Keys To Living Life Victoriously

 

Most Christians live way below par as far as God’s Word is concerned.  You may have heard that we use only about 8% of our brain capacity.  Well, we may operate spiritually as low as 8% of the power of God in Christ in us.  I am going to show you keys on how to live the more than abundant life as stated in John 10: 10b.

 

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it  more abundantly. – John 10: 10b

 

I am going to show you how to be more than a conqueror in every single situation. 

 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that [who] loved us. – Romans 8: 37

 

You must learn how to take your ‘foot off the hose’ so to speak and stop limiting God in your life.  There are certain simple conditions you MUST fulfill and these are laid out for you in God’s Word.  These are keys to living victoriously and YOU MUST APPLY them by your own free will.

 

The first condition is very simple and basic, however, it is the most important principle you can apply.  Without it, you have what the world gives you – nothing.  There is something called mental ascent and then you have the genuine which is called believing.  Believing can only come from an accurate knowledge of God’s Word APPLIED in your everyday life.  So let us start with the following Scripture from II Timothy.  When I work out on my Soloflex machine, there is a certain exercise that states it is the most important exercise you can ever do.  The following principle is the first foundational principle that absolutely must be applied if you are ever to live life victoriously. 

 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. -- II Timothy 2: 15

 

Oftentimes, the word ‘study’ has a bad connotation with most people.  Connotation implies how a person feels in their mind while denotation is the dictionary definition.  However, from a spiritual point of view, studying God’s Word is like a treasure hunt.  The deeper you dig, the greater the treasure.  But it is like work.  If you have a hard time studying, you may be studying too much or at the wrong time or because you are forcing yourself to study.  If you are not doing something willingly, there is no profit in what you are doing.  You must get to the point where you are studying with the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation.

 

And though I have the gift of   (scratch “gift of” – it is in italics) prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and [but] have not charity, I am nothing. – I Corinthians 13: 2

 

Prophecy is NOT a gift – it is a manifestation.  Every word in the King James Version that is in italics was added by the translators and is not the original Word of God.  That is why we use the King James Version.  Italics are many times erroneous, and at times, they are correct.

 

So we know now that we must study.  But study is not enough by any measure.  We must APPLY what we study.  This is such a simple concept, that oftentimes, we overlook it.  Then we wonder why things do not seem to work out and our prayers are not answered.  Let's see what the Word of God has to say about this.

 

Now watch this verse very closely:

 

Even so faith, [the word in Greek is pistis and it means "to believe"] if it hath not works, is dead [useless], being alone. – James 2:17

 

This verse is so important that if we don't apply it and understand it completely, we will never live the more than abundant life.  It is that important and I want to stress the importance of it for your benefit.  It is saying that if you know something from the Word of God and you do not apply it, put it into operation in your life, it is useless!  So often, we as Christians study the Bible but we do not apply it.  This is one of the most deceiving tricks on the earth today.  Let's look at one other Scripture that relates to this exact same subject and it is in the same chapter in James.  It is the very last verse.

 

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith [believing -- taking action] without works is dead also. -- James 2: 26

 

We should know from the book of Genesis that when God says something twice, it is absolutely established.  This means that it will absolutely come to pass.  In verse 26 above, God is saying basically the same thing that he is saying in verse 17.  He is repeating himself.  We know that a body and soul person without the spirit of God living within him is dead [figure of speech].  They have no real life within them, so without the spirit, God uses a figure of speech and he says that those people who are not born again of His spirit are dead [useless and without any purpose in this life].  By now, we should be convinced that we must act on the Word of God and not just study it.  A person who knows a hundred Scriptures by heart does not live a more profitable life than one person who knows one Scripture and applies that Scripture.

 

I would like to move into a different subject area that is of course related to living victoriously.  I simply want to clear up a phrase that many people do not understand.  That phrase is referred to as "renewing the mind".  Let's again go to the Word of God and let God open up your understanding to this important phrase.  Now I want you to watch the detailed wording of these two Scriptures.

 

I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is  your religious service.  -- Romans 12: 1

 

Now take a look at the specific wording of the Scripture.  God is saying that he beggingly implores you to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God which is your religious service.  Now take a look at the words that are in that Scripture.  One of the words is "present".  Another word is "sacrifice".  And at the end of the verse God says that this is our religious service.  Service obviously implies action along with the other words in the Scripture.  We are not just to study the Word of God and then do nothing about it.  Let's take a look at the second Scripture.

 

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is  that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. -- Romans 2: 2

 

Look at the simplicity of the words that are in this Scripture which clearly implies action on the Word of God.  You see, the Word of God is so simple that can we miss it.  The world distracts us in any way possible from seeing the truth of God's Word.  Why?  Because the Word of God is the only thing on the face of this earth which will defeat the world/Satan.  That is why he goes to such extremes to distract you from the simplicity of the written Word.  Now let's look at some more of the words in verse two.  God says not to be conformed to this world.  Well, that takes some action, doesn't it?  He wants us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  This also takes action.  Why does he want us to do this?  So that we can prove to ourselves and to the world what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God.  Well, let me tell you something people.  You cannot have a toolbox filled with brand new tools and just sit on the toolbox.  You must open up the toolbox and take out the tools and learn how to use them.  This way you can build something and what you are building here is strength -- spiritual strength so that you can make something out of your life and hopefully out of other peoples’ lives when you open your mouth and you speak God's Word.  These two keys of studying and acting on the Word of God is and should be your basic foundation which will teach you keys to living victoriously.  Without them, you can get in the car without any gas and turned that key over and over and over and over and over again and nothing will happen.  You will spin your wheels all of your life until you learn, not only to study, but to apply what you are studying in your everyday life and in every situation that you come across every single day.  This leads me to a third key that is also most important and works in conjunction with the above two keys to living life victoriously.

 

In the first place, we are going to still be joining the above two keys to the following principle and that principle is simply stated as staying your mind on God and denying fleshly desires and lusts of which the source is not the true God, but the source is the god of this world for the present time.  There are so many Scriptures pertaining to the subject that I will try to cover enough so that you understand.  You are to stay our mind on God and His Word.

 

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill   the lusts thereof.  -- Romans 13: 14

 

To help you to understand the Word of God, I need to teach you about the first phrase in this Scripture.  "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ".  This means literally to renew your mind to become more and more like Jesus Christ.  It's that simple.  But what else does God want you to do?  He does not want us to give place to desires of the flesh that are based only on lust, which is over desire.  You see, there is nothing wrong with wanting something and of course you should need it.  But when it becomes an obsession, it becomes an over desire and you want it too badly.  Then it is referred to as lust.  Someone who always thinks about money and that's all they live for is out of control.  They are full of over desire/lust for this object.  This is not of God.  Many of us need work in this area.  We can call them bad habits or whatever we want to but we need to not make provision or to give place to these over desires.  So we are now renewing our mind to what God's Word says.  We are taking action and we are learning how to live life victoriously in every single situation.  You are to take one single situation at a time and make a change to line up with what God's Word says.  Are you beginning to see it?

 

There are two types of thinking that you, by your own free will choose to live by.  Watch this now -- it is very important that you understand this and it is really very, very simple.  You can be carnally minded or you can be spiritually minded.  Now let's see what God has to say about the difference in each way of thinking.

 

For to be carnally minded is  death; but to be spiritually minded is  life and peace. -- Romans 8: 6

 

Because the carnal mind is  enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. -- Romans 8: 7

 

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. -- Romans 8: 8

 

God is trying to tell you with repetition, love, gentleness, and wisdom that if we choose to live by the five senses and not by the revealed Word and Will of God, we will live a life where we cannot please God and we will always be in conflict with Him.  It's like a living death.  We’re still here on this earth living and breathing, but we are not living life victoriously as God intended us to live.  We should think about God Almighty from the minute we wake up until the minute that we go to sleep at night.  This is spiritually minded.  To live only by the five senses is a miserable existence.  Some of you may know what I mean.  Things seem to go well for a while and then they fall to pieces exactly when you need life to work for you.  Why?  Because you are living under the statutes and rules and regulations of the world of which the devil, at the present time, is the God and ruler of this present world.  Jesus Christ actually destroyed the works of the devil, but he did not destroy the devil.  He is coming back to do just that.  But, in God's Word, we were left all the keys that we need to live the more than abundant life and to hold the enemy at bay.  You cannot know what's in the Bible if you don't study it.  And even after you study it, you must apply it by your own free will.  God never oversteps a man's free will and he never forces anyone to do anything.  That's how God knows that we love Him -- it is because we study about Him and we love Him and care about Him freely -- again, by our own free will.

 

Let’s get back more specifically to our third principle and that is to stay our mind on God.  We are to meditate on the Word of God day and night.

 

Read verse 1 of Psalm Chapter One.  Now you should easily be able to understand verse two.

 

But his delight [the godly man] is  in the law of the Lord; and in his law [Word] doth he meditate [say to yourself] day and night. – Psalm 1: 2

 

The area I live in is so unfriendly an area that an article in a newspaper was once written about the subject.  This section/region is one of Satan’s strongholds.  There are more homosexuals per population in this area than San Francisco.  That’s why God put me here – so I would stand against Satan and not move and I am slowly destroying his works.  Let me give you an example.  I was walking down my road not too long ago and a woman threw a metal object towards me from her porch.  This woman is mentally ill, but acts ok in front of the police.  Anyway, she told the police that I was walking down the road on purpose to upset her dogs which were on her porch.  That was the FIRST time I ever saw her dogs on her front porch.  Even though the police sided with me, they did nothing as usual.  I reported the woman to Crisis Intervention and they also did nothing.

 

I peacefully walk my dog often and was known as ‘the guy who walks his dog’.  No one would ever speak to me, but just stare and murmur – for about 5 to 10 years.  Now I take my dog up the mountains and I ignore and avoid the Satanic influences in my area.  That’s another teaching in itself.  But this is the point I want to make.

 

When I walked with Buddy, I constantly had Scripture retemory cards with me and I would learn Scriptures by heart as I walked.  What was I doing?  I was meditating on God’s Word for 2 to 4 hours at a time.  When I came home, I would continue throughout most of the day.  I still run Scriptures through my mind to this day and always will.  When I walked, it made the walk more interesting and time went by faster.  That is the best example I can give you.  Learn Scriptures by heart and you will not have to carry your Bible around with you.  You will have the Word of God in the fleshly tables of your heart.

 

Now we covered three main principles on how to live life victoriously – Study God’s Word – Apply God’s Word – Meditate on God’s Word.  Some of the details also involved to stay away from fleshly desires and to be spiritually mind.  One is the way of life and the other is the way of death.

 

In conclusion, you need to remember that in the world, ‘you believe it after you see it’.  With God, it is the opposite ‘You will see it AFTER you believe it.’  You will never see results until AFTER you apply [put into practice] the Word of God.  So first, you must LEARN/STUDY, then you must APPLY it and the application of it will make you want to MEDIATATE upon it.

 

These are the most important keys to living life victoriously.  IF you apply all three, God will show you the more than abundant life.  For God is not a man that He can lie.

 

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; -- Titus 1: 2

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~