A victorious Christian life is what all Christians should strive for, despite the many obstacles that come our way. How, then, can we position ourselves for victory over the world, the flesh, and Satan, being the three main enemies of believers? Additionally, how can we serve God effectively, even in the face of numerous challenges? Throughout all generations, servants of God have had to address the two central questions mentioned above. With the help of the Bible, this article will aim to provide answers to these questions.
Social Support System
From where did the early Church draw its strength as it faced significant opposition while remaining faithful in its service? One of the significant strengths of the early Church was its unity, which provided emotional and spiritual support to its members. According to Acts 2:42-47, the spiritual disciplines that stood out in the early Church were fellowship and joy, which characterized their meetings. When the Jewish courts released Peter and John, the first place they went was to meet their friends and share what they had been told (Acts 4:23). When Peter was in prison, we hear of the Church earnestly praying for him (Acts 12:5).
In our Christian walk, we will encounter many challenging moments that require the support of others. The Bible emphasizes unity throughout the scripture. Unfortunately, many Christians fear sharing their lives with other believers due to the fear of being judged wrongly by others. Having good friends is crucial, as no one can navigate life alone. Good friends serve as a vital means of holding us accountable in life, while also motivating us when circumstances seem overwhelming. What characterizes the people in your social support system? Are they godly or worldly?
The Word of God
Another critical aspect of victorious Christian living is to be men and women of the Word. The believers of the early Church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings (Acts 2:42). When the apostles were confronted with questions about what was going on around them, they consistently took their listeners back to the Old Testament (Acts 2:16-21). Interpreting the Old Testament in their times required in-depth personal Bible study. Each time they were challenged about Christ, they always introduced him as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
We must be like the Bereans, who, in Acts 17:11, were commended for searching the scriptures to ensure that what they were taught was in line with God’s Word. In the wilderness, Jesus overcame the devil with the Word of God. He referred to the scriptures in every temptation (Matthew 4:1-11). It is interesting to note that the devil knew the scripture but twisted it to fit his purpose. God desires us to overcome evil by the written Word. We are called to live our lives by God’s Word, rather than conforming to the world’s standards (1 John 2:15-17).
Prayerful Life
Another practice of the early Church was prayer (Acts 2:42). Jesus called us to watch and pray so that we would not fall into temptation (Matthew 26:41). During his days on earth, Jesus offered up prayers and petitions to the Father, who answered him due to his dependence (Hebrews 5:7). Two best times for us to pray include when we feel like and when we don’t feel like. Prayer works at all times. Jesus called us to pray without giving up (Luke 18:1). Prayer serves a great purpose in advancing God’s kingdom. For effective ministry, we are called to be prayerful at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The early Church used to pray three times a day. How often do you pray?
God’s Sovereignty
Another thing that was instrumental in the early days was the appreciation of God’s sovereignty. God’s sovereignty asserts that God is in control of the universe and all that occurs within it. The early Church understood that everything that had happened in history was in line with God’s plan and purpose (Acts 2:22-24). When the enemies of God thought they had won by killing Christ, little did they know that they were agents of God to serve his purpose in accordance with the scriptures (Acts 4:27-28). Romans 8:28 confirms that in everything that happens in our lives, it is God who works it out for his glory and for the good of those who love the Lord and are called to serve his purpose.
As one appreciates God’s sovereign rule, bitterness is eliminated. It provides a framework for interpreting everything that happens in the universe as being in line with a good God’s will and desire. I have come to appreciate that even the enemies of God are his servants. To live a victorious Christian life is to be fearless, knowing that God’s perfect will is directing all that happens in my life.
Focus on the Call
The early Church could not digress from its call to preach the gospel and make disciples at any cost. God commands us to love others and serve through various gifts as we fulfill our purpose in life. They were persecuted over and over again, but they remained faithful to the call. As they prayed over their enemies, they asked God to consider the threats posed by their enemies. They asked God for boldness to preach the gospel (Acts 4:29). Among the enemy’s strategies is to attack God’s servants, thereby diverting their focus. God, in his faithfulness, promised to protect Paul from the Gentiles and the Jews (Acts 26:12-18). Paul and the other disciples used every opportunity to spread the gospel, even before the courts.
We need to identify our role in this world, which must align with God’s will. It is God who has endowed us with various gifts that he has designed to serve his purposes. We can discover our gifts through our friends or by taking spiritual gift tests, practicing our talents, and being open to receiving honest feedback.
Christian Boldness
In the face of much opposition today, we must be bold enough to stand for truth. As young people, it is easier to succumb to all the pressure that surrounds us, from social media and friends. Evil has become so prevalent that doing the right thing seems almost unnatural. Like the early Church, we must be bold in sharing and defending the gospel.
The following can be summarised as sources of their boldness.
- Personal experience with Christ (Acts 4:13): The disciples interacted with Christ while he was alive. They witnessed his death and then interacted with him after his resurrection. Even following the court’s admission that Peter and John were uneducated, ordinary men, their source of boldness could only have been a relationship with Christ.
- Appreciating God’s sovereign rule: The disciples knew that God was the one orchestrating everything to serve his purpose. They never complained about anything but submitted themselves to God’s will.
- The Holy Spirit: Jesus told the disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they would be enabled to evangelize in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8). In the book of Acts, the disciples were emboldened to preach the gospel after being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). We also need to ask God to fill us with his Holy Spirit, continually.
To persevere in our pilgrimage and live victoriously as Christians is a challenging endeavor. However, with the help of our Lord and Redeemer, we shall indeed make it through to hear those refreshing words: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” Matthew 25:23.