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"If there be no enemy, there's no fight. If no fight, no victory, and if no victory there is no crown." - Thomas Carlyle
"Victory is mine! Victory is mine! Victory today is mine! I told Satan, get thee behind, Victory TODAY is mine! That's an old chorus. I love that it makes a declaration that I have VICTORY, gives the timing of the win (TODAY) and puts the enemy in his place. VICTORY is the act of defeating an opponent in a battle, game or other competition. As Christ followers, we don't fight for victory, we fight FROM victory. Our ultimate warfare surrounds the issue of sin and death - everything else we face in this life are battles and skirmishes. Jesus won the greatest victory over the last enemy (death) at the Cross of Calvary and with His resurrection. Paul said it this way:
"54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: " Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:54-57)
While on earth, we are challenged to view life's situations from a Heavenly perspective. As Kingdom citizens who are strangers and pilgrims in the earth, (Hebrews 11:13) we see things through the lens of faith. We are called to pray that the will of God be done in earth as it is in Heaven, (Matthew 6:10) to set our hearts and minds on things above and not on the earth, (Col. 3:2) and to store up treasure in Heaven and not on earth. (Matthew 19:20) It is easier to do if we realize that when God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He seated us with Him in Heavenly realms. (Ephesians 2:6) When our perspective rises to a Heavenly vantage point, we see things differently and can say like Elisha did to his servant, "Fear not, for those that be with us are more than they that be with them." (2 Kings 6:16)
The time to celebrate the victory is NOW because it's already been won.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not yet see. (Heb. 11:1) The Apostle John labels us overcomers. To OVERCOME means to succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty; to defeat an opponent; to prevail. Part of being a victorious Christian is to seize the victory before you see the victory. "For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith." (1 John 5:4)
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Services Sunday at 10:00 AM
with the Church of the Living God
434 Forest Ave.
Cincinnati OH 45229
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