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Destined to Win
Last week the New Year Day message spoke prophetically of the Lord’s presence increasing as believers gathered together in harmony. But at the same time, satan’s presence will probably also increase in the world system. For, “where sin abounds, grace abounds much more” [Romans 5:20]. Therefore it’s very important that believers stand firm in the knowledge of who they are in Christ Jesus. Every Christian must be certain of his spiritual status - the privileged state Jesus secured for him.
In the First Epistle of John the author had to address the uncertainty numerous believers had concerning their spiritual status. This lack of understanding of the truth and general uneasiness was caused by disturbing skirmishes with the teachers of false doctrine. Many had substituted intellectual pursuits for faith and John’s purpose in writing was to expose the error of the false teachers and confirm the faith of the true believers. This is something that needs to be done today.
First, John stresses the themes of love, light and knowledge in his warnings against heresy. In this book love is the dominant message. Possessing love is clear evidence that one is a Christian, and lack of love indicates that one is still in darkness.
Prominent in this epistle is the positive note of Christian certainty and the truth that believers are destined to win. This is a feature that is an important part of our spiritual status. Turn with me now to 1 John 2 and let’s read verses 12 to 14...
John addresses 3 different groups in the church, not according to physical age, but according to their levels of spiritual growth. His purpose is to encourage them to further progress and warn them of the temptations they are certain to face.
First, he embraces the whole family with the expression “little children.” Here there is probably no thought of age as all believers sins are forgiven for His name’s sake. Isn’t it a wonderful thing to know that, as a present possession, you have the complete remission of your sins? Christ paid the price for every one of them, and on legal grounds, no sin can be held to your account anymore. But remember, your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake only. Clearly, it is for Christ’s sake that your sins are forgiven and not your own. Therefore, He is to get all the glory.
Fathers are mature believers who have known the sweet companionship of Jesus Christ and are completely satisfied with Him. There is an air of certainty and a peace around mature believers, and they display patience and fortitude beyond normal measure. The church is always in need of more fathers in the faith.
Young men are characterised by vigour and by combat. This is a period of persistent wrestling with the foe. It is a conflict wherein Christians learn the secret of victory, namely, “Not I but Christ living in me!” Such believers have become God-inside minded. They live in the revelation that “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!”
Notice, the result of being strong and having the word of God abiding in you energetically is victory over satan. You are empowered to demoralise the devil by the Word that dwells in you! Young men are addressed as those who are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. They have triumphed over the enemy because of God’s infallible word. Jesus defeated the devil in the wilderness simply by quoting scripture. Shouldn’t every one of us be fully equipped in all circumstances by having enough ammunition to repel every attack of the enemy?
Having the ability to overcome the devil and the world system is a primary part your spiritual status. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, to overcome is to win a victory over; to succeed in subduing; to make helpless or to deprive of proper authority. It can also mean to get the better of or to gain ascendancy. The Greek word is a legal term and it implies to master over. You are predestined to be master over satan and all the demonic forces under his control, and to rule and reign over the negative influences of the world system. Verse 17 says, “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
The Amplified says, “The world system is passing away and disappearing, and with it the forbidden cravings (the lusts and passionate desires) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in this life abides (remains) forever.”
When a bank is in trouble wise people will cease to deposit anything in it. When the foundation of a building is weakened, intelligent builders do not proceed with the structure. Someone once said, “Concentrating or focusing on the current world order is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.” Only a fool would live for a system that is about to hit an iceberg! Rather, purpose to do the will of God and this will deliver you from every temptation of things that are passing away.
Verse 16 tells us that the passions of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life are not of God but of this world - for they are all located [and flourish] in the world system. Remember, you cannot fight flesh with flesh! Carnal desires and lustful temptations cannot be overcome by your human will or personal strength; you must first do the will of God - for His will is Spirit.
“Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord” [Zechariah 4:6]. The will of God the Father is for you to be “continually filled with the Spirit” and consequently live a triumphant life - overcoming the flesh and the decaying system it so desperately craves [Ephesians 5:17,18]. When God predestined your future and called you by name (according to His plan, design and purpose) [Romans 8], He provided a future wherein you may become more than a conqueror. Note: your “calling” is in total agreement with the victorious plans that He set out, by faith, in eternity past. The very things that He Himself has spoken out prophetically, you are now able to fulfil. You were created to be a success!
Think about this for a moment! You were not called at random, but by faith God designed your future that you might come to know His Son and the power of His resurrection. In fact, you were “called” to be the master of all circumstances! In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, “The gates of hell will not prevail against the church.” To prevail is to overcome, and therefore, you have become satan’s master! You can boldly enter the gates that divide the two worlds and exercise your authority.
1 John 4:4 declares, “You are of God little children, and have overcome them [that is, every evil spirit], because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Because you have the Holy Spirit in you, you can detect evil spirits and take authority over them. You can also clearly discern the truth and refuse to listen to the lies of the devil.
Let us close by examining 1 John 5:4-5... “For whoever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has [past tense] overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Notice, it is your faith that overcomes the world order of things, providing you with an effective spiritual weapon by which you can combat both the temptations and the persecutions of a godless society. The world system is a monstrous scheme of temptation, always trying to drag you away from God and from what is eternal. Today’s secular society is geared to distract you and get you preoccupied with what is temporary. But what is temporary is falling away, and whatever is of the Spirit will last forever.
Only a man or woman who is born of God can overcome the world, because by faith they are able to rise above the perishing things of the world and see things in their true, eternal perspective. Things which are seen are temporary but things which are not seen are eternal [2 Corinthians 4:18]. Seeing through the eyes of faith dims the bright lights of the world system!
To see through natural eyes is sight, but to see through spiritual eyes is insight. The primary organ when seeing through natural eyes is the intellect. The primary organ when seeing through spiritual eyes is through faith. Your faith is the victory that has already overcome the world! But remember, your faith has eyes and those eyes of faith must constantly gaze at the things which are eternal. Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added! |
Chris Demetriou, 08/01/2006 |
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