If Christ is our Savior, we cannot be defeated!

We are conquerors!

1 John 5:1-5 (NCV) “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is God's child, and whoever loves the Father also loves the Father's children. This is how we know we love God's children: when we love God and obey his commands. Loving God means obeying his commands. And God's commands are not too hard for us, because everyone who is a child of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world—our faith. So the one who conquers the world is the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

In the final chapter of 1 John, we are reassured that we are God’s children if we believe Jesus is the Christ. But there’s a second part to that verse – there is an “and” too. The latter half of verse 1 says AND “whoever loves the Father also loves the Father’s children.” If we love God the Father, then we also must love his children – even the seemingly unlovable.

So how do we know if we love? Thankfully verse 2 answers that question for us “When we love God and obey his commands.” Obeying His commands…is this easy to do? According to John it’s not as difficult as we may think. He gives us a thought that will help us. In verse 4 John encourages us by telling us “everyone who is a child of God conquers the world.”

Did you realize that? 

We can be “conquerors” over the “things” that hold us captive and keep us from following God's commands by tapping into the same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead (Eph 1:20). As children of God we cannot be defeated.

But how, how do we become victors in an all too often difficult and stressful world? John tells us – OUR FAITH. Trusting in God allows us to win against this world. Oh sure – things may get tough for a little while. But if you have placed your hope and trust in Christ and you believe he came and gave his live to ransom us from sin, you can rest easy. 

You are a conqueror! This world will not defeat you!  Isn’t that an awesome truth to know?

Related reading: Psalm 56

Burned by the flames of circumstance

1 Corinthians 1: 7-9 (MSG) “Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.””

Paul wrote the book of Corinthians not only to the church at Corinth, but for those of us who have heard God’s voice and have fallen prey to the “lies” this world can dish out. Paul gently and patiently teaches the Corinthian church the truth about living as Christ called us to live and not by the standards of this world.

When reading though Corinthians, I was comforted by the way the Message paraphrases verses 7 – 9. Writers of both the Old and New Testament told us that in this life we would have troubles and trials (see the verses below). But as I read these three verses this morning I was reminded of God’s sovereignty. He is right by our side all day, every day. He is faithful to the promises found in His word and He will NEVER give up on us.

It is so easy to forget this simple truth when you feel like you’re being burned alive by the fire of current circumstances. I know I have lost sight of God’s sovereignty a time or two. We must remember that through it all, He is there and He cares. It is up to us to keep Him in our focus and not the overwhelming presence of our circumstances.

When was the last time you had a conversation with God or cracked open His Word to find out what He has to say about things? According to 1 Corinthians 1:7 - 9, God shares with us the life of His Son, Jesus Christ. If we share in His life, the Bible says we are to share in His sufferings. Ugh… suffering! That’s tough, but we can have hope knowing God is right there with us. He sees the tears that fall from our eyes and hears us when we call on Him.

Going through tough times? Call on Christ, He will guide your path. I hope the following scriptures bring you comfort in the midst of whatever "fire" you are going through.

Psalm 23:4 (MSG) Even 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.

1 Peter 1:6-7 (MSG) I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

1 Peter 4:12-13 (MSG) Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

John 16:31-33 (MSG) Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world (emphasis mine)."

Our weakness...His strength

2 Cor. 12:9 – 10 (HCSB) "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I am so amazed by the way God reminds us that we do not walk alone through the trails of this world. Just last night I was reminded of this simple truth. As I sat and listened to someone else share in their current circumstance, I recognized familiar words. Words I know I have uttered dozens of times; in fact just as recently as last week. But last night was different. I listened to those words again and this time I heard them with a new perspective.

Throughout my own life I have allowed my mind to be “conformed” to the way I believe this world views strength and success as those words relate to women. I have listened to the world say things like

• “don’t show emotion, it’s a sign of weakness”
• “you have to be strong and fight for what you want out of this life no matter what”
• “you are a strong person, don’t let this little blip get you down just pick yourself up and get going!”

While these phrases were probably intended to be “motivational” in nature, they allowed me to build a wall and wear a mask that God never indented for me – or for you - in the first place.

If we take a glimpse at the Apostle Paul’s life we see that he was given a “thorn in his flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7) to remind him that God was all he needed. Even though Paul begged God to take away this thorn, God chose instead to demonstrate His power through it. Paul didn’t have to be strong and pretend this “thorn” wasn’t there. He simply recognized that God’s power was all the strength he needed to do what God had called him to do. Paul heard God say “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

Go back to that verse for just a minute. God’s grace is not just sufficient for Paul; it’s just as sufficient for all of us. Let’s go back and read the verse again. This time, after reading the word “you”, make the verse personal by saying your name. “My grace is sufficient for you, _________, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Now, when I hear myself say “I have to be strong.” I combat the thought with “I don’t have to be strong because God’s grace is sufficient for me and I know HIS power is made perfect in my weakness!” How comforting this that?

I hope the following verses encourage you to find strength in God’s power.

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”

Philippians 4:13 “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. “

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.”

Romans 8:25-27 “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit's mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.