As we talk about pursuing victory, I am not implying that we must ever be chasing it. Biblical victory has already been secured and made available. By pursuing victory, we are identifying the biblical victory that has been made available to us. Once this is done then we are able to take the next step to implement these principles into our lives.
By James Holland Sr.
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Now that we are beginning to understand that the victory God has called us to is a lifestyle rather than a lot of emotional ups and downs that have many well-meaning believers confused and totally ineffective for God’s kingdom, we can begin to pursue victory from a biblical perspective.
It would be reasonable for us to assume that since it is God who has called us and chosen us for victorious living, we would need to follow God’s handbook—the Bible. This is very important because God’s expectations have never changed. God has always required that people say “no” to their way of pleasing God and “yes” to His way of doing it. Now, herein lies the problem! Many people are used to living for God by their own guidelines.
If we are going to live in true victory, it will always be, first of all, by responding in obedience to God’s Word. The Bible is the handbook, our road map for victory. We read in II Peter 1:34 (NKJV) that God has given us “exceedingly great and precious promises.” These promises, when believed and practiced, enable us to overcome both the powers of darkness and natural forces that exist in this fallen world. The entrance of God’s Word in our lives brings light (Psalm 119:130). It purges the darkness from our inner being. In fact, if you are not walking in the light, you already have “be assured” that deception is on your horizon. However, if you are living in the light, you can be assured more light is coming your way. Abiding in the Word of God enables us to overcome the wicked one. In John 8:31-32, we read how abiding in the Word of God produces freedom in our lives.
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'”(John 8:31-32, NKJV).
What kind of freedom was Jesus referring to? In Romans 1:25-31, we see the spiritual and psychological bondage that disobeying God’s Word brings. Abiding in God’s Word produces spiritual, psychological, and emotional freedom. Victory is about being free!
Many Christians in the church today are living under the deceptive idea that what I believe can be disconnected from my behavior. They think if you say the right words and believe the right things, you will receive your get-out-of-hell-free card. In the meantime, they manage their sins. Jesus calls us not to sin management but to transformation, where we experience one breakthrough after another. We are called to follow Jesus and be transformed into His image (Philippians 2:5-8).
We are expected to take on the character of Jesus and thus influence people around us the same way He influenced others. Obeying God’s Word always connects what we believe and our behavior.
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