Want to Experience Victory? Learn the Principles to Use Against the Enemies of Your Victory

Are you tired of losing one battle after another?   Are you weary of facing, fighting, and fleeing in defeat?  The enemy of your soul has you right where he wants you: discouraged and disillusioned.

 

God’s Word can help YOU turn Defeat into Victory!

In Philippians chapter two Paul exposes the second enemy of our Victory which is People.   Paul shares with us HOW we can avoid being defeated because of:

•   What people say to us
•   Don’t say to us; and
•   How they treat us.

Have you not experienced the sharp barb of criticism? been slandered?  or, experienced Gossip concerning your character?   It happens every day, from a variety of sources, even with-in the Body of Believers.

Paul was facing two main “People Problems” in chapter two: False Teachers and two women who were creating havoc in the Church because they would not handle their interpersonal issues Biblically.

My biggest issue is the slowness and ineptness which many people possess .   I live a busy life and I am easily irritated by needing to “wait on other people” for me to move forward with my project.    I must admit that I stumble in defeat when I fail to practice the antidote to the people and personnel problems in my life.

The Solution is….  

You must LEARN to deal with the Irritations from People.   If you refuse, you will NEVER experience any sustained seasons of victory.

1. You need to RECORD each of the Character Qualities that irritate  you.    Is it when they are late, and this bothers you?   Is it when they make a commitment and back out at the last minute?  Is it when they fellowship and turn the subject to gossip and criticism of another?

•  Dr. Jack Hyles taught a series of lessons at his Pastor’s School in which, as I recall, he exhorted us to write down the following:

a)      Who can’t you Work with and why?   Perhaps you could fellowship with them, but should avoid doing any work together.  I certainly have individuals in my life which fit  this situation.

b)      Who can’t you Play games with, but could possible work with, and why?  Perhaps the extreme competitive nature of the person would forfeit enjoying the  recreation  , however, you work in harmony together.

c)      What Subjects would it be wise not to discuss with certain people?   Most people, even Christians, have certain topics which may become a trigger to wrong and improper emotions.  Once these “triggers” are pushed, words are spoken harshly and in haste.  Regret soon fills your heart, but the damage is done.  Apologies must be spoken; amends must be made.

d)      Don’t place a person on Trial everyday!  Allow others to make an occasional mistake in the relationship.   Extend the same grace which Jesus “daily” extends to you.  No one need score a 100% to get an  ‘A’  on the test.  Neither should our friends be forced to prove their friendship by always behaving in a perfect manner.

 

Yes, by practicing these simple, yet effective principles, you can avoid many of the people conflicts which would normally arise.

 

What are some of the ways in which you have dealt with people which have maintained your victory?     Share them and we can all benefit from your experience.

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Pastor, How Can I REALLY Live a Life of Victory?

Christians EVERYWHERE are asking the same Question about Victory!

 As I have traveled across America, and in several Countries, one question which I can count on being asked of me is: “Pastor, can I REALLY Live a Life of Victory as a Christian?”   This of course saddens me deeply, knowing that so many good, loving Believers are struggling to live a life of Victory.

I shall continue teaching on this subject for a few weeks, as there is an intense desire in my heart to help elevate your walk with God.   To truly walk with God is to walk in Victory.   As I pen these words, I am envisioning you sitting across my desk, asking for my counsel from your question.  May I first acknowledge your desire?  I applaud you for searching for this answer.  Now, as you and I are sitting across the desk, let us pray right now expressing this to our Father.

A Prayer to our Father for Victory

Our Father, my dear Brother/Sister in Christ has come for spiritual assistance.   They have been struggling in their walk with You.  At times they have been very close to you; yet at other times had felt distance in the relationship.   Today, we come together with a desire on our hearts.  That desire is to live a life of Victory.   We claim Psalm 37:4 where YOU Promised to give us the desires of our hearts IF we would only delight in you.  Father, our delight is in You!   You are our joy!  We love You and desperately wish to honor You with our hearts and lives.  Now we ask, and even claim the promise of receiving the desires of our hearts.  Please help my dear friend to experience a life of sustained Victory.   Amen.

It is Definitely Possible to Live in Victory!

Everyone faces difficult situations; however, there is no need to allow them to rob you of your victory and joy! This is what was happening in the Book of Philippians.  The Christians in the Church at Philippi has four major thieves robbing Christians of their Joy and Victory.  Let me show you.

1. The first Thief of Joy is  Circumstances.

In Philippians, Paul was in jail and it appeared to many that it was a bad thing.  Not so to Paul.  The attitude Paul had, was that God allowed circumstances to enter into his life for the express purpose of leading others to Jesus.   Notice Philippians 1:12-14:  “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;  ¹³So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;     ¹⁴And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”    Paul said it became a good thing that he had been arrested as he had won more people to Christ and in fact, other Christians who previously were fearful of witnessing, had become soul-winners for God.

1. 2.      The second thief of Victory is People. 

Each of us have lost our joy because of People at some point in our lives.  Paul issued the prescription to overcome this thief in Philippians 2:1-3:  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.   ³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.   ⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

1. 3.      The third thief Victory are Things.         

People are ALWAYS wanting more! Never really satisfied. This insatiable craving will never be fully satisfied though seeking possessions.  Eleven times in this chapter Paul uses the word things.  In Philippians 3:19, Paul points out that MOST Christians “…..mind earthly things.”  Your solution is to focus on “Heavenly things”., Philippians 3:20.

1. 4.      The fourth thief of Victory is Worry.        

Worry means to be pulled apart.  Our fears pull us in one direction while our Faith pulls us in the opposite direction.  Worry is really saying to God, “This is too big for even you God!   I have no hope!  I cannot expect any relief from heaven!   Worry is an inside job which will completely remove ALL joy and energy from your life.  However, worry is like a rocking chair in that both will provide you with something to do, yet neither will get you anywhere.

Why worry when you CAN trust our Omnipotent, Compassionate, Omnipresent Father who loves you so much that He provided for your greatest need by sending His Son, Jesus to pay your sin debt for you?  Wow!    I decided that since I trusted God with my eternal, never-dying soul to take me to heaven many years ago, whom I barely knew, then I could now trust Him to provide, protect, and work on my behalf.

What are some thieves that have been robbing you of your Victory and Joy recently?  And what steps will you take to remove that thief?  Please take a moment and share your thoughts.