VICTORY
Too many believers get up each day defeated – that is certainly not what God had in mind. We are to get up each day needing the Lord. We are to get up each day seeking divine guidance.
We are to get up each day knowing our flesh will let us down, but as the following Scriptures and many other passages tell us, the Christian life is one of victory.
1 Corinthians 15:54 "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Even the grave has no victory when it involves a Believer.
1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
vs. 57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Through Christ, we are more than conquerors!
1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
Some might ask, "What about all the evil in the world?" To them, I would respond, "I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father... “ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2:13, 17) In the Scriptures, we are called OVERCOMERS not defeated losers.
The child of God is promised victory in this life and in the life to come.
Romans 8:35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"
vs. 36 “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
vs. 37” Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
“…in all these things we are more than conquerors…” The defeated, hopeless mentality of mankind that glorifies the loser and elevates those who cannot go on is crazy. The world has no hope, but Christ is all about hope, promise, and blessings. Of course the world is hopeless, they have no resurrected Christ – but we do!
Wars are won by believing that a way is possible. Athletic victories in which someone came from behind and won the game are countless. The victorious men and woman who had unbelievable disadvantages are located across the globe. When Jesus is added to the victory, it takes on an entirely new perspective!
I listened to a Christian man speaking to a crowded auditorium. He stood there, well, almost stood, as he had no legs and no hands or arms, yet he spoke of the victory that is in Christ. He spoke with power and joy!
I watched a godly man in our church, roll his wheelchair to our church flower beds. He slid off his wheelchair into the dirt and spent hours pulling weeds and dragging a garbage can behind him as he served his church. Yes, trouble comes into our lives, but Jesus is alive and well, no matter what life has thrown our way.
I heard the preaching of a Marine who had his legs blown off by a land mine. In his dress uniform, he told of how the mariners were afraid in the storm with Jonah. (He assured us that those men were not Marines, but Navy; for Marines were not afraid of anything.) Laughter was everywhere. He preached victory all across America; he did not preach a defeated, woe-is-me kind of faith. Do not let this world sell you their hopelessness and pitiful life. We are assured that we “…can do all things through Christ."
Just what is it that Christ cannot carry us through? What trial is too big for God to help? Who can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus?
Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
I am pretty sure the Bible is true when it records, "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)
He does give victory; He does bring peace and strength. God is good!
Pastor