WHAT IS VICTORY?

By Ken Fletcher

 

There is a misconception by a number of  Christians concerning the overcoming life of faith. There are those who think that if one is walking in faith, he will not have to go through problems and trials or experience trouble in his life. Then, over on the other side of the road, some actually believe that, because trouble and problems have come their way, they are out of the will of God.

Other people believe that one must endure and put up with the trouble, not resisting it’s pressure. Because of  their belief, these precious ones are overwhelmed with problems. They feel that there is no hope for change in their life. Many of these dear people have been led to believe that problems and trials actually come from God directly or indirectly. So, they simply resign themselves to just do the best that they can and live with it. “After all,” they say, “who would want to go against the will of God?”

In this article, it is my intention to deal primarily with what it means to have victory in the midst of  problems, trouble and trials. But, not necessarily the problems that are brought on by willful disobedience to the Word of God. It is true that if you continue to disobey the Word of God, it puts you over into the devil’s territory. If you are in disobedience today and you know it, take some sound advice, get it right with God as fast as you can! 1 John 1:9 is for Christians! Slam the door on the devil that you had previously opened by your disobedience. There is forgiveness and cleansing for you! Victory is available to the person who is willing and obedient.

What is the truth concerning problems, trouble and trials? In John 16:33 Jesus said, “These things have I  spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: But be of  good cheer;  I have overcome the world.” Paul the apostle, speaking of his life and ministry said in 2  Timothy 3:10-11, “But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings,  such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me!” (NASB)

The Bible teaches that God is not the author of trouble. James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of  lights, with  whom is  no  variableness, neither  shadow of  turning.” In John 10:10, Jesus reveals the great contrast that exists between God and the devil. “The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” In Acts 10:38, we see clearly the will of God in action. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”  Always remember this: God is not your problem. Never, ever!

We face trouble, problems and trials because of this present evil world in which we live. We face them because Satan, with all of his cohorts, are here too! As you know, this world is in a fallen state. The curse is in full operation all over the world. The creation has been perverted from the original order that God had designed in the beginning. The devil hates Christians and what we stand for. He attacks and brings trouble to believers to distract and discourage them. Satan is the deceiver who does everything he can to stop Christians and their message.

No where in the Bible does God promise that you will not have problems come your way in this life. Neither do trials and attacks from the enemy mean that you are out of the will of God. If that were true, then the great apostle Paul would have been constantly out of the will of God. He had trouble, and lots of it! Even though trouble came, God was faithful to deliver him out of it ALL! God is faithful to deliver you too! Jesus plainly told us that as long as we are in this present world system there would be trouble. But, thank God, because Jesus has already overcome the world, we have victory here and now!

What is victory? First and foremost of all, victory is a person. Jesus is victory! There would be no victory at all, for any person at any time, if it had not been for Jesus and what He did for humanity through His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. Jesus the messiah, is victory personified!

What is victory? It is a place. The place you are right now. If you are born again, you’re in the Kingdom of God! The Kingdom is in you! Jesus said in the scripture above that, because He has already overcome the world, we should have peace and be of good cheer. Friend, Jesus won the victory FOR you and I. He did not need it, we did! What this means to you today is no matter what you may be going through in your life right now, if you have Jesus, you have victory! 1 John 4:4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” We have the greater one in us now to put us over in any situation!

What a wonderful joy it is to know that we don’t have to try to attain victory, we possess it! Yes dear friend, before the trouble comes, and even right in the middle of the adverse circumstances, because we have Jesus, WE HAVE THE VICTORY! Praise God forever!

Now, I want you to look at 1 John 5:4. It says; “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” This is the victory that overcomes every problem and every trial. What is the victory? Our faith! Our faith in what? The Word of God, which reveals the fact that Jesus has overcome the world. He has overcome! He has won! Because Jesus won, we are born overcomers through the new birth and our union with Him!  The fact is, you are born to win. You’re a child of victory. Believe that! It’s true!

Romans 8:17 tells us that we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. What Jesus has, we have. I want you to get this fact down into your spirit: because Jesus has already won the victory, we have already won as well!

To others around us it may appear that we are going under. As they look on the outward appearances, they may think that there is no way we can win. But, way down, on the inside of our being, there is a quiet confidence, a certainty of our triumph over the affairs of life. Winners win on the inside first, then it shows up on the outside!

The devil wants you to focus your attention on the trouble. Yes friend, Satan wants those problems of yours to look huge and mountainous. The reason that the devil magnifies problems in your mind is to get your focus off of the truth of God’s Word! He is afraid of  truth. He is even more afraid of you standing on the truth!

Listen friend, you must know that when trouble and problems come, you’re not TRYING to get the victory – YOU ALREADY HAVE IT! What does this mean to you? It means that you already know how things are going to turn out before they begin. It means that you can win every time if you don’t quit. You possess the Lord’s victory right now!

What is victory? It is a destination. Your destination! You are destined to win! In Webster’s dictionary the word “destined” is defined: “to decree before hand: to predetermine.” In your own life, decree before hand your victory. In your heart, predetermine the outcome of things based upon what you know is true according to the Word. Victory is your destiny. Victory is not only where you are now, but, it is where you will arrive!

The wonderful thing that I want to get across to you today is you don’t have to wait until the end of the battle to find out if you have victory or not. You can shout the victory right in the middle of the battle! Shout the victory when it looks like your going under and there is no way out! Tell the devil, “I have the victory NOW because Jesus has already won it for me.” When the pressure is high and the trial is hot – hold up what you have – the victor’s cup!

It’s time for you to put things in the proper prospective. It is; GREAT BIG MIGHTY GOD, little devil, little problem. Now friend, that is right thinking! That is right believing! Even if you are knocked down repeatedly by trouble in your life, if you refuse to give up, you can not loose. Why? Because your hooked up by blood covenant to the absolute winner – the Great Victorious King of kings, Jesus the Son of God!

No matter what you may be facing in your life today, whether it is sickness, poverty and lack, depression and anxiety, or whatever, you can stand on God’s forever settled Word and proclaim, “I am the victor. I am the winner. Because of Jesus, I have overcome!” There is no devil, no problem or sickness that can stand up against the truth of God’s Word as you appropriate it by faith. Victory is Jesus, it is where you are right now, and it is your destination!

Put on the truth. Clothe yourself with the Word of victory. Put on the Word of truth concerning the problem that you face. Find the scriptures. Fortify yourself with them. Then you will be able to start acting like the victor that you are. Stand tall with your Lord – the devil’s head under your feet! In the midst of your fiery trial, take hold of the victory sword in your hand. Yes, take the Word of God and stand in overcoming faith! THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD, EVEN OUR FAITH!