There are moments when life feels dark. We feel defeated and discouraged. Perhaps our dreams have died. In those moments we need to remember our victorious Jesus.
Peter felt defeated after the crucifixion of Jesus. He knew he had denied Jesus three times, and he felt that the hopes he had for a Messiah to conquer the ruling Romans were buried in the grave. Yet, weeks later, after the Resurrection and being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter preaches a powerful sermon on the victorious Christ (Acts 2:14-36).
I was studying Peter’s sermon this week, and tucked within his powerful message are several life-changing reminders of the fact that Christ was victorious! That victory is now yours. Pause for a moment and let that truth sink in. Yes, I know. There are moments when you feel utterly defeated and that hope is lost. Yet it is in those exact moments when you need to claim the victory that is yours in Christ.
The psalmist David said it with these poetic words in Psalm 16:8-9: “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in security.” And, in Psalm 110:1, speaking prophetically, David wrote, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Jesus, our victorious Savior:
—Crushed sin and Satan at the cross. Once and for all, Jesus made atonement for our sins. Every mistake, overt defiance and misdemeanor was covered at the cross. Because Jesus died, sin no longer rules over us (Rom. 6:14). You do not have to give in to sin. A victorious life is possible through Christ. And in the moments when you do fail, there is always grace.
At times, we look at our world and we see violence, poverty, corruption and disease, and it’s easy to feel as though Satan is winning. Be reminded, friend—Satan cannot and will not have the victory, because Jesus has already won the victory. No matter how dark it may feel at this moment in your life, there is hope because Jesus crushed Satan at the cross.
—Defeated death through the Resurrection. Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica that we have hope for even those who have died in Christ (1 Thess. 4:13-14). Recently, Steve’s mom passed from this life into the presence of Christ. We don’t grieve as though without hope because we are assured that, though she is absent from her earthly body, she is present with the Lord.
Friend, perhaps in this season, you are afraid to die. You don’t have to fear death. If your faith and trust are in Christ, He will give you grace as you die and receive you with joy as you enter His presence.
—Is exalted at the right hand of God. Jesus is now exalted at the right hand of God. He will reign forevermore. He left His Spirit to dwell in us. We are now hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:1-4). All that you need to live victoriously is yours in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Have your dreams died? You can trust Christ to resurrect new hope. Have you felt defeated by sinful patterns? You have victory over sin through Christ. Lean into the power of the Holy Spirit. Have you been the victim of violence or suffering? Christ can redeem that very suffering and bring beauty out of the ashes.
Our Jesus is a victorious Jesus—and because He is victorious, you can be as well!
Take a few moments and listen to the song by Hillsong, “King of Kings,” here or at this link. As you listen, worship and praise Jesus that He is your victorious King!
Becky Harling, an author, certified speaker, leadership coach and trainer with the John Maxwell Team, is an energetic and motivational international speaker inspiring audiences to overcome their greatest life challenges and reach their full, God-given potential. Her most recent book is Listen Well, Lead Better. Her husband, Steve Harling, is the president of Reach Beyond, a nonprofit organization seeking to be the voice and hands of Jesus around the world. Connect with Becky at beckyharling.com, on Facebook or on Twitter.
This article originally appeared at beckyharling.com.
