The Lord is faithful to bring VICTORY in the midst of the many battles of life that we face!
Yesterday, as I was cleaning the debri in our yard following a major typhoon we experienced this week, I was attacked by big, red ants. Red tree ants here in the Philippines are mean, biting, stinging ants that are very vicious & hurtful. I had pruned some lower limbs on a tree that had loads of these ants and so there were lots of red ants everywhere, including on me – stinging and biting me! I had to fight! They acted like they wanted to eat me up, but I needed to fight them off! Although I had power & authority over them, I needed to do something to get rid of them – it didn’t happen without a fight. I had to get on the warpath against those ants! It was kinda like a war-dance out there in our front yard trying to brush them off, smashing and squashing the ants that were viciously clinging to my body and clothes, attacking me!
It reminds me of I Timothy 6:12 – “fight the good fight of faith...” We are often attacked by spiritual enemies trying to destroy, distract, and stop us. The Bible says that “faith is the victory” (I John 5:4,5). Let’s keep steadfast in our faith. Don’t let anything or anyone stop or destroy us. Let’s keep fighting! We hold the keys of victory through Jesus!
WE HAVE VICTORY THROUGH JESUS
I CORINTHIANS 15:57 – But thanks be to God, who gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 1:19 – They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”
Jeremiah 1:19 is a prophetic promise for us to prayerfully claim in these last days, in the midst of the fierce spiritual battles that are raging, world-wide. Although people may try to cheat & lie, participate in fraud & corruption, kill, steal & destroy and do all kinds of devilish works — the Lord promises us victory & deliverance! Let’s claim it by faith, in Jesus name! The truth will prevail!!
MISSIONARY STORY
JOHN PATON
John Paton was a mighty hero of faith. He was a trail-blazing missionary in the New Hebrides Islands in the South Pacific. He told a story about one night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed throughout that terror-filled night that God would deliver them.
The next morning they were amazed & astonished when they realized that the natives had gone away. They had no idea where they went, or why they had left. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them.
The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men with you there?” Paton knew no men were present–but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds or an army of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
This story illustrates how God provides angels to protect and care for His believers. It is similar to the one told in 2 Kings 6:17: “Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
IT IS FINISHED!
John 19:30 – …He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
I John 3:8 – For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil!
The finished work on the cross included COMPLETE VICTORY!
DEATH SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY
Isaiah 25:8 – (Prophetic of Jesus) He will swallow up death in VICTORY; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces…
I Corinthians 15:54-57 – “Death is swallowed up in VICTORY. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your VICTORY?” But thanks be to God, who gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (VICTORY THROUGH HIS SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS), and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
2 Timothy 1:10 – Jesus… abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
JESUS ALREADY TRIUMPHED & continues to triumph OVER SIN, FLESH, & THE DEVIL
Colossians 2:14-15 – … having forgiven you all trespasses… He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to THE CROSS. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, TRIUMPHING over them in it.
2 Corinthians 2:14 – Thanks be to God who ALWAYS causes us to TRIUMPH in Christ…
Revelation 1:18 – (Jesus says)…I am alive forevermore, and HAVE THE KEYS of hell and of death.
Revelation 16:18-19 – (Jesus says)… I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall NOT PREVAIL against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Revelation 17:14 – These shall make war with the Lamb, and THE LAMB SHALL OVERCOME them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
JESUS IS VICTORIOUS
John 16:33 – These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.
I Chronicles 29:11 – Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, THE VICTORY and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all.
Matthew 12:20 – A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to VICTORY;…
Psalm 98:1 – Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the VICTORY.
WE (the church) ARE VICTORIOUS
I John 5:4 – For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMES the world: and this is the VICTORY that OVERCOMES the world, even our faith. (WE HAVE THE VICTORY!)
Romans 8:37 – Nay, in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him that loved us.
We have authority over all our spiritual enemies through the power of God. He has given us every weapon necessary to overcome them and live in VICTORY!” (More about this next week in Part 2 – “Living the Overcoming and Victorious Life”)
Psalm 27:2,6 – (Paraphrased/personalized) When my enemies and my foes come against me to eat up my flesh, they will stumble and fall. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies all around me.
Psalm 60:12 – (Paraphrased/personalized) Through God I shall do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down my enemies.
I Corinthians 15:25 – (Paraphrased/personalized) He will reign and put all my enemies under His feet.
Luke 10:19 – (Paraphrased/personalized) I have authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt me.
Romans 16:20 – The God of peace will crush Satan under my feet shortly.
Isaiah 59:19 – When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
Psalm 41:11 – (Paraphrased/personalized / ) By this I know that the Lord is well pleased with me, BECAUSE my enemy DOES NOT triumph over me. (Special note – let’s always live to please the Lord!)
Proverbs 16:7 – (Paraphrased / personalized) When my ways please the Lord, He will make even my enemies to be at peace with me.
PRAYERS / DECLARATIONS FOR VICTORY
Psalm 56:9 – (Paraphrased / personalized) When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back. This I know, because GOD IS FOR ME.
Isaiah 54:17 – (Paraphrased / personalized) No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against me in judgment I shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and my righteousness is from Him.
Romans 8:35,37 – (Paraphrased / personalized) Nothing will separate me from the love of Christ. In all these things I am MORE THAN A CONQUEROR through Him who loved me.
Numbers 10:33 – (Moses – when moving forward) Rise up O Lord! Let your enemies be scattered and let those who hate You flee before You.
Nehemiah 4:14 – (Nehemiah’s instructions / personalized) I will not be afraid of my enemies but I will remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for my brothers, my sons, my daughters, my wife, and my house.
Psalm 25:2 – (Paraphrased / personalized) O my God, I trust in you; let me not be ashamed and let NOT my enemies triumph over me.
Psalm 44:3 – (Paraphrased / personalize) Through God I will push down my enemies. Through His name I will trample those who rise up against me.
GOD IS FOR US AND WITH US
Romans 8:31-32 – What then shall we say to these things? If God is FOR US, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us ALL things?
WE ARE CREATED TO BE VICTORIOUS
(I John 5:4; Revelation 12:11; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:37; I Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Being a Christian doesn’t guarantee immunity from pressures and problems, trials, trouble and tribulations. However, Jesus promises to be with us in our times of trouble, and help us to be MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Jesus! (Psalm 46:1; Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:37).
biblical illustrations of being victorious in battle
DAVIDS MIGHTY MEN
2 SAMUEL 23:8-12 – These are the names of the MIGHTY MEN whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth… CHIEF among the captains. He was called ADINO the Eznite, because he had KILLED EIGHT HUNDRED MEN AT ONE TIME. And after him was ELEAZAR… one of the three mighty men with David when they DEFIED THE PHILISTINES who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and ATTACKED THE PHILISTINES until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the SWORD. THE LORD brought about a GREAT VICTORY that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. And after him was SHAMMAH… The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So THE LORD brought about a GREAT VICTORY.
I Chronicles 11:13 – …there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines. 14 But THEY stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a GREAT VICTORY.
ADINO – He overcame majority odds coming against him that were – 800 to 1!
ELEAZER – In the midst of seeming defeat, he held his ground, and fought against his enemies! He was aggressive, and attacked the enemy – he held onto his SWORD… his life depended on it! (Special note – let’s tenaciously hold on to the Sword of the Spirit – the Word of God – Ephesians 6:17).
SHAMMAH – Considering both the Samuel and Chronicles record, it appears that both Eleazer and Shammah stood unitedly together in the fight, while others fled, They held their ground against a whole troop of enemies. Their companions left them alone. He didn’t give ground to his enemies – he resisted them! The LORD brought about a GREAT VICTORY– He backed Shammah up and fought with him!
victory over goliath
OVERCOMING THE ENEMY – I Samuel 17
Israel experienced a major battle. They faced a defiant, intimidating giant – Goliath. David said, “Who is he, that he should defy the armies of the LIVING GOD?“
David had experienced victory over the a lion & bear, and was confident that God was able to give VICTORY over the giant, too! (Special note – God’s faithfulness in the past helps build faith for right now & the future). David said, “The Lord will deliver me…” He declared faith if the Lord His deliverer!
He aggressively attacked Goliath, saying, “I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied… This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel… the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s…”
The Lord gave them a mighty victory over their enemies that day!
THE RED SEA VICTORY
Exodus 14:13-14, 30– God said, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you…”
… So THE LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians…
Going on to Exodus 15 we see Moses and the Israelites singing a SONG OF VICTORY.. “I will sing unto the Lord a new song for He has TRIUMPHED GLORIOUSLY the horse and rider thrown into the sea…”
REVIEW & CONCLUSION — JESUS IS VICTORIOUS
Romans 8:31,32 – … IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? how shall He not with Him (Jesus) also FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS? (Special note – ALL things includes VICTORY... HALLELUJAH!!)
Is God with for us? With us? — If so, what can we expect?
Revelation 17:14 – …the Lamb SHALL OVERCOME… they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
I John 5:4 – …this is the VICTORY that overcomes the world—our FAITH. (Faith in who? — Jesus & His Word!)
GOD GIVES US THE VICTORY! OUR VICTORY IS THROUGH JESUS! JESUS IS VICTORIOUS! IF GOD IS WITH US & FOR US, NOTHING AND NO ONE CAN STAND AGAINST US! WE ARE WINNERS, & ON THE WINNING SIDE!
GIVE THANKS FOR THE VICTORY — THROUGH JESUS
No matter what we might feel, see, hear, or think – Jesus is still working on our behalf to give us the VICTORY!!
I CORINTHIANS 15:57
THANKS BE TO GOD WHO GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!
