Faith Is The Victory Series

The hymn writer John H. Yates said, “Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! Oh, glorious victory, that overcomes the world.” In athletics, many things are touted as helping win the victory, from sports drinks to athletic wear. But can that NIKE swoosh really do anything? There is only one thing that can help us acquire victory in any area of our life, and it’s called faith.

In life there are going to be times when we feel discouraged, and like we want to give up. Some of the things we face might feel like running a marathon when we’ve never run a mile in our life. We might feel this way about our New Year’s resolutions, or even our walk with the Lord. But having faith can keep us pushing ahead.

In the book of Hebrews, we read that “faith is the substance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is putting our hope in something that’s out there ahead of us that might not yet be a present reality. Having faith is like setting goals, and having goals will lead us toward victory. 1 John 5:4 says, “This is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” According to the Bible, faith brings about an overcoming victory.

If we want to succeed in whatever we face, including our New Year’s resolutions, then we’d better have on our NIKE gear; and I’m not trying to be funny. The Greek word for “victory” in 1 John 5:4 is nike, pronounced (nee kay). Our faith and the goals we set will lead us to experience NIKE. We can achieve victory!

We’re going to see how having faith, and setting goals, can help us to overcome in the face of difficulties and challenges; both in our New Year’s resolutions and in everyday life. With this understanding in mind, let us now stand in honor of God’s Word, as we read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

In verse 24, Paul said, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” When we look at verse 24, it speaks of running in a race. This is a reference to athletic games, similar to our modern-day Olympic games.

Every two years outside [the ancient city of] Corinth there were famous Olympic-type games, called the Isthmian Games. They had all the events that our Olympics would have: boxing, wrestling, and all kinds of different foot races. The winners of these events were given a wreath or crown to wear on their heads. It was woven of either pine boughs or olive branches.

The value of the prize was not monetary but symbolic, and the prize for Paul was a sense of delight that he was being used by God in ministry, knowing that he had used all his energies and talents and gifts to God's glory . . . That's what Paul lived for. He described that prize in Philippians 3:14. He said, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”(1)

Did you happen catch that key word “goal,” which I emphasized? Whatever we’re facing, let us put on our NIKE gear; or rather, let us keep our focus on the goals that we’ve set and remember the things that motivate us, and keep our eyes on the prize. Let us run to receive our crown.

In verse 25, Paul went on to say, “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.” The New International Version says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.” Paul makes it clear in verse 25 that winning requires intense training and discipline.

“The word ‘compete’ that he uses is the Greek word for ‘agony.’ It points to the tremendous effort that was put forth to win.”(2) Athletes today endure much pain and effort in preparing for the Olympics. They train for four difficult years. This information tells us that if we will stay motivated and dedicated, and be persistent in our physical, mental or spiritual training, then our efforts will pay off in receiving the prize.