SWORD of the SPIRIT                                                                                                1014

“Victorious Living”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)

The ultimate victory over death is ours through Jesus Christ.  “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55) But can we live in victory in the day to day here and now?

I confess that oftentimes I do not feel like a victor in the midst of the daily grind of life as I trip and stumble my way toward the holiness standard we are all called to be. …it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) However, the short answer to my earlier question is, Yes, we can live this life in victory through Jesus Christ.

There are three enemies we face in this life: The world, our flesh, and the devil.

Jesus taught that the cares of this world can hinder the Word of God from bearing fruit in our life. …but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)

Victorious living in the world however is found through faith in Jesus. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5)

Our flesh is sinful by nature and there will be a battle fought as long as we are on this side of heaven. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.  (Romans 7:24-25; 1 Peter 3:18; Romans 6:14)

The devil is a created being. He is not a deity but he and his minions can place stumbling blocks in your path. As the prince of the power of the air he works to use the things of this world to entice you and choke the Word from bearing fruit in your life. He appeals to the lust of your flesh seeking to cause you to stumble. Day to day victorious living over this third enemy is again found through a close, intimate, continual relationship with Jesus. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken; for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory; 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 firm. (Psalm 16:8; Deuteronomy 20:4; Ephesians 6:13)

Yes, ultimate victory is ours on the last day through Jesus and yes, victorious living today is possible through the indwelling presence, power and grace of Jesus Christ. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world; Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (1 John 4:4; Ephesians 6:10)