This morning we continue our new series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation.” Yesterday’s message led up to me dealing with 1 John 5:4. In this verse the Apostle John said, “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” I told you that I would come back to this verse today.
As I prayed over how to address it, I was led to provide you some context. In yesterday’s message I made the following statement: “God has already overcome the world. He did this by His power. He extends His victory to us by His grace. We access His victory with our faith.” What do I mean why I say that God has already overcome the world? Allow me to provide you a brief explanation.
In Matthew 4 Jesus was led of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of satan. After Jesus refused satan’s first two temptations, satan took Jesus to the peak of a very high mountain. There the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Satan said, “I will give it all to you, if you will kneel down and worship me” (see Matthew 4:8,9). We know Jesus refused satan a third time, but my point in bringing this up is that satan had the power to make the offer. If satan did not have the authority to make such an offer, then the temptation would not be valid. We know the temptation was valid, so satan obviously had the power to offer Jesus all the kingdoms of this world. How did he get that power? For this we must go back to Genesis.
In Genesis the Lord blessed Adam and Eve and He said to them, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it” (Gen 1:28). The Lord empowered Adam and Eve to control the Garden of Eden and to then extend His Kingdom influence beyond Garden to the entire planet. We know that did not happen. Adam’s act of disobedience introduced satan’s dynamic duo of sin and death into this world. The good news is that Jesus came to get us out of everything Adam got us into. Jesus came to restore that which was lost. Jesus came to repair the breach between God and man.
After paying for Adam’s transgression with His own blood, after going down into the gates of hell and coming back in resurrection power, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Jesus conquered satan, hell and the grave. Jesus obtained victory over the world. Our faith does not obtain the victory, it simply accesses the victory Jesus already obtained.
- When the Apostle John said, “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”, the emphasis was on God and not man. Man can overcome the world by faith, because God already overcame it. The Father did this through the Son. We now get to enjoy the victory Jesus already provided.
- Jesus obtained the victory. This victory is now offered/extended to us by grace. (Not because we are so good, but because God is). God simply requires us to use our faith to access His grace. When we do, we get to walk in the victory He has already provided.
- When we live by faith we simply get to experience and maintain the victory Jesus already obtained for us.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. This year I believe I will see Supernatural Manifestation like never before. This year I live by faith on a level I never have. I am committed to living by faith, every second of every day. My faith does not create the victory. My faith simply taps into the victory You already provided. Jesus obtained the victory for me. My faith maintains the victory Jesus obtained in this world. I overcome because You already overcame! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and prosper!
