that they may worship me

• death of livestock, hail, locusts• thick darkness over Egypt

“where are my people, Moses?”

let my people go, so that they may worship me

• death of firstborn• Passover lamb… deliverance


““I will show my power”I will show my power”

brought glory to God’s name— Exodus 9.16 & 11.9

God’s judgement upon false gods of Egypt

— Exodus 12.12

a new revelation of God• Passover worship is established• record of God’s works for future

generationspeople thrust towards Promised Land

• not only freedom, also animals, wealth• beginning of serving God’s eternal

purpose


he who led us in…he who led us in…will lead us outwill lead us out

in victory!

victory in sufferingvictory in suffering

you will have to suffer only a little while; after that, God who is full of grace,

the one who called you to his eternal glory in union with the Messiah

will himself restore, establish and strengthen you and make you firm

— I Peter 5:10,11


victory in temptationvictory in temptation

God is faithful to his word and to his compassionate nature and

he can be trusted not to let you be tempted and tried … beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure but

with the temptation he will always also provide the way out—the means of escape to a landing place—

that you may be capable and strong and powerful, patiently to bear up under it

— 1 Corinthians 10.13


victory in lifevictory in life

that you may really come to know — practically through experience for yourselves —

the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience;

that you may be filled through all your being unto all the fullness of God –

that is may have the richest measure of the divine Presence and

become a body wholly filled and flooded with God himself…


victory in lifevictory in life

now to him who, in consequence of the action of his power that is at work within us

is able to carry out his purpose and do superabundantly far over and above

all that we dare ask or think – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts hopes or dreams –

to him be glory in the Messianic Community and in the Messiah Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever…

— Ephesians 3.20-21


victory in deathvictory in death

they overcame…

by the word of their testimony and

the blood of the lamb and because they did not love their lives to

death

— Revelation 12.11


victory of his eternal victory of his eternal purposepurposeon this rock,

I will build my Community

and the gates of Hades, the powers of the infernal region,

shall not overpower it—or be strong to its detriment

or hold out against it

— Matthew 16:18


facing and facing and accepting accepting major major

challenge is challenge is the only path the only path to greatnessto greatness

as you pursue your dream…as you pursue your dream…

as you follow the Messiah

you will face challenges that threaten to overwhelm you

every step of the way :

faith grows within to meet the challenges that the Lord knows are ahead of us…


as you pursue your dream…as you pursue your dream…

God’s promise is :

when you pass through the waters,

you will not drown

when you pass through the fire,

you will not be burned


he who leads he who leads you into the you into the

arena of arena of spiritual spiritual conflictconflict

will lead you will lead you outout

… in victory!… in victory!

facing and facing and accepting accepting

major major challenge is challenge is the only path the only path to greatnessto greatness

thank you for thank you for attendingattending

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a series of presentations published by eternalpurpose.org.uk

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module 10-overcoming in the arena of spiritual conflict

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