Encouragement

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I was a High School Basketball and Baseball Coach....
before God called me into the Pastoral Ministry.
Before each game, we always went over the 'Vitals for Victory'.

My first pastorate was 1957 and pastored until early retirement in 1992
(due to vocal chord cancer).
Vitals for Victory in the Christian life were my emphases with each congregation.
It would be inconsistent of God to promise 'Victory'.....
and not provide the 'Vitals (absolute necessities) for Victory'.

On September 9, 2006 I wrote an article entitled 'Things we can not really live without':

1) Hebrews 9:22:
"Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness for sin."
I wish that people would see that the blood of Jesus is even more important than physical blood.

2) Hebrews 11:6:
"Without faith, it is impossible to please God."

3) James 2:26:
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead."

4) Hebrews 12:14:
"Without holiness, no person shall see God."
This will include 'chastening from God'. (Hebrews 12:8)

5) I Corinthians 13:1-3:
"Without love, I am a zero."

6) John 15:5:
"I am the Vine, ye are the branches and without Me, you can do nothing".

Everyone desires the victorious life, but many count the cost and don't pay the price!
It is true in sports, in business and in any calling.
If you want the victories, you must pay the price!
An investment of time, efforts and skills.

Actually, we are talking here about The Cross.
When Jesus died on The Cross, it not only was sufficient for our salvation...
but was the greatest example of what it takes for Victory.

I like to say 'The Victorious Christian life is:
COME and be saved. Isaiah 45:22 says 'Look and live'.
BECOME all that God wants you to be.
OVERCOME in the power of The Holy Spirit.
OUTCOME is 'Victory in life and Victory in death'.

Billy Graham calls death, 'Going Home to God'.

In John 3 and 4, Jesus gives us the 'MUSTS' of the Christian life:

1) "You MUST be born again" (John 3:7)
Physical life starts with a birth and so does the spiritual life.

2) "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness...
even so MUST the Son of Man be lifted up". (John 3:14)

3) "Jesus MUST increase, but I MUST decrease". (John 3:30)

4) "Jesus MUST needs go through Samaria". (John 4:4)
Jesus followed the leadership of His Heavenly Father....and so MUST we.

The Apostle Paul gave us the 'Vitals for Victory' in Acts 20:17-38:
1) Repentance toward God. (Vs. 21)

2) Faith in Jesus Christ. (Vs. 21)
Jesus had already taught in Luke 13:3: "Except ye repent, you shall all perish".

3) Bound in the Spirit. (Vs 22-23)

4) Finish with Joy. (Vs. 24)

CONCLUSION:
Victory is assured....and there are many Scriptures that emphasize this:
"For the Lord your God is He that goes with you to fight for you against your enemies" (Deut. 20:4)

"Be not afraid nor dismayed for the battle is not your's, but God's". (II Chron. 20:15)

"Death will be swallowed up in Victory". (I Corinthians 15:54)

"But thanks be to God, Who gives us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ".
(I Corin. 15:57)

"Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God". (I John 5:4)

Prayer is a MUST for Victory! It is the Key to Heaven. (Matt.7:7-11)

One of the favorite songs that we sang each year at Falls Creek Baptist Assembly near Davis, Oklahoma is: "Victory in Jesus" (Words and Music by E. M. Bartlett)

I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.

Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow'r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and bro't
To me the victory.

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of victory.

Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

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