How to Have Victory
1 John 5:1-4
Often people have the mistaken idea that when one becomes a believer instantaneously all struggles and problems cease. The first time they encounter difficulty or stumble in their Christian walk they become depressed and feel defeated. When Christ comes into our heart, He creates a new life - a new nature within us. This new nature does not obliterate the old. Daily we struggle against the old nature, called the flesh, the world – the inordinate thinking, philosophy, desires, and appetites of life outside of God, and the devil. But scripture is abundantly clear that we can experience victory when maintain a right relationship, the right desire, listen to the right advice, and exercise the right faith.
I. Have a Right Relationship
A. 1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
B. "Whatsoever," or, as the Greek is "Everything which is begotten of God," meaning to affirm, undoubtedly, that "in every instance" where one is truly regenerated; there is this victory over the world. – Barnes
C. The victory became ours by faith when we believed in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. When an individual gives his or her heart to Christ and is regenerated by the Holy Spirit they have a new and secure relationship with God which has secured for them the ultimate victory of the three enemies which war against our souls – the world, the flesh, and the devil.
D. The Lord Jesus conquered the world, not for himself only, but for his followers; and they must study to be partakers of his victory.
E. John 16:33 “In the world you shall have tribulation. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
F. We need to realize that as our faith grows we gain spiritual strength and the world loses its power and influence in us.
G. 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
H. As Christians we are engaged in a spiritual warfare but understand that our battle against Satan is not for victory; Christ already won the victory. Satan while he cannot win the war seeks to hinder God’s work in our lives by removing victory from our minds and distracting us from the Lord’s work that He has given to every believer.
I. Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV) “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the Devil’s schemes.”
J. Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
II. Have the Right Desire
A. Many Christians live defeated Christian lives because they have the wrong mindset.
B. Colossians 3:2 “Set your affection (mind) on things above, not on things on the earth.
C. One problem with many professed believers is that their minds are preoccupied with everything but the things of God. There is no time or place for God.
D. This is illustrated in the late Roland Q. Leavell’s book, Evangelism: Christ's Imperative Commission, where he states that of all the reported Church members:
• 5 per cent do not exist,
• 10 per cent cannot be found,
• 20 per cent never pray,
• 25 per cent never read the Bible,
• 30 per cent never attend Church services,
• 40 per cent never give any money to the church,
• 50 per cent never go to Sunday School,
• 60 per cent never attend Sunday evening,
• 70 per cent never give to missions,
• 80 per cent never go to prayer meeting,
• 90 per cent never have family worship, and
• 95 per cent never witness - Copied
E. Psalm 10:4 “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”
F. "Be as much in earnest for heavenly and eternal things, as ye formerly were for those that are earthly and perishing." – Adam Clarke
G. "Birds," says Manton, "are seldom taken in their flight; the more we are upon the wing of heavenly thoughts the more we escape snares." Oh that we would remember this, and never tarry long on the ground lest the fowler ensnare us. We need to be much taken up with Divine things, rising in thought above these temporal matters, or else the world will entangle us, and we shall be like birds held with limed twigs, or encompassed in a net – Charles Haddon Spurgeon
H. Romans 8:6 “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
I. "We do not advance upward unless we yearn upward,"' it has been said. Our thoughts shape our lives. We grow little or big by the ideals we cherish and the thoughts upon which we dwell.
J. Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
III. Listen to the Right Advice
A. Proverbs 12:15 says that the "fool is right in his own eyes but he that is wise listens to counsel" Fortunate is the man or woman who has a wise counselor to give them advice. But not all advice is good. - copied
B. Everyone believes in the golden rule: Give unto others the advice you can't use yourself. —Personnel Administration
C. 1 Kings 12:6-9a “King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?” And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. And he said to them, “What advice do you give?”
D. Rehoboam inherited more than any other king in Israel’s history. His father Solomon was the richest and most powerful man in the entire world. Solomon was known at one point in his life, as the wisest man in the world when it came to science, math, sociology, agriculture. Rehoboam became a king at the age of 41 and within three days he literally lost all of his leadership by listening to bad advice.
E. Proverbs 11:14 "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety."
F. Beware of taking bad advice from the wrong people (even if they are Christians). Bad advice comes when a believer worldly Christian consults advice from an immature or carnal Christian.
G. 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
H. Luke 6:39 asks, ““Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?”
I. Understand that the Bible arms a Christian with advice on how to live the Christian life.
J. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
K. God will never act or advise contrary to His Word. Spend time with God in His Word. Pray asking God for wisdom as instructed in James 1:5; spend time with other dedicated, faithful Christians.
IV. Have the right faith in God
A. Many Christians feel defeated because of doubts. Doubts can enter a Christian’s life at any time, because we are still human and still have a sin nature within us.
B. "Faith" is "TRUST” while doubt says, "I want this to be true. I want to trust, but I'm too afraid to."
C. Satan is our worst enemy, he does everything to defeat us and sow doubt in our mind. He works with our flesh and natural human reasoning; he limits us to our own abilities. We look to problems, tests and storms and say we can't, as a result we limit ourselves and become defeated.
D. Matthew 13:58 “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” – It wasn’t that Christ’s power was limited by the belief or unbelief of people but rather their unbelief prevented them from receiving Christ’s power.
E. Unfortunately too often we are like a man that fell over a cliff and, as he tumbled down the sheer drop, managed to grab on to a scrubby bush growing from the side of the rock. Terrified, he hung in space, his life flashing before him. In desperation, he shouted toward heaven, 'Is there anyone up there?' To his astonished delight, a voice floated down: 'I am the Lord God, and I am here.' 'What should I do?' called the man. The voice replied, 'Let go of the branch and, with my protection, you will float harmlessly down to the beach below.' The man glanced under his feet to the jagged rocks at the foot of the cliff, hundreds of meters below. He gulped, and looked back toward heaven. 'Well... is there anyone else up there?' - Ready Salted, Peter Graystone, p35
F. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
G. Romans 10:17 "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”
H. People often say, “I wish I could have faith!” But everybody lives by faith! All day long, people trust one another. They trust the doctor and the pharmacist; they trust the cook in the restaurant; they even trust the fellow driving in the other lane on the highway. If we can trust men, why can we not trust God? And not to trust Him is to make Him a liar. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Real, p. 176).
I. Matthew 6:31-33 ““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
J. Forsaking All I Trust Him
K. Through Jesus believers have been given victory over power of sin, the world and Satan. This is a privilege and provision only for those who have faith in Jesus Christ.
