God Gives The Victory Through Jesus Christ

 

1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3534

VICTORY: the result of a conquest, In the NT, this victory always refers to the conquest accomplished for the believer by Christ--which conquered all the powers of darkness (sin). Accordingly, death can not exert conquest over the believer. 

GOD GIVES THE VICTORY

John 3:16, 17

(16) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(17) For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 6:40

For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD

Romans 8:35-39

(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

(36) As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

(37) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

(38) For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

(39) nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:21

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 2:14

Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil.

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

What is God's Will for us? To have Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! If we don't have this victory, we are not living God's Will for our lives. When we do surrender our hearts and our lives to God, we live a life of victory, even if it may not appear to be victorious on the outside at times, we can be assured that we are, indeed, victorious on the inside. For God has given us the victory over sin and death and the grave through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for dying on the cross, taking my sins upon Yourself and paying the ultimate price for my wickedness. Thank You for loving me so much that I can never repay You. Please take my life and live in my heart. Make me Yours and fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I might live the live You have purposed for me. Make me to truly know just how Wonderful You are. 

In Jesus' Name, I pray,

Amen. 

God's Will Is To Give Him Thanks

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

The born again believer does not thank the universe (the stars, the sun, the moon, the planets, etc) for the good things (blessings) that happen to them. We thank God for His many blessings on us.

The born again believer does not thank nature for its sacrifice when we hunt and fish. We thank God for His provision for us.

The born again believer does not thank idols and imitation gods. We thank the Living God Who created us and has called us out of the darkness of this world into His marvelous Light. 

The born again believer is born again by the mercies and lovingkindness of God through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. We are the born again because we believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord, that He became sin and died on the cross in our place; that He fought hell and death, overcoming both and walked out of the grave in newness of life. 

Therefore, we give God thanks for His unmerited favor upon us. This favor can be yours, too, when you believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord. 

GIVE THANKS

In Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

In Every Season of Life

 

Psalm 136

Because His Mercy Endures For Ever

All The Time

Psalm 34:1

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.

Ephesians 5:20

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

GOD'S WILL IN CHRIST JESUS 

Salvation

John 3:16-18

 (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

(17) For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

I am asked often, What is God's will for my life? God's will cannot be identified singularly: it is a blueprint and a blueprint has several aspects to it. Giving God thanks is just one aspect. And even then thanks must be given through Jesus Christ, for there is no other way to reach God. 

To Have Faith

To reach God through Jesus Christ, we must first BE in Jesus Christ and He must be IN us. By faith. No matter how often we teach and preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified, if a person chooses not to believe in God or Jesus Christ, no words will sway him or her to faith. For "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). 

The faith we have in God comes from God when we believe in His only begotten Son for our salvation. We receive a measure of faith from Him when we first believe, but it is up to us to exercise said faith that it might grow up in Christ. 

Romans 12:3

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. 

Let us give thanks to God in everything and for everything. Let us bless God when He blesses us by giving Him all the glory, all the praise. 

Thankful Heart

How To Pray For Our Leaders

 

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.

1 Timothy 2:1-6

These verses tell us how we should be praying for the authority and leadership of our nations, our states, our cities, our towns, our communities, our churches, our homes.

1. Petitions:

Pray for a specific need - a heart-felt deep personal need

2. Prayers:

Directed God-ward - both on an individual and congregational level: in a quiet place and in a meeting together place

3. Intercessions

Intervention led by God, marking intersection between heaven and earth as it reflects the Lord's specific will.

4. Thanksgivings

Thankfulness, gratitude for God's grace

With the end result being that we 'lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.' (verse 2)

Verses 3-4 denote why we should pray in such a manner, while verses 5-6 emphasize the omnipotence and sovereignty of God and His Mediator Jesus Christ.

Mediator: an arbitrator ("mediator"), guaranteeing the performance of all the terms stipulated in a covenant (agreement). A reconciler.

Romans 5:9-11 & Colossians 1:21-23

Reconciled by Christ Jesus through His death and His life

How can we love one another like Christ loves us, if we do allow the love of God through Christ Jesus to change us? We can't. Nor can we have faithful to God's Word leaders if we do not pray for them in this manner.

Self-love is not the way to a better life. A self-oriented lifestyle is not a God-oriented lifestyle. Submission to God is a wonderful way to live our lives. It is a life lived in joy. Even though trials and grief are a part of life, joy is still evident when we abide in Christ as He lives in us.

And so we pray for our leaders. We pray to God for His *good and acceptable will: *Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

* Romans 12:1

*Matthew 6:10

Praise The Lord

2 Chronicles 20 - links to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Scriptures, where you can see meaning of all words, phrases.

Not until the people called upon The Lord God did they get to hear from God, and do God's will (follow God's directions), did they get the victory in the battle that was before them. The enemy against them was of greater force than their armies. Fear began to take hold, but instead of falling on each other, or trying to fight on their own, they sought God in His house. All of Judah, all of Jerusalem came together to seek God and know God's answer. And when they ceased from speaking, they waited. Until God's reply came through one of God's prophets, when The Spirit of The Lord came upon him. "Listen to me. Do not be afraid, nor dismayed: this is not your battle, but Mine," says God through Jahaziel, "Tomorrow go down....near the wilderness. Set yourself in place, take your stand, and see the salvation of The Lord."

At least three nations' worth of armed forces were about to invade Judah and Jerusalem without provocation. For when God had brought His people into the lands initially, He had kept them from invading Moab and Ammon. But here, Moab and Ammon, and descendants of Ammon, decide they will get rid of this people. And what do you think happened? What always happens when God's chosen are come against?

1. God's people come to God's house
2. Seeking God's direction in matters such as this
3. God's people wait for God's reply
4. Praise The Lord for His Word
5. Then do what God tells them to do
6. That Victory might be theirs, also

Regardless of the hour in which God's people are come against, the solution is to seek God's face in your hour of need, and do what God tells you to do. The words of Jehoshaphat ) to Judah and Jerusalem? Early in the morning all they who were come against obeyed The Word of The Lord. Into the wilderness, the battleground, they went. Including the women and children. Jehoshaphat gave this word, now and for ever: "Believe in The Lord your God, so shall you be established (grounded, set on firm foundation); believe His prophets, so shall you prosper (grow, go out)." He chose singers to praise The Lord. All the people worshipped God in that wilderness. Can you imagine the looks their enemies gave each other? Surprise and laughter, perhaps would be a first impression, right? What if you came against your enemy singing God's praises? As that person would take aim to plant one on you, imagine him hitting himself. Now who's laughing?

But that's what happened. As the people sang God's praises, and praised Him for His endless mercies, The Lord God pitted their enemies against each other instead of against God's people. And when Judah came to the watch tower, where one could see for miles if enemies were approaching, he saw no one standing. Nothing but dead bodies every where. Not a single enemy was left standing.

It took them three days to remove all the goodies from the dead. {God's people don't waste anything.)  On the fourth day, they blessed The Lord. With music and singing, they returned to Jerusalem to God's house to worship The Lord. And God gave Jehoshaphat peace in his time, that no one came against the nations Judah and Jerusalem until his death.

That's why we praise The Lord. We believe in The Name of The Lord God for our salvation and foundation. We believe His prophets and our souls prosper, we grow in The Word of The Lord. We can go into God's presence and out again without fear of dying, for we have God's favor upon us. We seek God's will, God's direction for our lives. We wait on His reply before we do anything. We have prayer meetings and gather together in God's house. We worship God together, praise God together, bless God together. We don't do anything alone. We do it together. We are not God's persons, we are God's people. Fear is not our focus, God is.


We have set ourselves in place, we have taken our stand. And we will not back down, nor shall we retreat. For God is in this place and the battle is His. 

Abide With Me

1 Samuel 22:23 “Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeks my life seeks your life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.”

John 15:4-7,10-11 “(4) Abide in Me, and I and in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me. (5) I am The Vine, you are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing. (6) If a man abide not in Me, he is cast fort as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you....(10) If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, abide in His love. (11) These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

Abide: dwell, remain, settle, marry, continue to dwell in, inhabit in, bring again to place, remain, return; to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy, endure, be present, remain, dwell, be present, stand, tarry for.

(The first definitions are for the word 'abide' in The Old Testament and the second for The New Testament, regarding the three verses given)

     Do you realize as we have studied this together that all three Persons in the Trinity are referred to here? And that born again Christians are they who remain in the branch referred to in John 15? Living for Jesus and living in Jesus are the same. Just being a nice person or glorifying yourself with 'acts of kindness' are not growing you in Jesus. Once you become a born again Christian, it is up to you to open your Bible and read God's Word every day. Do you know that sometimes I get caught up in reading and studying I lose track of time? My husband's day begins at 5 am and ends at 9 pm. He leaves here at 5:30 am and gets back home around 4 pm. One day when I was deep study, he came home and I said, “What are you doing home so early?” and he just gave me a funny look, so I looked at the clock on my computer. Yup. It was 4 pm. His normal return home time. Eight hours of pure bliss had passed through the clock, but to me it was as if I had barely started. Those days are rare and deeply coveted.

     Abiding in Christ is a glorious way to go through life. No one's life is perfect. No one can obtain pure delight in their alone time unless they are alone with Jesus. Being alone by yourself without Jesus, in the chaos of your thoughts, can bring you down. But being alone with Jesus, chaos flees, for it doesn't stand a chance where the Light shines; chaos is darkness and death; Jesus is light and life.

     My life is not perfect, but my Savior is. It is His perfection that lives in me by faith, by believing on Him for my Lord and Savior. Every thing that Jesus Christ is, lives in me by faith in Him. I may not always let His light shine through, but every time I repent of this, I get stronger. I do not want to be cut off from The Branch, nor thrown into the fire. I read God's Word, and keep God's Word in my heart, and am actively applying God's Word to my life, including my family and my children in this, for they are in my life, too.

     Yes, you can memorize Scripture, either passages or individual verses; you can know all The Books of The Bible in order and still not know Jesus Christ. You can go to church, hear the preacher's sermon, and walk right out that door living the same old life you always lived. You have not changed because you have not listened, nor applied the message of salvation that was preached. Our actions determine our outcomes when we hear God's Word spoken or preached.

     If we feel a prick in our thoughts, or our heart, when we hear the message given, and do nothing, our hearts become harder and our ears deafer; we have only strengthened our resolve not to give in to weakness. For that is how some people view born again Christians, people too weak to stand on their own that they must need God to stand for them. Oh you fools! It is the weak God uses to bring down the fool. It is the weak God uses to reach the prideful, the annoyed, the depressed, the confused, the rich, the poor, the sanctimonious, the politician, the lobbyist, the doctor, the lawyer, the lost, the found. It is the weak in themselves who are strong in Christ. It is the weak who admit they are weak who come to the altar and kneel before God to repent of their wicked ways, their sins, and receive forgiveness from God and acceptance into His family. At that moment the weak become strong. For Jesus is now living in their hearts through their faith in and on Him. His blood has washed away the sins repented of and now the weak which you decry are made strong in Him who was crucified and rose from the grave.

     Abide in Him and Him only, as I and my family abide in Him and Him only. For each person who comes to God and believes on The Name of His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ for salvation must work out their own after they believe. Which means you and I and every other believer must learn to live in Jesus. He already knows how to live in us, but we are learning to live in Him. This is why no two Christians are alike: each is responsible for their own growth, for seeking to grow in the things of God, for seeking to grow in The Word of God: searching His Word, in prayer and love, on how to be more like Jesus.

     Do you know God's perfect will for your life? Me, either. But I do know that God's first will for any one's life is be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4 “Who will have all men to be saved; and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” So, what is truth? John 14:6 “And Jesus said unto them, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes unto The Father but by Me.” Jesus is Truth. So, 'to come unto the knowledge of the truth', is to come to know Jesus, to believe Jesus, to learn to live in Jesus as He lives in us, when we believe.

     If you want to know God's will for your life after you are saved, then I expect you will study His Word. If you are not able to access a Bible where you live, while there are many Bible sites, I would recommend Bible Hub Library . This is the one my husband and I use to study with; it has more tools than I have on my bookshelf. And it's free to use by any one. As I walk through The Word in my study times, I will continue to share what I receive.