The Sweetness of Victory

2 Corinthians 4:8-14

Introduction: When a football team takes the field they play to win. So do the race car drives. When soldiers go off to war they fight to win. When a politician campaign’s during an election year they do so to win. There is sweetness in victory. Paul wanted the church of Corinth to know they too were in a battle and for the Christian who fought the good fight there would be a victory for them in the end. If you have been in church any time at all during your life you have heard the statement “the victory is won” meaning that Jesus has already secured the victory for our souls when He died upon the cross and rose from the dead. That is true. Also true is the statement “we have battles to fight” you see the devil will not leave you and I alone, It is not going to happen this side of eternity. So you better hunker down and get ready to fight. In the book of Ephesians Paul tells us about the Christians armor, we have that armor for a fight, if you and are doing our jobs as Christians that armor will have battle scars, God didn’t give it to us as a pretty keep sake, He meant for us to use it. If we engage in spiritual warfare we need to know there is “The Sweetness of Victory” that awaits us. Notice with me…

I. The reality of Christian life V.v. 8-9

To say that life is tough today is an understatement. The bad economy, wars, natural disasters and political turmoil make life difficult for everyone. However for the Christian we face all of the above and more. The Christian faces persecution from a rebellious world and from a condemned Satan. For some there is the ever present threat of physical death, for all the opposition of popular opinion and political correctness. If you are a born again Christian you know what I am talking about.

II. The reason of Christian life V.v. 10-11

Why do we do it? Have you ever asked yourself that? Why do Christians put up with the heckling, criticism, condemnation, harassment and opposition? It’s born into us. From the moment we accepted Jesus as Lord and savior we inherited a spiritual DNA that puts us in the same crowd as Peter, James, John, Paul, Barnabas, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Timothy and the list goes on and on. We bear in our bodies the death of Jesus so the life of Jesus may show forth from the life we live. Simply put it’s all about Jesus.

III.The reward of Christian life V.v. 12-14

One day, either by the clods or by the clouds God will unite the bride with the bridegroom, the church with the savior, the Christian with the Lord, you and I with Jesus. There is victory in the troubles we must endure, we will see a glimpse of it while on earth, but the curtain of heaven will be pulled back when we stand before our savior and look upon His face. What a reward that will be.

Conclusion: If you walk with God is close you know the Christian life is one of persecution and difficulty. The world stands against us every day. The devil often seems to camp in our back yards. If you haven’t experienced this you are dealing with one of two things, either you’re living a carnal life or God hasn’t allowed in your life yet. You know if you’re living a carnal life, a life the old preachers called straddling the fence between God and the world. God will not allow you to stay there, I can promise you that. Why is it necessary? The difficult times that Christians must endure, I mean. It is the reason we live, or at least it is supposed to be the reason you live. Jesus Christ. If you are born again you should be hungry to share that with others that are not. The devil will oppose it. The devil will try everything from moral failure to physical death to prevent the gospel from being preached. Once we understand the reality of our life and the reason of our life we get a clearer picture of the joy that will come from the reward of our life. Eternity with the Lord, I didn’t say heaven, a lot of people talk about being saved and getting to go to heaven and avoid hell, and if they are saved they will. However, the best of part of salvation, the reward of knowing Jesus is seeing Jesus. That is why for the Christian to die is gain and to live is gain, either way we should be doing it to proclaim Jesus to a lost and dying world.

Close as the Lord leads…