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First, Win the Battle in Secret Places
January 8, 2023 / The Rev. Brook Batchelor / All Souls Anglican Church- We make resolutions that should pave the way for “happily ever after”
- But as Greg also said 80% of New Year’s Resolutions will be broken by the end of next month
- What do we do about that?
- Jesus’s life was dramatically different AFTER his baptism compared to BEFORE
Matthew 13:54–58 (NLT)
54 He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” 55 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” 58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
Mark 3:20–21 (NLT)
20 One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.
- Baptism in biblical times was always about starting something new/rising up into a beginning
- We are familiar with repenting with baptism and living a new life
- But any new beginning was marked by baptism
- Getting married
- Going on duty at the temple
- And Jesus was starting something new
- Something he had prepared for …for ages.
- Literally.
- Something he had prepared for …for ages.
- He was stepping into/taking on the role for which he had left heaven
1 Peter 1:18–20 (NLT)
18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.
- This was the plan from before the time of Creation
- It was why Jesus was even born – why God became human
- To be tempted in every way as we are
- Yet to remain without sin
- So that he could redeem us from the slavery of sin
- When it was time to go to Jerusalem, even though he knew this time he’d be sentenced to death
Luke 9:51 (NLT)
51 As the time drew near…, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
- The decision had been made long ago
- It always helps, when you’re in a moment of decision, if the decision has already been made.
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV84)
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Perhaps a significant reason we don’t follow through is that we haven’t settled the matter.
From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (Dec 27):
“Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time… I should never say, “I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I’ll put God to the test.” Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.”
- Jesus taught the principle of counting the cost
Luke 14:28–30 (NLT)
28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’”
- I want to make my determination on how I will live BEFORE the moment of decision comes up
- God calls us to holiness, to wholeness, in every area of life, so we have to wrestle
- To confess
- To deeply repent
- Put to death the old nature
- And to walk out a life that’s pleasing to him in every way
- As a rule of thumb:
- God does not wave a magic wand to make our wrong desires and appetites disappear
- He does not remove us from the battle
- We have to fight it
- He provides guidance, strength, and new life in Christ and through his Holy Spirit
Questions that help me fight the battle before God:
- Why do I like my pet sin(s) so much? What “benefit” do I like so much I’m willing to sin to get it?
- What is the good I’m trying to illegitimately gain? How does God provide for legitimate things like this?
- What are the consequences I face when I don’t do it his way, when I choose sin?
- What does God say in the Scriptures I need to hear, know, and obey?
- What will be the cost of obedience?
- What is the price of disobedience?
- What will I gain if I choose His way?
- What do I need to decide now, in the secret place, before I face the decision/temptation in the world?
Acts 10:34–35 (NIV84)
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
What are the battles YOU are called to fight in secret before God? What issues do you have to get settled with Him before you try to walk them out in life?
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