Victory in Every Season

Throughout the region where Jesus walked the earth as a man there were two very distinct seasons. One was the hot dry season the other a mild wet season. As we journey through this life, in Jesus we have victory in every season. We have victory over death, self, the beast and the world. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

Throughout the region where Jesus walked the earth as a man there were two very distinct seasons. One was the hot dry season the other a mild wet season. As we journey through this life, in Jesus we have victory in every season. We have victory over death, self, the beast and the world. 

Let us look at each victory Jesus gives us one by one. 

The first victory is the victory over death. 

1 Corinthians 15:50-57 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this text the mystery of eternity is revealed. When Jesus returns, all those who have said yes to Jesus, yes to God throughout the ages will be changed. In a twinkling of an eye, that is in an instant, we will receive our glorified, eternal bodies. Bodies that never get sick, never where out and never die.  

Those who have physically died (which is referred to in this text as sleep) before Jesus returns, will receive their physical resurrected, glorified bodies. Bodies that never get sick, never where out and never die. Until that moment in time, their spirit, having left their bodies upon physical death dwell in heaven.  

Our physical bodies are mortal. They get sick, wear out and die. 

In that moment in human history when Jesus came from eternity and stepped into our finite world. He clothed Himself in a mortal human body. In His death He paid the cost for all humanities offences ever said, thought or done. Jesus’ blood poured out of His mortal body into the dirt of humanity. 

Yet in Jesus’ resurrection He defeated death. Described in this text as death is swallowed up in victory. The power of death over humanity and all creation is broken in Jesus’ resurrection.

Those who are physically alive when Jesus returns, together with those who have physically died, will receive their glorified eternal bodies also.  

Until Jesus returns, we live in the future hope of Jesus’ eternity and inheritance. For having said yes to Jesus, yes to God we inherit Jesus’ victory over death. When Jesus returns, we will live forever in this reality. 

The second victory is the victory over self.

When Jesus had grown to be a man, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Jesus came to give us victory in every season of this life. He subjected Himself to the full human condition, to set humanity free. For forty days He was tempted by the devil. 

Tempted or tested in this context has a duel meaning. In Jesus’ humanity He was tempted by the devil with the three temptations known to humanity. These are described by the Apostle James in his letter as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. 

Conversely the Holy Spirit proves that Jesus is the Son of God. That He is fully divine yet fully human. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to claim victory for us. As that is the heart of God, the Father, the Son and the Spirit. Jesus the Son of God came from eternity into our finite world to bring victory to humanity. 

Let us read of that moment in human history when the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness.

Luke 4:1-13 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ” Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,’ and, In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’ ” Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

The first temptation that the writer Luke records is the lust of the flesh. That is a lust that results in using ones’ power for self gratification and self indulgence. 

In the wilderness Jesus was hungry, in fact starving. Let us remember it is not God’s will that anyone starve or be denied the necessities of life. This temptation is not about denying oneself the basic human needs. It is about Jesus giving us victory over the lust of the flesh. For the first man and woman chose to use their God given power for self gratification and self indulgence. They gave over their power to their selfish desires. Instead of using their God given power to serve and care for each other and God’s once perfect world. 

Jesus never abused His power or position as the Son of God for self. When Jesus became human He lived in a continual surrender of His human will. He used His power exclusively for the benefit of others. 

Jesus did not debate with satan. He did not defend His identity or status. Jesus did not come up with a justification for what satan was trying to entice Him to do. Instead Jesus on behalf of humanity, surrendered His human desire for food to His Father in heaven. Not only that, but Jesus revealed the truth of who He is and who and what sustains Him. 

The second temptation that the writer Luke records is the lust of the eye. This is coveting what others have. It is an insatiable, intense craving that is usually triggered by sight. It is self gratification whether through sexual immorality, possessions and/or power. The first man and woman had everything, yet they became fixated on the one thing they didn’t have. That was the knowledge of evil. They chose to justify partaking of the knowledge of good and evil because it looked good to their selfish desires. 

Jesus again did not engage in conversation with Satan. Instead Jesus spoke truth into the situation. Jesus refused to be enticed into the lust of the eye. 

Jesus’ victory He gives to us. As we surrender our self will to that of the Father’s will, just as Jesus did, we receive more of His victory. We are empowered not to be enticed into this intense craving known as lust of the eye. As we surrender what we see to our Father and not look again, we can live in the reality of Jesus’ victory. 

The third temptation that the writer Luke records is the pride of life. That is an arrogance of self superiority. It is a vain self glorification and is usually associated with an insatiable desire for power in this world. The pride of life is usually intertwined with wanting to make a name for oneself. Desiring to dominate others and rule and reign over others to get what self wants. 

Jesus again does not enter into any conversation. He doesn’t even argue His case. Instead Jesus exposes the root of this temptation. Which is to be as God. The first man and woman were already as God for God had given them His image, His dominion and perfect world to care for. Yet they chose to seize by force. A power that they had already been given, so they could receive the glory. 

Jesus in surrender of His human will, remained in the humility of His divine character. As we surrender our human will and take a moment to receive more of His divine character, we are transformed and are humbled. 

Living in continual surrender of self, being transformed into God’s divine character, we live in the reality of Jesus’ victory over self. No longer do the three temptations of humanity have any control over us. Praise His mighty name.

The third victory is the victory over the beast.

Revelation 15:2-4 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”

This is a beautiful window into the end times. Those who have received Jesus, received God are depicted as those who have victory over the beast. As Jesus has defeated satan, the beast and the false prophet, having received Jesus and given our total allegiance to Him, we receive Jesus’ victory. We have the image of God. Singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb represents all those throughout the ages who have received Jesus, received God from both the Old and New Testament. The Lamb refers to Jesus and His sacrifice of His human life for us. Having our identity in Jesus, we are passed from the judgement of evil.

Conversely those who reject God, reject Jesus will have the image of the beast. In rejecting Jesus, rejecting God they have their identity in the beast. The beast is aligned with satan and the false prophet. All of which is the personification or evil. Therefore aligned with evil in rejecting Jesus, rejecting God, they come under the judgement of evil. 

Jesus gives us His victory over the beast, satan and the false prophet. We simply receive, praise His mighty name!   

The fourth victory is the victory over the world.

The Apostle John puts it this way. 

1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Having received Jesus, received God and given total allegiance to Him, we receive the Spirit of God, that is the Holy Spirit. At that moment, we are born of God. This is a spiritual birth that happens within us. It is God’s work in us and giving of Himself to us. God in human form in Jesus, came down from heaven to earth, so that we who are born of the earth can take on the image and identity of Jesus. Faith in this context is to believe and receive Jesus is who He says He is. To receive His sacrifice and His right to rule and reign. As we receive Jesus, receive God and give total allegiance to Him we receive His victory.  

Jesus’ victory over death, self, the beast and the world, is for us to live the surrendered, victorious life in every season of this life journey. When Jesus returns we inherit the fullness of His victory for all eternity. Where evil is totally eliminated and we dwell together with God in the new heaven and the new earth.

Jesus did it all for us and gives it all to us. We simply chose to receive and believe. Praise His mighty name. 

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!