Victory in Christ: Embracing Challenges and Suffering

Devotional

Day 1: God's Victorious Perspective on Our Battles

God sees our struggles and challenges from a place of victory. While we may see insurmountable obstacles, God sees opportunities for His power to be displayed. His presence is our refuge and strength, providing us with the assurance that we are never alone in our battles. This perspective can transform how we approach our daily challenges, knowing that God is with us and for us. We are encouraged to trust in His power and presence, even when the path seems difficult and uncertain. [14:13]

Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV): "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling."

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you shift your perspective to see this challenge as an opportunity for God's power to be displayed? What steps can you take today to trust in His presence and strength?

Day 2: The Preeminence of Christ

Jesus Christ is above all, the creator, sustainer, and head of the church. The fullness of God dwells in Him, and through His sacrifice, we are reconciled to God. This truth should impact every aspect of our lives, leading us to exalt Jesus in all we do. Recognizing the preeminence of Christ means acknowledging His authority and lordship over every area of our lives. It calls us to live in a way that honors Him and reflects His character to the world. [44:40]

Colossians 1:16-18 (ESV): "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to acknowledge Christ's authority? How can you practically exalt Jesus in those areas today?

Day 3: Embracing Suffering for the Gospel

Paul willingly embraced suffering and affliction for the sake of the gospel. He understood that following Jesus involves trials and persecution, but he rejoiced in these sufferings because they were for Christ and His church. This challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice for the sake of Jesus. Embracing suffering for the gospel means recognizing that our trials have a purpose and can be used by God to further His kingdom. It calls us to find joy in the midst of suffering, knowing that we are participating in Christ's mission. [55:00]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can embrace suffering for the sake of the gospel in your life? How can you find joy in the midst of your trials, knowing they have a purpose in God's plan?

Day 4: The Call to Follow Jesus

Jesus calls us to follow Him, to know Him, and to make Him known. This involves warning others about the consequences of sin and teaching them the wisdom of God. Our goal is to help others grow in their faith and walk with Jesus, presenting them mature in Christ. Following Jesus means committing to a life of discipleship and evangelism, sharing the good news with others and helping them grow in their relationship with Him. It requires intentionality and dedication to living out our faith in everyday life. [47:33]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can share the gospel with or help grow in their faith? What steps can you take today to be intentional about following Jesus and making Him known?

Day 5: Laboring in the Power of Christ

Paul labored tirelessly in the mission of the gospel, striving with the power of Christ working mightily in him. We, too, are called to labor in the gospel, relying on the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. This involves a commitment to discipleship and equipping others to follow Jesus. Laboring in the power of Christ means recognizing that our efforts are not in our own strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit. It calls us to depend on God's strength and guidance as we work to further His kingdom. [01:24:12]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: In what areas of your ministry or daily life do you need to rely more on the power of the Holy Spirit? How can you intentionally seek God's strength and guidance in your efforts to further His kingdom today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound truth that God sees our battles and challenges from a victorious perspective. We are reminded that God is our fortress, our strong tower, and our refuge. His presence is not just a historical fact but a current reality. As we walk through life's valleys, His love surrounds us, and we have nothing to fear. We delved into the book of Colossians, focusing on the preeminence of Jesus Christ. Paul emphasizes that Jesus is above all, the creator, sustainer, and head of the church. The fullness of God dwells in Him, and through His sacrifice on the cross, we are reconciled to God.

Paul's life serves as a testament to the transformative power of knowing Jesus. His encounter with Christ on the Damascus road changed his life trajectory from persecuting Christians to becoming a devoted servant of Jesus. Paul embraced suffering and affliction for the sake of the gospel, understanding that these trials were part of his calling. He rejoiced in his sufferings because they were for the sake of Christ and His church. This perspective challenges us to consider what in life is worth sacrificing for and to recognize that true life is found in losing our lives for Jesus' sake.

We are called to follow Jesus, to know Him, and to make Him known. This involves warning others about the consequences of sin and teaching them the wisdom of God. Our goal is to present every person mature in Christ, helping them grow in their faith and walk with Jesus. Paul labored tirelessly in this mission, striving with the power of Christ working mightily in him. We, too, are called to labor in the gospel, relying on the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.

###

Key Takeaways

1. God's Perspective on Our Battles: God sees our struggles and challenges from a place of victory. While we may see insurmountable obstacles, God sees opportunities for His power to be displayed. His presence is our refuge and strength, providing us with the assurance that we are never alone in our battles. [14:13]
2. The Preeminence of Christ: Jesus Christ is above all, the creator, sustainer, and head of the church. The fullness of God dwells in Him, and through His sacrifice, we are reconciled to God. This truth should impact every aspect of our lives, leading us to exalt Jesus in all we do. [44:40]
3. Embracing Suffering for the Gospel: Paul willingly embraced suffering and affliction for the sake of the gospel. He understood that following Jesus involves trials and persecution, but he rejoiced in these sufferings because they were for Christ and His church. This challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice for the sake of Jesus. [55:00]
4. The Call to Follow Jesus: Jesus calls us to follow Him, to know Him, and to make Him known. This involves warning others about the consequences of sin and teaching them the wisdom of God. Our goal is to help others grow in their faith and walk with Jesus, presenting them mature in Christ. [47:33]
5. Laboring in the Power of Christ: Paul labored tirelessly in the mission of the gospel, striving with the power of Christ working mightily in him. We, too, are called to labor in the gospel, relying on the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. This involves a commitment to discipleship and equipping others to follow Jesus. [01:24:12]
### [84:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:13] - God's Perspective on Our Battles
[18:04] - God of Wonders
[19:31] - Awaken Us, Lord
[22:42] - God of Revival
[23:25] - The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever
[23:48] - Breaking Strongholds
[25:27] - Victory in Jesus
[28:40] - The Resurrected King
[40:27] - Communion Preparation
[41:19] - Opening to Colossians
[42:25] - The Hope of Glory
[43:35] - Living for Jesus
[44:40] - The Preeminence of Christ
[47:33] - The Call to Follow Jesus
[55:00] - Embracing Suffering for the Gospel
[84:12] - Laboring in the Power of Christ
[89:28] - God's Call on Our Lives
[91:00] - Surrendering to God's Plan
[92:41] - Worship and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Colossians 1:24-29, what does Paul say about his sufferings and their purpose? How does he describe his role in the church? [42:25]
In Matthew 4:19, what does Jesus promise to make His disciples if they follow Him? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about following Jesus? [47:33]
In John 14:18-20, what assurance does Jesus give to His disciples about His presence? How does this connect to the idea of Christ in us, the hope of glory? [01:16:14]

Interpretation Questions

How does Paul’s willingness to suffer for the gospel challenge our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus? What does this reveal about the nature of true discipleship? [55:00]
What does it mean for Jesus to have preeminence in all things, as described in Colossians 1:18? How should this truth impact our daily lives and decisions? [44:40]
How does the concept of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" transform our perspective on personal struggles and challenges? What practical implications does this have for our faith journey? [01:13:43]

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent challenge or battle in your life. How can viewing it from God’s victorious perspective change your approach to it? [14:13]
Jesus calls us to follow Him and promises to make us fishers of men. What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Jesus and share His love with others? [47:33]
Paul rejoiced in his sufferings for the sake of the gospel. Is there an area in your life where you are experiencing difficulty for your faith? How can you find joy and purpose in these trials? [55:00]
The sermon emphasized the importance of warning others about the consequences of sin and teaching them the wisdom of God. Who in your life needs to hear this message, and how can you approach them with love and truth? [01:18:35]
Paul labored tirelessly in the mission of the gospel, relying on the power of Christ. What specific ministry or service can you commit to this week, trusting in the Holy Spirit’s strength? [01:24:12]
Consider the call to present every person mature in Christ. How can you support someone in their spiritual growth this week? What practical steps can you take to disciple or mentor them? [01:20:22]
Reflect on the idea that true life is found in losing our lives for Jesus' sake. What is one thing you need to surrender to God today, and how can you take a step towards doing that? [55:56]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "God wants to do something in your life. God's called you to himself to know him. And God has a plan for your life. And you think of the impact of these 12 men. I think of the 11 and Paul, the apostle. It's almost, I think it would be impossible to measure the impact of what these 12 men did and their impact upon the world. They impacted the world more than any other 12 men in history. And what happened? They followed Jesus." [49:21] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Christ in you, the hope of glory, the new covenant is fulfilled in Christ. It's Christ in you. Your sins can be forgiven because of Christ in you. He writes the law on your heart because Christ is in you and he sent his Holy Spirit, right? And so the one who is the creator, the sustainer who holds everything together, the very fullness of God, though the one that we couldn't know unless he came and he dwelt among us and he took on flesh, he went to the cross and he made a way for us to know God and have a relationship for him to fulfill these promises. And now he saved us and he's living in us." [01:16:14] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We're all called to Jesus, to know him, to follow him, to live for him, to go to the world with the hope of the gospel. And here as we look at this in chapter one, let's read it. It says, who now we rejoice, he says, now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind in the afflictions of Christ, that for my body's sake, which is the church." [51:06] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God has a life planned for you. God has, God has given you a ministry. God has given you a stewardship, a, a responsibility. In the church, God wants to use you to edify, to build up. God wants to use you. God wants to use you to help other people. To disciple people. To, to, to see people grow and follow the Lord and to know him. God has given you a commission to go into this world with the hope of the gospel. We're reading about this. Christ in you. The hope of glory. That there's a hope that this world does not have that we have in Christ Jesus." [01:09:15] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God's going to, you know what he told Esther? You know when Mordecai came to Esther and we quote that verse all the time? He said, listen, God is. If you don't go to the king, he said, salvation will arise from somewhere else. You know what he's saying? God doesn't need you. God doesn't need you to reach this community, by the way. Did you know that? God is able to and wants to and is going to. God is going to send people into this city, into this community, to your family. Because God loves people, right? But God wants to use you." [01:28:30] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "And what Paul does is he shows us in this book two things. He really reveals to us the person and the work of Jesus Christ. He wants us to know who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. And when we know those things, we know the truth of that, that's meant to impact our lives. See, you know, no man can see God. The Bible says, right? We wouldn't know God apart from Jesus Christ." [44:40] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Paul describes his life for us in the light of who Jesus is. He describes his life for us in the light of what Jesus has done. Because who Jesus is and what he's done is meant to impact our lives. You know that. It's interesting. My perception of who Jesus is, of what Jesus has done, it doesn't change who he is or what he's done. I think about the disciples when they first begin to walk with the Lord. They don't have any clue. They think they know. Well, we want him to do this and we think he's going to do that. But did that change who he is? No. Did that change what he was going to do? No. He is who he is and he's going to do what he is going to do." [47:03] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Paul says, I'm laboring in this work. I'm laboring in this work of warning. I'm laboring in this work of teaching, of equipping the saints, of presenting them. I'm laboring. I'm working. This heart of discipleship, which is essential. Jesus said, go preach the gospel. What did he say? Make disciples. Right? Teaching them to observe whatsoever things I've commanded you. Right? So there's an equipping of the saints. There's a discipleship that's necessary in the process of that. And Paul is laboring. To see people saved. To see people following Jesus. To see people living for Jesus. That's the labor of his life." [01:21:51] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And Paul knew that more than anyone, didn't he? Remember when, remember we already mentioned Paul on the Damascus road when he met Jesus? And, and Jesus said, why persecutest thou me? He didn't say, why persecutest thou my church or my people? He said, what do you mean? I, I was, I was, I was, he was taking God's church and persecuting God's people. But Jesus said, no, you're persecuting me because they're my people and my body. Do you understand this? Right? So when, when they're being persecuted, they're persecuting Jesus. That's what he, this is the point that he's making." [01:03:28] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Paul is saying, make Jesus preeminent. Make him number one. You live for Jesus. He's the creator. He's the sustainer. It's everything. And he's given us life. And he has preeminent all things in my life. And Paul says. Paul's done this. And that road for Paul of making Jesus preeminent. It led to a cross. It led to suffering. It led to death to self. It led to the fact that he's going to be beheaded one day. For the gospel's sake. And, and, and yet, here Paul lives this life where he, he speaks of this joy. And this peace. And this love that he has." [55:31] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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