Ep 360 | "More Than Conquerors" - Frank Brancato 1-10-21

certainly, it's good to be with all of you today to worship, God

in spirit, and in truth, There's a reason why I decided to preach

on this passage and we'll get to that in just a minute.

But may I just say by way of introduction, I think that God's

people and really the world is living in unprecedented times.

There are things that happen around us that have never

happened in my lifetime, and I realized that we have a global

pandemic that is ever before us. And ever-present, we have family

members that have been infected with this virus.

We've known people that have actually passed away from this

virus or at least we've known of people that have And really

there are two great extremes when it comes to discussion of

this. I've even heard conspiracy

theorists say that it was a way that another country, send it to

us to lower population so they can get a strong hold over us

and we would no longer be a world power.

I've actually heard many things and many different things that

people say as result of the pandemic that is before us on

the other end of the spectrum, some people think it's

absolutely nothing and we're making too big of a deal.

About it. You know, I think in between

perhaps is the truth. It is real.

It is a real virus. It is a real pandemic, but it's

not the end of the world and it will not be the end of God's

people. If you think about all the

negative things that are around us, it really causes us to be

depressed that the other day. You know, our iPhones.

Give us little excerpts or news, flashes, when something happens

and just the other day, all of a sudden there was my phone.

I looked at it. No.

There were people that actually storm the capital and did

horrible. Horrible things.

I am not a military strategist. I'm not like King David, a

brilliant mind and Military strategist.

I don't know anything about all that, but I do know this that

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 12, that A house divided against

Matthew 12 · chapter mention

itself. Cannot stand.

It's depressing when I look out into our country.

A country that I have loved all of my life and I've enjoyed

living in the land of the free and living here in this country.

I kind of think that perhaps I'm a patriotic person.

Absolutely. And I appreciate, especially

those that have died so that we could have freedom.

I appreciate that very much. But, you know, when you think

about all of that in our country and now you have citizens of the

country rising up against itself, A house divided against

itself, cannot stand. So, why in the world that I

decide to preach on this passage, I'm going to tell you

why I decided to preach on this passes.

I decided to preach on this passage because I needed it.

I needed it. Where's that going to leave

God's people if all of these things happen and all the bad

things that sometimes people think are going to happen?

What about God's people? What are we going to be on the

table? We're going to be if we're

faithful. We're going to be more than

conquerors more than conquerors. Our text is found in Romans,

Romans 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8, beginning in verse 37.

Paul said this. Yet in all these things, we are

more than conquerors through him who loved us?

For, I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor

principalities nor powers nor things present, nor things to

come nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall

be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in us in

Christ Jesus, our lord. You know, from a context

perspective, the Apostle Paul writing to the church, there

Rome and he also is writing to us through those words.

But Paul was writing to a congregation that new beyond all

others. What a conqueror was.

They saw triumphs, they saw captives, they saw the treasure,

they saw foreign Kings in Chains.

They saw generals receiving adoration and in the wake of all

of that in the wake of the victory.

Victory. The Victorious side was a broken

subjugated people to those who knew conquerors.

He invited to be more than conquerors and I think Paul was

telling them that through various onslaughts of their

enemies Christians gain a victory, that's more than a

victory. If they remain, faithful one

commentator wrote this and I thought I would share it with

you. He said, and I quote, the

Christians character strengthens And his favor with God increases

with each successful battle against the worst, that can be

brought against him by the World, by the flesh, or by the

devil. I thought they were rather

encouraging thoughts. But the question is this though,

how can we be more than conquerors?

Let me to give five practical things and this is not an

exhaustive study and they're short little sermon.

But these are five things that five Concepts that we can apply

to. That we can know that we could

be more than conquerors one day. Number one, very important.

We've got a breach, the wall of sin.

I appreciate it. So very much brother Carl's

remarks at the table, and Jesus taking away, sin and

forgiveness, and he's right. But think about it this way, the

reason that man needs forgiveness is because when sin

was brought into the world, man's greatest problem with sin,

and there's a barrier or there's a wall between us and God that

separates us and that is sin. Have you ever stopped to

consider why God hates sin so much?

Now, this is beyond the obvious that God is pure and god is

perfect and all of that. But why does God hates sin so

much God hates sin? One of the reasons no doubt is

because sin is the only thing that'll keep man away from him

for eternity. The only thing that separates

man from God is sin. In Isaiah chapter, 59,

beginning, there, in verse One Isaiah said, this behold the

Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save nor his ear

heavy. That it cannot hear, but your

iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have

hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear you. you

know, sometimes we think Especially when were younger

perhaps, and maybe we've rebelled against what we've been

taught. Sometimes we rebelled against

things that are right. And correct, and sometimes we do

that when were younger, sometimes we do that, when we're

older And sometimes we think we're just resisting, I don't

know the rules or whatever. But, think about it this way,

because this is true. When we sin, we're not resisting

any list of rules or codes out there when we sin, we sin

against one thing, one being, and that's God.

David said, this David understood that he said against

the you, and you only have, I sinned and done this evil in

your sight. When we sin, we violate the rig

lationship that we have with God, the Father, If I'm going to

be victorious, though. One day, if I'm going to be more

than a conqueror, I have to breach the wall of sin, man's

greatest problem with sin. Therefore, man's greatest need

was forgiveness. As Carl pointed out, we will

never be victorious in the end unless sin is conquered.

Now, this begins with forgiveness, I'm going to say

some things about forgiveness. Okay.

First, let me say this, I can't imagine life without

forgiveness. I can't imagine going my life

without forgiveness. I also can't imagine going in my

life and asking somebody to forgive me for something and

them saying, no or not forgiving me, perhaps a loved one or

whatever it might be, I can't even imagine that.

But especially I can't imagine not being forgiven by God.

It all begins with forgiveness because man is not perfect and

man does sin so we need forgiveness.

But there's a difference between, please get this

unconditional love. And conditional forgiveness.

Now, we don't forgive each other conditionally, but God does.

Now stay with me. I'm not, I'm not saying what you

might think, I'm saying it is conditional upon what it's

conditional upon this in Matthew chapter 28, begins with

Matthew 28 · chapter mention

forgiveness. Price was paid as Carl pointed

out, but in Matthew chapter, 28, beginning in verse 18, Jesus

says all power or all authority is given unto me in heaven and

in Earth go ye therefore and teach All Nations.

Baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of

the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things

whatsoever. I have commanded you and lo.

I Am With, You Always even to the end of the world or the new

King, James says, the End of the Age.

So, here we find if I'm going to be forgiven, I have to be a

disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is a follower of him.

That's what I have to be in marks account of the Great

Commission, verses, 15 and 16 Jesus says go into the world.

And preach the gospel to Every Creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.

He that believeth not shall be damned.

So I need to be a disciple. How am I disciple?

When I believe and I am baptized for the remission of sins but I

have to talk about the word, belief, very briefly.

There's a lot of people that believe in the concept that

there is a God in heaven and his son died on the cross.

There's a lot of people that believe in those facts.

But belief of the Bible, as you've heard me say many times

over the years, belief, in the Bible is not simple.

Acceptation effect, belief of the Bible has the forced to

obey. So if I want the Forgiveness of

my sins, I have to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

When do I become a disciple of Us Christ, when I believe having

the forced to obey. And I'm baptized for the

remission of sins. One more passage though, in Luke

Luke 24 · chapter mention

chapter 24, Jesus had already died.

He was buried, he rose on the third day and he spends 40 days

with his disciples and this is what he said.

In Luke 24, he said, repentance and remission of sins would be

preached in his name, among all nations.

Beginning at Jerusalem, let's put the whole thing together.

If I want forgiveness of my sins, it comes with repentance.

Remission of sins is always connected to repentance.

Now we talked about God's conditional, forgiveness for

someone, that is a member of the Lord's church has.

Been baptized for the remission of sins.

What's the condition in the Epistle of John?

John says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to

forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Yes. So what's the condition of God

for giving me my sins? I got to confess my sins to to

him. And that is confession with

Godly sorrow or repentance. You know, confession without

repentance is meaningless. I got to make a change.

So putting this all together, if I want to breach the wall of

sin, I need to be forgiven if I need to be forgiven.

I am your disciple. How I am?

I, when I believe him. And I'm baptized, and when I

repent, and I can have remission of sins.

But we have to keep sin out of our life, folks, because sin

does separate number two, though.

To be more than conquerors that only do I need to breach the

wall of sin, but I need to wield or I need to use the very best

weapons. Now, in a time when people are

talking about battles and perhaps we might go to war and

all these things. I want to talk about Mighty

weapons. I want to talk about the

greatest weapons for the child of God.

In 2nd Corinthians, chapter 10, and verse 4 for the weapons of

our Warfare are not carnal, But Mighty In God for pulling down

strongholds. So these are the weapons.

We don't fight against the world.

We don't fight against fresh Flesh, and Blood.

We don't do that. The weapons of our Warfare are

not carnal but they're Mighty in God for pulling down

strongholds, but not only that, we need some protection, don't

we? And the Bible talks about

putting on the whole armor of God.

We notice these passages with you beginning there in verse 10.

Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His

might put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to

stand against The Wiles of the devil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.

But against principalities against Powers against the

rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of

wickedness in the Heavenly places.

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be

able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to

stand. And stand, therefore, having

girded your waist with truth. Having put on the breastplate of

righteousness having shod your feet with the preparation of the

gospel of peace above, although taking the shield of Faith,

which is which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of

the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation.

And the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, want

to talk about two things here. By the way, everything I just

said, except the Last day. They are defensive.

Weaponry, they are protection. The only offensive weapon Is the

sword of the spirit, the word of God.

More on that in just a minute. But I want to make a point here

about the shield of Faith. Got an email from buddy of mine.

The other day was talking about Saul the things that are going

on in our country and in the world and this nation, you know

what, we just need to have more faith.

He's right. If we're having trouble,

handling, or worried about things that are happening around

us, we need to increase our faith.

One of the greatest things Jesus said about faith.

I love this. Jesus said this about faith.

He said, you have to have the faith of a mustard seed.

He told his disciples that and having the faith of the mustard

seed is not meat. Doesn't mean that it's just

small. It means this it starts off

small but it grows to Greatness perhaps we're having trouble

with the The worries of life because we have not increased

our faith. It's not grown to Greatness and

we look in our own eye, our human eye and we look around us

and we get really worried about what's happening out there.

What about your faith? What about increasing your

faith? What about having faith of a

mustard seed? What about those things notice

what he says? Here, Paul says, the shield of

Faith, which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of

the wicked one. Let's take this phrase Shield of

faith and let's talk about what it was back then.

The literal Shield was a shield that the Army used and by the

way, they would have, I'm told they have a group that went

forward behind the troops that were behind them.

The first regiment would go, and they would have a, would be

behind the shield and those Shields weren't just some

handheld thing. Those Shields actually went

down. Almost all the way to the ground

and they would get behind the shield.

They have the armor. I'm they get behind the shield

like this, and they would walk toward the enemy in this way.

By hiding them self behind the shield.

So when the darts would come their way it would Ricochet off

the shield. That's number one.

Number two, I think this is very powerful.

I heard this a long time ago. I think I heard it from Brian

Elliott, many years ago but used it ever since when somebody went

into battle and have the shield, there was no protection from

behind. The people that were behind as

long as you pressed forward, we're on your side.

But if you turn tail and ran away or quit, there was nothing

that protected you from behind, and if the fiery darts of the

enemy would come, you would die. And that's true.

When it comes to the child of God, spiritually, you only are

protected by the field of by The Shield of faith, if you're in

the fight and you're moving forward.

You can't turn tail and you can't quit.

If you want that kind of protection The Shield of Faith.

What about the sword of the spirit?

The sword of the spirit is the only offensive weapon that we

have and that is the word of God to somebody might say this.

Well, how powerful is that? How powerful is that?

Well, the Bible tells me it is piercing in Hebrews 4:12.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and Powerful.

And sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the

division of Soul and Spirit of the joints and Marrow and is a

discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

So one day if we're going to be more than conquerors, we have to

do the following breach. The wall of sin, use the best

weapon and number three. And I know this is not popular.

We gotta follow orders. If we're in the Lord's army and

the battle is the Lord's, we have to listen to the Lord.

He is our captain. In fact, in Hebrews chapter 2,

Hebrews 2 · chapter mention

and verse 10 for it is fitting for him for whom are all things.

And by whom all are all things in bringing many sons to glory

to make the captain of their salvation.

Perfect through sufferings. He's our captain and folks, only

the only the obedient are victorious.

Hebrews 5 89 though. He were a son, yet, he learned

obedience by the things which he suffered and having been

perfected, he became the author of Eternal salvation to all

those, that obey him. But next.

If you're in a battle, folks. You got a fight.

And I'm not talking about physically fighting and I'm not

talking about all the verbal battles that are going on in the

world either. Not talking about that at all.

I'm talking about the kind of fight that the child of God must

fight. Well, first of all, what do you

fight for? For you have to fight for the

richest treasure and Mark 8:36 for what will it profit?

Mark 8:36

A man, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul.

The very next verse says, What would a man give in exchange for

his soul? Listen, we're in a fight with

the devil for our soul. Got a fight and what does it

profit? A man if he gain the whole world

but I lost my own soul so we have to fight for the richest

treasure. What's the richest treasure?

The rich of Trent. Richest treasure is the Crown of

Life, do not fear any of those things which you are about to

suffer. Indeed the devil is about to

throw some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you

will have tribulation 10 days, be faithful unto death and I

will give you the Crown of Life. Now notice I've heard this

Illustrated like this. Ten days is a figurative phrase

and it is it wasn't a literal 10 days.

But it's talking about or is referring to a short amount of

time. And with regards to Eternity, 10

days is nothing. I can do anything for 10 days,

probably, I know it's going to be over soon, but Jesus was

talking to people that were far more persecuted than you, and I

ever will be, he was talking to the persecuted church.

One of the seven churches of Asia.

The one in Smyrna, they were about to lose their life and

what he was telling them through John the Revelator he was

telling them in this letter, be faithful unto death.

You know the context there does not necessarily mean be

faithful. All the days of your life until

you die, although that's implied.

The context here is with regards to what he was speaking of be

faithful. Even if it means your death, And

I will give you what? Crown of Life.

He was telling them to fight for that.

What kind of fight is it though? What kind of fight is 1st,

Timothy 6 and 12? It's the good fight of faith.

Timothy Paul writing to Timothy says, fight the good fight of

Faith. Lay hold on eternal life.

To which you were also called and have confessed a good

confession in the presence of many witnesses.

What else? Folks, we got to do this

according to Jude 3, Beloved while I was very diligent to

write to you concerning the common salvation.

I found it necessary to write to you exhorting, you to contend

earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the

Saints. We have to contend for the

faith. We got to stand for the truth

and stand for what's right? So what are we fighting for?

Let's talk about that quickly in summary.

What are we fighting for? We're fighting for the richest

treasure. What's the richest treasure?

It's the Crown of Life. What kind of fight is?

It's the Fight of faith and when we fight the good fight of

Faith, guess what we get to do, lay hold of eternal life and we

earnestly contend for the faith, that was once delivered to the

Saints. That's our fight.

That's our battle. We've been given the armor.

We've been given the weapon and we can live and we could fight

that fight. But finally, last point and I

think this is so important because if your eye is not

single and you're not focused on the prize, it's easy to be

derailed. If you're looking at other

peripheral things and you lose sight of things, you can be

derailed and you can get off track.

So, here's our final point point number five, you got to see the

victory. You got to see the victory. 1st

Corinthians 15:57. But thanks be to God. who gives

us the victory through, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, therefore, my

beloved Brethren be steadfast immovable, always abounding in

the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain

in the Lord, you know, the word steadfastly means firm and

unwavering What is the child of God to do?

He needs to see the victory. How you going to do it?

Be firm and unwavering, and unwavering be immovable.

And notice this abounding in the work of the Lord, the word

abounding means to overdo it. Every how people say you're

overdoing it and there's a lot of things in life that we're

overdoing. You can actually do things that

are good, but overdo them like you can overdo it.

When it comes to exercise, you can they call that overtraining,

you're overdoing it, and that's not good.

The same phraseology is used in, a poly positive sense here.

Abounding means to literally over, do it in the work of the

Lord. Above and beyond meaning this no

matter how hard you try, no matter all that you do.

It's not too much abounding in the work of the Lord.

You got to see the prize. You got to see the victory.

Last passage Revelation, 21 Verses 4, and verse 7.

Revelation 21:4

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

And there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying.

There should be no more pain for the former things have passed

away. He who overcomes shall inherit

all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. you

see in the wake of the Lord's army is sin and death, but up

ahead is triumph, I think it's important that we remember that

we win as one man said, one time I read the book of Revelation

and we win But finally, in conclusion.

You know the Bible pictures life in terms of the following and

you know every one of these things are very difficult.

The life that we are living is described with great.

Intensity is described as a race that we're competing for.

It's described as a fight that we must get in and it's a battle

and it's all the days of our life and it doesn't let up

That's how it's described. So don't feel bad.

If your life is difficult or you're going trying to be a

Christian, but all these things are flying at you, and it's

difficult. Don't feel bad.

The Bible says, it's going to be difficult.

And I'll tell you this too. When you become a child of God,

there's nothing in the word of God.

That says you're going to have an easier life or an easier time

of it. All it says, is you'll have a

better life after this life. And while you're in this life,

God will never leave your side if you want.

Leave him. That's all that were promised.

How we can be more than conquerors if we remain

faithful. Breach the wall of sin.

Use the best weapons. Put on the whole armor of God,

follow orders from our later. That's Jesus Christ.

Let's fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal

life. And folks, you got to see the

victory. You got to keep your eye on the

prize. Will you be more than conquerors

one day? Imagine this as I say, finally,

We're at the end and we're all done in.

And you've lived your life and you've gone through the battles

of life. And you get to the end.

And you're Victorious. and the victory that you've wanted, all

of your life is finally, before you And you hear the precious

words. Well done thou good.

And faithful servant enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

How wonderful that will be regardless of the price we had

to pay in our life. Vince Lombardi, one of the

greatest coaches ever said this about being Victorious.

He said this, I firmly believe that any man's finest hour the

greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear is that moment

that moment when he's given his whole heart for a good cause And

he lies exhausted on the field of battle Victorious.

I picture that as the child of God.

Spend it all, leave it all, leave it on the field, like they

say, and one day, hear those precious words.

Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord folks.

Not only will we be conquerors will be more than conquerors if

we're faithful. I'm finished.

Thank you for your kind listening today and we had to

discuss and I hope something was helpful to you in some way.

I know that these were things that I needed to hear, so I

wrote this little sermon for that purpose.

Hope it was beneficial to you as well.

We never know the hearts and minds of those that are present.

Maybe you're here today. You're not a child of God, you

can be and you need to be come believing in Jesus.

Repent of your sins confess, his name as the Son of God and be

baptized in water for the remission of your sins.

You need forgiveness that your greatest need and you could be

forgiven and have remission of sins today.

We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the

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