Defeat Mode vs. Victorious Living
I John 4:4-“You are from God little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
It always amazes me how people react when trials and difficulties appear in their lives. They face a problem, and they act like there is no way the can beat the problem. I am not immune to this way of thinking. It’s what I call “defeat mode”. Some people live their entire life this way! As if Jesus did not warn them ahead of time that they were going to have problems. “…In the world you have tribulation, but take courage I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33)
I said before that I am not immune to these negative feelings; it’s a natural tendency for people to have when they are facing a seemingly undefeatable enemy, but it is one of my biggest pet peeves in other people or in myself. I really get irritated when I see someone surrender because they believe they can’t win.
I believe that the first line in this verse speaks to that when it says, “…and have overcome them…” If you have been a Christian for more than five seconds that should strike a cord in your heart. You may be thinking what have I overcame. The second you called on the name of Jesus Christ for salvation you overcame death. Listen to these words of Jesus from John 8:51 “Truly, truly I say to you if anyone keeps My words he will never see death.” As Christians we will never die! Our hearts will one day stop beating, and our bodies will decay in a grave; but our souls will live forever with God in paradise, and He will give us a new body that is perfect and free from the flaws that we now have. Don’t take my word for it. The Apostle Paul wrote, “…Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is your victory? O Death where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”(I Corinthians 15:55-57) We are now and forever will be victorious because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
When I think about the victory that we have over death my mind automatically goes back to two events. One that was recorded in the Bible, and one that comes from my own life. In Judges 6-8 we read the story of Gideon, a small insignificant coward who through the power of God became judge and ruler over Israel. If you have never read this story, or even if you have, I invite you to read it. It’s an awesome demonstration of the power that we get from God. Gideon-Power from God
My personal story of defeating death can be read in the following link. Yes, You Can By all medical reasoning my life should have ended before my 17th birthday, but God intervened. I’m not sure why God saved my life, but now it is my honor and privilege to share His love.
When you face circumstances that seem to be overwhelming and you feel like there is no way to win then I urge you to remember these words of Paul that are found in Romans 8:37, “But in all things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” I’m sure that these words do and will bring back to your memory times in your life when you won even though winning seemed impossible.
Father, I thank You for giving me the victory in the past through the death, burial and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ; and I ask that You would always help me to remember that I overcome all things with Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The image above can be found at:
Yes, You Can Ministry 