Victory: June 19, 2012

TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY JUNE 19, 2012

VICTORY

DEFINITION:

The winning of a contest or battle; any successful performance; triumph over an enemy.

SCRIPTURE:

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. I John 5:4.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In the verse above from I John, John clearly defines who the ones are that overcome the world. They are all that are believers in the Lord. The Greek word for “overcomer” means to conquer and to have victory. Because of our union with Christ as believers we have continual victory over the evils of the world we live in.

God first spoke of victory in Genesis 4:6-7, when He was talking to Cain. Cain was very angry at his brother Abel because God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s. God said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you must rule over it (have victory over it).

Cain did not celebrate victory because he could not handle failure. He allowed anger to rule in his heart which led him to kill his brother Abel. Cain lost the victory. Every day we have the challenge in our lives of being victorious over sin or losing the battle to Satan. When we sin, Satan wins and he then has victory over us.

Victory over Satan’s temptations to sin is what we as believers must continually strive for. As Paul reminded us in I Corinthians 15:57, we can be thankful that we do not fight the battle alone and that through our Lord Jesus Christ we have victory over Satan.

As we look at the state of our world today it would seem that Satan is winning the battle. Through Christ and His gift of salvation, we as believers, have the power to overcome the world by our faith in Him. (I John 5:4) On the cross Jesus defeated Satan and his power. Jesus is the victorious Lord and ultimate ruler of this world. Satan has only temporary rule of those who choose to follow him.

All six of our children played several sports while in school. They and their teammates always strived for victory in their games. We tried as often as possible to be at their games. In fact we, both coached several of our children when they were younger. When we coached we shared with the children and their parents how easy it was to celebrate victory and how difficult it was to accept defeat.

We taught the children that we had the privilege of coaching that just as in sports, in real life there are winners and losers. A victory in our spiritual life is far more important than a victory in sports. All of us need to learn to lose graciously because it will help us get through the disappointments and failures that we will have in life. No one ever wins all the time. Whether in victory or defeat we should reflect the love of Jesus in our lives.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 10:11.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

PRAYER:

Thank You Lord for the victories You continue to give me in my life. Give me courage and foresight to claim victory over sin and the evil that I face in this world daily.