Day 18 Devotional Before United Prayer: (about 1:46 min reading)
E.J. Waggoner’s Teaching on Complete Victory
Waggoner also taught that complete victory over temptation and sin is possible even now through Christ.
The overcoming is now; the victories to be gained are victories over the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, victories over self and self indulgence. (Lessons on Faith, 3)
He acknowledged that many Christians do not have complete victory over sin and find the Christian life to be a great burden.
Some folks look with dread upon the thought of having to wage a continual warfare with self and worldly lusts. That is because they do not as yet know anything about the joy of victory; they have experienced only defeat. But it isn’t so doleful a thing to battle constantly, when there is continual victory. (Ibid.)
Next, Waggoner asked the question, “Now how may we gain continual victories in our spiritual warfare?” Then he quoted John.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)
Waggoner was very clear that through the Holy Spirit complete victory is gained.
How the Spirit works in a man to subdue his passions, and to make him victorious over pride, envy, and selfishness, is known only to the Spirit; it is sufficient for us to know that it is done, and will be done in everyone who wants that work wrought in him, above all else, and who trusts God for the performance of it. (Lessons on Faith, 5)
It is only through daily experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit that the Spirit will be able to do this work of victory in us. Waggoner connected the work of the Spirit with Christ working in the believer.
Here is the secret of strength. It is Christ, the Son of God, the one to whom all power in Heaven and earth is given, who does the work. If he lives in the heart to do the work, is it boasting to say that continual victories may be gained? Yes, it is boasting; but it is boasting in the Lord, and that is allowable. (Ibid., 4)
Experiencing complete victory through Christ and through the Spirit are inseparably connected because Christ lives in the believer through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Day 18 Prayer Focus: Pray for
- The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
- Revival for yourself and the church
- God to lead the church and to experience complete victory over sin through faith in Christ
- Those on your prayer list
Day 18 Going Deeper Discussion Questions: (based on pages 61 to 63 of “Righteousness by Faith” by Dennis Smith [pages 81 to 83 of the PDF version])
- What are the victories to be gained according to E.J. Waggoner?
- What is the difference between presumption and faith? If you say “I am victorious over sin”, does it make you presumptuous?
- Have you experienced the victory over sin? How do you understand with 1 John 5:4-5 “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God”.
- How can you have victory through Christ? Read Desire of Ages, The Passover visit. pg. 83.
Day 18 Heart preparation/challenge:
- Throughout the day ask God to remind you what He is speaking to you in today’s reading and going deeper discussions and to help you to apply them in your life.
- Read “Righteousness by Faith” by Dennis Smith pages 63 to 64 (pages 83 to 84 of the PDF file) in preparation for Day 19.
- Prayerfully answer Day 19 discussion questions in preparation to share on Day 19 Going Deeper segment of united prayer.
