TUESDAY, AUGUST 1
1 Timothy 1:18-20
1 John 5:4

"For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world…"

LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE

The twelfth sign of born-again believers is they live a victorious life. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4). Satan is "the god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4), and he uses the world with "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16) to tempt and distract many from God and His Truth. Demas used to be Paul’s fellow-labourer, but he left Paul and the ministry "having loved this present world" (2 Tim 4:10). Billy Graham started his ministry as a fundamentalist but slowly became a compromising neo-evangelical unawares! Many churches and Bible colleges used to be faithful to the Lord and His Truth but have fallen into Satan’s trap unawares! No one is able to overcome Satan and the world except the Lord Jesus and "whatsoever is born of God."

Satan tempted the Lord Jesus to turn stone into bread (to satisfy His hungry stomach), to test God’s protection by risking His life regardless of God’s will, and to worship Satan for all the glory of the world (eg. fame, power and wealth), but the Lord overcame Satan by prayer and God’s Word (Matt 4:1-11). Satan made use of Peter’s human love to try to turn Jesus away from the narrow way of the cross, but Jesus overcame Satan by His sharp discernment and focus on God’s will (Matt 16:23). Satan wanted the Lord to shrink from the bitter cup of shame and pain, bearing all the curse and sins of mankind (1 John 2:2; Gal 3:13), but the Lord overcame him by His prayer and full submission to His Father’s will. Satan used the ungodly to challenge the Lord to come down from the cross to save Himself but the Lord overcame Satan by His humble obedience to His Father and His love for mankind ( John 15:13; Phil 2:8). Through His resurrection, the Lord Jesus proved that He has overcome His self-will, Satan, the world and death. And the Lord surely will help His children and servants who trust in Him, depend on Him and submit to Him to overcome as well. "… be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" ( John 16:33).

THOUGHT: Am I living a victorious life in Christ?
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for victory in Christ (2 Cor 2:14).