1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
For all of history men and woman have feared death, hell, and the grave. They have feared sickness and spirits and every kind of fear that lurks in the dark place.
I don't know about you, but I have been in some dark scary places in my life. When I was about 5 or 6 years old my Dad worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. He would get up before daylight every morning to go to work. Before he left the house he would pick me up and carry me to his 65 Ford pickup and put me in the seat laying down. He would then drive me to my Grandma's house which was his mother then he would carry me in the house and lay me down on the couch.
I remember when he would leave I would start waking up and would hear a lot of noises in the house. The stairs would creek and I would here all kinds of things moving around and it would scare me. If I had only know back then what I know now.
We have had the fear of COVID and its imps for a couple of years. We have seen people have a lot of problems and some that have even passed from COVID. But, we had to learn to place our trust in God and know that through Him that victory is ours.
How do I know? Because I was laying in the hospital on oxygen and nearly died from it and I kept say I know that God has me and He did.
It is time for us to shake those shackles off and claim our victory in our Lord and Savior. There are thing that come along in our life that lay claim on us if we allow it too. We cannot allow the enemy to take over our mind, heart, or life.
Over 20 years ago I had a lot of shackles, or chains that held me down. Drinking was one of them. We claim that it does not however, it was destroying my life and my body.
I smoked for more than 15 years altogether. The chains of smoking kept me from socializing with friends. It also kept me wasting my money on something that was not helping me or my family.
I used to have a spirit of road rage. The bonds that held me and could have gotten me killed.
Deuteronomy 20:1
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
When you go into battle you must know who your enemy is and who our Savior is.
I have seen people over the years battle the devil over many things other than what I have mentioned. I have seen them battle drugs, depression, anxiety, lust, anger, jealousy and many other things that the devil has tried to get them with.
Proverbs 14:30
A sound heart is life to the body,
But envy is rottenness to the bones.
Daniel 3 talks about Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego were thrown into a furnace and it was turned up, however in the midst of that fire they still stood for God and Victory became theirs.
We must realize that our battle is with Satan and not God. God is our answer to every problem that comes our way.
We have Victory in Jesus.
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
If I can put my full trust in the Lord, then I will have no need to fear my enemy.
Psalms 23
23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
I have the goodness of God in my life and my home. I do not fear the enemy because I know that God is there helping me to overcome what the devil brings my way.
When I used to work as a service manager for EFI there were times that I had to go into building late at night and those building would have all of the lights off except a light here and there. We had one in Dallas that was a Catholic church and when you would walk in the sanctuary at night you would here all kinds of noises. But, sometimes you have to keep reminding yourself that there is Victory in Jesus.
When you are scared - Victory is yours
When you are having problems - Victory is yours
When your car breaks down - Victory is yours
When the enemy if trying to break you down - Victory is yours
Verse 1
I heard an old, old story how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins and won the victory
Chorus
O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood