Undefeated Grace – June 2022

Please watch the video introduction to my message here:

Undefeated grace is a catching title, but it is so much more than a title; it is a way to live. It is how we relate to Christ. Paul in Philippians uses a highly unpopular word in our culture but unlocks the secret to Undefeated Grace. 

Philippians 1:1-2

Paul and Timotheus, bondmen of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with [the] overseers and ministers; grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul uses the word bondmen to describe his and Timothy’s relationship to Christ. It could be the reason why Paul said of Timothy that he had no one else like him. What is a bondmen? We find our answer in the following verses (the Bible always answers itself); it’s a “complete book.”

Exodus 21:2-6

If thou buy a Hebrew bondman, six years shall he serve; and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in alone, he shall go out alone: if he had a wife, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and she have borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be his master’s, and he shall go out alone. But if the bondman shall say distinctly, I love my master, my wife, and my children, I will not go free; then his master shall bring him before the judges, and shall bring him to the door, or to the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall be his bondman for ever. 

Do you see the parallels here? As the master and servant are, so are we to be with Christ. The bondman relationship was based on love, “I do not want to go free, I love my master,” When you love someone, you do not feel that you are a servant. In being a Christian, we have trials that others do not have. We have a conscience towards not sinning, so we battle with our carnal nature. Therefore life can be more challenging for us because we seek to go against the culture. However, by spending time in prayer and reading/memorizing His Word, His presence grows in us, making us stronger. It’s like lifting weights; the straining is what builds the strength to lift even heavier weights. We seek to glorify Him through our trials.  

Imagine the bondman harvesting his master’s crops in the hot sun. I’m sure it was tough, with no machinery to help, only a sickle and a strong back. At the end of the day, coming home would be most welcomed; yet because of his love for his master and the master’s goodness toward him, it was worth it. Do you know the goodness of the Lord for you? If not, maybe you need to reevaluate the relationship you have with Him? A right relationship with Him lightens our load and makes the journey and its hardships less burdensome, especially when we remember what He bore for us. 

The understanding of being Christ’s bondman is so essential. To think that we can do what we want under the guise of being a Christ-follower is wrong. Nothing but disappointment, as well as a poor testimony for Christ, will we have.  

Paul uses this saying in Phil.3:8&9, “for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.” Through his suffering Paul was brought into a deeper dependency and hence intimacy with Christ, and it made it all worth it. Can we say the same? 

How do you or I see ourselves? In this culture, slavery or being a servant is looked down upon, yet all of us are servants to something. Does that offend you? Think about the last time you had to have something, or maybe you are in that position right now? How happy were you when you got it, and are you as happy now? Did it fulfill you? Usually, the “honeymoon” with our things lasts for a time and then wanes. Understanding our strong desire or drive to have or attain something or to strive for a position at work can be a form of worship.  

You may disagree with me, but when what we seek consumes our thoughts, we are in danger of putting it before the Lord. If we are seeking a relationship and we seek to have that person’s complete attention above our relationship to Christ, or we say to ourselves, “when I get that next promotion or buy that car, etc., then I will be happy, or then people will think I am successful that is affection gone array. When we link our happiness to attaining temporal goals, they have taken the place of the Lord. Therefore by default, they have become our idols. It has become the thing that possesses us, and we strive to achieve it or them as opposed to setting our affections and desire on Christ alone. The apostle John has some sound advice for us.

1 John 2:15-17

Love not the world, nor the things in the world. If any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing, and its lust, but he that does the will of God abides for eternity. 

Now contrast that with this verse

Jeremiah 31:3

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee (all trials and difficulties are not caused by Him but can be used by Him to humble us and cause us to seek Him and in so doing we learn of His love for us).

As believers, we have the great privilege and honor to serve Christ, especially recalling how He served us (our last Vida). In the last Vida, we got the opportunity to really look into the Cross, Christ’s emotions, and His willingness to be our sacrifice though it cost Him everything. His greatest treasure and strength, the very core of His being, was His union with the Father. The Cross cost Him that separation, never before experienced, and its effect is universal in its implications.  

There is no word to describe it other than complete devastation. Yet, He finished His work; the redemption of man. Where did He get the strength to finish His race? Beaten beyond recognition and absent of His Father’s presence, it was only His love for us that gave Him the where with all to finish.

Isaiah 52:13-15

Behold, my servant shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and be lifted up, and be very high (because of His obedience). As many were astonished at thee--his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the children of men –-so shall he astonish many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for what had not been told them shall they see, and what they had not heard shall they consider.

He was truly alone with the guilt and weight of our sins. An inconceivable burden, we will never know; there exist no adequate words to describe it. Therefore taking all this into account, it only seems fitting that we repent completely of our ways and willingly become His bondmen and bondwomen. Anything less is a great misstep on our part, which He and we will suffer. He suffers because His sacrifice was to buy all of us, not part of us, and we suffer because we are still in deception, and deception only lessens the joy, peace, and love we can experience. 

The bondman demonstrated such love and loyalty because he dedicated his life to serving another, not seeking ambition or promotion for self, and being “content and full” in his position of servitude. This is so lacking in our Christian culture, yet such are we to be to Christ. “My ambition,” that which I own, that which is dependent upon me, my will and choice, is fulfilled in knowing and serving Christ. Unfortunately, it takes many of us a lifetime to get to this maturity, if we get there at all ( thank God for His patience and love). Yet, there is no better or more secure position to be in because there exists not a more loving Master. In all the Universe, He exceeds them all. As mentioned, we all serve something which might shock some of us: ego, lust, ambition, wealth, anything that we think will fulfill us. Why not serve Him?

Romans 12:1-3

Exhortation to Practical Living

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Him which is your reasonable service ( why is it our reasonable service? In light of His great sacrifice it is more than reasonable) and be not conformed ( or patterned) to this world: but be ye transformed (to an entirely new way of thinking and acting, how?) by the renewing of your mind, ( to make new, a complete renovation ) that ye may prove (test, discern) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly (humbly) according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Hence the perfect position of heart and mind is that of a bond servant.

People at times say Christians have blind faith, they just believe, but that is not true. It’s a faith and a belief that requires rigorous thinking, pondering the outcomes of specific decisions, proving, working through problems and situations by allowing the Word of God to take us to task…,

Psalms 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart; prove me (or refine me) and know my thoughts; And see if there be any grievous (unholy) way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting (a great prayer).

Researching and finding promises that speak and address our situation or problem and memorizing them so they become part of our being, is how we overcome. Allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us and bring forth repentance from us with the fruit of joy and peace following is how we grow. We actively participate alongside the Holy Spirit, whose chief role is to present us as a Bride that needs not be ashamed.

Ephesians 5:25-27

Husbands, love your own wives, even as the Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for her, in order that he might sanctify it, purifying it by the washing of water by the word, that *he* might present the church, (us) to himself glorious, having no spot, or wrinkle, or any of such things; but that she might be holy and blameless.

To that end… 

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

quench not the Spirit (through disobedience) do not lightly esteem prophecies; but prove all things,(to discern, distinguish, test) hold fast the right; hold aloof from every form of wickedness.

And here lies our weakness. We lack the “effort” or the willingness to strive against our flesh. To hold the line of purity and say I’m not doing that or I’m not thinking that. The old adage it takes “elbow grease” to do what needs to get done. My mom would always say we need a “stick to-it-tiveness.” However, let’s be clear, it is not based on our effort to accomplish our sanctification; that’s the job of The Holy Spirit. We need to agree with Him and stand fast and contend for the truth of our new nature against the opposing desires of the carnal man. The battle is within us.  

James 4:6-8

But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God, sets Himself against the proud, but gives grace to [the] lowly. Subject yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse [your] hands, sinners, and purify [your] hearts, ye double-minded.

2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJ)

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing ( discerning) the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15(Darby)

Strive diligently to present thyself approved to God, a workman that has not to be ashamed, cutting in a straight line the word of truth.

1 Corinthians 9:25-27

But everyone that contends [for a prize] is temperate in all things: *they* then indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown, but *we* an incorruptible. *I* therefore thus run, as not uncertainly; so I combat, as not beating the air. But I buffet my body (which means I give myself a black eye if my eye gets out of line) and lead it captive, lest [after] having preached to others I should be myself rejected.

If we all thought of ourselves as we should, where would pride be, where would comparison or jealousy or anger be, etc.? They would be minimal, for as Christ bondmen and bondwomen, there would be no ground for anything but servitude to Him. Sex outside of marriage, lust, love of money, focus on having things, all these temptations and maladies would find and end in us. They are not being defeated because many of us ride the fence; the Bible calls it lukewarm. 

Revelation 3:15-18

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.

Have you ever imagined what a bird being in a cage would feel like if it were set free? It would be an overwhelming feeling of freedom, set free from the confines of its cage, which for us is our flesh. These base emotions that govern us interfere with a righteous life. They would be on a steady decline if we could find it in ourselves to be Christ’s bond servant. We would be amazed at the joy and peace found in worshiping God alone instead of having our affections divided. Set free to worship and love God, our faith would be on a steady increase. 

Galatians 5:17-20

Love not the world, nor the things in the world. If any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing, and its lust, but he that does the will of God abides for eternity. 

This process takes time, but to know that we are on the right track with God because of our desire to be His bondman/woman is a decisive step forward. This new attitude would free us in so many ways. Our daily times in the Word would deepen, and a growing experiential and understanding of His love for us would usher in and develop and mature in us, growing freedom as opposed to being enslaved to our ego, insecurities, and passion(s). A new nature of confidence and strength would carry us forward, especially when times are tough. 

So let’s ask the question again, how do we view ourselves? Have we ever given thought or considered being Christ bondman or woman? Are we still playing 50/50 with God, I’ll do this if you do that. My dad did that with my mom, leading to a rocky marriage that later ended in a divorce. Do not do that with The Lord.

Our confidence…

Philippians 1:5-6

because of your fellowship with the gospel, from the first day until now; having confidence of this very thing, that he who has begun in you a good work will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:12

So that, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Two verses that seem to say precisely the opposite, but do they? To know that we have a part to play in this life of sanctification should cause us to be vigilant over our life; to not intentionally sin as well have concern and care over the lives of others; spouses, children, brothers, sisters, etc. To hate sin because it cost Him so much and to love righteousness is the work of the Spirit in us. The “good work” Paul speaks of.  

However, we can and must participate by seeking this new nature in prayer, growing it in us by memorizing scripture and fellowshipping with others of like mind. “Undefeated Grace” represents all that He is and all He does in us and believing all that He says about us, but it also represents our partnership. It’s a walk with Him that is forever going forward, expanding and growing, and going into new territories of learning and deeper faith as we continue to learn from an Eternal God and Father. It’s deep, and it takes time and maturity to grow, but He’s in it for the long haul. Can we join Him by committing ourselves to be His bondman or bondwoman?

The only time we lose is when we lose our faith; that’s it. I recently went through a pretty difficult trial, but because I “know my Lord,” His character (The Cross says it all), I had the confidence that even in this, He can and will use it for my good and His glory. Remember satan’s greatest lie in times of crisis and personal pain is “if He is a God of love, why does He allow this?” 

Whether it be a divorce or a difficult relationship, a death, an illness, a car accident or financial crisis, etc., adversity happens to all of us. And notice, in adversity, all the questions of the enemy focus on my suffering instead of Christ’s suffering for us. I may be going through some tough things right now, but no one has carried the weight, pain, or burden that Christ had to carry for us. Therefore if He went through all that for us, I can, we can, trust Him and go through our difficulties as well; and as a child puts their hand into the hand of their father and now has taken on the strength and presence of the father, so to as we remain in the position of bondmen and bondwomen we have the strength, protection and covering of our Master who has never lost a battle. Amen

Father God, 

Everything I am is because of You changing me, showing me my pride and blind areas I truly did not see. So the man I am today is because of You and the sanctification that occurs in me as I read and study Your Word. This is all You, and the life You Have Given me comes 100% from You; there is nothing from me nor do I want any of me involved other than my will to serve You. Therefore, because of this great gift of life, You have given us and with gratitude back to You, how more can I (we) serve You, as your bondman or bondwoman?

With Much Love, 

Your sons and daughters, by grace,

Amen

If you’ve come this far, consider buying my book here.  Inside you’ll find a collection of our favorite Vida messages.  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B092FRD6NQ&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_M2QFKYBBA8P1CZ99F31M

Arthur Navarrette