Deeper Life Sunday Message
VICTORY DESPITE ALL OPPOSITIONS AND INVITATION TO CONTINUE IN THE
RACE
2 Corinthians 11:24 – 27; 4:14 – 17; Hebrews 12:1; 2 Timothy 4:6 - 8
We are running a heavenly race that requires doggedness and total consecration as good soldiers of
Christ (2 Timothy 2:3 - 4). In the course of running there are challenges that will attend our ways to
make us backtrack; but we are fighting from victory (Romans 8:36 – 37). Devil, his demons and
spiritual wickedness in high places are in array contending with the believers to make us become
weary and cast down. It becomes necessary to know that we are not alone in this race as the grace of
God is more than sufficient for the faithful and steadfast disciple (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Our Lord Jesus Christ faced stiff opposition from the religious leaders of His days in their efforts to
hinder Him from accomplishing the purpose of His coming to the world. However for the joy that
was set before Him endured the Cross and triumphed over all attempts to stop Him from attaining
divine goal set for His life (Hebrews 12:2).
The Christian is facing same kind of obstacles from the adversary contending against his faith. We
must run the race that is set before us with patience, perseverance, and tenacity if we are to
triumphantly march into heaven. We also have the duty to reach out to sinners and weary disciples
on life’s road and persuade them to understand that it is through much trials and tribulations that we
must enter the Kingdom of God (John 16:33; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:4).
THE ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION AND PROMPTNESS TO REACH OUT TO
OTHERS: Ephesians 2:8; Romans 6:14; 5:1 – 3; 9:1 – 3; 10:1; 1 Peter 1:5; Acts 26:19, 20.
At salvation the believer is inducted into God’s vineyard to labour continually till the close of the
day. The strength of our faith is in the infallibility of the word of God; that He is able to keep us
till the end. We do not believe in eternal security; we hold on to the truth of the Scriptures that if
we remain steadfast in the faith God will not leave nor forsake us in the midst of battles of life
(Hebrews 13:5).
The adversary is always at hand to cause us to waver and break us down convincing us that our
salvation is not yet complete. We must know the power of God in whom we have come to put our
trust and confidence. After our assurance of salvation is secured we now go out and convince the
sinners and backsliders to return unto God.
Consider the responsibility of the backslider and the challenges before him: it is time for him to rise
up and rebuild his spiritual life because his body is the temple of the living God. In an attempt to do
this opposition will arise from friends and family members to weaken his new resolve to follow the
Lord. At such time he should remain focused and determined to follow on.
THE AWAITING BLESSINGS IN THE LAND OF PROMISE AND OUR BLESSINGS IN
THIS WORLD: 1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 2:12, 13, 19; Isaiah 33:15 – 17; Revelation 22:14;
Psalm 31:19, 20.
There are innumerable blessings for those who will endure till the end both in this life and in the
world to come (Mark 10:29 – 30). The blessings should remain the focus of believers so as to
overcome all suggestions of Satan to lure them back into the world. Among the blessings are
everlasting life, healing and health, abundant provision, deliverance from satanic activities, victory
over temptations and the world.
Due to Satan’s opposition to our faith there are many believers who have caved in to his antics and
suggestions. We find Achan as an example in the Old Testament and Demas in the New Testament
(Joshua 7:20 – 25; 2 Timothy 4:10). They allowed the gains of this present life to deny them the
privilege to gaining eternal inheritance. The result today is that many have become weary disciples
while some others have out rightly departed from the faith. This is so because they counted the grace
of God a light thing. It is not all that profess faith in Christ that will ultimately enter heaven because
the righteous will scarcely be saved. It therefore becomes necessary to endure till the end to win the
final victory and gain the crown of glory despite all oppositions. Remember one second in heaven
wipes away all troubles and pains suffered in this life.
THE AVAILABILITY OF SUFFICIENT GRACE FOR THE RACE AND THE SUFFERING
FOR SINNERS IN HELL: Romans 8:35 – 39; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 12:1; 1 Corinthians
9:24, 26, 27; Mark 9:43, 44; Revelation 20:14, 15
God who saved us from the power of sin and Satan has also made more than enough provision for
our sustenance for the race we are called to run. Even though challenges will attend our ways we are
to remain steadfast and firm in our faith in God that He is more than able to see us through (Jude 24,
25). This is because we are not running the race in our own power since we are kept by the power of
God.
In spite of all oppositions before the children of Israel at the time of Zerubbabel they were able to
complete the rebuilding of the temple. Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy concerning his hope of eternal
inheritance after he had successfully fought the good fight of faith (2 Timothy 4:6 - 8). The same
grace that was sufficient for Paul is available unto us today to fight manfully onward and run the race
with determination.
The backsliders and sinners will have no portion with God in eternity because they spurned the grace
of God while they lived on earth (Matthew 7:22 – 23). Hell is the abode prepared for the Devil and
his fallen angels where their worm dies not and the fire is not quenched. It is a place of eternal
suffering and anguish without any hope of comfort and it is not time limited. This should spur us to
action to deliver our own souls and those of our loved ones and neighbours from the downward
journey to hell no matter the cost.
