Many sermons and motivational speeches have been given through the years by a host of preachers, evangelists and speakers who offer direction and instruction on how Christians can live victoriously or “claim the victory” promised by God.
So what exactly is victorious living? What can we expect when we claim the victory? Does it mean that we will have abundance, wealth, good health, no problems and no worries?
I hate to disappoint anyone, but, no, that is not what victorious living is about. God often allows these things to come to us as a direct result of living a victorious life - the fruits of a life directed by God. At other times, however, victorious living is characterized outwardly by hardship, suffering and persecution - fruits of a sinful world.
So, how can we claim the victory even when life is rough and storm-tossed? How can we ride the waves, climb the mountains and be happy while we are doing it? How can we find joy in any situation with which we are confronted? How can we live victoriously when we feel defeated?
I believe there are three things that we must do to claim the victory. I call them the “ABC's of victorious living.”
ACCEPT OUR INHERITANCE
Inheritance is defined as “To come into possession as of an heir” or “To receive by nature from a forefather.”
Before we can live victoriously, we must first understand that we are all heirs of Jesus Christ. As His heirs, God is ready to bestow upon us all the rights and privileges that He has given only His Son. We need only to accept our inheritance.
Have you ever known anyone to reject an inheritance? I suppose it happens, but not often, I bet. Most of the time, we just hear about people fighting or arguing over their inheritance. Many families have been destroyed when they could not agree on how an inheritance should be settled.
So, how do we accept our inheritance? How do we come into possession of all the things that God wants to give us?
We accept our inheritance by accepting God's offer of salvation.
Imagine a box sitting on a table, all wrapped up in beautiful paper and with a beautiful bow. It is just sitting there waiting for you to open it. It already belongs to you. The purchase has already been made with the very blood of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. You cannot earn it, and you cannot do anything to deserve it. You just have to accept it or reject it. It is your choice. What are you going to do?
Roman 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Yes, it is just that simple. Believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and you will be saved. Recognize that you are a sinner, repent of your sins and accept salvation. Until you have done that, you cannot claim the victory. You may accumulate material possessions, have all the money in the world, but you will not live victoriously. You will not know true happiness and victory until you know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The moment you accept Jesus Christ, you become an heir of the Son of God. All that God has given His Son is now yours. You become equipped to claim the victory and live victoriously.
Galatians 4:7 says, ”Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, an heir of God through Christ.”
Yes, we are all heirs of the living Son of God if we have accepted the inheritance. Inheritance is not, however, without responsibility. As heirs we are called to live a life of obedience. We cannot continue in our sinful ways. Yes, we will all continue to commit sin, because none of us are perfect. The difference is that we will not live a life of sin if we are truly saved. In other words, you cannot knowingly sin and enjoy it once you have accepted the inheritance.
We must strive to know God's word and to be obedient to His commandments.
1 John 2:3-5 says, “Now by this we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”
It cannot be said any simpler. If you are a child of God you will keep God's commandments. When we accept the inheritance, we also accept the responsibility.
