Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Aug. 22, 2004, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including zipped files of outlines from previous years, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:


A GOOD SOLDIER IS SUCCESS-MINDED
By Michael D. O'Neal                   Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                    Albany, Georgia
 

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Scripture Reading: Romans 8:31-39

Text: Romans 8:37

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Introduction: Our theme, PREPARE FOR WAR IN 2004 deals with the fact that every child of God is in a spiritual warfare. He is under surveillance by spiritual enemies, Satan and his devils, who cannot take his soul from heaven but can take heaven from his soul! The devil can't take away your ETERNAL life, but he can take away your ENJOYABLE life.

However, NO Christian has to lose to the devil!

You CAN win!

You CANNOT win, though, if you believe that you will lose!

A good soldier for Jesus Christ is success-minded. That is, he has confidence in his Commander, God Almighty, his weapon, the Bible, his protection, the whole armor of God, and the outcome.

A GOOD SOLDIER IS SUCCESS-MINDED

I. THERE ARE ERRORS ABOUT BEING SUCCESS-MINDED

1 Chronicles 29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

A. It is an error to think that power is success

B. It is an error to think that pleasure is success
1. 1 Timothy 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

C. It is an error to think that popularity is success
1. Suicides are frequent among music, TV, and Hollywood stars

D. It is an error to think that prosperity is success
1. 1 Tim. 5:5 says that supposing that gain is godliness is a grave error

II. THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF BEING SUCCESS-MINDED

Hebrews 11:32-34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

A. A defeated minority in a business meeting
1. Joshua and Caleb vs. the other 10 spies
2. Numbers 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

B. A disdained shepherd boy who faced a giant
1. 1 Samuel 17:33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
2. 1 Samuel 17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

C. A deserted preacher
1. 2 Timothy 4:16-18 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


III. THERE IS ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE SUCCESS-MINDED IN GOD'S WORD

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

We should be success-minded because of:

A. Our position in Christ (Romans 8:37)

B. The precepts of God (Joshua 1:8)

C. The power available (Philippians 4:13)

D. The promise of God (James 4:7)

E. The Person in you (1 John 4:4)