JOSHUA
World Evangelism
"THE LIFE OF VICTORY"
LESSON 9
GOD'S HOLY NATION
By: Hans Hofman
Dear brother / sister,
Have you experienced anything in your life with Jesus Christ during the period between
lesson 8 and starting this lesson? If you have experienced real changes in your life
with the Lord, do write and tell me, so that we, together with our prayer partners,
may thank the Lord for them, and be encouraged by your testimonies.
In the previous lessons, we learnt about "obedience", "active faith" and the working
of the Holy Spririt. Did YOU receive the Holy Spirit when you came to faith in Jesus
Christ, the Son of the living God? And have you seen the power of the Holy Spirit
working through you? Acts 1:8 says: You will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit
comes upon you.. The disciples that had been with the Lord Jesus when He was taken
up into Heaven, had come together to wait and pray, to meditate upon and claim
(appropriately) God's Word, edifying themselves and preparing to receive the great
promis that Jesus had given. Then, in Acts 2: 1-12, we can read how the promise of
the coming of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled. Since that moment, it was no longer Peter,
James etc. speaking, but the HOL Y SPIRIT, speaking and acting THROUGH them.
They had a real experience with the Lord Jesus in their lives. But now they received a
second experience: they were BAPTIZED WITH (overwhelmed by) THE HOLY SPIRIT
(John 1:33, 14:23-26, 16:12-14, Acts 1:8, 2: 16-18, 1 John 2:6, Acts 10:38 etc.
Why should we receive the HOLY SPIRIT? For what reason?
Is it just to meet our human religious needs and satisfy them in an interesting way,
while we still control everything else??
NO, we receive the Holy Spirit with a PURPOSE Only if our motive and heart's
desire is to glorify and obey God the Father and Jesus Christ with all our heart, soul
and body, and to worship Him in Spirit and in truth through faith, submission and a
holy life can we receive Him.
In John 16:14, Jesus says: .He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify Me, for he shall receive of
mine, and shall show it unto you.. So you reveive the Holy Spirit in order to KNOW
the will of Jesus and His Father and to FULFIL it. But if we do not know THE WILL of
God and Jesus, we cannot pray after His will neither receive. And what you do NOT
know or have, you cannot put into practice, Iet alone share with others.
A clear example can be found in Acts 3:6. Peter and John, tuil of the Holy Spirit, met
a crippled beggar. They had left everything behind and had no earthly possessions.
But they HAD RECEIVED SOMETHING FROM HEAVEN since the day of Pentecost
(Acts 2), something much more important and precious than earthly sUver and gold or
the power of this world.
They had the resurrection power that was full of the COMPLETE work of Jesus.
And Peter said: "Silver and gold have I none; but WHAT I HAVE GIVE I thee: in the
Name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene: Walk!..."
In a previous lesson you could read about the reason for Jesus' coming to this earth.
"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of
the devil". So the work of Jesus just went on!
But, you know, we are dealing with a very experienced enemy. Not an enemy of flesh
and blood, but an enemy who is fighting a spiritual all-out life-and-death war,
a ruthless enemy working both thorugh people and throughspiritual (demonic)
oppressors.
There is ONLY ONE way to overcome this enemy: by walking like Jesus in the
perfect will of the Father. We are called IN Christ to be MORE than conquerors
through Him. (Romans 8: 15,37).
Paul says in 1 Timothy 6: 12 "Fight the good fight of the faith..." A "GOOD FIGHT is a
fight that is being won or has already been won!
The questions in this lesson wil! take you through a number of important scriptures
stating some of the preconditions for a 'VICTORIOUS LIFE' Furthermore, you
will find some elear advice, but also some clear rules given by God through His Word
and Spirit, for such a life.
Questions:
1. What does God tell us to put on in Eph. 6: 11? ...................................................
2. WHY? For what purpose should you put it on? Eph. 6: 11
......................................................................................................................
3. WHAT should your loins by girded with? Eph. 6:14a
.......................................................................................................................
4. WHAT must YOU DO with works of darkness, such as lies? Eph. 5: 11-13.
........................................................................................................................
5. Acts 2:42 te lis us how the first Christians continued in the teaching from God's
Word given by the Aposties and theother disciples through the leading of the Holy
Spirit. WHAT does Paul SAY that the Ephesians must try to discover and
understand? Eph. 5:17 .......................................................................................
6. What else should the Ephesians DO? Eph. 5:20 .....................................................
........................................................................................................................
7. WHAT should the Philippians DO? Phil. 4:4 .........................................................
........................................................................................................................
8. WHAT must the Corinthians DO, according to 2 Cor. 13:5? ...................................
.........................................................................................................................
9. Paul says: EXAMINE YOURSELVES. What is in your heart, what is in your mind,
your feelings? What is THE ROOT, THE MOTIVE and ORIGIN of those feelings,
that particular thought in your heart and mind, etc.? For (1 Peter 1:16) it is written
"be ....................... for I am ........................
10. If you have done the assigment given in lesson 8, you have also read Exodus 29
about the dedication of the priests. This was a very holy ritual.
In Ex. 29:2 you can read, e.g., how an UNleavened bread and UNleavened cakes
had to be baked. The state of being UNleaved symbolizes the cleanness and
pureness of God that should be expressed in these outward actions, indicating
that this holiness and pureness must also show in the lives of the priests.
They had to be formed and built from the pure and fine WORD OF GOD, just like
those cakes in Exodus 29.
In Peter 2, Peter is speaking of a "holy priesthood" He is not speaking about
some of the twelve aposties, but he is speaking to the "strangers scattered...",
"the elect" (see 1 Peter 1:1,2). people who, in their turn, had later on become
disciples and aposties, shepherds, prophets etc. of Jesus through the ministry of
the first aposties and disciples.
He says: "Ye also, as LIVELY stones, are BUILD UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE, A
HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God BY
JESUS CHRIST." 1 Peter 2:5. So it is THROUGH Jesus that we are able to form a
"royal priesthood .
In Exodus 29:2, where you can read about those UNleaved loaves and cakes, you can
also read how these cakes had to be prepared with OIL. Not only had this oil to be
mixed with the dough, but it also had to be spread on top of it
In the Bible, OIL is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. And (as you may have understood by
now) the priests that God himself was thinking of had to be men and women not only
fUled with, but also BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. This is the only possibility to
form 100 per cent, with Jesus and the others, a ".holy nation of royal priests" A
priesthood going FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY in the SPIRIT and POWER OF
JESUS CHRIST. This is God's plan and PERFECT wilI for your life.
This is the only life by which the Creator of Heaven and earth, and He who
CONQUERED ALL authorities and powers of Satan, will be honoured and glorified!
(1 Peter 5:9; Acts 10:38; 1 John 2:6; Revelations 12:10,11)
A. What was Jesus anointed with (Acts 10:38)? ......................................................
B. What do bom-again children of God have? 1 John 2:20 .........................................
C. Who or what wilI instruct you if you stay IN Christ? 1 John 2:27
.........................................................................................................................
11. Through WHOM could Jesus give Himself as a spotless(sinless) sacrifice unto
God? Hebrews 9:14 .........................................................................................
GOD HAS CALLED HlS CHURCH, TO BE "HOLY"
12. God has called His Church, God's children, to be "holy" and dedicate themselves
such a way that He can form a "royal priesthood" together with us.
This is only possible through the Spirit of God (see Hebrews 7:16b, e.g.).
So Jesus was not a priest because He had studied so weil at a bible school,
university or seminary, but He could form a "ROYAL priesthood" because He was
"WITHOUT SIN" (in spite of being tested exactly the same way as we are.
See Hebr. 2:17,18, 4:15).
The only thing that can cause you, as a child of God, to lose etemallife and your
peace with God is "sin". Sin is untruth and darkness and is like a door through
which Satan can enter your (ife and make you suffer defeat.
Jesus was priest "on the basis of an indestructible life" (Hebr. 7:16, 4:15 NIV) an
ENDLESS LlFE. (K.J.V.)
In what way was Jesus tempted during His life on earth? Hebr. 4:15
.........................................................................................................................
13. Read James 3:13-18 and fill in the missing parts:
James says that bitter envy and strife is not from God, but is ......................... ,
unspiritual and ...................................... devilish, for where envy and strife is,
there is ....................................... and every evil work. But the wisdom from above
is first then peaceful, friendly,................................... full of compassion and
good fruits, unpartial and unhypocritical. But righteousness is a ...........................
sown in peace FOR those who make ............................................ "
14. In James 4:3, James is speaking about unanswered prayer. What wrong motives
does he mention here as the cause of unanswered prayer (James 4:3)?
......................................................................................................................
15. Selfishness (such as: desire for power, materialistic motives, desire to be honoured
by men, in short, human passions that only cause strife between people and blind
them) is sin and causes defeat.
Any army having internal problems like those mentioned above is doomed (put
under a curse by itself. see Deuteronomy 28) to fail. In your own strength, it is
absolutely impossible to resist the devil and his demonie forces.
So if you want to be sure of the victory over the powers of sin etc., there is only
one "KEY" What (key) condition does James give? James 4:7 .............................
.......................................................................................................................
YOUR VICTORY IS DETERMINED BY THE MEASURE IN WHICH YOU OBEY
In order to be able to defeat an enemy, we must first get to KNOW his POSITION and
his STRATEGIES as much as possible. The BIBLE gives us a clear insight into the
areas in which Satan is TRYING to bring you defeat. Study the following points very
carefully with your spirit and your mind, and hide GOD'S rules in your HEART, for the
VICTORY BELONGS TO YOU, GOD'S CHILD.
PROGRAM YOUR MIND FOR VICTORY NOT DEFEAT!
have a
WELL DlSCIPLINED MIND
To have a victorious "mind of Christ" is NOT automatic. It takes DISCIPLINE.
You must CONTINUALL Y take authority over your carnal nature.
WALK LlKE JEZUS 1 John 2:6. Building yourself on your most holy faith, praying in
the HOLY GHOST, (Jude 20) Be ye HOLY, tor I AM HOLY. 1 Peter 1:16.
RESIST (the devil) STEADFAST IN THE FAITH (1 Peter 5:9) Now we have received,
NOT the spirit of the world, but the SPIRIT which is OF GOD, that we might KNOW
the things that are freely given to us ot God: For who hath known the mind ot the Lord,
that we may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Cor. 2:12,16.
A. Your MIND, 1 Peter 1 :13/ Provo 19:2, 20:18, Psalms 119:15
Your THINKING. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, Philipp. 4:8,9, Eph. 4:22,23,24.
Your victory is determined by the measure in which you obey the truth (God's Word,
the Bib/e), by filling yourself with HlS Word, praying in and tor the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is not to be done trom books, but trom the HEART in a PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP with your heavenly Father.
Tell your Heavenly Father about your worries (every one), problems, pain, your
questions, your joy, your desires etc.
when you pray. Do not allow these worries to weigh you down, but bring everything
to God in prayer with supplication an<_ thanksgiving. Tum your eyes and your
mind unto HIM!
B. The TONGUE James 3:1-12, 1 Petrus 2:1-10, Proverbs 18:21, 15:4,
Psalm 119:46, Romans 10:9, 10, Matt.12:34-37
Matt. 8:16, 7:21, John 17:8.
Your victory will be determined by the things you fill your heart with, your
selfdiscipline, your obedience, your feelings of responsibility toward God, and your
readiness to obey God's command to "declare God's great deeds".
The Bible says that LIFE AND DEATH ARE IN THE POWER OF YOUR TONGUE.
to whom have you submitted your tongue?
C. DESIRES,
PASSIONS, etc. James 4:1-10, Eph. 4:22 Psalms 119: 11,80 Titus 2:11,12
Luke 12:22-24 John 17:4, 1 John 3:21,22.
Jesus said: "Seek ye FIRST My Kingdom..." Seek God's will ! Commit your works
unto the Lord, and He wiJl give you the desire of your heart.
D. your SPIRIT, Ezekiël18:20 Proverbs 18:14, 17:22, 15:13, 15:4, 14:15
SOUL Deut. 20:1-4, 18:9-14 Psalms 119:14,28,47,82,171,
EMOTIONS 1 John 4:18 Eph. 4:23,24; 6:16-18 Philipp. 1:9 John 14:27
Just as was mentioned before, your victory is determined by your HEART, your
MIND, and everything in your power to direct towards Jesus and His Word.
He is the only Rock on which you can stand, that can protect you in EVERY
situation. "But you, beloved, building up yourselves in your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God....... (Jude 20)."
If you put this into PRACTICE the fruits mentioned in Galatians 5:22 wilI also
come into operation. Not because you are so good or strong, but because your
OBEDIENCE allows Jesus and you to obtain the victory over every area and
circumstance in your life. ALL GLORY be to JESUS!
"FOR WHOM HE DID FOREKNOW, HE ALSO DID PREDESTINATE TO BE
CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HlS SON,
THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN."
Rom. 8:29
This was the last lesson in the series "Life of Vitory".
If, as a result of following this course, you have experienced significant spiritual growth,
received answers to problems or other blessings, then
share this with us by writing to:
Joshua Worldevangelism, P.O. Box 511,4330 AM Middelburg, The Netherlands.
Give God the glory for what He has done and witness to His great deeds.
As the Father sent me, so I send you too. John 20:21
Answer correction page: submenu 10
Home (English)
Home (French)
Home (Dutch)
Menu 5 (Spanish)