Victorious Christian Life
Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.
Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(2 Cor. 2:14; 1 Cor. 15:57)
The Lord has promised us a victorious life. We are not born or born again for defeat. God wants us to experience the peaceful life (Isaiah 30: 15), the overflowing life (John 7: 37-39), the abundant life (John 10: 10), the joyful life (John 15: 11), the liberated life (Romans 6: 7) and the triumphant life (2 Corinthians 2: 14). The victorious life the Lord gives us is a life of victory over SIN, SELF and SATAN. We have to receive this victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Though this victory is a free gift given us, we need to know the following secrets to walk continuously in victory.
1. Victory through SUPPLICATION
Prayer is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. When we pray we acknowledge our dependence on God. We admit that we are helpless without him. The Bible says that no man can prevail by his/her own strength (1 Samuel 2:9). Victory comes from the Lord (Pro. 21:31; 1 Chro. 29:11; Psalm 75:6). When we seek God earnestly and commit our cause into His hands, He will perform mighty miracles on our behalf and give us victory. King Asa and King Jehoshaphat understood that and their prayers brought great victories in the battle (2 Chro. 14:11-15; 20: 1-26).
As you read the book of Acts, there is the shout of victory on every page. The early Christians learned how to pray and they saturated their lives with prayer and God gave them continuous victory. Many today are failing in our battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The reason for our failure can be primarily and fundamentally traced to lack of prayer. Prayer always brings us victory. The devil trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees. Jesus said, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38). Paul wrote, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
2. Victory through SCRIPTURES
Apostle John wrote, ‘Young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one (1 John 2:14). God has given us the Bible which is a powerful tool to overcome sin and Satan. The Word of God is the sword. It is the only offensive weapon in the Christian armour to attack the enemy (Eph. 6:17). We must read, meditate and saturate ourselves with the word of God. The enemy will unconditionally surrender to God’s word.
The devil will not be afraid if you keep the Bible in your hand or under your head. The Word must be in your heart (Deut. 6:6; 11:18; Psa. 37:31; 40:8). Jesus had the word in his heart and he defeated Satan in the wilderness by saying ‘It is written’ (Matt. 4: 4, 7, 10). The Word in the heart guarantees decisive victory over sin also (Psalm 119:11). God instructed Joshua to meditate and obey the Book of the Law in order to be successful (Joshua 1:8). If you will read God’s Word, memorize God’s Word, obey God’s Word and share God’s Word then you will be equipped to walk in victory all the time.
3. Victory through SINGING
Praise brings victory in our lives. God inhabits the praises of his people (Ps. 22:3). You cannot praise God and not see wonders in your life. Those who continually praise God will see uncommon victories in their lives. King Jehoshaphat knew this secret and applied this weapon of praise and got a great victory when three mightier nations came against him to fight with. He appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures for ever.’
As they began to praise the Lord, the Lord caused the enemies to fight each other and destroy themselves (2 Chronicles 20:19-26). This is the same victory the Lord wants to give to us when we come before Him in praise and worship. Praising God also gives us victory over discouragement and depression (Isaiah 61:3) in this journey of life.
4. Victory through SPIRIT OF GOD
The Bible declares, “When the enemy comes like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a banner against him (Isaiah 59:19). Spiritual warfare cannot be fought with human or carnal weapons (2 Cor. 10:4). We must rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit to resist the attacks of the enemy. The Holy Spirit gives us “power from on high” (Luke 24:49) and delivers us from every bondage (Luke 4:18; 2 Cor. 3:17).
The “deeds of the flesh” are ugly and displeasing to God: “immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these” (Galatians 5:19-21). If these are the qualities that characterize your life today, remember that you are a child of God and you don’t need to live that way! In contrast, the Spirit of the Lord offers to fill your life with “the fruit of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). We become more than conquerors through the spirit of God (Romans 8:37)!
5. Victory through STEADFAST FAITH
The Bible says, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). God gives us the victory through our faith in Christ. Our faith must be in God and his word and this faith will overcome the obstacles and challenges and bring us the victory. We must not allow doubt and unbelief to rob us of our victory through Christ. Little boy David won a great victory over Goliath because he had a tremendous faith in the big God (1 Samuel 17: 45-47).
Our faith in the promises of God will bring great miracles and victories in our life. God has promised that no weapon formed against us will prosper because this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord (Isaiah 54:17). Victory is our inheritance and birthright given to us by God as we serve Him. We must claim this inheritance of ours in every battle that we face. Paul writes “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16).
6. Victory through SAINTS’ FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship of saints is indispensable for victorious Christian living. Nothing is more dangerous in the Christian life than to separate oneself from other Christians. Many today have adopted the I-and-my-God policy and have been devoured by the roaring lion. The sheep that strays from the flock gets easily devoured by the wolf. The chick that strays from other chicks under the hen gets easily snatched away by the eagle. This speaks of safety in fellowship. Referring to the strength in the fellowship of saints, Solomon wrote, “Two are better than one…Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him’ (Eccl. 4:9, 12). Daniel and his friends were able to boldly say no to idolatry and denial of their faith because they mutually strengthened one another in the hostile land (Dan. 2:17, 18; 3: 16-18). Daniel 6:28 says that Daniel enjoyed success and victory throughout his life! Hallelujah!
