The Victorious Christian Life |
By Dr. Dale A. Robbins
Pastor Wilson had received the news only
minutes earlier and had just arrived at the hospital as he saw them crouched together on a
bench holding each other. The Pastor placed his hand gently on Jack's shoulder. "Are
you OK?" He asked softly. Jack, a church deacon and a dedicated
Christian for many years, looked up at the pastor. His eyes were moist, his lips trembled,
but there was a faint smile. "Yes Pastor... we're Ok. Despite the grief we feel right
now, we still have victory. We have the Lord's peace in our heart." Victory comes by
Faith The "victory" that this couple
possessed, despite the tragic loss of their daughter, referred to the state of their
inward attitude, the disposition of their heart. Victory is that inner peace of God which
surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7). It's the joy of the Lord which is our strength
(Neh. 8:10). It is the that inner confidence that overcomes discouragement, doubt and
unbelief. It is the assurance that God is in control, and as we love the Lord and live a
life wholly consecrated to Him, we know all things and circumstances are somehow working
together for our good. "And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). God wants all his children to live a
victorious life. However, this is only possible through the walk of faith. "...this
is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4). Faith is that
which makes us overcomers against all the trials and circumstances of his world (1 John
5:4). A victorious life of faith no longer lives by feelings, emotions or circumstances.
It is no longer manipulated by the emotions of discouragement or depression. As believers,
we live and abide according to what the Word of God says, not by what the circumstances
say. "We walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7). This walk of faith is
what brings victory. Faith enables us
to Endure The scriptures teach that every Christian will
face many trials and disappointments in this life and He promises to deliver us from them
all. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of
them all" (Psalms 34:19). However, we must understand, our deliverance and victory
may not always mean the immediate alteration of our circumstances. God may not always
choose, or be at liberty, to change some external circumstances immediately. Instead, He
will change YOU internally so that you can "endure" the circumstances. This is
what Paul meant when he said he could be "content" regardless of what state he
found himself (Phil. 4:11). Despite our circumstances, we can have victory and peace in
our heart, with the patience to endure until He alters our situation. One Christian wife cried continually to the
Lord about her alcoholic husband. She could not bear the continual heartache, the strife
and embarrassment. She urgently prayed that God would transform the man and heal her
marriage. God also wanted to change that man, but He will not force anyone to serve him.
So since the wife had no biblical grounds for divorce, she had to learn to endure and be
patient for God to deal with the husband's heart. In this situation, her deliverance came
internally as the Lord relieved her burden. He protected her from physical abuse and gave
her peace and joy in her heart. Today her husband has still not turned to the Lord, but
her peace and joy is no longer postponed to a future time when he might change. She lives
each day in victory -- with God's peace and joy rooted firmly in her heart. God provides
Refuge, A way of Escape God does not bring evil upon us (James 1:17),
but sometimes, for His specific purposes, He has placed persons in challenging situations
for the cause of Christ. And in other situations, it may be just a matter of time for the
Lord to change our circumstances. But in the meantime, you can find peace and refuge in
His presence. "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of
trouble" (Psalms 9:9). God promised to make a way of
"escape" in the midst of distress, enabling us to "bear" certain
temptations or trials. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to
man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear
it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). That way of "escape" is the presence and peace
of God which abides in us to give us victory in the midst of the conflict - peace in the
middle of turmoil. The presence of God in our life enables us to "bear" certain
hardships and difficulties. And notice that it says He will not allow you endure an ordeal
beyond your ability. That's something to always remember. Paul -- A man of
Faith, Victory, and Trials Perhaps there is no one who knew how to live
the victorious life better than the Apostle Paul. He was a man of great faith and strength
with God, but he endured circumstances that were almost unbelievable. He wrote of his
ordeals in the ministry: "...In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in
prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save
one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a
night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in
perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils
in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in
fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which
cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches" (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Despite his tribulations, Paul didn't lose
sight of his victory. He wrote, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not
destroyed; (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Paul's life and ministry were filled with tremendous
hardship, but his attitude remained confident and resisted defeat. "...Thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians
15:57). You can live in
Victory, Not in Defeat! If you are facing trying situations, don't
allow them to rob you of your victory! The Bible tells us that "God is your refuge
and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalms 46:1). You are not alone. Jesus
has promised to never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 12:13). Turn your attention to Him
and His Word. Wait upon Him and He will strengthen you with His peace. "Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee"
(Isaiah 26:3). By faith, release your cares, your concerns
and worries to Him. Trust Him to work out the end result. He will either change your
circumstance or will change you to deal with them! Take His rest and peace upon you,
believing that He has taken the burden from you. "Cast all your cares upon him
because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Remember and follow the Apostle Paul's example. He knew adversity at its worst, but also knew that circumstances need never threaten the joy and victory of the believer. He wrote, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:35,37). This article (VL-126) is copyrighted © by Dale A. Robbins, 1990, and is a publication of Victorious Publications, Grass Valley, CA 95949. Unless otherwise stated, all scripture references were taken from King James Bible. You may download this article for personal use as long as you retain credit to the author. Obtain permission before reproducing copies for any reason, by filling out our simple permission form. This writing is also available as an attractive tri-fold pamphlet, which can be downloaded for reproduction from our Online Catalog. For media reproduction rights, or to obtain quantities of this title in other formats, email us. Return to the Victorious Network
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We all
know what it is to have occasional bad days. However, few of us will ever have to face
anything worse than what Jack and Marie Martin did on one Wednesday evening. Shortly
before 9:00 p.m., they received a phone call from the Highway Patrol, informing that their
eighteen year old daughter, Becky, had been in a serious automobile accident. Less than an
hour later, Jack and Marie clutched each other tightly, tears streaming down their cheeks
as they walked out of the Jacksonville emergency room. Their daughter laid shattered and
dead on the hospital stretcher, the victim of a drunk driver.