In 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 King David boldly proclaims:
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the VICTORY and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.
To us, VICTORY is a powerful concept! The word is often used in numerous contexts such as sports (of all types), political elections, lawsuits, military conflicts, etc. Wherever there is competition, therein lies the potential for winners and losers as participants strive for one end result … VICTORY. That victorious conquest is only achieved or accomplished through the defeat and / or surrender of one’s enemy or opponent.
Here’s a huge question for all individuals that consider themselves faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Are you walking in VICTORY, living a life of triumph, or that of defeat (the correct and proper antonym of victory), disappointment, and discouragement?
1 John 5:4 reminds us:
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.
The Greek work translated here as VICTORY, is “nike” – abstractly meaning conquest and figuratively meaning success. That’s the concept of authentic victory, success over an opponent! In the framework of this word, there is no place for participation trophies or honorable mention awards. This actual concept is beautifully pictured in Revelation 15:2 where those who have been victorious over, “the beast and his image and the number of his name” are seen on what appears to be sea of glass, “holding harps of God.”
VICTORY, biblically speaking, is undeniably an all-encompassing overcoming (devastating to the enemy) event. The same is true in the Old Testament as well, where all such VICTORY is accredited to GOD Himself.
The apostle Paul adds an interesting spin in Romans 8:37, when speaking about the various difficulties associated with living a faithful Christian life when he declares:
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
The Greek word used here is the compound word, “hupernikao”- meaning hyper conquers and that we, as believers, are granted the opportunity to be pre-eminently victorious. That overcoming VICTORY is made possible by God through Christ Jesus on our behalf.
Therefore, this overwhelming position of VICTORY must be fully accredited to GOD as David attributed in 1 Chronicles 29:11 (above)! It’s with this understanding that we, as Christ followers, are able to fully comprehend John 16:33, living / resting in the faith, promise, and undiminishing support of Christ’s words:
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome (Greek – nikao; same root word as VICTORY – meaning conquer, prevail, or to get / obtain the VICTORY) the world.
Christ is our VICTORY, both over sin and death, as well the curse of the law, this world (system and its philosophy), our flesh (sinful nature) and our hostile enemy / adversary – the devil!
In just a few weeks we will celebrate Resurrection Sunday which presents a perfect opportunity for us to gather in Christ’s Holy Name and rejoice over His ultimate, definitive, and unsurpassed, VICTORY!
— His & Yours, PF