Previously I wrote on the challenges of legalism and learning how to live by the spirit of Christ. If you have not had a chance to check out that entry, I encourage you to give it a read as I talked about the ways in which we overcome sin.
In this writing, I am not going to focus so much on sin (though this plays a large part as well) since I have already written on the subject of repentance a few times recently but I am feeling the need to write on victory as many may be wondering how we are to gain victory in the storm that is upon us. Many are wondering as we are facing such a spiritual goliath, what is it we should be doing.
I am seeing many being frustrated by the injustices in the news and the indignation in general they are feeling. Many are also feeling treated unfairly or rudely and they aren’t sure how to get past it. While there is a dividing line being drawn right now between good and evil, you only need to understand that you have victory in Christ if you have already called on Him. When I entered my wilderness I could not see a way forward. I had no idea I would be starting my own blog one day but I began having prophetic dreams and so I knew the Lord was doing something within me the more time I spent with Him.
The more time I spent in the Word daily and saying the verses aloud and came to see how the Lord was taking care of me, the easier it was to stand firm on the other verses I was also decreeing as they would come to be the more I said them. When you are speaking it daily and writing it on your heart and praying on the verses you begin to transform into a new person and your faith expands because the trust is established and then you come to believe that anything and everything is possible.
Isaiah 48:15 (NKJV)
15 I, even I, have spoken; Yes, I have called him, I have brought him, and his way will prosper.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
You will know when His spirit is on you because you begin seeing things differently. For me, I began to start seeing on the filth in the World and started becoming increasingly sensitive. I could feel when someone was about to try to argue. I would get this strong pulling before they would speak. It would just be this feeling like I needed to escape the vicinity where I was immediately so as to avoid the snare of being caught up in it. Now were there times it happened? Sure, I’m a person just like everyone else and try as I may I couldn’t always escape fast enough depending on what I was in the middle of doing, but I became better and recognizing that it wasn’t always just about walking away but having the right response.
Proverbs 15: 1-2
1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
Proverbs 15:18
18 A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention.
I can’t tell you how many times I felt treated unjustly. Though it is not my place to judge the other person, what I had to find was how I was best to get through and overcome the discouragement in order to continue to pick up my cross and follow Jesus. Knowing that He was calling on me to do His works made this even more important and when I felt like I failed I would feel devastated but each time I tripped I got back up and picked up that cross and sought Him to do better. He would often give me verses to study to teach me how His apostles and prophets dealt with these situations.
For anyone who is starting out you can learn A LOT just by studying what Paul wrote. -I spent a lot of time in the scriptures written by Paul and there were times I would feel like I wasn’t absorbing it but then when I was about to react in a certain situation, I would find myself having the right response -I was being led by the spirit in what I had written on my heart. The Lord was establishing Himself in me and it was changing the way I thought -teaching me that by enduring I would overcome these obstacles and have victory. There is quite a bit to study in Peter, too.
1 Peter 3:17 (NKJV)
17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (NKJV)
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NLT)
3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 6 And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.
So where I am going with this; What I am trying to share with you as that when you are living by the spirit of Christ, you have gained the victory. It may start on the small things you never consider but once you have gained this as knowledge and the transformation in Christ has begun, everything else becomes easier. There will still be occasional times where things may seem difficult as the enemy tries to ensnare you, but the more you know the Word and declare it and fully believe it you will be able to rebuke that which tries to thwart you.
One of my favorite verses (which I have at the top of my ‘about’ page) is Philippians 4:13 as it is one verse I state daily, especially when I begin a new post. I may start to get writers block because there are so many directions I could take the blog entry but I let the spirit lead me and say what I feel is helpful whether it is an entry like this where I try to encourage you the reader, or an entry that I write pointing out what I am seeing and how I believe it relates to what we were told would be happening in the end times as we see much unfolding now.
Remember one thing my friends-
Overwhelming victory is already yours because you are promised in God’s Word! You’ve already achieved the victory, you just need to believe it by repeating it daily.
Verses as they pertain to the above;
1 John 5:4 (KJV)
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 (NLT)
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV)
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8: 35-39 (KJV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 16:33 (KJV)
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
James 4:14-15 (NKJV)
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Proverbs 21:31 (KJV)
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.
Revelation 21: 3-8 (KJV)
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Here are some verses I decree daily (they are in no particular order) whether in prayer or should a situation arise that I face -and remember what I said above about saying them and believing them with your whole heart. The reason you do this is to overcome unbelief and have the right Words established to fight against the spirits of doubt, fear, and unbelief (among the few that will try to sneak in and cause you to trip). This is what is meant in Ephesians 6:13-17 by having on the armor of God; the belt of truth tied around your waste, the body armor of God’s righteousness, the shield of faith to stop the fiery darts of the devil, salvation in Jesus as your helmet, and using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God as it pertains to your situation.
One thing that helped me was to make print outs where I would paste the Word but then write a decree right under it and type it in a way I can use it to apply to me if it isn’t already worded in such a way. I print these out, put them in plastic protectors and have them in a binder so I have them ready. Some of these also pertain to protection and though I didn’t post it below, I also recommend ALL of Psalm 91 is this is an important one to memorize and speak frequently.
For example, let’s use Psalm 37:24. I may say,
“Though I may stumble, I will never fall, for the Lord holds me by the hand.”
There is no shame in learning the Word in whichever way helps you best apply it so be encouraged to do this if you feel you need to. The Lord will be with you and help you establish the verses in your heart and aside from reading when you do study it is a great way to memorize the ones you find useful the most. I post these as they are ones that greatly helped me -especially in hard times I was dealing with bouts of unbelief that I had to conquer.
May Jesus Bless you and it is my prayer these are a help to any who read this and are seeking the encouragement in difficult times and trials.
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Psalm 3:5 (NLT)
5 I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.
Psalm 16:7-9 (NLT)
7 I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.
Psalm 19:14 (NLT)
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 23: 1-6 (NKJV)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Psalm 32:7 (NKJV)
7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
Psalm 37: 23-24 (NLT)
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Psalm 62: 5-7 (NLT)
5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.
7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NLT)
3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
Isaiah 26: 3 (NLT)
3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 41:12-13 (NLT)
12 You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing.13 For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
Isaiah 54: 14, 17 (NLT)
14 In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
17 But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!