The Victorious Life

Jan. 14, 2012
What is a victorious life? What brings victory in life?
In general, when people say about a victorious life, it is meant for achievements like fame, materials or successful children, and so on.
Then, to us believers, what does it mean by victorius life? When can we say we have a victory?
Jesus Christ died on the cross, it certainly is a failure. Then why do we believe in Jesus Christ who apparently have failed? Why do we have faith in Him who died on the cross considered to be a criminal.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ to be your true savior?
What did people blame Jesus for? The way He came to this world was beyond our understanding. He was cenceived out of wedlock by an unmarried woman, not as a fruit of love in marriage. Jesus took all the torture and was put to death on the cross as a criminal. All His disciples turned against Him and left Him. Why do we claim that His life was VICTORIOUS? Why do we see the cross as a sign of VICTORY?
To you is Jesus Christ important enough that you would not trade with anything? Then why is it that Jesus you have faith in is so different from the Jesus you encounter in life?
We say that "victorious life" should include everything I desire. The life faithful to Jesus Christ is surrendering everything, poor, and sharing everything I have with others even to the very last. I may be bancrupt, give up everything, surrender all I've got. Is this a victorious life?
The Word of God teaches us to give all, surrender all, and what about this is victorious? Yes, Word of God teaches us to give up everything. However, we pray for success of our children, for my satisfaction, and for my achievement. Does this make sense?
We want to possess good things on earth as well as Jesus Christ. This causes us to face conflicts.
If we really want to have true faith, we must let go of everything. When we let go, we can possess what the Lord is giving us. We simply don't trust that God's provision will be sufficient when we voluntarily lay down everything before Him who takes care of the wild flowers.
God instructed His people to work hard for six days and worship Him on the senth day in His house. People take this in the way they emphasize the responsibility of self provision for their own family which lead to sense of ownership, and sense of victory. This is what God tells us to give up.
God tells us to work hard so that we can share with others. But, "what I earned with hard labor, I can't share because 'it is mine'".
The Beautitudes in Matthew 5 is everyone's favorite. But If we really understand what it means, we cannnot favor this. Why? Because we have to surrender all. There is nothing mine. God tells us to take what we cannot take. He tells us to surrender all I desire, and take death. Is the Beautitudes still favorable to us? If we truly understand the Beautitudes, we cannot favor it. If we favor it, then we must surrender all.
I, sometimes, wonder if what I do is enough. But it comes down to the conclusion that we "must live the life of the Beautitudes". THAT is a victorious life. True victory is only in Jesus Christ.
Becoming a president of a nation, aquiring a doctorate degree, and so on certainly means a successful life. But, if this causes anyone to fall into arrogance, it is better not to be successful. High position doesn't mean victorious, nor lowly position doesn't mean not-victorious. Victory means doing one's best toward his(her) purpose.
Then what is a victorious life to Christians?
For Christians, victory in possible only in Jesus Chrust, living by His Words, laying down all the desires, pride, lust, selfisheness, and love for self.
If one word of criticism can turn us upside down, how are we to obey Jesus's teaching, "love your enemy"? Who is the enemy? Let's suppose it means someone who has done harm to parents or siblings. Let alone with this kind of enemy, we can't even stand anyone who bothers us emotionally, and treat them like enemies. Can we live victorious life like this?
If we truly accept Jesus Christ to be our Lord who died on the Cross of our sins and rose from dead, we must change.
Jesus was born of a virgin and lived as a man and died at age of 30, do we truly believe this Jesus? If Jesus revealed Himself to us by coming to us as a man, we must humble ourselves and serve other, and forgive our enemies.
We do not forgive those who bothers us, do not try to understand others, insist on my feelings even when I might have caused misunderstanding. How can we know the feelings of others?
We can not even understand other people. Do we really know and understand Jesus when we claim that we know Jesus? WE MUST do our best in obeying God the the Father, Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
We can not live victorious life merely by claiming victory with our words. Our lives have to show the victory coming from the true faith and obedience in God. The knowledge, what is in the head does not serve. If we really know, our lives have to be laid at the Cross and left there like a well-placed nail. The Cross should not be used as a pride-filled display, but should be accted as a place where we were saved and true life is only in Jesus, the Savior. Therefore, There must be changes in our lives throwing away arrogance, becoming humble and lowly.
Only Jesus is the true joy, hope and savior, and in Him the salvation. Jesus Christ gave us victory with His blood on the Cross. Then, we should live "victorious life" before God for this is giving glory to God.
Each one of us MUST live up to the victory Jesus has given us on the Cross and glorify God. With this message, I hope that all of you will live victorious lives and give glory to God.
Summary of sermon by Pastor Joy Y.S. Lee