Faith To Win Every Battle (Full Sermon)

This summary synthesizes the core theological message centered on the unearned, undeserved, and unmerited favor of God (grace), emphasizing that the entire Bible is a testament to Jesus Christ. It encourages believers to fully receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness to “reign in life” and overcome the limitations of sin, death, and worldly comparison.

I. The Bible: A Photo Album of Jesus Christ

The fundamental assertion is that the Bible is entirely about Jesus. It is likened to a family photo album dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ, where every story points to Him.

Jesus Pictured in Old Testament Heroes

Old Testament figures serve as pictures of Jesus.

• David the Shepherd: David is identified as a shepherd boy who cared deeply for his flock, willing to defend his sheep from predators like the lion or the bear. Jesus identifies Himself as “the good shepherd” who gives His life for the sheep. David’s confidence came from his “secret history with God,” knowing the Lord who delivered him from the lion and the bear would deliver Goliath into his hand.
• Joseph the Rejected Ruler: Joseph was rejected by his brothers (like Jesus was rejected by Israel) but found favor with the gentile world (like Jesus was gladly heard by the Gentiles). Joseph became the bread of life during a world famine, supplying bread for the entire world from Egypt’s abundance. Similarly, Jesus has become the “bread of life to all of us” since His rejection by Israel.

The Desire for Daily Involvement

God does not want to be a distant figure only worshipped on Sunday; He wants to be involved in the believer’s daily life. The story of Joseph illustrates this: “the Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man” even when he was a slave in Egypt. Whatever Joseph did, God made it to prosper.

II. God’s Design: Abundance, Dominion, and Freedom

The sources emphasize that God’s original intention for humanity was defined by super-abundance, dominion, and freedom, not scarcity or bondage.

Prosperity Despite Circumstance

The presence of the Lord guarantees success and prosperity. Even when Joseph was falsely accused and put in prison, the Lord was with him, giving him favor.

• Divine Favor: When God gives favor, it doesn’t matter if a person lacks the experience of their competitors; they will “stand out”. This favor causes whatever the person does, even if they make a mistake, to prosper.
• God’s Original Paradise: The Garden of Eden was “huge and vast” with super-abundance. God is a God of oversupply.
• Dominion Over Bondage: God intended man to “have dominion over all these things”. However, many people today are slaves to the elements they were supposed to rule, such as being addicted to smoking or drugs. Serving the Lord Jesus truly sets a person free from everything else.

Rejection of Negativity

Everything that hurts and destroys in life is not from God. Depression, fears, worries, and anxieties are not part of God’s plan for His children. In the Kingdom of God, there is “more health than there is sickness” and “more light than there is darkness”.

III. The Cornerstone of Salvation: Grace and Righteousness

The fundamental principle of Christian salvation is that it is a free gift, paid for by Christ, resulting in total forgiveness and a new identity.

The Free Gift is Costly

Though the blessings of God are received by grace (free), they are not cheap. “Free means someone paid for it”. The gift of salvation was paid for by the precious blood of God’s Son. God demonstrated the value of humanity by giving up the Son He loved to buy us (redeem us).

• Unmerited Favor: Grace is defined as unearned, undeserved, and unmerited favor from God. Everyone qualifies for grace because it is unearned and undeserved.
• Total Redemption: Jesus bore our judgment and condemnation, exhausting them all so that the believer will never be punished again. Jesus’ payment is an oversupply for all human sin.

The Result: Reigning in Righteousness

The core gospel message is encapsulated in Romans 5:17: Because of Adam’s trespass, death reigned through one man, but “much more” will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

• Right Standing: Righteousness is a free gift meaning the believer is in right standing with God, receiving an A+ for an exam they didn’t even sit for.
• Reigning in Life: When a believer reigns in life, their sins and addictions do not reign. This requires rejecting a victim mentality and adopting the idea of royalty because the Father is royal.

IV. Overcoming Death, Sin, and Comparison

The message addresses the universal realities of death and the temptation to compare oneself to others.

Death as an Enemy

Death is an enemy and “is not part of God’s plan for men”. Every time a funeral is attended, the deep feeling that “this is not supposed to be” confirms that death is unnatural. Death entered the world because “the wages of sin is death”. The power of the resurrection, proven by Jesus rising from the dead, conquered death.

God’s Attention to Detail

God’s attention to detail is absolute. He knows the number of hairs on a believer’s head. If God cares for such minute details, we should never doubt that He knows exactly what we are going through. God’s omniscience (all-knowing) and omnipotence (all-powerful) ensure He can meet the most minute needs and supply miracles that go beyond scientific laws.

The Danger of Social Media Comparison

Social media is noted as a source that can cause depression because people tend to compare their lives to the “best self” presented by others. This comparison breeds jealousy and envy. The antidote is to ensure validation comes from Christ, who, being without error, proclaims the believer to be lovable and worthy. The value of a person never changes, even if they have been “stepped on” by sin; they remain precious because God gave His Son to redeem them.