Conquerors Prevail Even in Impossibilities
Author: Pastor H. Bill Coker
September 14, 2020
Scripture
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37).
Reflection
When considering the triumphant Christian life, we may wrongly think that victory depends upon getting out of impossible situations. Actually, we are already "more than conquerors" even while we are in the midst of the impossibilities.
For us to be ultimately defeated, we would have to be separated from Christ's love for us. We would have to be cut off from the loving care of our victorious Lord. Can any foe or any situation accomplish that? "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" This question is answered in verses 38 and 39. "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
No spiritual foe can enforce such a separation between God and His redeemed children. Neither can any circumstance of impossibility separate us from our loving God. Verses 35 and 36 list some of the impossibilities that make us feel as though we are being defeated. “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’” When troubles and pressures arise, when we are attacked or are lacking resources, we may be tempted to think that victory is no longer available. When our experience is like a lamb being led to the slaughter, we may think that victory could never be ours. Nevertheless, the truth is that "in all these things we are more than conquerors."
Yes, right in the middle of the impossibilities of life, we are already more than a spiritual victor. Actually, we have already been made participants in a mighty, eternal, abundant victory, the victory that Christ accomplished on the cross and in the resurrection. "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Our victorious position in any situation is not circumstantial. It is relational. We are united by faith to the victorious one, the Lord Jesus Christ! "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Points for Contemplation
1. Do you sometimes feel defeated?
2. Have you identified your foes? Can you name them? Are they people, stuff, or situations?
3. What do you have in your arsenal to defeat your enemies? What is the strength or power of your weapons? Do you fight with physical or spiritual weapons? Read and meditate, then apply 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; NKJV.
4. Have you accepted the truth that you are victorious in Christ Jesus? What evidence would you need before you subscribe to this truth?
5. We are more than conquerors through Him (Christ) who loved us. How do you understand this terminal verse in our text for today?
6. Ultimate defeat is to those who willfully abandon or separate themselves from the love that Christ has for them. But the guarantee to all who embrace the love of Christ, live a committed life to His will and His way, is that NOTHING shall separate us from the love of Christ. Absolutely nothing. Embrace that in your spirit and walk confidently in this truth.
Prayer
Eternal Father, You are strong to save and Your right hand and Your Holy Arm has gotten us the victory. Father, I praise You for the constant provision of this insurmountable victory through Your triumphant Son, Jesus Christ my Lord. Help me to view spiritual victory as a relational matter and not a circumstantial one. I thank You that through Christ I am already more than a conqueror right in the midst of my present impossibilities. Help me to realize this truth especially in those seasons of impossibilities. I accept this day, that in spite of my station in life, my victory is secured in Christ Jesus. Let me never stray from this guarantee that is made effective through the Power of the precious Holy Spirit, who enables me to stand up when I am weak. May the rich promises of Your Word strike a chord in my soul as I hold fast to that wonderful promise which tells me daily that nothing shall separate me from your love. Because I have the victory through Christ, I can walk confidently and with unfeigned faith to celebrate the assurance of Your greatness and Your goodness. Because Your pathway drips with abundance, I resolve to walk in the abundance that is laid up for me, now and in the days to come. Strengthen and sustain me in every season and I pray for divine assistance at all points. I declare this day that I am more than a conqueror because of Christ Jesus. I ask these petitions in the Mighty and Victorious name of Jesus Your Son, who is my Christ. Amen.
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