the Challenge Victorious Living in Another Kingdom

God wants us to experience His victory in every area of life. Everything that surrounds us in life is designed by God to be used to bring us into victory. But before we can experience this victory it is important to have a clear vision, established goals, and a set course of action. Jesus not only wants His present day Church to experience the same miraculous power and dynamic of living the first century disciples experienced, but He desires that each successive generation surpass the previous one, even as every parent desires their children to surpass their achievements. And now it’s our turn! It’s our turn to receive the baton, to take up the race and run for the gold! It’s our turn to, “know our God, be strong in faith, and do exploits in His name.” Within our present culture the Church of Jesus Christ has often been seen as a gathering of weak and frail people, many of who are considered to be bigoted and closed minded. In many ways this has been the picture the Church has given to the world. This is quite a contrast from what was said of the first century saints, “These that have turned the world upside down are come here also.” But, thank God, things are changing! Jesus' view is also incredibly different. He was quite confident that the Church He was preparing to build would not only resist the onslaught of hell, but would, in fact, mount a powerful and successful offensive on its very gates! The early apostles also had quite a different view of the Church's posture and attitude. Paul tells us how God always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus. And the beloved Apostle John said it this way, “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” Because of their testimony and their bold preaching Simon Peter and John where confronted and then threatened with physical punishment and possible death by the Jewish religious leaders. Yet in the face of this persecution they held fast to their faith saying that they would rather obey God than men (Acts 5:17 39). What supreme confidence! What a dynamic of personal testimony and experience that could energize and call these men and women into such deep and powerful testimonies and lifestyles. This can also be the norm for Christians today. We no longer need to live with our heads barely above water. There is a place of victory and success in our spiritual lives that will ultimately overflow into the natural course of living and on into the lives of all those with whom we come in contact. The Lord Jesus Christ had a wonderful way of causing men and women to live up to their highest abilities and potential. He could draw out their best, challenging them to new spiritual and moral heights. And today, Jesus is still helping people to delight in doing the will of God and causing them to become world overcomers! At conversion, as our spirits are regenerated, the desire to obey God is implanted deeply within our hearts. Because we are born again by the Word of God, (which is an incorruptible and eternal seed), every desire and characteristic of the Lord Jesus dwells within the believer. What potential! What possibilities! Imagine the fields of endeavor that lie before those who will dare to walk humbly and submissively into all that the Lord has promised and provided! Most of our problems seem to rest, not with our desire to do the will of God, but in those areas of our cooperation with Him for the carrying out of those plans. Simply having the desire is not enough. Our desires, no matter how spiritual or godly they may be, will only remain in the realm of wishful thinking until we make quality choices and take the specific action steps toward the desired end. Paul knew that desire alone was not enough to overcome the deeds and work of the flesh. Now, while many have been stumped in this conflict of desire and deeds, there are those who have gone on with Paul into the reality of victory and conquest. There is a way to walk in victory in spite of our own shortcomings and inabilities. Victory can only be ours as we abide or live in the very life of Jesus. His life in us is the key to success and victory. And so the believer can only find God's life as he abides in Christ's life. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the vine, no more can you, except you abide in Me. JOHN 15:4 While most desire to do God's will, many have simply never been properly equipped in carrying out that which is already hidden within their heart. Doctors spend years in training to develop their skills within their chosen areas of medicine. Once they receive their credentials, they are certified proficient to begin their "practice." Today's believers need the same practical training so they might venture out to practice that which they have learned. It is not a matter of trying once or twice and then when they don’t see results they expected, come to the conclusion that "it must not be God's will for me to evangelize, heal the sick, preach the Gospel, or to live victoriously." The newly licensed doctor, after determining a diagnoses and then treating the ailment accordingly, doesn't throw away years of training simply because his patient did not experience a complete recovery. With determination, he continues to practice and hone his skills and profession. So it should be with the believer. Jesus didn't say, “Try to heal the sick, and try to preach the Gospel.” His command was to heal the sick, preach the Gospel to the poor, and raise the dead – this is the essence of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom! Our responsibility is to obey His commands. His responsibility is to back up His Word.