Victory in Christ

Most Church-going believers talk about the victory of the Cross, the resurrection and the ultimate victory of Jesus when He comes again in glory. They hear many sermons concerning these topics from preachers and Pastors in their Local Church. But in reality you will not find many of them speaking about living in personal victory in Christ. Why? Is it because of unbelief? Do they have the right kind of faith which believes the right doctrines, but makes little difference to their daily lives?

John said, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4, 5, NKJV)?

Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

We are born of God and we overcome the world just as Jesus overcame the world. And we overcome the tribulations that are in the world. Therefore if you believe Jesus is the Son of God you can overcome whatever problems confront you. You can be victorious no matter what the world does to you.

Let us consider some areas of personal victory in Christ:

Victory over Opposition

The believer can expect opposition because those of the world live by an entirely different set of values to his own. In fact, Jesus said the Christian is blessed when he meets with opposition, even of an unjust kind:

"Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven" (Luke 6:22, 23, NIV, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. It certainly takes a man of faith to react by leaping for joy when confronted with such opposition.

Paul, being a man of faith, could sit in prison and write to the Thessalonians telling them to rejoice in the Lord always. He teaches that we are to give thanks in all circumstances, because this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:16 - 18).

2. Jesus wants us to keep our eyes not on the opposition, but on the Kingdom. We cannot expect understanding, or even justice, from a fallen world. But we know that Jesus has perfect understanding of every predicament in which we can find ourselves. We can be sure that the Lord will always treat us with justice, love and mercy.

3. Jesus emphasizes that our reward will be in heaven (Read also Luke 6:35, 36).

Love your enemies

Jesus tells us to love our enemies and do good to them:

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27, 28).

Love, do good, bless and pray! What a contrast to the way people usually react to opposition and hatred. The natural reaction is to complain, return the hate, feeling bitter and resentful, demanding revenge and punishment for those who have caused the problem. All such reactions belong to the world and not to God's Kingdom.

Victory through Forgiveness

Life seems full of problems. Some of these may be of our own making. We have disobeyed the Lord and our sin has created difficulties we would not have had otherwise.

Problems are often people and people are often problems. We live in an imperfect world among imperfect people. The sins of others can influence our lives, sometimes in significant and even disastrous ways. By the same token, our sins can have serious repercussions in others' lives especially those who are close to us at home, work or in the Church. Even unbelievers believe that sin is a social disease with social consequences.

Love expressed in forgiveness

Love conquers all. This is the Christian message. Jesus' love on the Cross overcame sin, sickness and even death. He sends His disciples into the world with the message of love.

Peter said, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love overs over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8, NIV).

I believe at the heart of love is forgiveness. You could not know God's love for you without experiencing His forgiveness. It is our Christian duty to extend that forgiveness to others, whoever they may be, regardless of what they have done. This is the heart of the Gospel message!

The message of forgiveness is expressed through the Lord's Prayer:

"Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matt. 6:12, NIV).

Mercy and forgiveness

Jesus gives us the parable of the unmerciful (unforgiving) servant to reinforce His teaching on mercy and forgiveness (Matt. 18:23 - 35). He tells the story in response to Peter's question as to how often he should forgive his brother. He suggests seven times as being appropriate. But Jesus responded: "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matt. 18:22) - signifying an infinite number.

As the Lord has had mercy on us, we should live with an attitude towards others of love, forgiveness and mercy.

Victory in Relationships

We are to forgive others. We are also to encourage them and build them up in love. Paul gives clear, practical instruction about relationships:

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another ... Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep...." (Romans 12:9 - 21).

"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8).

"Let all that you do be done with love" (1 Cor. 16:14).

If we are to do what Paul said, we shall have victory in our relationships.

God is Love

John said, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8).

John further said, "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him" (1 John 4:16).

Therefore, when Jesus baptized you in His Holy Spirit, He is, in effect baptized you with His love. He flooded your heart and life with His love. If you think you lack such love, ask Jesus to fill you with His Spirit. He promises that everyone who asks receives (Matt. 7:8).

Paul said, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, ..." (Eph. 5:1, 2, NKJV).

This love is a response to God's love for you. If you are an imitator of God you are an imitator of His love. If you walk in love you will love others and merciful to others just as the Lord loves you and merciful to you. This is the relationship that God wants you to have.

Victory over Oppression and Depression

Oppression can take different forms. There are the times when your personal worth and faith seem under attack. The devil wants you to believe you are no-good, a spiritual failure, that God does not want anything to do with you. He might suggest you have failed so miserably even your ultimate salvation is far from certain or secure.

If you listen to the devil you will lose all your confidence before God and then you willl feel trapped by your circumstances. Everything seems hopeless, you feel helpless and the Lord seems far removed from your concerns. Oppression is like a rope with which the devil wants to bind you. In actual fact you should bind him instead of being bound by him.

An extreme form of the state of Oppression cause Depression. The person has believed so many of the devil's lies, and has thus become so negative in his thinking; he no longer knows how to be positive. His eyse are not on the truth of God's Word, but on himself and his feelings. He becomes self-centered with self-pity, and becomes over emotional in his thinking, action and reaction.


Freedom in Christ


You can expect the devil to oppose you, but you do not need to allow him to oppress you, to make you feel that either he or your circumstances are on top of you. Listen to what Jesus Himself said:


"Therefore if the son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).

Paul said, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Gal. 5:1, NIV).


The enemy even tries to oppress you through your Christian activitie. He wants to limit the freedom of the Holy Spirit among God's people, through tradition, conformity and legalism.


The Gospel message is damaged severely by religious prejudice, self-righteousness, denominationalism and judgmental attitued towards other believers.


Be on your guard


One way of discerning the voice of the enemy is to remember the following:


1. The devil accuses you; Jesus does not.


2. He tries to condemn you; Jesus does not.


3. He undermines faith; Jesus gives faith.


4. He diverts your attention on to your problem; the Holy Spirit directs you to Jesus.


5. He blames God; Jesus offers help.


Victory over Temptation


It is not a sin to be tempted. What you do in response to the temptation is what matters.


Paul said, "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Cor. 10:12, 13, NIV).


Here are some statements of truth:


1. In the context, Paul was admonishing the Corinthians not to be proud and arrogant like the children of Israel who tested (tempted) Christ in the wilderness. Even when you are standing firm you need to be on the watch.


2. Whatever temptation you suffer is experienced by many others. The devil plays the same cards again and again, because he knows the weak, vulnerable points at which to attack.


3. God is in control. He will never allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. He does not want you to fall from grace.


4. No matter what the temptation, the Lord will always provide you with an escape route. God loves you and He will not allow the devil to attack you in such a way that you have to yield to his demands.


5. God ensures that you are able to withstand the temptation and you can be victorious.


The devil is the tempter, not God


James said, "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, give birth to death" (James 1:13 - 15, NIV).


Here are some statements of truth:


1. God allows the enemy to tempt you because temptation exposes your vulnerable area. You see the ways in which you need to trust God, and be built up in His strength. But God Himself does not tempt you. He wants you to stand firm in faith against temptation.


2. Temptation does not create sin; it smply exposes the sinful desires which exist within you. It exposes the fleshly desire that is in your heart.


3. If you allow evil desires to entice you away from God's purposes, you will inevitably sin.


Your help comes from Jesus


Jesus can help you to overcome temptation


"Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" (Heb. 2:18, NIV).