How to Overcome／Victory

OBJECTIVE

In this module, students will learn how to both theoretically and practically turn their lives away from the worldly and towards the spiritual. Through the Holy Bible and the sayings of the fathers, they will learn how to engage in reflection upon their thoughts and their actions. They will be taught then to use those reflective tools to make practical changes in their lives that would continually establish them in the Image and Likeness of God.

INTRODUCTION - 15 Minutes

Read the following passage then discuss the proceeding questions afterwards with the class.

Build Your House on the Rock: Matthew 7-24-27

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

This passage is given by Christ at the end of His famous Sermon on the mount.

  1. What is symbolized by the rock vs the sand in this passage? What would it mean to build your house on the sand?
  2. Think about what we have been learning in the past 3 lessons. What are some key practices that we can use to start building our house "on the rock?"
  3. Why do you think Christ chose weather as that which beats upon the houses? What do you think the weather symbolizes?

Explain to the students that in living the Christian life, it will be easy enough to keep up all the practices that we have been learning about (prayer, fasting, almsgiving, repentance, confession, love, etc.) when times are good. But it will be far harder to keep up our spiritual lives in hard times.

The test of true faith, of true loyalty for God, is consistency in the spiritual life even in hard times.

VICTORY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - 10 Minutes

Consistency in spiritual life ultimately leads us to victory. But what are we fighting against and what might it look like when we succeed?

What are we fighting against?:

"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." (Ephesians 6:12)

  • We must understand that the spiritual practices which we have been discussing, if done with love for Christ, become weapons for us against evil.
  • Many people see the evil in the world around us and wish to fight it head on. They want to create laws and policies and start wars. Christians have learned that we must start by fighting evil at its source. St. Paul clearly shows that in the verses above.

What does it look like when we win?: St. Paul said at the end of his life.

"...the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

HOW CAN WE GAIN VICTORY? - 15 Minutes

St. James helps us to understand what the weather represents in Christ's Sermon on the Mount when he says:

  • "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

One of the hardest obstacles to overcome in the Christian spiritual life is overcoming those hardships in our life that are outside of our control. Even if we manage to succeed in not falling into temptation, many people have been drawn back to sin because of tragedies and hardships of life.

  • A death in the family
  • Sickness
  • Stress
  • Peer pressure
  • Not getting what we want
  • Family problems
  • Etc.

St. Paul reminds us that if we wish to fight evil there is only one way to do it:

  • "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)
  • If we spend our time focusing on the negative, on all of the trials and tribulations and our failures, we will be "overcome by evil."
  • Instead we must turn our hearts and ears towards Christ and good.

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:21-22)

  • If we are serious in our spiritual lives, we must become doers, not just hearers.
  • Many people come to church and hear the Word, but not all actually live for and with the Word. They do not DO what is asked of them.

These spiritual exercises that we have proposed in the previous lessons are ways to start DOING the word.

DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY (Optional)- 10 Minutes

Read: The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)

Questions:

  1. What is significant about the fact that they are all virgins?
  2. What is the difference between the 5 wise vs. the 5 foolish virgins?
  3. How do we store up oil in our lamps?
  4. Do we only need to be prepared for the end of our life, or are we not called to meet Christ with rich oil everyday?
  5. How do you feel about those scary words from the bridegroom, "'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'"