Victory Life KY

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” -Spending time with God and learning to hear the voice of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP) For our sake He made Christ to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become, endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of the righteousness of God, what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness.

So today, as we continue our look into Romans, we’ve got to get this settled. Seriously, how many ways can Paul say it, Jesus alone makes us righteous. And the Gospel alone is the power of God to salvation. Our assignment is simply becoming better stewards of the Gospel.

There is only one life in Christ and it is a life of faith. As a matter of fact in Colossians Paul tells us that the same way we received Christ is how we now walk in Him.

Romans 4:24-25,NLT- It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in Him, the One who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was RAISED TO LIFE to make us right with God

As we continue our look into the Holy Spirit’s address to the Roman church, remember, Paul’s letter comes with a certain level of maturity and directness as he addresses the issues of a church that’s had some success, but are being pulled from the ungodly and the religious world. His mission is to glorify the gospel while at the same time unifying the church.

So for the church today, the Holy Spirit absolutely knew what we would be facing and He’s still reminding us of the fact that God knows the power of free will. And by design, from the beginning, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world is the only answer.

Study of the Books of Romans. Romans 1:8 (NLT) Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in Him is being talked about all over the world.

John 4, paraphrase- “The hour has come for true worshipers to worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” Spirit and Truth is 100% a heart thing. It’s an act of faith, honoring God with our voice, declaring our gratitude, adoration and devotion.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV) But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT) There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12, You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13, For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14, Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. NKJV, to be able to recognize between sound and unsound doctrine.

At some point each of us needs to ask ourselves, are we willing to let Jesus interrupt your our habits, our routine, what we’ve grown comfortable with?

Psalm 37:3-5 (NKJV) “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Remember, Jesus told us, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” Psalm 37 makes light and easy possible. And as a disciple, understanding His ways are different is a big part of our success. As a disciple change is unavoidable, the challenge with change is that it disrupts our routine, and our habits, deceiving us into becoming comfortable with our old problems instead of being uncomfortable embracing a new solution.

Remember, Jesus told us, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” Psalm 37 makes light and easy possible. And as a disciple, understanding His ways are different is a big part of our success.

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV) “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV) “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” This talk is all about making ourselves more available to the things of the Spirit? Exercising our faith, speaking the prophetic over our lives regardless of our situation. “Son of man, can these bones live?” Using God-inspired words to set the course of our lives.

Psalm 133:1-3 (NKJV) “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.” (Like Minded) Unified with one mind and purpose

Acts 2:1 (NKJV) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (One Accord, Gr. Homothoomadon) being unified, of one mind and purpose.

Acts 2:17 (NKJV) And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

Think about Hebrews 10, “As you see the Day approaching” Remember, Advent is the preparation of celebrating His arrival. And if He expects us to see The Day approaching, then just maybe we should be preparing.

James 1:22-25 (NLT) But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

The promise is the Abraham covenant. And from God’s eternal perspective, He’s fulfilled His covenant agreement, He’s already commanded His blessing. Genesis 12:2-3 (AMP) I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you with abundant increase of favors and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing, dispensing good to others. And I will bless those who bless you, who confer prosperity or happiness upon you and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed and by you they will bless themselves.

The promise is the Abraham covenant. And from God’s eternal perspective, He’s fulfilled His covenant agreement, He’s already commanded His blessing. Genesis 12:2-3 (AMP) I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you with abundant increase of favors and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing, dispensing good to others. And I will bless those who bless you, who confer prosperity or happiness upon you and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed and by you they will bless themselves.

Galatians 3:6-9 (NKJV) Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

Romans 11:16-17 (NLT) And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in

2 Corinthians 5:14-17 (NKJV) For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;15, and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.16, Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Colossians 1:22 (NLT) Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. Romans 5:1 (NLT) Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

In Matthew 7 Jesus made this statement, Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

This is one reality every one of us has to get settled, God is not a religion, but He is absolutely someone to be experienced. And this new life that Jesus has made available, for each of us who are willing to believe, must be ROOTED in a personal relationship with Jesus.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (MSG) You realize, don’t you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 (NKJV) “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2, I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3, for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4, For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? 5, Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but MINISTERS through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7, So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8, Now he who plants and he who waters ARE ONE, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9, For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10, According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11, For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12, Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14, If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15, If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16, Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17, If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 18, Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19, For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20, and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”21, Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23, And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”

The “Great Commission,” is our assignment, we are to go into the world, go into the gates of influence. This is how we fulfill “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Ezekiel 44, “You shall be ministers in My sanctuary, gatekeepers of My house and you shall stand before the people and minister to them.” Remember, in the Hebrew Gatekeeper simply means servant. Their responsibility was taking care of the temple, they were to control what came into the city. They were literally involved in every aspect of the cities affairs. The gates of influence in the city. The Gates of influence: Church, Family, education, Government, Business, Media, Entertainment

Ezekiel 44, “You shall be ministers in My sanctuary, gatekeepers of My house and you shall stand before the people and minister to them.” Remember, in the Hebrew Gatekeeper simply means servant. Their responsibility was taking care of the temple, they were to control what came into the city. They were literally involved in every aspect of the cities affairs. The gates of influence in the city. The Gates of influence: Church, Family, education, Government, Business, Media, Entertainment

Ezekiel 44:11 (NKJV) “Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, as gatekeepers of the house and ministers of the house; they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them.” First, gates represent arenas of influence in society. Gates of influence, like Church, Family, Education, Government, Business, Media, Entertainment Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) Jesus came and told his disciples, I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.One of his most famous conclusions dare I say prophetic:If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible.If the press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible.If the church becomes degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible.If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible.If satan rules in our hall of justice, the pulpit is responsible.If our politics and government become corrupt, the pulpit is responsible. Matthew 16:17-19 (NLT) Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell (gates of hell) will not conquer it. (Cannot prevail against it) And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” The church was always supposed to be the occupying influence in;Church, Family, education, Government, Business, Media, EntertainmentWebsite for Wallbuilders-https://wvw.wallbuilders.comHOMEWORK- Read the book of Haggai

Today’s talk, “Happy Looks Good On You” isn’t just a catchy phrase, it’s actually the fruit of a healthy relationship with Jesus.

In Isaiah, God says, “I don’t think like you, or work like you. Just like the rain waters the earth, making things grow, so do the words that come out of my mouth. They will do what I sent them to do.”

As sons and daughters of God, heirs to the Kingdom, as disciples, does it matter what we say? How we talk? Is there a language of the Kingdom?

As sons and daughters of God, heirs to the Kingdom, does it matter what we say? How do we talk? Is there a language of the Kingdom? Think about it, Jesus told us He only spoke with He saw from the Father. Maybe this is why He told us in Matthew 28, “Teach new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

If our salvation hinges on what we say, then make no mistake, words have everything to do with the rest of our life of faith. Don’t forget, Jesus told us His words are spirit and truth and by our words, we will be justified.

My prayer today is that every one of us see Jesus with a fresh, clear perspective, as we gather around His table.

It’s only by God’s word that we are renewed, transformed, changed, and renovated by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:5 (NIV) Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

For those of us that will be open to it and willing to trust Him, He’ll show us the areas in our own house that needs a little renovation. You know what any renovation projects starts with? Decision and Commitment

Seriously, no renovation project is worth investing in without a solid foundation. And without question, in God’s house, love is that foundation.

The first thing about a renovation project is the decision to actually do it. From there, we have to count the cost.

This is why it’s so important for the born-again to grasp the reality that God has built us with the ability to see through the lens of His promises. He wants us to move from an intellectual process to a spiritual one.

So today as we honor fathers, let’s magnify our Heavenly Father and let His instructions inspire us today. One thing I’m pretty sure all fathers want for their children is success. And our Heavenly Father makes it very clear that He wants success for each of us.

We left off last week looking into what life on the other side of humanity looks like; life in Heaven. And I know we know these truths, but so often we are so consumed with this life that heavenly realities drift. Sometimes we simply need to be reminded that God and everything about His creation is eternal, and before the fall we see glimpses of what heaven is like.

This may help, as citizens of heaven, this earth can’t be our priority. Not only are we citizens of heaven, we’re actually called to be ambassadors for that kingdom. • Shouldn’t we know about our kingdom if we’re called to represent it? • So we probably should set our sights on the realities of Heaven • We probably should think about the things of Heaven

Colossians 3:1-2 (NLT) Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of Heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of Heaven, not the things of earth.