Luke 6:47-49, Matthew 16:15-18, John 1:1-5, Hebrews 4:12, John 10:10, Matthew 6:15, Song of Solomon 2:4, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Colossians 1:12, Ephesians 2:6, John 14:26, 2 Corinthians 3:6, John 14:18, Romans 8, Galatians 3:13

Deborah Mitchell examines what we need to live victorious lives in Christ

Deborah Mitchell

In the South Pacific, a navy ship spied smoke coming from three huts on an uncharted island. Upon arriving at the shore, they were met by a shipwreck survivor who said, "I am so glad you're here. I've been alone on this island for more than five years". The Captain replied, "If you're alone on the island why do I see three huts?" The survivor said, "Oh, well, I'm living in one and going to church in another". "What about the third hut?" asked the Captain. "That's where I used to go to church!" he replied.

I think this is such a funny story. Unfortunately, it does ring true of some church life.

I believe we are in a new season now. A season of knowing who we are, in Jesus and in His kingdom. All of us want to live successful lives. However, how we define success can be different from how God defines success. Luke 6:47-49 is one of the ways of looking at success - a life built to be able to stand in adverse circumstances. There is a description of two houses that look exactly the same. Two lives, both identical, having achieved the same success. The defining difference comes at the time of difficulty when the fierce storms of life come. The house (life) built with no foundation falls in a horrific crash. The house (life) that stands has been built on a strong foundation. That foundation is the word of God, and not only a hearer of the word, but according to verse 47, a doer, or practitioner of the word.

In Matthew 16:15-18 Jesus asked, "Who do you say that I am?" Simon, (his name means "he has heard") replied, "You are Christ, the Son of the living God". Jesus replied that he was to be called Peter (rock) and upon this rock (revelation, foundation) He would build His church. The foundation that we build on is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

In John 1:1-5 Jesus and the word are one. They are interchangeable. "And the word was with God and the word was God". He is life and that life is in His word. The word is light and the darkness, no matter how dark, can never ever put it out. You can never be overpowered while you have the word.

My daughter has blackout blinds in her bedroom. I went to her room for a quick power nap one afternoon. When I woke up it was so dark I had to go about on my hands and knees, banging my head and knees, to try and find the light. Eventually after much fumbling, I found the blind and as I raised it, immediately the light flooded the room and I could see where I was going. That's a picture of what life is like for people in the world without the word of God. They are lost and without direction. Jesus is the light of the world.

We become alive and full of power, sharper than a two edged sword; active, operating, energizing and effective according to Hebrews 4:12 when we receive the word. The word equips us to deal with life. We become the light in a dark place.

John 10:10 says that we can live life in all its fullness; productive and successful lives. A life worth living. As much as God has an amazing plan for your life, the enemy Satan works against this plan. He is a strategist and devises schemes.

I was praying with a woman who felt inadequate. She was convinced she was stupid. She revealed that, at the age of 10, she had a teacher who spent that year of her life abusing her position of authority, ridiculing her at every opportunity. Many years later she found out that there had been a history between the teacher and her family. This had such a profound effect on her life, colouring how she viewed herself, stopping her reaching her full potential, as the building blocks of inadequacy were firmly laid in her young and vulnerable life.

You may have had some awful negative experiences that have affected you. Abuse - physical or verbal, sexual abuse, betrayal, or abandonment....the list is endless.

This beautiful woman forgave the teacher according to Matthew 6:15. She was healed as she meditated on the truth of who she was in Christ.

When Nelson Mandela was released from prison, he forgave all involved, stating that if he did not he would remain in prison forever.

When we receive Jesus' word we receive hope. God is our healer. One of His names is Jehovah Rapha (the Lord that heals us). Song of Solomon 2:4 says that He leads us to the banqueting table and His banner over us is love. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says that we are a new creation; the old has gone. We are transferred out of darkness into His glorious kingdom. Finally, Colossians 1:12 tells us that we are under His rule, authority and protection.

This lady had to decide whether she was going to stay a victim. In some instances it is very understandable why some people would feel sorry for themselves. Nelson Mandela said that, "Courageous people do not fear forgiving". We can rise up in the newness of life and by faith, start to believe the word and walk towards our victories. The challenge is, do we believe the word that Satan speaks to us or do we receive the word that God our Father speaks.

Some of the building blocks that were destructive in our lives need to be superseded with the glorious truth. Mother Teresa said, "Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness".

Ephesians 2:6 lets us know that we are the sons of God, seated with Him in heavenly places far above powers and principalities. We have divine authority in Him. In John 14:26 it says that the Holy Spirit will bring the word to remembrance, but if you don't know the word how can it be brought to remembrance? As we meditate on the word and allow it to work in us, God changes us from the inside out.

There is the logos word that refers principally to the total inspired word of God and there is the rhema word that means utterance, a verse or portion of scripture that the Holy Spirit brings to our attention to apply to a current situation or to give direction.

2 Corinthians 3:6 speaks of the word and Spirit bringing life, but the word without the Spirit brings death. Jesus has called us into relationship with Him and His word. His word is Spirit. That's why Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:18, "I will send you another", so we would not be left alone as orphans.

As we receive the indwelling of the person of the Holy Spirit and all His power, we are no longer under the control of the spirit of this age. Romans 8 says that we can be led and controlled by the Holy Spirit. As we learn to yield to Him we are no longer slaves to sin. We are the sons of God and we are free indeed; successful and victorious.

I had such a battle to have children. I had many miscarriages and it was an awful time. The rhema word God gave me was Galatians 3:13 that He became a curse for me that I might be blessed. I prayed and others stood with me. I, like Abraham, spoke of the things that were not as if they were. I have three beautiful children, all grown up now and I thank Jesus for the power of His spoken word.

A number of years ago I received a frantic call that my father had had a bad heart attack and to expect the worst. I fell on my knees weeping, begging God to heal him. I heard God rebuke me saying, "What are you doing?" In an instant I realised what I was doing wrong. I sprang to my feet and began to speak the word of God over my father in the authority God gives us. He lived for many years after that.

The key is, what is God saying? What is your rhema? When we know this we can stand in the storms of life on the sure foundation of God's word.

Joel Osteen says, "Start calling yourself healed, happy, whole, blessed and prosperous. Stop talking to God about how big your mountains are and start talking to your mountains about how big your God is!"