OUR VICTORY IN CHRIST

Anita Clark – Pastor, Carbondale, KS

The words of an old Hymn - Christ The Solid Rock says:

“My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus name.”

Notice the phrase in the song, “But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.” In II Chronicles 32:8, King Hezekiah of Judah spoke words of comfort to the people when they were besieged by Sennacherib, King of Assyria. Hezekiah encouraged them to trust in the Lord, saying in Vs. 7-8, “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed, for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him, for there be more with us that with him, With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”

Apostle Paul says in Galatians 1:3-5 “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Paul speaking of the “last days” in II Timothy 3:13 says, ‘But evil seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” If we watch the news on T.V. we see awful, frightening and evil things. Satan is having his “hayday.” Corruption and everything that once was called sin is permissible in society today.

Our victory is - placing our faith in the Lord our God. II Corinthians 4:16 gives us the secret of victory over all things we go through. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, While we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” This is the true victory over all our trials and tests, keeping our eyes elevated to the eternal things - i.e. “We shall reign with Christ some day, when all these trials, tests and illnesses is over.” II Corinthians 10:7 says, “Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?” This is a good question to ask ourselves. If this is happening in our lives, it may be why we have a lack of victory. I Samuel 16:7, God spoke to Samuel, “...the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.”

In Mark 8:22-26, they brought a blind man to Jesus. Jesus healed the man and when the man looked up he began to see, but not clearly. “Jesus put His hands on him again upon his eyes, and made him to look up and he was restored, and saw clearly.” This is the way to gain victory over our flesh, the world, and Satanic attacks. Look up! The victory comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.

I was asked one time, “What does it mean for a Christian to gain victory?” The word “victory” in the Greek, used in various places in the Bible means, “deliverance over, to triumph over.” I Corinthians 15:57 states, “But thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We learn to rise over the test by God’s strength and grace. I John 5:4 says, “This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith.” II Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be unto God which always causes us to triumph in Christ.”  The word “triumph” in the Greek speaks of a “victory parade, or a procession. To conquer, to give victory.” In olden days this is what conquerors of armies or enemies did after winning the battle. They paraded through the cities or vicinity celebrating their victory. Paul says in Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” I John 5:4 declares, “...this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Apostle Paul says in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

In Revelation 2-3, each of the churches spoken to by the Lord Jesus Christ were rewarded in various ways, if they would overcome or triumph over their situation or sin. In Revelation 3:21 we see Christ’s promise to those who overcome fully and are faithful in yielding and walking with God, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also have overcome and am set down with my Father in His throne.” In chapter 4 we see the Lord sitting upon His throne, and 24 elders sitting on thrones with Him and 4 Living creatures worshiping and casting their crowns at His feet. In chapter 5:8-10, it says these are “redeemed out of every kindred, nation and tongue.” There will be a day when the Lord will reward His people for their faithfulness to Him, and for gaining the victory through Him in all their trials and tests of this life.