Faith Is The Victory

HoHum:

“everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4, NIV.

The hymn “Faith is the Victory” is based on this verse. The author of this hymn, John Yates, overcame an accident prone childhood. In 1844, 7 year old John fell from a high set of stone steps in a hotel and tumbled down into the cellar, fracturing his skull. It wasn’t certain he would come to, as he was unconscious for a long time. He had a broad scar as a souvenir of this incident. In 1847, when his family was traveling by ship, a storm struck so powerfully that 10 year old John was thrown across the deck, breaking his leg. At the age of 16, John brought down the curtain on a school play when he accidentally fell on an open double edged knife, piercing his right lung. For 3 weeks, his life hung by a thread but survived again. Avoiding the America Civil War because of his injuries, John became a minister of the gospel. In 1891, Mr. Yates agreed to write gospel songs for Ira Sankey, a famous Christian song director. During that time, John Yates wrote “Faith is the Victory” giving living illustration that our faith in the promises of God and in our Lord Jesus gives us overcoming victory. After his death in 1900, his headstone has engraved, “Faith is the victory, oh, glorious victory, that overcomes the world.”

WBTU:

What is this thing called faith? Defining faith is simple: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1, NIV. Defining faith is simple, living by it is another story. Faith is more than just believing that God exists. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6, NIV. Faith believes that God keeps His Word, rewarding those who are His. Faith is trusting the promises we have with no way to measure or authenticate the results until we receive the rewards. It is believing we have them when they are not yet realities in our lives. Where does faith come from? There are those who believe that faith comes from outside us. God miraculously strikes us, zaps us one day, and we have saving faith. No, faith comes from within us but is produced by the Word of Christ. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17, NIV. The principle is that we believe in something we cannot see because we believe the message of the one who tells us. The word of Jesus Christ is good testimony, believable and trustworthy. If He says something is true, we can be certain of it- even when we cannot see it. How wonderful it must have been to see Jesus Christ with physical eyes, to touch Him with literal hands, to smell Him with actual nostrils, to hear His voice rumble in an eardrum! Even then, there had to be faith but Peter gives us a blessing in our day- “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8, 9, NIV.

Thesis: How does faith give the victory?

For Instances:

1. Faith in the future

Was reading the news and recently there was an asteroid that was going to hit the earth in 2 hours. The asteroid was roughly the size of a bus and when it came into the earth’s atmosphere it simply disintegrated. Many believed that a missile could be sent to intercept a large asteroid and change it’s trajectory and avoid the earth. Now scientists are concerned that an asteroid would appear quickly and so be unable to intercept it with a missile and change it’s trajectory.

There is war in Ukraine and the Russians have put their nuclear forces on high alert. What would happen if nuclear weapons were used and this would trigger a nuclear war? How many end of the world scenarios have there been?

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” 2 Peter 3:10-14, NIV. This is how we should live. What should we be doing? “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9, NIV.