Victory - having conquered an enemy in battle, successful in any struggle, triumphant
It is interesting to me that the word battle is in this definition. Although we are not fighting a physical battle as did Gideon and Jehosophat, we are indeed fighting a spiritual battle.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Next, I decided I needed to know if this was something we could attain in our earthly life and if so, what did God say about it.
The following paragraphs will contain lots of scripture to solidify these truths in your heart. As you will see, scripture is necessary. It is our weapon.
Here we go:
Romans 8:37 In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us.
1 Corinthians 10:13 You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations.
1 Corinthians 15:56-57 . . . . the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14a I am grateful that God ALWAYS makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory.
2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations.
1 John 5:4 For whoever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (This word faith will come up later.)
Are we settled now that God wants us to achieve victory in this lifetime? He says we can have victory in everything and He will lead us. This will be an ongoing process in our lives.
Let's talk battle. How do we win a spiritual battle? The same way we win a physical battle. The Lord is our commander and he provides our armor and weapons.
Ephesians 6:13-18 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
Having Girded Your Waist With Truth
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The word declares it; do you believe it?
Who are we anyway?
2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.
Ezekiel 36:26 For here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. (The Message)
We are no longer slaves to sin.
Romans 6:1-6 (The Message)
So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? 2 I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? 3 Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace - a new life in a new land! 4 When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. 5 Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country. 6 Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life - no longer at sin's every beck and call.
(I suggest reading Romans 6-8 The Message in its entirety)
Now you may not feel like this is true, but this is not about feelings. It is the word of God. It is truth. The enemy's weapon is to lie to us. We need to know what God says about us so that we do not fall into deception.
So, if many (like myself) know these scriptures - why is there so little victory?
Helmet of Salvation
We might begin by settling the issue of repentance, humility and belief. (I relate the helmet of salvation to our repentance, belief and humility because we are saved by our repentance , our humility to confess our need for God and our belief in Him).
Repentance - worldly or Godly?
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Let's own up. Some people enjoy their sin (at least they think they do). They make excuses to ease their conscience. They are not really wanting to give it up. These people are usually repentant when they get caught. This repentance is a fear of consequence or exposure. This form of repentance won't last.
Godly sorrow says - this displeases God. God's will is best for me. I trust Him. This produces lasting change. We cannot change for our spouse, our church etc. We can change for God and ourselves.
Humility
We understand that we are saved by grace. It is a gift from God. Unfortunately for most of us, after we are saved by grace, we take on the job of sanctifying ourselves.
Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
When we come to the end of ourselves - trying, failing, trying, failing - we can finally realize there is no hope in ourselves.
Romans 7:24 (The Message) I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
Everything we need is in Christ. Desperation that leads to God is a great thing.
Romans 7:25 continues: The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.
Just remember, this is so easily forgotten and we must learn this over and over again.
King Jehosophat understood this: 2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Again, it is my suggestion that you read all of Romans 6-8 The Message
(See my blog post "Jehosophat")
(Gideon knew this as well. See my blog post "Do It Afraid").
Belief
John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe (cleave, trust, rely) on him whom he hath sent.
First off, there is more to believing than just knowing.
James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
In 1860, Charles Blondin pushed a wheelbarrow across the Niagara Falls on a tightrope. He then asked someone in the crowd, "Do you believe I could get back over again?" "Yes" shouted the crowd. Then he said, "Who would like to get into the wheelbarrow?" It is this kind of belief we are talking about. Can I place my life, my future, my concerns on the Word?
How then, do we believe?
Now, we believe with our hearts and we follow up with our mouths. (more to come on the mouth later)
Romans 10:9-10 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
The Sword of the Spirit, Which is the Word of God
Now, in John 1:1 Jesus is called the Word. So, it is important that we understand the power of the word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Psalm 119:11 and 119:30
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 107:20 and 119:28
He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction. My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.
Isaiah 5:13 and 55:11
Therefore My people go into captivity without knowing it and because they have no knowledge of God. So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me producing any effect, but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Hear this - God's people go into captivity, because they have a lack of knowledge. We must spend time in the Word to know what God desires for us, what He promises He will do for us. We cannot claim anything unless we are aware of what is ours.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Ephesians 5:2
He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water.
Hebrews 4:12
What God has said isn’t only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.
The Promises
Closely related to the word are the promises.
Numbers 23:19 God is not a human who lies or a mortal who changes his mind.
When he says something, he will do it; when he makes a promise, he will fulfill it.
1 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Hebrews 6:17,18 So when God wanted to prove for certain that his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow. God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.
2 Peter 1:4 God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.
In my personal search for truth over time, God has shown me tools for attaining victory. With this has also come many chances to practice what I have discovered. One incident was when my son was young. There had been several bike thefts in our neighborhood. We left for the weekend and my son's bike was on our back porch. When we returned, I noticed it was gone. I was furious. I felt God bringing to remembrance several verses from the Old Testament. Psalm 146:7 God executes justice for the oppressed. Psalm 1:18 But sinners will fall into their own traps. I started reciting them out loud in my kitchen. This did not come easy for me, but God was teaching me something - the power of His word. Seven days later, a women and her son knocked on our door. All she said to me was "Is this your bike?"
Taking the Shield of Faith
Webster's defines faith as firm in adhering to promises.
Faith, just like love is an action word. You can give love when you don't feel like it, you can exhibit faith when you don't have any. You must not wait for more faith; use what you have and it will grow.
Matthew 13:58 And Jesus did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight.
1 John 5:4 For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even OUR FAITH.
Matthew 17:20 If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
God does not answer because of our performance, but rather our faith, which is a gift from Him. It is God's grace working through faith.
Romans 4:4-5 Money paid to workers isn’t a gift. It is something they earn by working. But you cannot make God accept you because of something you do. God accepts sinners only because they have faith in him.
Romans 4:16 Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace.
1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Be careful not to put your faith in your "level of" faith. Put your faith in God.
And finally, Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus (NOT YOU), the author and finisher of our faith.
Our Minds
Our old nature was governed by the flesh (which brings death, by the way) and the deceiver, Satan. John 8:44 says the enemy is a liar and the father of lies. Our old nature walked in lies, things that drifted in to our minds, learned or repeated thoughts). Now we are to begin the process of becoming a new creature through the transformation of our mind. This doesn't just happen. THIS TAKE WORK. It will take effort but will get easier. It is a necessary part of our walk with Christ. We cannot skip this step.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
The carnal mind brings death, but now we have the Spirit and the spiritual mind brings life and peace..
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.
Romans 7:23-25 But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do. What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die? Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me.
The Amplified says "at war against the law of my mind (my reason)"
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 We are not fighting our war using human weapons. Our weapons are not physical. We refute arguments and theories and reasonings that come against the true knowledge of God and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ.
Understand this - Satan has no power over you except what you give him by failing to take every thought captive. There is a huge battle going on for our minds. We have little control over our emotions, but we can take control over our thought life - believe it or not. I always think of the strength of Scarlet O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. She was a strong woman and took control of her thoughts. Remember the famous line - “I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.”
Our thoughts determine our feelings, which in turn determine our responses. The order of scripture should be to know the truth (Jesus and His word), believe it (a conscious choice - not a feeling), and walk according to it (letting you emotions become product of your obedience).
Colossians 3:10 We have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Christ.
Ephesians 4:17-18, 23 Don't walk with a futile mind with dark understanding because of ignorance and blindness. . . . . to be made new in the attitude of your minds.
We need knowledge to have the right mind set. Renewing the mind takes persistence, but as we mature and grow in truth, it becomes easier to reject lies and come into agreement with God. Truth is most often used to mean being in accord with fact or reality. Our reality is God and His word.
Our Mouths
Psalm 119:1 is a promise from God. In the amplified version it says this: Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled (the upright, truly sincere, and blameless) in the way [of the revealed will of God], who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord (the whole of God’s revealed will).
Exodus 16:8 Moses said, “Since it will be God who gives you meat for your meal in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, it’s God who will have listened to your complaints against him. Who are we in all this? You haven’t been complaining to us—you’ve been complaining to God!”
In Egypt, the Israelites were complaining about the provision. It was a sign of their lack of trust in God's way of doing things. Remember, when we complain about our circumstances, we are really telling God we don't like the way He is doing things. This puts things into perspective for me. I don't want to complain against God. I want to "order my conversation to God's revealed word", then I will be blessed as God says.
Our mouth really professes what we believe. We should make it come into alignment with what we know is true about God. The book of Proverbs has lots to say about the mouth:
10:11 The words of good people are a source of life, but evil hides behind the words of the wicked.
13:2-3 A good man eats good from the fruit of his mouth, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
14:23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.
15:1 A kind answer soothes angry feelings, but harsh words stir them up.
16:23-24 The mind of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning and persuasiveness to his lips.
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.
16:28 A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].
27:15-16 The steady dripping of rain and the nagging of a wife are one and the same. It’s easier to catch the wind or hold olive oil in your hand than to stop a nagging wife.
Psalm 64:2-3 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words,
Matthew 12:36-37 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
In the 19th chapter of the book of Revelation, Christ comes back to earth. It is interesting that in verse 15 of this chapter, it declares that out of His mouth a sharp sword went out to attack the nations.In Revelation 9:19, the power of the horses that were sent to destroy was in their mouths and in their tails.
Praying Always With All Prayer
This one is easy. We all know that as Christians, we are called to prayer.
John 15:7 Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
1 John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
With All Perseverance (Patience)
Patience is something we learn, but also choose.
Psalm 6:25 My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.
Isaiah 30:18 And therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure.
Hebrews 6:12 Then you would never be lazy. You would be following the example of those who had faith and were patient until God kept his promise to them.
Hebrews 6:15 Then after Abraham had been very patient, he was given what God had promised.
Trials
Isaiah 48:10 - Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
1 Peter 1:7 So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered
Hebrews 12:5, 7 My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
Verse 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Do not run from trials but embrace them knowing that God is perfecting you and making you stronger. I see many Christians who are discouraged because they have not been delivered from sickness, depression or addictions. They wonder if their faith is not strong enough or maybe God does not really care. Deliverance and healing will come, but maybe not as quickly as we like. In my own life, God taught me many valuable things that I would not have sought him for were it not for depression. God wants to deal with the disease not the symptoms, let us use whatever He sees fit to completely heal us.
Being Watchful (Expectation)
Lastly, I would like to share something the Lord has been speaking to me recently - Expectation.
Expectation - a prospect of future good or profit
When the farmer in 1 Corinthians 9:10 was plowing his field, he was expecting a harvest. I find that many times I am hoping, but have no certainty, preparing myself in case the answer does not come. This is not expectation.
Isaiah 30:18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
I believe God was showing me how I always think He is waiting on me - to do something - to be more obedient - to pray more - trust more. At this time, He wants to convey to me that I need to wait and expect Him to act, to move on my behalf.
God promises that those who wait for him will not be disappointed ( Isa 49:23 ).
Thanks Lorraine for making this so clear. I love your story about your son's stolen bike, and your personal example, relating to that, of how God spoke to you through His word which you previously tucked away in your heart. Love it!
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