“God’s will defines the victory”

By Pastor Mark Quick

 The modern American gospel, with its emphasis on prosperity and professions, defines victory by abundance and fine circumstances. Scripture defines it as getting God’s will done.

 I can say unequivocally that the faithful Christian always wins. The Apostle John wrote, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith” [1 John 5:4-5]. The Apostle Paul wrote that God works all things together for the believer’s good [Romans 8:28]. But we are thinking people, so we ask how that can be when we see “bad” things happen in the lives of godly people and see godly people walk through trials. It’s simple: We have to get new definitions for “victory” and “good.”

Hebrews 11 tells us of the great heroes of the faith. It summarizes saying that some defeated foreign armies, some had their dead raised and some obtained great promises. Still others were tortured, persecuted, destitute, and mocked. But they ALL won the battle of faith. Why? Because they got done what God wanted done in their season – that’s victory. Abel offered his best sacrifice. Abraham became the father of the faithful. Moses led the Exodus. David defeated Goliath. Job endured the test. They are winners – not because they were wealthy or because they never wavered – they are winners because they accomplished the will of God in their season.

God ordains these seasons, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says. There are times for war and times for peace. There are times for building and times for tearing down. There are times to mourn and times to dance. Define your victory by your faithfulness to God. Define it as getting done what God wants done and learning what God wants you to learn. That’s victory.

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