Christ Leads The Way

“Because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.” – 1 John 5:4

First, I must say how I am so grateful for you. Thanks a big bunch for your continued support in my journey through blogging. As always, I appreciate you!

I’ve been giving some thought to the subtle ways the enemy tries to sneak in and attack us. Have you ever been around people who just drag you down? People that are always negative, gossiping, or trying to get you into trouble? That’s nothing but the enemy.

“And don’t give the Devil an opportunity.” – Ephesians 4:27

When you want to make progress in your life, when you want to stop hanging around with the wrong group of people, when you want to leave bad habits alone, or when you want to leave a bad path of living and push forward to a better future, you don’t need anybody in your life who doesn’t help you do that.

But some people will see you trying to do right and make better choices and still try to pull you back into the past. It’s likened to how the recovering drug addict or alcoholic has to remove him or herself from the environment where they will have easy access to drugs or alcohol in order to stay sober.  There might be some people who are not trying to better themselves who will still try to invite that person to engage in those activities. The enemy, Satan, works through people. Some people really are the spawns of Satan (John 8:44).

“You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars.” – John 8:44

And there are some people who see you trying to walk the straight road and they will intentionally bring up your past over and over again and try to make you live in it. How can someone be expected to move forward when others are hanging onto their shoulders pulling them back (Phili. 3:13-14). Love builds people up; it doesn’t tear them down (1 Cor. 8:1).

“Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13-14

To add to that, people who are unloving and ungodly see someone who has been victimized in the past as an easy target for them to take advantage of and re-victimize. They abuse, they demean, they berate, they deceive, and they try to force their views and their ways on to other people. And if they can’t get to that person somehow, then they try to hurt, disrespect, dishonor, and destroy the ones that they love. The only explanation is that people who do that are evil, they do not love God, and they really are of their father the Devil.

“Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.” – Ephesians 5:6

I, for one, will not be forced to relive the past or to look back when there is so much faith, so much hope, and so much life ahead of me. Even if I ever felt a desire to give up and not try and push for a better tomorrow, because the enemy is so determined for me to fail, I am all the more motivated to succeed. I’m all the more motivated to live for Jesus and to make it to heaven.

I am nobody’s victim. I am a victor. Do you understand that? No matter how hard you try to kick me and my loved ones down. No matter how you abuse and mistreat me, I win. And, I am victorious.

“No, in all these things we are more than victorious
through Him who loved us.” -Romans 8:37

When you think about all that the Lord endured as He went to the cross – the scourging, the taunts, slaps in the face, complete and utter disrespect of the King of the universe, it’s hard to fathom Him being treated so disdainfully and so hatefully. He’s the Prince of Peace. He’s the embodiment of love. He’s humble. He’s good. And He’s kind. Outsiders might look in and call Him a victim – a victim of the evil and wickedness of mankind. But, no ma’am and no sir. He is no victim. He’s a shield that protects His followers from the snares of the enemy. Don’t get it twisted. People! He rose from the grave – conquering life and death. He is victorious!

“When this corruptible is clothed
with incorruptibility,
and this mortal is clothed
with immortality,
then the saying that is written will take place:
Death has been swallowed up in victory.” – 1 Cor. 15:54

And, it’s my faith that gives me the victory over the enemy. I have victory over your lies. I have victory over your deceit. I have victory over your evil tactics to destroy my family, my friends, my job, my home, and my life. Those are the kinds of things we have to tell the enemy so that there is no confusion.

In Christ, I win.

“What then are we to say about these things?
If God is for us, who is against us?
He did not even spare His own Son
but offered Him up for us all;
how will He not also with Him grant us everything?
Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect?
God is the One who justifies.
Who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is the One who died,
but even more, has been raised;
He also is at the right hand of God
and intercedes for us.
Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Can affliction or anguish or persecution
or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written:
Because of You
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we are more than victorious
through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded that not even death or life,
angels or rulers,
things present or things to come, hostile powers,
height or depth, or any other created thing
will have the power to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” – Romans 8:31-39

In Christ, you can be victorious, too. Jesus said that we don’t have to worry about the suffering and the troubles of this world, because He has conquered the world.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” – John 16:33

If you accept the salvation that Christ has to offer and become obedient to His will, that victory over death will be yours, also. Believe in Jesus as the Christ (John 8:24), confess that He is Lord (Rom. 10:9), repent of your sins (Acts 2:38), be baptized (Mark 16:16), and live a faithful life (Rev. 2:10). Until you do that, you are defeated – defeated by sin and death.

But for me, I say: No, devil! You do not have power over me. I am not a victim. I am victorious.

I. Win.