“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; [this man was Adam] much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness [us] shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).

What an alluring picture of the Christian life Paul presents here! We who have received an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, will reign in life by the efforts of Jesus Christ! We will live like kings. Paul was not speaking of a limited constitutional monarchy such as exists in England today, where the executive powers of government lie in the Parliament and Prime Minister. Rather, he meant kings who possessed absolute powers who were beneficent if he was a good man and tyrannical if he was bad. “Kingship” and reigning too often seem far removed from the actual experience many Christians live. The greatest single need in the lives of the majority of Christians is VICTORY! Not simply a victory here and there, but the experiencing of consistent, daily, victorious living. Too many believers are living defeated lives. You have been saved for some time now. You have been working through these lessons for many weeks. Ask yourself this question – “Am I living victoriously?” Please be honest with yourself and before God.

If you are defeated, or if your life consists of a roller coaster path of spiritual “ups and downs,” this lesson will be of immense value to you. But studying it will not be enough – it must be applied!

I. THE POSSIBILITY AND PROMISE OF THE VICTORIOUS LIFE

A. According to John 10:10b, the Lord wants you to have an A__ __ __ __ __ __ __ life.

B. According to Psalm 16:11, the Lord intends for you to experience F__ __ __ __ __ __ of J__ __ .

C. According to John 8:31,32, the Lord intends for the truth (His Word) to make you His disciple – but also to M__ __ __ you F__ __ __ .

This freedom from sin does not mean the absence of

sin – but as Romans 6:14 says, freedom from the power of sin.

D. The Bible teaches glorious victory for every believer.

According to 1 John 5:4, what do people who are born of God do?

E. Paul wrote to the Romans that sin should not have “D__ __ __ __ __ __ __ over you” (Romans 6:14).

Notice the certainty and extent of these promises:

(Romans 8:37) “In A__ __ these things we are more than C__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ .”

(1 Corinthians 15:57) “But thanks be to God which

G__ __ __ __ __ us the V__ __ __ __ __ __ .”

(2 Corinthians 2:14) “Now thanks be unto God, which

A__ __ __ __ __ causeth us to T__ __ __ __ __ __ .”

(Philippians 4:13) “I C__ __ do A__ __ things....”

Without a doubt, God’s desire and plan is for each Christian to live a victorious life -- not just victory, but abundant super-abounding victory over our spiritual enemies!

II. THE CHOICE OF A VICTORIOUS LIFE

As a Christian you still have your own free will. If you choose victory, you certainly may have it as a gift from God. If you reject God’s way, you will continue to live in defeat.

(Rom. 6:16) “Know ye not, that to whom ye Y__ __ __ __

yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye

obey; whether of S__ __ unto death, or of obedience unto

R__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __?”

III. STEPS TO VICTORY IN YOUR LIFE

“What’s the secret of victory?” “What’s the formula that I need to know?” “Give me the procedure and I’ll plug it into my life.” Unfortunately, it is not as easy as filling a prescription or taking medicine. However, if there was one secret to the Christian life, it would be death to self and yieldedness to Christ. You will understand this as you work through this section.

A. To enable you to enjoy the victorious Christian life, the following steps need to be understood:

1. Identify Your Enemy

2. Understand Your Enemy

3. Realize God’s Provision for Victory

4. Translate Victory into Your Own Experience

B. The Bible teaches there are three enemies you will face as a child of God – each seeking to defeat you spiritually. These three enemies are: the WORLD, FLESH, & DEVIL

We will now take each one of these enemies and apply the four steps to victory.

IV. HOW CAN I HAVE VICTORY OVER THE WORLD?

A. Identify Your Enemy.

When the Bible speaks of the “world” in the context of opposition to you, it is not referring to God’s creation – but to the “world system” which is organized on selfish principles, improper motives, ungodly standards, and is opposed to the things of God.

1. Jesus said His K__ __ __ __ __ __ is not of this W__ __ __ __ (John 18:36).

2. Jesus said the world system would H__ __ __ the Christian as it did Him (John 15:18).

3. Jesus also said the believer is not __ __ the

W__ __ __ __ (John 15:19).

This does not mean that we are to isolate ourselves from any worldly contact. We are IN the world, but not OF the world.

Isolation is Impossible!

“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: {10} Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or

extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10).

To avoid all company with those who are immoral, greedy, swindlers, and idolatrous, one would have to “go out of the world.” You would have to leave earth!

4. According to James 4:4, worldliness for a Christian only brings E__ __ __ __ __ with God.

5. In the light of these Scriptures, do you think there is any common ground between God and the world upon which the believer may stand?

See: Matthew 6:24.

6. According to 2 Timothy 4:10, what happens to a Christian when he or she is defeated by the world?

B. Understand Your Enemy.

1. How does the “world” attack the Christian?

Answer: It ENTICES the Christian away from the Lord.

2. Look up 1 John 2:15-17. According to verse 16, what are three ways the world will attempt to entice you?

a. The L__ __ __ of the F__ __ __ __ .

b. The L__ __ __ of the E__ __ __ .

c. The P__ __ __ __ of L__ __ __ .

3. According to verse 15, what is it the “world” seeks to gain from you? My L__ __ __ .

C. Realize God’s Provision For Victory.

1. In John 16:33, what did Jesus say to His disciples? “Be of G__ __ __ C__ __ __ __ , I have O__ __ __ __ __ __ __ the world.”

2. The Lord Jesus Christ said He has won the victory for you!

D. Translate Christ’s Victory Into Your Own Experience.

It is exciting to learn that the Lord Jesus has won the victory over the world, but you and I need to appropriate this victory in our own lives so that we too can be overcomers.

Here’s how:

1. Acknowledge that you are on the victorious side.

a. According to 1 John 5:5, who is he that overcomes the world? “He that

B__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ that Jesus is the

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ .”

b. Are you a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ?

2. Claim your victory by FAITH.

a. 1 John 5:4 says, “[A]nd this is the victory that overcometh the W__ __ __ __ , even our

F__ __ __ __.”

b. What is faith? Faith is simply believing what God says in His Word and acting upon it. It is total reliance upon God.

3. Do the will of God always. “But be ye

D__ __ __ __ of the word, andnot

H__ __ __ __ __ __ only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).

4. Set your affections on heavenly things.

If you think about worldly things, wrong things, etc., you will be easily enticed.

a. Colossians 3:1 – “Seek those things which are A__ __ __ __ .”

b. Colossians 3:2 – “Set your

A__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ on things above.”

c. Matthew 6:21 – “For where your

T__ __ __ __ __ __ __ is, there will your

H__ __ __ __ be also.”

V. HOW CAN I HAVE VICTORY OVER THE FLESH?

A. Identify Your Enemy.

When the Bible speaks of the “flesh” in the context of opposition to you, it is not referring to your literal body - but to the old sin nature, the “old man,” the corrupt Adamic nature which belongs to all men.

1. When you were saved, you were made a

P__ __ __ __ __ __ __ of the D__ __ __ __ __

nature (2 Peter 1:4b). Although you received this new spiritual nature, your old sin nature was not removed.

2. In the flesh (your old nature) dwells no G__ __ __ T__ __ __ __ (Romans 7:18).

3. As a Christian, you have TWO NATURES – the flesh and the spirit – the old and the new – the sinful and the divine.

B. Understand Your Enemy.

How does the “flesh” attack the Christian? Answer: It produces CONFLICT and inner turmoil. It cooperates with the world and the Devil.

1. According to Romans 7:21, what did the Apostle Paul discover?

2. How does Galatians 5:17 describe this conflict?

3. According to Romans 7:23, where does this conflict take place? In the M__ __ __ .

C. Realize God’s Provision For Your Victory.

1. What was Paul’s question in Romans 7:24?

“Who shall D__ __ __ __ __ __ me...?”

2. Write out the answer to Paul’s question in Romans 7:25a. “I Lord.” The Lord Jesus Christ has won the victory for you.

D. Translate Christ’s Victory Into Your Own Experience.

1. Galatians 5:16 tells us to “W__ __ __ in the

S__ __ __ __ __ .” See the H Lesson, V.

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit to Believers.

2. 2 Corinthians 5:7 informs us “For we walk by

F__ __ __ __ .” These Scriptures show the importance of walking constantly with the Lord in His Word.

3. Romans 13:14 says, “But P__ __ ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not

P__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ for the F__ __ __ __, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” This verse teaches you to “blockade the flesh” – don’t feed it.

4. Recognize your position in Christ.

a. According to Galatians 5:24, your old nature (flesh) has been C__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ .

b. Galatians 2:20 says, “I am

C__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ with Christ....”

This is a fact. Positionally, your old nature was dealt a death blow when it was crucified with Christ. But practically, you still have that sin nature which attempts to control your life.

5. Write out Romans 6:11.

6. According to 1 Peter 2:11, you are to

A__ __ __ __ __ __ from fleshly lusts.

Making Behavioral Changes –

Oftentimes victory is a matter of changing sinful behavioral patterns to righteous conduct. It is the

“put off, put on” process described in Ephesians 4 and other scriptures. Christian counselors call it a dehabituation and rehabituation process. We are creatures of habit, and have to replace old sinful habits with new godly ones. As a Christian, any quality of life, attitude of mind, or activity that God requires of man may be acquired through the Lord Jesus Christ. To understand God’s truth of changing sinful behavior, read the booklet Godliness Through Discipline, by Dr. Jay Adams.

VI. HOW CAN I HAVE VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL?

A. Identify Your Enemy.

1. Before going on, review the I Lesson, which deals in more detail with Satan.

2. According to 1 Peter 5:8, the Devil is your

A__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ .

B. Understand Your Enemy.

How does Satan attack the Christian? Answer: He uses a number of DEVICES to attack us. See: 2 Corinthians 2:11.

1. He uses T__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (1 Thessalonians 3:5). Satan is a master at using the world to entice you.

2. He uses W__ __ __ __ (Ephesians 6:11b). This means crafty deception.

3. He uses P__ __ __ __ (1 Timothy 3:6). Satan will appeal to the flesh.

4. He uses discouragement (Deuteronomy 1:21,28).

5. He uses F__ __ __ __ D__ __ __ __ of opposition (Ephesians 6:16).

C. Realize God’s Provision For Your Victory.

1. What was the reason the Lord Jesus Christ came? 1 John 3:8b

2. How did the Lord Jesus defeat Satan?

Hebrews 2:14

D. Translate Christ’s Victory Into Your Own Experience.

1. Remember you are on the winning side. 1 John 4:4 says, “Greater is he that is __ __ Y__ __, than he that is in the W__ __ __ __ .”

2. According to 1 John 2:14, we overcome the Wicked One when the W__ __ __ of G__ __ abides in us.

3. You are to put on the W__ __ __ __

A__ __ __ __ __ of God (Ephesians 6:13).

4. List the DEFENSIVE items of this spiritual armor as recorded in Ephesians 6:14-18.

Belt (loins girt about) =

Breastplate =

Shoes =

Shield =

Helmet =

5. What piece of this armor of God is offensive; that is, with which we may fight?

6. According to James 4:7, we are to

R__ __ __ __ __ Satan.

7. According to Ephesians 4:27, we are to give NO P__ __ __ __ to the Devil.

VII. THE PERSON OF VICTORIOUS LIVING

Victory comes through our relationship with a Person.

A. (Philippians 4:13) “ . . .through C__ __ __ __ __ which S__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ me.”

B. (Romans 8:37) “ ... we are more than conquerors through __ __ __ that loved us.”

C. (1 Corinthians 15:57) “ . . . giveth us the victory through our L__ __ __ J__ __ __ __

C__ __ __ __ __.”

D. (2 Corinthians 2:14) “ . . . which always causeth us to triumph in C__ __ __ __ __ .”

VIII. THE PATH TO VICTORIOUS LIVING

Did you notice??

As you studied the Steps to Victory over the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, there was a common theme to translate the victory into your own experience:

A. According to Psalm 119:9,11, what will hiding God’s Word in your heart do for you?

B. According to Matthew 26:41, what two things

should we do to avoid falling into temptation?

__ __ __ __ __ and __ __ __ __

IX. CLOSING COUNSEL FOR VICTORIOUS LIVING

A. Don’t lose heart, Christian growth comes slowly.

Do not expect instant maturity. James 1:4 says, “But let P__ __ __ __ __ __ __ have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Each day patiently pray for growth (“give us this day our daily bread”). Your body is growing each day; but the changes are imperceptible. You can grow spiritually each day. Over time you will see how far you’ve come in your Christian life.

B. Guard your heart.

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye F__ __ __ __ the kingdom of God, and his righteousness....” What does this mean? God wants your heart’s affections; not just first affections. Your priority ought to be God. For example, you go home and say to your wife Mary, “I want you to know how much I love you; you have first place in my life.” Then you add, “However, I want you to know about Sally, Clara, and Anna. They are in second, third and fourth place.” Would your wife be happy with being in first place? Not at all. Neither is God content with being first among other things which rival His position. Jesus said it this way in Luke 14:26, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and might.

C. Examine your heart.

Paul said in Colossians 3:2, “Set your affection on things A__ __ __ __, not on things on the earth.”

To what is your heart attached? To find out if Christ

has first place, examine your life in these areas:

1. Your time – Do you enjoy being with God in times of fellowship, recreation, worship, and training? If not, what do you expect to like about heaven?

2. Your thoughts – What do you enjoy thinking about? In Proverbs 23:7a God says, “For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he.” This is why God says in Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” What you think about is what you become. Are you following Philippians 4:8 and filling your mind with “these things!”

3. Your giving – look at your checkbook stubs and credit card statements to see what you really value in life. In Luke 12:34 Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

D. Prioritize your heart with JOY.

Do you remember the Golden Rule?

(Matthew 7:12) “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should D__ to you, D__ ye even so to them.” What if you were depending upon someone like yourself to explain the plan of salvation to you? What would be the likelihood of your learning how to go to heaven? Would you want their prayer life of intercession on your behalf to be like yours? Would you want their discipline and knowledge of the Bible to resemble yours? How about their love? Would you want their level of concern for your eternal destiny to be equated with the burden you have for others? Follow Jesus’ pattern as recorded in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister....”

E. Prepare your heart – through prayer.

When life became hectic, Jesus withdrew to solitary places to pray. When there were big decisions to

make, Jesus prayed. Jesus’ greatest victory occurred in solitary agony – the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done.” Had this victory in prayer not occurred, there would have been no Calvary. Don’t let life run you into the ground. Break away regularly and get on your knees in prayer.

X. BUT WHAT IF I FAIL?

What do you do if you try to live for Christ and fail?

Remember that 1 John 1:9 is still true. God has not failed you; and your failure has not weakened Him. He will forgive you and may even use your failure as a stepping stone to strengthen you from similar failures in the future. Do not rely on past victories for future victory. Rather, always rely on Christ and His Word. Memorize Scripture and quote it when needed. The only time you can live the victorious life is NOW. Begin today! Don’t learn the truths of this lesson only doctrinally; learn them experientially as you apply them to life. J. Hudson Taylor, a powerful missionary of yesteryear, in speaking of victory said, “...not a striving to have faith, but a looking off to the faithful One seems all that we need.” Follow the Apostle Paul’s example, “...I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me...” (Galatians 2:20).