How to Live a Victorious Christian Life
LESSON 4
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a distinct advantage in the world, but not in ways that you may think. Our strength comes from none other than God Himself… the very One who created us. He has given us His own Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who provides us with everything we need to live a fruitful and fulfilling life. He gives us amazing capabilities to love with God’s love, to experience fullness of joy, perfect peace, unyielding courage and faith, and a confident hope for a future we know is ahead for us.
Here you will learn some very important things to help you in your walk with God and to live a truly rewarding and fulfilling life.
Stick close to Jesus
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
We need to stick as close as we possibly can to the One who overcame and conquered the power of death, and then rose to victory as the captain of our salvation. He is our Lord, our Savior, and our Guide through this life. As the Good Shepherd, He promises to “lead” us to a fruitful and abundant life both here on earth, as well as eternally in Heaven. King David of Israel portrays it well in the 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul…” Jesus is the One who said to his first disciples on the shores of Galilee… “Follow Me”.
King David wrote in his 37th psalm, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” It is clearly God’s desire to bless us richly, but not at the expense of our character or fulfilling His purposes in our life. We must remember that He never intended that this life would bring the fulfillment of His blessings and promises. Heaven has always been the end game.
The author of Hebrews challenges us saying, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Heb. 12:2 He then reveals to us the secret of Jesus’ overcoming. “He endured the cross, FOR THE JOY that was set before Him.” Jesus was looking ahead… to the future time when He would be united with His bride (You and I)… and that gave Him the strength to endure death on the cross, KNOWING He would have eternity with us in Heaven. Hope and Love are powerful forces that give our faith all that it needs to overcome. If this is how the Son of God endured his trial, how much more we who follow Him… unto eternal life.
Learn to Trust in God’s character, and not the circumstances
King David wrote in Psalms 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Happy is the man who TRUSTS in Him” and again in Proverbs 3:5 “TRUST in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths.”
Understandably, this is extremely hard to do when the circumstances we are facing seem impossible and God appears to be nowhere in sight. Yet, God is faithful and true to His Word… always!! As Paul wrote in one place, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” It is not a blind faith as some have called it… It is a faith that sees through the lens of God’s promises… a faith that trusts Him to do what He said.
Recognize your unique God-given talents
As was mentioned earlier, the Holy Spirit has equipped each one of us with special attributes and gifts. We need to yield to His prompting and employ them as opportunities are presented to us. “And He gave gifts to men.” Eph. 4:8 We must always remember that He is the potter and we are the clay. He knows which gifts, talents and abilities suit us best. It honors God when we as His children value the gifts He has given us and seek to use them in following His plan for our lives. Heaven will reveal just how proud He is of us for receiving His Son into our hearts and following Him through our lives.
Walk in love
“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
Since LOVE is what Jesus defines as the evidence of a true follower of His, it would only make sense that it would also be evidence that we are in fact living a victorious life… pleasing to God. The LOVE that Jesus is referring to here is an unconditional love, not a love that needs to be or even can be earned. It is the kind of Love that God has for us. And the same Love that He gives us to give to others in His name.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another, that your JOY may be full!” John 15:12
This is such a great verse! As a reward for walking in love, God promises JOY… even fullness of joy! This is beyond happiness… which every man, woman and child seek. This is Joy!… the very atmosphere of Heaven. The sacrifices of love… are worth it.
Love has been called the chief of all the graces. And is the first in the list of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
“And the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE… JOY… PEACE…” Gal. 5:22
Joy follows Love. Joy is the fruit of Love. This is why the happiest people in the world are always the GIVERS, not the takers. Takers are never satisfied. Givers reap God’s best and receive His promised blessings. They are the most like God. “For God so loved the world that HE GAVE…”.
Amen! Congratulations for completing this brief study in the Roadmap to Heaven series. These 4 Key Fundamentals of the Christian Life are by no means conclusive, but merely meant to lay a foundation for you to build upon.
And now, we have another exciting step for you in your journey called the “Fishers of Men”.
