Introduction

Good morning, church family! Today, we're going to dive into a passage from the Gospel of John that will help us discover the incredible victory we have in Jesus.

Before we delve into the Scripture, I'd like to share a quote from C.S. Lewis, who once said, "God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain." Through Jesus, we have been equipped to face and overcome any challenge life may bring.

With that in mind, let's read our passage for today, John 5:1-20.

A Starting Point

The starting point of victory in Jesus is rooted in the reality of His finished work on the cross, His resurrection, and His ascension to the right hand of the Father. It is from this position of authority that we can begin to experience the fullness of life that Jesus came to give us.

When we place our faith in Jesus, we are united with Him in His death and resurrection. This means that our old self, with its sinful nature and its bondage to the world, has been crucified with Christ, and we have been raised to new life in Him.

As the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." This new identity in Christ is the foundation for our victory, as it frees us from the power of sin and death and enables us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." As believers, we are called to walk in the authority that Jesus has given us, exercising our God-given dominion over the enemy and the world. This authority is not something we earn or achieve, but rather a gift that we receive by faith in Jesus. As we grow in our understanding of this authority, we can begin to walk in the victory that Jesus has already won for us.

Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Our battle is not against people or circumstances, but against the spiritual forces of evil that seek to keep us in bondage and defeat. Understanding the nature of this battle helps us to see that our victory is not dependent on our own strength or abilities, but on the power of Jesus working in and through us.

This starting point also requires us to acknowledge our dependence on Jesus for our victory. Jesus said in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing." Our victory in Jesus is not something we can achieve on our own, but rather a result of our abiding relationship with Him. As we remain connected to Jesus, the source of our life and power, we can experience the victory He has already won for us.

Jesus said in John 8:31-32, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The truth of God's Word is the foundation upon which our victory is built. As we fill our minds and hearts with the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done for us, we can begin to walk in the freedom and victory that He has purchased for us.

Prayer is our communication with God, and it is through prayer that we access the power and authority we have in Christ. The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." As we bring our needs, concerns, and battles before the Lord in prayer, we can experience the victory that Jesus has already won on our behalf.

Obedience. In the passage from John 5, Jesus told the paralyzed man, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." The man had to take a step of faith and obey Jesus' command in order to experience the healing and victory that Jesus was offering him. In the same way, we must be willing to step out in faith and obedience to the Lord's leading in our lives in order to walk in the victory that He has provided for us.

The Power of Jesus to Overcome

In this passage, we see Jesus healing a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO