Victory in Jesus
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Matthew 12:14-21
Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. Yet He warned them not to make Him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
And in His name Gentiles will trust.”
“Victory” in this root sense only found in these passages in the NT.
The shoe company Nike gets their name from the greek for victory. In fact, Nike was the greek goddess of victory, depicted in their mythology as the “divine charioteer”
Spiritual Victory
Spiritual Victory
Worldly victory has many “good” elements to it.
Why does it feel good? GLORY is found (supposedly).
Qback with the winning touchdown, ball player with the homerun, etc.
Not just in sports. When someone “wins” a client in sales, or when someone receives a promotion/raise.
However, the win TODAY doesn’t matter if we don’t win TOMORROW.
What is TRUE victory, TRUE glory... And how can we seek it?
Spiritual victory is more important and ultimately more satisfying. 1 Cor 15:54-57; Col 1:27
1 Corinthians 15:54–57
True victory is found in Jesus. “Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever...”
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
In the OT septuagint, this word is sometimes translated as meaning “forever”:
He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
And You are exalted as head over all.
Another form of this word is translated as “overcome”
νικᾶν τινα or τι is used of one who by Christian constancy and courage keeps himself unharmed and spotless from his adversary’s devices, solicitations, assaults
Jesus is the “stronger man” that overcomes the strong man (Satan!) Luke 11:21-26
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
Overcoming means being blameless! Rom 3:4; Ps 51:4
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:
“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
David’s words remind us that God is to be held in primary authority. He decides what is sinful and what is not. He is justified, blameless, and when we accept that, He OVERCOMES in our hearts!
We must overcome evil with good - Rom 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
NOT with emulating evil practices, but in returning kindness for unkindness, love for hatred, etc.
A special use of “victory” appears in Rom 8:37. The meaning is that we prevail COMPLETELY.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
God encourages us to seek victory and glory in Him. Rom 2:7; 1 Pet 1:7
NOT the glory in the world.
eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
We cannot win alone. Ephesians 3:20-21
Victory Over Sin
Victory Over Sin
Victory over Sin’s Guilt
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Mankind has psychoanalyzed sin out of existence. Many (not all) therapists work to alleviate guilt by encouraging their patients to avoid or dismiss their guilt.
Some are encouraged to find an excuse for their sinful behavior in their upbringing, or find other elements to blame for their bad behavior.
“It’s the Parents/government/school’s fault...” What are we doing to make our society better? We can’t improve it until we improve ourselves and our families. But it is much easier to complain about the externals than to actually humble oursleves and do the work God has laid out before us.
We can never have victory over our sin until we admit it and let the word of God change us.
Victory over Sin’s Effects
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Romans 6:17-18; 1 Peter 1:18-20 - the solution is in the blood of Christ!
The effects of sin can be terrible and even eternal if not treated with the cure.
May we follow God in seeking honor and glory by embracing His victory in His way!
Victory Over Trials
Victory Over Trials
The trials of Sorrow
“Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of trouble.
He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not continue.
When we lose a loved one, it can beat us down and pull us into a terrible state. While there is great pain in this, we must remember that we can learn from all this.
“It’s God’s will” - not really! God doesn’t want us to die! He wants us to LEARN!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
How much sorrow did Jesus endure? We cannot know. However, we know His Father did not want Him to remain sorrowful. Neither did Jesus want His disciples to remain sorrowful.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
May we take comfort in the fact that even though sorrow will claim us from time to time, the Christian can rise up with greater resolve to meet tomorrow with victory in the Savior.
The Trials of Difficulties
Life is full of hills to climb. It is rarely easy. Paul learned from his thorn in the flesh that when we are weak, HE is strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
The Trials of Fear
We fear many things in life. Disease, crime, financial failure, losing our jobs, and (more importantly) losing our children to sin.
If we do not deal with fear properly, it can consume us.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
God can take our fear of the world, dissolve it, and give us a GODLY fear (respect, reverence).
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Victory Over The World
Victory Over The World
Defeat can be snatched from the Jaws of Victory.
The Law and the Prophets were overcome by the Beast in Jerusalem when Jesus died on the cross - Rev 11:7
When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
In effect, the OT seemed dead and powerless when Jesus was on the cross. All the promises of the Scripture had led to the Son of God nailed to a cross, dying in agony.
Sometimes God allows a temporary victory for the Adversary so that the ultimate, true victory is that much greater.
Rome was granted to make war with the saints and overcome them - Rev 13:7
It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
The Beast being Rome, it was given to Rome to be able to persecute the saints and even OVERCOME (conquer) some of them.
Persecution will separate the “men from the boys” and purify the remnant!
The only way Satan wins in these scenarios is when we individually ALLOW him to win.
Faith is the Victory. 1 Jn 2:13-14; 4:3-4; 5:3-5; Jn 16:33
The “young men” have overcome the wicked one - 1 Jn 2:13-14
Those who are children of God have overcome the spirit of antichrist, for they are allied with the One who is GREATER - 1 Jn 4:3-4
Our faith is what overcomes the world. 1 Jn 5:3-5
Jesus has overcome the world! Jn 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
How did Jesus win, and what glory did He achieve?
By living by the word of God. Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Jesus held to His Father’s word - HIS faith provided the victory! The same provides His disciples victory today. Acts 23:11
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
Paul was facing numerous stresses in Jerusalem, facing death by the Jews. The Lord stood by him and encouraged him that he would also teach in Rome. What a victory over the dark world he faced! As the Lord stood by Paul, He will stand by us when we face a wicked world.
Victory Over Death
Victory Over Death
Our ultimate victory will be our resurrection. Job 14:14; Jn 5:28-29
If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service I will wait,
Till my change comes.
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
Whatever “good” exists in the world is there because God put it there. That “glory” will be returned to Him in the end. Revelation 21:24, 26
And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
See, this world is not only wickedness, darkness, and death. There is good here. People are making good choices every day, even though that goodness is clearly in the minority.
The only way to have victory in the resurrection is to belong to the One who can give the resurrection of life. John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
God leads us to glory and victory in the knowledge of His Son, Jesus. DO YOU KNOW HIM?
If you claim to love God and know Jesus, then Overcome with Him! Rev 2:7, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 17:14; 21:7-8
Overcome and eat of the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God! Rev 2:7
Overcome and receive some of the hidden manna to eat! Rev 2:17
Overcome and receive power over the nations! Rev 2:26
Overcome and be clothed in white garments! Rev 3:5
Overcome and be made a pillar in the temple of God, and go out no more! Rev 3:12
Overcome and sit on the throne with Jesus! Rev 3:21
In any persecution, the Lamb will overcome the persecutors! Rev 17:14
Overcome and inherit all things! Rev 21:7-8