LET’S BE VICTORIOUS!

I JOHN 5:3-4: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.” 1 John 5:3-4

OBSERVATION: Do I want to be victorious? Do I want to do more than just survive the struggles of life? As the world around me is consumed by war, fear, and discouragement – is there a way to live an abundant life rising above it all?

One day my wife and I were spending some time at our community pool. We live in a golf course community and we have two great pools. The North Spa that is closest to our house sits in a picturesque setting overlooking a beautiful lake. It is surrounded by trees and an abundance of different kinds of birds.

As we were relaxing in the pool we sat for about 15 minutes and enjoyed a beautiful speckled hawk soaring overhead. The wonder of it all is that this hawk never flapped its wings – once! It simply soared on what seemed to be a never-ending supply of air currents provided freely for its enjoyment!

At the same time we were marveling at the beauty of this hawk a small bird flew by. This bird was flapping its wings so hard and going so slow compared to this beautiful hawk. As I compared the two I thought to myself – “I want to be like the hawk!” While we sat in the pool below and while others gathered in groups to talk about everything that was going wrong with our world – the hawk just soared and soared!

The hawk had risen above every limitation this world could put in its way!

A familiar Scripture found in the book of Isaiah speaks to this as a promise for the believer.

• “Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31

Isaiah speaks of waiting on the Lord. The word in the Hebrew does not mean inactivity. Rather, this word literally is translated to be entangled with. Those who are entangled with the Lord, who are abiding in His grace, who are growing in His love, and who are following His commandments – they are the ones who will rise up with wings of eagles (or a beautiful speckled hawk)!

John gives us this same instruction in the verses of our focus. John states it this way.

1. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments…” – To love God is to love His Word. To love His Word is to live your life according to the principles of His Word – by grace through faith!

2. “…and His commandments are not burdensome.” – What are His commands? As Jesus taught us, the whole of the law and the prophets are summed up in loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves! To love is not burdensome. To love, as He has loved us – sets us free and allows us to soar!

3. “For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world…” – God desires us to walk in victory over sin, death, and the power of the enemy. Jesus came so that through the work of the cross He could destroy the power of the enemy. Greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world!

4. “…and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.” – The Reformation started with this truth – “The just shall live by faith!” Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith looks to the promises of God rather than the evil report of the world. Faith reads the end of the Book and realizes that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus!

In my devotions this morning I read the familiar story of the fiery furnace in the book of Daniel. Daniel’s three friends, refusing to bow down and worship the image of Nebuchadnezzar, were told that if they refused again they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Their faith stood strong and looked at these threats through the victory that was set before them.

This victory was not based on what would happen to them in the fiery furnace. It was based on their complete surrender and trust in Almighty God. Their response to the king should be an inspiration to us all!

• “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18

I watched that speckled hawk soar on what I could not see. I could not see the air currents but they supported the hawk and he rose above everything and everyone. Faith is not understood by the world. It is our faith, our trust in Christ, not the daily outcome of our lives that lifts us above the fray of this world. We overcome the world through our faith. Faith is the wind of God’s Spirit in our lives that allows us to live victoriously in the fire and trials of life.

We all love the way the story ended for Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego. Jesus walked in the midst of the fire with them and they were unharmed. Yet, their faith was not based on what happened. They did not overcome when they were in the fire. They overcame –

BEFORE THEY WERE EVEN THROWN INTO THE FIRE!

Lord, if ever there was a time we needed overcoming faith it is in the days in which we live. It seems that everything prophesied in the Bible is coming to pass as we look on. We grieve as we see innocent people suffering and we pray for peace. We do not know what today or tomorrow will hold for our world or our lives.

YET, WE KNOW YOU AND THE POWER OF YOUR LOVE!

Grant us the grace to rise up on the wings of eagles (or a speckled hawk) as we become entangled with Your grace, walk in love, and follow Your commandments. Help us to be overcomers – yes, more than overcomers through Christ who has loved us and given His life for us!

In Jesus’ Name!