VICTORY WITHOUT BATTLES?

Dearly Beloved, VICTORY WITHOUT BATTLES? "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NKJV). As I was driving along one of the major roads of the city where I reside recently, I saw a big bill board advertising a church programme with the caption: VICTORY WITHOUT BATTLES. I could not keep my attention to the caption as I asked people that were in the car with me if there can be victory without any battle. I further probed: “How can one have victory if one does not fight any battle?” This is one of the erroneous teachings that are thriving in many churches today. Unfortunately, many people believe such teachings. Ordinarily, victory comes after battle. Life is full of many struggles. Only people that accept the reality of this fact and summon the courage to confront the challenges of life can have victory. To think that victory will come without battle is to think that a child will be born without conception. Likewise, to pray for victory without battle is to pray that a ship should land in another harbour without setting out to sail from a harbour and pass through storms and waves of the water. The Holy Bible teaches that man will have many battles in life. Job declared: “man who is born of woman is…full of trouble" (Job 14:1 NKJV). Jesus Christ corroborated this: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NKJV). There are many other places in the Bible where it is stated clearly that life is full of sufferings, troubles, tribulations and other challenges of life. The Christian life is even a life of both physical and spiritual warfare. Indeed, the doctrine of suffering for a Christian is an elaborate one throughout the Bible. However, the good news is that victory is sure for the Christian who passes through these sufferings and engages in these battles of life because Jesus Christ has overcome the world and its challenges. It is better to accept the reality of battles of life and prepare to confront them than to live a life of denial of these battles. Victory is certain only for people who gallantly fight battles of life with the help of Jesus Christ. He did not promise life devoid of battles, but victory over these battles. In His service Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray for the strength to face the battles of life and victory over these battles.