PART 3: VICTORY AS A CHRISTIAN

Warning signs you may be losing the battle

Strategy 20: Rely on and trust in God

Endurance in times of pressure - God is there for you!
Paul the apostle knew that God provided difficulties in his life so that he would not rely on himself but on God. "I was under great pressure, far beyond my ability to endure. But this happened that I might not rely on myself but on God, who raises the dead" (2 Corinthians 1:8,9).

God's power is made perfect in our weakness
Don't doubt God through the hard times for this is when we especially need His power and grace! Paul the apostle was given a 'thorn in the flesh' so that God could say to him; "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:7,8). God wants us to stop struggling, fighting and trying to beat a problem in our OWN strength. God is waiting for you to say; "Lord, I can't beat this problem by myself. Lord, YOU win the battle for me." Give it all to God; "For the battle is the Lord's" (1 Samuel 17:47).

Strategy 21: Don't be afraid to feel and display emotions

Jesus and Paul showed emotion
"Jesus wept" (John 11:35). Paul the apostle wrote out of "great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears" to let his readers "know the depth of his love for them" (2 Corinthians 2:4). If it is good enough for Jesus and Paul to display and feel emotions, it is good enough for us!

Is your heart cold?
As Christians we are not to put our trust and faith in emotions for as Jesus so beautifully puts it "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me" (John 14:1). We are not to let our emotions rule us. However, if your faith in Jesus is not accompanied by emotion it will be unsatisfying and cold. The Bible is overflowing with verses that show us emotion in the lives of Christians and that this emotion is a natural and healthy response to faith in a risen Saviour. Peter the apostle writes to Christians and tells them that they have "inexpressible and glorious joy" (1 Peter 1:8) because they have come to put their trust in Jesus. Joy is an emotion!

Strategy 22: Believe and trust in what the Bible tells you

Fact 1: Jesus was a real person. Jesus lived, died and rose from the dead.
Jesus was a real person like you and I. He was born into this world around two thousand years ago and grew up to adulthood. Jesus did miracles; spoke words of wisdom that have never been matched, and supernaturally changed people's lives. Jesus was betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver and was whipped, spat upon, mocked and ridiculed. Jesus died under the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate, by the incredibly cruel method of crucifixion. Jesus did not remain in the grave but rose from the dead just as He promised He would. The resurrection of Jesus proved that Jesus was and is the Messiah, our Lord and Saviour and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The resurrection of Jesus turned the disciples from a group who "deserted him and fled" (Matthew 26:56) into a group who were prepared to die for Jesus.

Fact 2: God exists in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

a. The Father is God
"To the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11).

b. The Son (Jesus) is God
The Bible clearly states that Jesus is equal to and is God Himself, who came to earth to rescue us from our sins.
"In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God" (John 1:1).
Jesus says; "If anyone has seen me, they have seen the Father" (John 14.9).
"But about the Son (Jesus) he (God) says, "Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever" (Hebrews 1:8). This last verse shows us God the Father referring to His Son (Jesus) as God.
"Thomas said to him (Jesus), 'My Lord and my God!'" (John 20:28)

c. The Holy Spirit is God
Peter tells Ananias that "lying to the Holy Spirit" is the same as lying to God. (Acts 5:3-5).

Fact 3: There is only one one true living God
"Man-made gods are no gods at all" (Acts 19:26). "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Fact 4: Jesus is the only way to God
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'' (John 14:6). "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Fact 5: There is a judgement (heaven or hell are the only two destinations)
"In his great mercy he has given us a new birth … into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3,4). "Rather, be afraid of the One (God) who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

Evidence for the Christian faith is rock solid!
From the historical resurrection of Jesus some two thousand years ago, Christianity has spread and Jesus still changes lives in the 21st century. Reflect on the fact that Jesus was a man of history, the Bible is the most reliable ancient historical manuscript, and the positive effect believing in Jesus has had on people's lives. The facts of the Christian faith are undeniable. These facts are backed up by history, archaeology, science and the changed lives of millions who have put their trust in the risen Jesus. If you are confused by some passages in the Bible, relax and give God time to make them clear to you and go back and look at the rock solid basis for your faith.

Strategy 23. Forgive and pray for your enemies

Don't let bitterness eat you away
Jesus says, "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27) and "if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:15). Do you harbour grudges, envy, bitterness and unforgiveness in your heart? If you do then take action! Grudges are like cancers that will slowly eat away at you and destroy you.

Healing for your life
Forgive, humbling yourself before God, and He will lift you up and allow healing into your life. Pray that God will bring to your mind the names of people who are your 'enemies'. When He has done this, pray for them regularly. Jesus says we are to do more than just tolerate our enemies! As Christians, we are to "love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).

Strategy 24: Stand up under persecution

Whoever wants to save his life will lose it
There is a story that in a country where Christianity was forbidden, two fully armed soldiers burst into a church and demanded; "Every Christian is going to be shot. If you are not a Christian you are free to go if you leave now." The pastor and many of the congregation left, leaving beyond seven people. The two soldiers then put down their weapons and said; "Now we know you are real Christians, please tell us how we too can become Christians!" "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his live will find it" (Matthew 16:25). God wants us to stand up under persecution and not "quickly fall away when trouble or persecution comes because of the word" (Matthew 13:21).

Do not shrink back
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly live will be persecuted" (1 Timothy 3:12). "They (Christians) overcome him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and the word of their testimony; they did not shrink from death" (Revelation 12:11).
To the Christian, Jesus is everything because He suffered in their place, forgave their sins and gave them eternal life, which they did not earn or deserve. Under persecution, what is really important to us becomes clear. With God's grace and strength at the time, a Christian is prepared to die for his faith. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad …" (Matthew 5:12,13).

In times of persecution, trust in what God tells us in His word
"God did not give you a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7). "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39).

Find strength in what Paul the Apostle had to endure
Paul the Apostle says "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and day in the open sea. I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked" (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).

Content in every situation
We are to follow Paul the apostle's example when he says; "I have learnt the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry ... I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippines 4:12,13).

Strategy 25: Use your time wisely

The time is short and the days are evil
"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). We all choose to watch, hear and read different things. These things may be on television, videos or in magazines or books.

Use your time wisely
We are not trying to tell you that you shouldn't watch, listen to or read the things you are at the moment, as we don't even know what these things are! What we are trying to tell you is that the things you expose yourself to will have an effect on you one way or another. God asks us to use our time wisely. If the things we do cause us to sin or diminish our hatred for evil or are a stumbling block for others, then we need to reconsider our choices.

What you see, hear and read does have an impact
I was talking to a young guy who was laughing and joking about the violence he had seen on a series of extremely violent videos. I said to him; "Do you think the violence you watch day in and day out in these videos could affect you in anyway." As you would expect he answered; "No way!" I responded by saying; "The fact that you are laughing about violent acts that should horrify you shows you have already been affected by them." The young guy responded by saying, "Yeah, Yeah … but I have read that it is only those people who are predisposed to violence and who also view violence that will actually go and commit violent acts." I wasn't quick enough at the time but I should have responded by saying; "If this is true, how can you be sure that YOU are not one of these people!"

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent - think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).

Ask God to show you if you are using your time wisely and if you are thinking on the things He wants you to. Pray about it and be prepared to act on what He tells you.

Strategy 26: Humble yourself and become a servant

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). At times we get puffed up with pride. The solution is to think of yourself as "an unworthy servant; who has only done their duty" (Luke 17:10).

Victory as a Christian (Part 1)

Victory as a Christian (Part 2)