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OBCC Sun 8/18/2013
VICTORIOUS SECRET #10
“Responding in the Opposite Spirit”
Today we continue with my series. Last week we saw that to receive from God and overcome we must maintain a “Clear, or Pure Conscious”
2TI 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
· We saw that we cannot allow our conscious to be our guide because our conscious can be hardened or distorted and that we must shape our conscious after the Word
· We saw that we must do all we can to keep our conscious pure
1PE 2:18-19 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
· We saw that w/o a pure or clear conscious you cannot receive from God
· We saw that with a clear conscious we can have boldness with God and Man
· Finally, we learned that you cannot purify your conscious with Good works or adherence to religious laws. Our conscious is only purified and kept clear by receiving and applying what Christ has done
1JO 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Today we will continue with another Secret to Living in Victory
· We see as we read the Word of God that God does not do things like we do.
· In one of my messages we learned that we must have our minds renewed so that we begin to think like God thinks
ISA 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
· Do you ever struggle and wonder how you should respond in different situations?
· Then, when you look to the Bible for help, do you find that sometimes it doesn’t make sense, in your thinking, to do what God says to do?
· What God says does not have to make sense to you to be right.
· There is a biblical principal that we will look at today that will bring you freedom and peace if you will apply it in faith.
What I mean by “Apply it by Faith is…..
· First, because of your faith or trust in God you are going to do it, not because it makes sense, but simply because He says to. This is “Obedience out of, or because of your faith”
· Second, decide that God knows best and you’re going to trust Him to work in this situation, and take your hands off it!
If I stopped my message right here, and you began to apply these 2 principals of faith, your life would radically change
· First, because of your faith or trust in God you are going to do it simply because He says to.
· Second, believe that God knows best and you’re going to trust Him to work in this situation and take your hands off it!
As we look at different passages today, look for a pattern that shows God’s higher way vrs. our lower way
· We will see one of God’s Victorious Secrets clearly laid out in the Bible
· This is a secret He has revealed to us that enables us to be ulcer free and be able to sleep at night
Eph 4:20-32 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. (Notice that a key to putting off is by putting on and you are to respond in the opposite manner in which you used to)
25 Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth (the opposite to lying)… 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": (we used to get angry and work on getting even) do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. (we used to give him lots of ammunition to use against us, this is saying to do the opposite) 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need (the opposite to stealing). 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, (the opposite of corrupt communication) that it may impart grace to the hearers.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you. (the opposite of evil speaking)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (the opposite of living in darkness)
EPH 5:4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. (opposite speech)
Eph 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, (the opposite of drunkenness) 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THE PRINCIPAL OF RESPONDING IN THE OPPOSITE SPIRIT, which is: “Victorious Secret #10”
· Today we will learn about responding God’s way vrs. how we typically respond
· When we respond God’s way, we will begin to walk in victory
Can you think of other passages that reveal this same principal?
The Bible is very clear on this secret of learning to respond in the opposite way in which you would naturally respond
LUK 6:27-38 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies,(that is opposite) do good to those who hate you, 28 “bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. (opposite responses) 29 “To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 “Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. (opposite responses) 31 “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 “And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, (here is where faith comes in that God is watching and will reward your actions) and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (here we see that our calling is to be like God in our actions) 37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE CALLED TO RESPOND IN THE OPPOSITE SPIRIT TO HOW WE ARE TREATED…
· If someone is unkind to you, respond with ………..
· If someone says harsh words to you, respond by being …………
· If someone raises their voice in anger, respond with ……….
· If someone is greedy or tight, respond with ………..
· If someone is disrespectful to you, treat them with ……..
· If someone is impatient toward you, respond with ……….
· If someone is treating you with animosity, respond with ……..
Please note that this is not God telling us to be walked on or to be victimized
· He is teaching us how to step up to a higher level than those that are treating us wrongly
· He is teaching us how to rise above the hurtful things in life
· He is wanting us to learn to truly trust that He is able to handle the wrongs done to us and that He will take care of any justice that needs to happen.
· Our job is to respond on a higher level, act like Jesus and trust in Him!
Finally, let’s look at the faith element, that when applied will take care of your ulcer and give you a goods night sleep
ROM 12:19-21 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 "Therefore if your enemy hungers, (rise above the natural and respond in the opposite spirit) feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
· This is faith that says because God is going to handle this, I am going to respond like Christ, in the opposite spirit, and allow God to sort it all out
CONCLUSION:
· When you find yourself in a situation where your flesh is starting to rise up…. You are probably very safe to do the opposite of how you feel
When someone curses you………
When someone is unkind to you ……….
When you feel like being cheap or tight……
When someone mistreats you ……..
When you want to get even ……..
God is calling us to live on the higher plane that He is on. Remember God says;
“My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\SERMONS\Victorious Secrets #8 Overcome Offenses.doc