OceanSide church of Christ
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NEEDED: MORE BATTLES WON (3)
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Words like “wrestle,”
“fight,” “war,” and “contend” are found numerous times in the New
Testament.
1.
I
Corinthians 10:3
For though we
walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
2.
Ephesians
6:12
For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.
3.
I
Timothy 6:12
Fight the good
fight of faith…
4.
Jude 3
Beloved, when I
gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for
me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the
faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
B.
My friends, we are engaged
in the fight of our life.
1.
It is a fight with eternal
consequences.
2.
It is a fight that is fought
on many fronts.
3.
It is a fight that is won
one battle at a time.
C.
In two previous lessons, we
have examined some of the fronts upon which we are engaged in
battle.
1.
Temptation and
sin.
2.
Indifference.
3.
The daily grind of
life.
4.
Discouragement.
D.
We want to examine two more
fronts in this lesson.
I.
LONELINESS
A.
Definition
1.
Loneliness is not
necessarily aloneness.
2.
Loneliness involves a
feeling of sadness and bleakness.
3.
When one is lonely, he is
isolated from others.
4.
When one is lonely, there is
want for companionship that only a certain person or group of persons can
satisfy.
5.
Loneliness can fester into
depression that can hinder relationships and one’s daily
activities.
6.
Psalm
142:4
I looked on my
right hand, and behold, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed
me, no man cared for my soul.
B.
Many times loneliness is
caused by unexpected change: death,
divorce, moving, abuse, life adjustments, the loss of a friendship, or
sickness.
C.
How to overcome
loneliness.
1.
If loneliness develops into
a major form of depression, it could take counseling and medication to overcome
it.
2.
Trust in the Lord’s promise
that He is always with us (Heb. 13:5-6).
Let your
conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye
have: for he hath said, I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear
what man shall do unto me.
3.
Use the avenue of prayer to
seek the Lord. Heaven is just a
prayer away (Phil. 3:6-7).
Be careful for
nothing; but in every thing by pray and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
4.
Let God speak to you through
His Word.
a.
Key passages to which you can turn (Ps. 23:4).
b.
Biblical examples of others in our situation (Paul, II Tim.
4:16-17).
5.
See out new friendships.
a.
True friends are valuable (Prov. 17:17).
A friend loveth
at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
b.
To have dear friends, we must be friendly (Prov.
18:24).
A man that hath
friends must shew himself friendly…
II. SPIRITUAL
GROWTH
A.
We enter into the family of
God as babes. God expects us to
grow and mature into adulthood in Christ (II Peter 3:18).
But grow in
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and
forever.
Amen.
B.
Some have great difficulty
with this. They have been members
of the church for years, but have never grown up. They are much like the Corinthians
Christians and Hebrew Christians (I Cor.
3:1-2; Heb. 5:12-14).
And I, brethren,
could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto
babes in Christ. I have fed you
with milk, and not with meat: for
hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye
able.
C.
The picture of a babe (in
Christ).
1.
Special diet consisting of
soft, baby food.
2.
In constant need of support
and attention from others.
3.
Whines and cries when needs
are not met.
4.
Wears his feelings on his
sleeve.
5.
Prone to
sickness.
6.
Little in way of
contributing to the family.
D.
What can we do to win this
battle over the lack of spiritual growth?
1.
Remember your commitment
made to the Lord Jesus Christ at your conversion.
a.
You died to yourself (Gal. 2:20).
b.
You enthroned Jesus as Lord within you heart (I Cor. 6:19-20; II Cor.
5:15).
2.
Learn what God expects of you as His child and servant (Matt.
13:23).
But he that
received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and
under-standeth it; which also beareth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixty,
some thirty.
3.
Desire the things that God wants us to be.
a.
Here, we are dealing with the heart of man.
b.
Those who have been babes a long time have a heart
problem.
1)
Sinful heart (Acts 8:21).
2)
Heart of unbelief (Heb. 3:12).
3)
Deceptive heart (Jer. 17:9).
c.
The heart has to be changed (Ps. 119:2).
Blessed are they
that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole
heart.
5.
Seek spiritual
growth.
a.
I Peter 2:2
As newborn
babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
thereby.
b.
This congregation provides many opportunities for
growth.
1)
Daily Bible reading.
2)
Weekly memory verse.
3)
Weekly bulletin article.
4)
Tract of the week/tract rack.
5)
Two Bible classes each week.
6)
Two sermons each week.
7)
A class each week for women, and a study group once a month for the
men.
8)
Extra classes such as: “How
to Study the Bible.”
9)
Website with daily devotionals.
10)
Subscription to the Gospel Advocate for each
family.
11)
House-to-House is available every other month.
12)
Gospel meetings, both here and at sister
congregations.
13) Books
within our library.
14) Youth
devotionals, youth days, and youth camp.
CONCLUSION
A.
We have looked at two things
at different ends of the spectrum:
loneliness and the lack of spiritual growth.
B.
Both of them can adversely
affect one’s relationship and walk with the Master.
C.
We must overcome both in
order to lead a victorious life.
D.
Let’s repent before the Lord
returns to judge this world (Acts 17:30-31).
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteous-ness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath give assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
