Victory is Possible

 

 

“Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God…” Luke 8:1 (ESV)

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5 (ESV)

The Nike groundbreaking “Just Do It” television advertisements in the late 1980s highlighted sports superstars showcasing their stellar skills that gave them the edge in gaining the most victories in the field of athletics. The message communicated in these advertisements is you can win and be victorious, so just do it. "Just Do It" eventually became more than just a slogan. It is a mindset for achievement in life.

 

On the field of everyday life, many do not always cross the finish line or hit the game winning shot. For many people, victory is something only witnessed at sports events of someone else being victorious. It is only a thought, an elusive idea; never an actual, personal experience.

 

Victory is something God wants, and has made possible, for everyone to experience. Its possibility is through what is called “The Gospel.” The gospel is most unique because of what it is—good news.

 

But what makes the gospel good news? The gospel is good news declaring the message of the cross. As one travels through the tapestry of the grace of God, one experiences the power of the message of the cross. The apostle Paul makes the bold assertion that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), and rightly so because it adequately handles that which hurts and harms humanity the most, preventing victory—sin. Thus, the gospel in its power carries the message of the cross, which is a message of forgiveness, peace, grace, change, love, victory, and hope.

 

One of the great messages communicated through the cross is the message of victory. The gospel is good news because in it God, through Christ, gives us “the victory” we could not win for ourselves and on our own (1 John 5:4; 2 Cor. 2:14).

Victory is something God wants everyone to experience and has made it possible through Jesus Christ.

The words overcome and victory in 1 John 5:4-5 are the same Greek term nike. The term has various nuances: 1) to conquer, vanquish, or subdue something in life; 2) to prevail or overpower someone in battle; 3) to overcome or come off superior in a judicial sense of legal action. Nike simply means “to win, to have victory.” In the Old Testament, explicit victories were won over physical forces. In the New Testament, victories gained through Christ are against the immaterial, unseen yet real entities that entangle humanity.

 

What victories are guaranteed for persons who accept and believe that Jesus is the Son of God? What victories has Christ won for us wherein we experience the good news of the gospel?

What is Ministry?

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God…” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 KJV

God’s call unto salvation is the greatest invitation ever offered to any people. To experience God’s amazing grace and redemption through the cross of Jesus Christ is unparallel to anything else in life. The cross event enables us to experience the effect of God’s ministry to humanity—salvation from sin and granting of eternal life. This reality is clearly stated in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

It is important to understand that God’s call to salvation is not a call to merely come sit in a church or religious gathering to solely soak up some spiritual teaching. Learning how to walk in the newness of life in Christ is a must, for therein one learns about how to live for God and how to serve others. But one major aspect of salvation is our responding to God in service.

God not only calls us by grace into salvation, but He also empowers us to serve, within the community of faith and the community around us. Thus, God's call to salvation is also a call to service or doing “ministry.” Ministry is most often understood in the technical sense of the term, meaning work of those called to what is known as “ordained” ministry. But doing ministry is the work of all (Acts 8:1, 4; Ephesians 4:11, 12).

God's call to salvation is also a call to service.

In the Gospel of Mark 2:1-12 is the story of a paralyzed man who received forgiveness of his sins and healing of his physical ailment. It is a theologically rich story contrasting the faith of four persons in Jesus' ability to heal against the skepticism of the Scribes of Jesus' authority to forgive sins. Because Jesus is the Christ, he has both, the authority to forgive sins and the ability to heal sicknesses.

You may say, "Ok, I get that; but what does this passage have to do with ministry?" Embedded in this story are a few points about ministry and the magnitude of its possibilities:

Doing the Work of Evangelism

In the Apostle Paul’s final words to his pastoral protégé Timothy, he gives Timothy several imperatives or commands. One of them is, “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5).

The execution of evangelistic effort is a multi-faceted enterprise. In other words, evangelism is not one-dimensional or one-sided. It has many forms or may employ different methods that work together toward its objective of winning souls to Christ. For instance, God used Paul to plant and Apollos to water (1 Cor. 3:6). They each had a role in the process of God causing the work to grow.

There is a three-dimensional model, called the 3 P’s of evangelism, that depicts three levels of responsible action in the ministry of evangelism—presence, proclamation, and persuasion. The evangelist’s role varies at each level, yet each level is a vital and integral part in evangelizing the gospel.

The first level is presence. This level is foundational to the other levels of evangelism because it prepares the pathway for furthering the work of evangelism. It is at this level that we show the love and good works of the gospel by letting our light shine and sprinkle the salt of savory saints (Matt. 5:13-16). This level is where we let our presence be felt and known particularly outside the four walls of the church into the community. The goal is helping and loving people—feed the hungry and homeless, provide clothing, visit the sick, advocate for the hurting, helpless and social justice. This level is the music of gospel; witnessing in warmth. Presence evangelism enables people to feel and see the “good news” of the gospel. It has been said that “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Additionally in our post-modern society, people won’t come to church until we show we care first.

Presence evangelism is the music of the gospel, whereby people feel and see the “good news” of the gospel.

No Vain Labor

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Cor 15:58 (NKJV) 

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. I salute everyone for your contribution which has enriched and enhanced all of our lives.

As a Christian, have you ever wondered if your labor is really worth the toil and trouble, strain and stress, ingratitude and injustice, especially when there doesn't seem to be any visible productive fruit from your labor? If you are like me, your reply is a big "YES!" No one enjoys exerting wasted effort, energy, and emotion in an exercise of futility. Although we may feel this way at times, 1 Corinthians 15:58 is a reassurance that one's labor, not so much the actual exertion but the weariness, the exhaustion of strength in the Lord isn't in vain. It isn't hollow in effort, or empty of effect. That should make somebody shout "Glory!" even if you don't feel like it.

Here are three reasons why, as a Christian, one's labor isn't vain in the Lord.

• Our Labor Has Been REQUIRED

"But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith," Phil 1:22-25 (NKJV). Believe it or not, we are useful to the Lord. As with the Apostle Paul, and as shocking it may seem, the Lord has need of us. We have something of worth to contribute to the continuing work of the Lord whereby the Body of Christ will profit from.

• Our Labor Is REMEMBERED

"For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister" Heb 6:10 (NKJV). Often it seems that all the good one does goes unnoticed or overlooked. It's important to keep in perspective that we really have an audience of one to be concerned about. That one is God, who has a very good memory and doesn't forget our work and labor. If God keeps track of our sorrows, catches and collects our tears in a bottle recording them (Psalm 56:8), thusly, our labors aren't overlooked. In God's book, our work is appreciated, recognized and cherished.

• Our Labor Will Be REWARDED

"Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor...If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward" 1 Cor 3:8, 14 (NKJV). We are guaranteed that we will be rewarded for our labor. But it's important that we check our true motive for working for the Lord. Our labor shouldn't be solely based on the fact that we will receive a reward. Rather, it should be out of gratitude for the Lord's redemption from sin, and our love for Him, knowing that the size of our reward will be based on His righteous estimation (Matthew 20:7).

I hope you have a relaxing and rejuvenating Labor Day to continue in your labors in the Lord. Remember this: the greatest reward for the Christian, the hope of the Resurrection, makes all the effort taken in the Lord's work worth it. No work done in His name is wasted!

"...The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth..."

Rev 11:18 (NKJV)

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."

Rev 22:12-13 (NKJV)

Copyright © 2023 Johnson Beaven III. All Rights Reserved.

Johnson Beaven III is Principal of Johnson Beaven III Ministries LLC. He serves in the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) as Executive Secretary and Director of Education in the International Department of Evangelism, and Chairman of District Superintendents in the Indiana North Central Jurisdiction. He's also a religion columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. He's a former pastor, local site coordinator and instructor for the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) Certificate in Theology Program. For information, check Linktree. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @jbeaven and @jbiiiministries.