Victory

Victory is His business

Photo by Ales Krivec on Unsplash

Jesus told a story one time about a certain master(himself) that left to go inherit a kingdom and left his servants(believers) in charge while he was away. To each servant, he gave a talent(treasure or money)or in another version, he left them cities to govern. When he returned he called each of them to come before him and give an account of what they had done with what he had entrusted them with. Two servants had placed his property at risk in order to gain more in business dealings and were rewarded and praised. However, the final servant came forward and said because he believed his master to be harsh and greedy he had simply buried what was given to him. He returned the goods but with no interest, no return, nothing but what he had received. This man was called out as wicked and lazy and his talent was given to the one with the biggest return of investment.

What I love about the parables Jesus told is that they are multi-faceted. There is so much we can learn from them if we are willing to. Over and over again Christ gave us a picture of His return and what would be expected of those who followed him. The God we serve is not interested in placeholders or get by Christians. The God we serve is coming back and He will be coming back for a victorious triumphant bride that has multiplied His Kingdom influence on the earth. We the Church are to be an advancing army. We are to be salt and light expanding and moving into all areas of society. Jesus said the gates of Hell would not prevail against us. That means we invade Hell folks. It means we move, are active, and do business with the aim of victory until He returns.

When I was going through a rough rebuilding season some time back I was greatly encouraged by reading leadership law 15 from John Maxwell's classic book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. It's the law of Victory and it talks about how good leaders find a way for the team to win. This is really great but what in particular stood out to me at the time was the heading of one of the paragraphs in that chapter. It simply said Victory Is His Business. I couldn't help but read a double meaning into this phrase. I felt God speaking to me at that moment that Victory was His business. We serve a victorious God and He always leads us into triumph. I was able to let go, trust him a little more, and see Him bring me into good things.

In the Song of Songs or some call it the Song of Solomon, we see a picture of the relationship of Christ with His bride. In particular, chapter 2 verse 8 begins a phase of the story that is continued through chapter 3 verse 4. It's one of my favorite parts of the allegory pointing to a very real dynamic we face as believers. In the story the Shulamite(represents the bride of Christ) sees her beloved(Christ) skipping on the hills (difficulties in life) and leaping upon the mountains (warfare and great obstacles). The problem arises when he calls her to come away with Him and do the same. The story continues on to her praising His qualities but refusing to go with him. She sees herself as unworthy and unable to do the impossible things she sees him doing. How often are we just like her? We can praise God as victorious, as able to do all things but what happens when like Peter we are confronted with a God who walks on water? Do we go to Him on the water as Peter did or do we cower in the boat like the rest of the disciples? Too often I fear, like the Shulamite, we stand behind walls with God, walls we think are good but they keep us from leaping in victory on the top of mountains and skipping on the hills of difficulties. The result of telling Christ no was a period of separation and the loss of His presence. God is kind and gentle and will not force us to follow Him. When she could no longer endure it she set out to seek for Him and eventually found Him and their relationship was restored.

Jesus didn't rebuke Peter for stepping out. He chided him for failing to believe when the waves got rough. He had courage, he needed faith. Faith is what is required to please God. Not sacrifice, or burnt offerings, but simple faith(easier said than done!). Without faith, the Bible says it is impossible to please God. When we stand before the judgment seat of God at the end of time He will not be rebuking us for believing Him to do too much. It will likely be quite the opposite.

Is there a wrong perception of God we have that would keep us from going all in for His Kingdom? Or maybe we have a wrong or exaggerated view of our failings and shortcomings and we feel unworthy? Maybe you are courageous like Peter willing and ready to jump but faltering in the attempt because your faith is weak. It's time for us to quit living in the comfortable and familiar especially when that world is a world of defeat.

Let me encourage you today. God’s army is being raised up even as you read this piece. From all corners of the globe, there is a strong unstoppable undercurrent of an awakening bride. Jesus is victorious because victory is His business. Therefore we who follow Him into battle are victorious too. If God is for us then who can possibly be against us the Bible says. God is calling believers to rise up and come away with Him. It's time to skip on our hills and leap upon our mountains, with no more delays or excuses.

Just a few thoughts to summarize.

We must risk capital - get out of our comfort zones and follow where He leads!

We must have faith - God always calls us to do more than we are able to do on our own!

Faith must lead us to action. - Faith without works is dead.

We must not accept defeat – Good leaders know how to bring others to victory

We must persevere and never ever give up! - I always think of the great Winston Churchill here. He spelled out the difficult path toward victory and set it as a non-negotiable goal.

He deserves our best!- He gave His all for us.

He deserves my best! - I want to have a crown that I can lay down at His feet someday.

I refuse to give the enemy an inch. Not here in America, not in my family, not in my job, not in my Church, or in my community! I will not back down, get discouraged, or live in defeat. We are MORE than conquerors in Christ.

God bless,

Andrew