“Through your glorious name and your awesome power, we can push through to any victory and defeat every enemy.”
– Psalm 44:5 (The Passion Translation)
After 3 years of controversial ministry, Jesus was officially recognized as the Son of God during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. People rejoiced because they believed guaranteed victory was imminent. The long-awaited king that Isaiah had prophesied was now on the scene. The multitudes created a pathway of palm leaves and clothing while shouting, “Hosanna!” The Passion Translation records it as:
“Bring the victory, Lord, Son of David! He comes with the blessings of being sent from the Lord Yahweh! We celebrate with praises to God in the highest!”
– Matthew 21:9b
They expected for Jesus to overthrow Roman rule and establish another kingdom where the Jewish people thrived without oppression. Imagine their anger & frustration when their deliverance did not appear the way they had imagined.
Sound familiar? How is your temperance when God doesn’t show up on your timetable? How do you feel when deliverance doesn’t look the way you had designed it in your head?
In just a few days, the people got mad at God… just like us. The crowd went from singing His praises to shouting, “Crucify Him!” all in the same week. The disgruntled crowd did not understand the process to guaranteed victory.
So, don’t get mad at the haters or the obstacles in your life, they are needed to press you forward to victory!
It Doesn’t Look Like Victory
Although the people cried for Jesus to bring them the victory, the process was totally unexpected. The cross didn’t look like victory, it looked like finality. It didn’t look like triumph, it looked like travail. Even Christ, who came in human form so that He could identify, feel, and conquer the same trials and temptations as us, thought at some point during His agony that His suffering didn’t look like victory…
“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
– Mark 15:34 (KJV)
During the process of the crucifixion, Jesus makes this fourth saying from the cross. Even though His power and deity were never in question, his flesh cried out because the process felt more like pain and punishment. The path to victory looked like defeat. Victory was starting to look like frustration, perhaps even loneliness. What do you do when victory looks like persecution…like a constant attack…like a fight you can’t win?
Jesus cried out because He could no longer feel the Father’s presence. Even though He knew God was still there, He still felt isolated from the Father’s reach.
“Yet I am never alone, for the Father is always with me. And everything I’ve taught you is so the peace which is in Me will be in you and will give you great confidences as you rest in Me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world.”
– John 16:32b-33 (The Passion Translation)
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinctively different and yet inherently one. The Son could in no way be separated from His Father because they were still one. On the pathway to victory, we may feel as though we are alone and absent from our Father. His voice may be still and His presence withdrawn. Like Jesus, who bore all our sins on the cross, our unconfessed blemishes may keep His glorious holiness from coming close.
When God feels far away and calling on the name of the Lord seems futile, we must remember that Holy Spirit lives on the inside of us. Whereas the three members of the Godhead are distinctively different, they are inherently one. He is still with us on the rugged path to victory.
“It Is Finished”
This sixth saying of Jesus from the cross brought despair to onlookers. It obviously looked like the enemy was the victor. Jesus was dead—the leader of the reformation was gone and certainly the movement was dead…finished…kaput…. fine’…done…. complete…
Right?
However, what appeared to be the end was just the beginning.
It’s time to shift our perspective and stop viewing the end of some assignments, relationships, and routines as defeat.
It is finished was a statement of victory!
Jesus had accomplished the mission. The sacrifice was complete. His assignment was complete. He had won the battle over sin, death, and ultimately satan. Three days later, He claimed victory over the grave as He walked out of the tomb leaving His grave clothes folded neatly behind.
The veil in the temple was torn, access was granted, and His kingdom was established with a regenerated access point for you and me.
Where is your victory? It’s in the Blood of Jesus!
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
– Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)”
Jesus’ blood ran down the outside of his body for our transgressions, or sins that we would commit in action or deed. He was bruised, meaning that blood was trapped under the skin’s surface, for iniquities that would be hidden in our hearts, feelings/emotions, or bloodlines. Because of the blood of Jesus, we are forgiven, healed, and set free!
Adoption, peace, love, joy, healing, prosperity, protection, divine intervention, access, authority, inheritance and may other benefits were purchased with the blood. Our Passover lamb was slain that we might have victory over every situation and circumstance that we might incur.
That’s Not All Folks!
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…” – John 14:16 (KJV)
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”- John 14:18 (KJV)
An arisen Jesus tells His followers to wait in the upper room for more. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, there was more!
Just to make sure that we had the victory, He would endow every believer with a part of Himself, the Holy Spirit. The presence of Holy Spirit is a constant reminder that we are victorious. The blood of Jesus grants us authority and Holy Spirit backs it up with power.
The lawmakers and critics thought they were stopping the movement of Christianity by killing Jesus. Apparently, they had never listened to any of His teachings about seed time and harvest.
“Let me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat—all because one grain died.”
– John 12:24 (The Passion Translation)
Jesus was the seed that had to die for a harvest of many who would carry on the movement.
On the Day of Pentecost, Holy Spirit fell and 3,000 souls were added to the church that day. The church grew from being one person, in one location, representing one nation to a movement that multiplied through each and every believer that was filled.
The process of the cross was ultimately the multiplication factor of victory!
Be encouraged friend. Yes, the process may be uncomfortable. Some things, traits, habits, mindsets, and attachments must die. The previous season must end. It may feel like a cold, lonely grave. Darkness may have limited your sight, quenched your fire, and made you doubt. But take heart my friend —- say it with me…
My Name is Victory!
Not only is Jesus victorious, but the same victory has been imputed on to you! YOUR name is victory! You walk in victory. Victory is your portion. You have guaranteed victory through Jesus Christ.
“Yes, God raised Jesus to life! And since God’s Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, he will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you!”
– Romans 8:11 (The Passion Translation)
Reframe your perspective and speak to your situation. With holy boldness, remind the enemy that your name is victory through the blood of Jesus Christ.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV)
The plan is not for us to live in victory alone, but to share our story of victory with someone who is still walking in the bondage of darkness. Let others know through the power of Holy Spirit that Jesus died for them to be victorious as well. Also, walking in victory helps other believers as well. If you have victory in a certain area, your testimony increases the faith of others to believe they can win in that same area.
Through the powerful, glorious name of Jesus, we can push through to any victory and defeat any enemy!
In what area of your life do you need to see victory? Let me know in the comments…I’d love to pray with you 😊