ONWARD AND UPWARD WITH VICTORY

Exodus 14:15; Numbers13:20; Hebrews 6:1; 10:38,39 God wants us to make progress in our spiritual, family, professional, Christian, academic and other areas of life. He wants us to grow in faith, grace, glory and power. The children of Israel were happy to leave Egypt but faced the challenge of crossing the Red Sea. Then, “the LORD said unto Moses, …speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward” (Exodus 14:15). This is because He is not pleased when we fail to make progress after redemption. Like the Israelites were released from bondage and rigour of the Egyptians upon their lives, the Lord who saved, sanctified and Spirit-filled us will grant us victory over the world, sicknesses, sin, self and Satan. As heavenly pilgrims, we should desire progress in our fellowship and relationship with God.
The Lord desires that we maintain constant victory over every temptation and entanglement in the world, and by prayer and perseverance, maintain the peace, purity and power we have. By so doing, the things that defeated or hindered us in the past will be subdued. The children of Israel could have gone into the Promised Land in a few months, but they spent forty years in the wilderness because they could not confront their enemies. However, Caleb made up his mind to go forward and upward. Thus, he challenged the people “…and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30). It is not the will of God for any believer to remain stagnant in the faith after being born again. Therefore, after repentance and sanctification, we must move on to perfection and “live by faith”, not by the principles, practices and tradition of the society.
 1. THE VISION OF TRANSFORMED, SANCTIFIED SAINTSEphesians 4:14,15; 1 John 2:12-14; John 17:17,20-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Psalm 84:7; Job 17:9; Proverbs 4:18 As a child’s vision and desire is to grow and be like an adult, a true believer’s vision and desire is to grow through prayer and perseverance. Sadly, some Christians remain baby-believers all through their lives. They find it difficult to walk consistently in the way of righteousness. Although such people experience revival and spiritual growth after special programmes like the retreat or revival programme, they soon relapse into their old ways of living. But Paul the apostle exhorts: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:14,15). We must hear, speak, spread, embrace, believe, stand on, take the truth as a weapon and march on to victory through it.
To make progress in our Christian journey, we must speak the truth in love, not in anger, jealousy, bitterness, hatred or pride. Also, we must grow in grace, faith, faithfulness and the consciousness of God. Irrespective of differences in race, profession or status, sanctified saints desire to please only the Lord. Thus, they reject every suggestion from Satan or his agents to do evil. With the presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in us, we have victory over Satan, temptation and the flesh. Sanctified believers also love their spouses like Christ loves the Church. They take care of each other and love their children who in turn honour and respect them.As transformed saints, our lives, attitude and disposition must conform to that of the Lord. So, we must not indulge in fraud, immorality, stealing, fighting, abortion, etc. Saved by grace, we should move on to sanctification and Holy Spirit baptism experiences and grow in faith, practical knowledge, scriptural-applicable understanding and victory over self; grow in family love and maturity, prayerfulness, gratitude, thoughtfulness, sacrifice for God/others, spirituality and devotion, and reverence toward heaven.
  2. OUR VIGILANCE AGAINST TRAGIC, SMALL SINSSong of Solomon 2:15; Ecclesiastes 10:1; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 1 Kings 13:1-19,24 Little things you ignore in your life can mar your chance of growing. Little spots of malice, wickedness, oppression, hatred, anger and envy in your character, family and fellowship can hinder you from making progress and stop you from entering heaven. The Scripture admonishes, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes” (Song of Solomon 2:15). The “foxes” may appear little and inconsequential but they can cause a lot of havoc. As a small drop of ink from a fountain-pen can render a glass of water undrinkable, “so doth a little folly” not good for “him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” Marriages have been destroyed because of little unfaithfulness. Little violence, worldliness, error, false doctrine, falsehood, disobedience, delay, compromise, deviation, excuse, deceit, idolatry or occultism has disconnected many from their eternal destiny. We need to be vigilant so that these little things do not stop us from making progress. In times of success, both in life and ministry, we should exercise caution and watch against pride. 3. THE VIRTUE OF TRAVAILING, STEADFAST SOLDIERS2 Timothy 2:3,4; Hebrews 10:32; 12:1-4; Galatians 5:1; 2 Peter 2:20; 1:3-8 Although we might face difficulty, persecution, danger and opposition in on our Christian journey, we must resolve to endure till the end. Apostle Paul charges every believer thus: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3,4). People who easily give in to pressure in spiritual and secular endeavours cannot attain their goals in life. So, irrespective of your past experiences in life, be determined to forge ahead and fulfil the purpose of your existence. If Jesus did not “endure the cross, despising the shame”, no one would have been saved from the eternal consequences of sin.Believers who desire to please the Lord and make heaven must resolve to break away from every entanglement of sin and worldliness. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). The Lord calls us to a life of prayer, perseverance and progress. And as we keep moving onward and upward towards heaven, He will grant us victory over sin, self, sickness, evil spirits and Satan.