Many of us have experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. We should learn to celebrate even our small victories. It is a challenge to sustain the victories we gain.
2 Kings 13:25 NIV Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered the Israelite towns.
When this happened, Jehoash knew that everything was at stake. In the recent past, Israel had gained great victories and acquired cities and territories.
Now, Elisha was on his death bed and Jehoash needed help from the man of God. At that critical moment, Elisha presented Jehoash the opportunity for complete victory over Syria. Elisha wanted to see if Jehoash was committed to sustainable victory over his enemies. Elisha required Jehoash to engage in an act faith.
2 Kings 13:15-17 NKJV And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.”
These are important words for us and the king of Israel. When we are in conflict with the adversary, we must strike until they are destroyed. Partial victory is not sustainable victory. If you are going to be an invincible champion, you must possess strong faith and courage. We are going to break every chain that holds us captive. We are going to destroy every enemy that arises against us.
2 Kings 13:18-19 NKJV Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”
Jehoash could not see past three.Every past conquest and victory was at stake. God was giving Jehoash the possibility of sustainable victories. The king’s faith was inadequate to gain complete victory. He betrayed himself with his own lack of commitment. He was not prepared to sustain the victories that had been gained.
After Elisha died and was buried, raiding bands from Moab invaded the land. After Moab invaded, Hazael king of Syria oppressed Jehoahaz and Israel all of his days. After Hazael died, Jehoash recaptured cities and defeated their enemies three times.
How do you sustain your victories?
We must learn how to keep what we have gained. It is so very easy to lose ground. Each of us have done it. We gain ground and conquer difficulties and then go back and repeat the same thing again.
Have you felt like you took one step up and two steps back? The problem is sustaining the victories you have gained.
Jehoash had an inadequate faith. Elisha knew that God wanted to give complete victory. God was prepared to destroy Israel’s enemies, but Jehoash could not see past three.
Faith calls us to press toward complete victory.God has promised to go before us and keep us. He has never asked us to do what was impossible for Him to complete.
To have sustainable victory, you must have faith in God.
Isaiah 45:2 NKJV ‘I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron.
What is impossible with man is possible with God.
Romans 9:33 AMP But he who believes in Him shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations.
There are really only two choices: We can believe that there is a God and that He is able to bring sustainable victory. We can believe that there is no God, and there is no help available.
Do you believe that the Bible is God’s Word? Can you put your trust in His Word? If you can, God’s word gives us hope for an answer.
Philippians 4:19 NKJV My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
We need to get down to the hard facts about sustaining our victories.
God wants to break every chain from your life. He wants to make you an invincible champion. He has provided everything you need for sustainable victory in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:31-38 gives God’s promise of complete victory. If God was so extravagant to give us His Son, will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:31 AMP What then shall we say to all this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?
If you are struggling to sustain your victories, you need to get the Word of God in you.
Proverbs 3:6 NKJVIn all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
This is key to sustaining the victories you gain. Develop a true and full trust and reliance on God.
Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. …those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
If you are not sustaining the victories you have gained, you need to find out who you are relying on. Where have you put your trust?
Psalm 23:1-3 NKJVThe Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul
Get this word down in you. God has planned your success. God made complete victory possible for Jehoahaz, but he was willing to settle for less than God’s best.
Proverbs 23:7 NKJV For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
When we get God’s Word in our mind and heart, it will change the way we live.
2 Corinthians 10:5 GNT We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.
The Lord our God is able to give you salvation from your sins and the power of Satan. He is also able to give you a sustainable victory.
In Exodus 14, God told Moses to tell the people that they would never see their oppressors again. Moses told God’s people, “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
We need to know without a doubt that God is able to give us sustainable victories. Watch this in Biblical history. God kept telling His people He would give them victory. On a regular basis, they magnified their troubles and lost faith in God. In the midst of your situation, keep your eyes on the Lord.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
The Lord our God is the Almighty God and does not fail.
God had a word for Abraham that is for every believer.
Genesis 15:1 NIVThe Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Get this word down in your heart. God is your reward and will not leave or forsake you. He will not make you a prey to your enemies.
Remember these words from Isaiah.
Isaiah 43:1-3 NKJV Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
If you come against a situation you cannot conquer, bring it to God with faith-filled and continual prayer. If you want to sustain your victories, you must develop an active prayer life. The Bible tells us to pray about everything. Pray at all times with thanksgiving and expectation. You need to know that God is listening.
James 5:16 NKJV The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:16 AMPThe earnest, heartfelt, and continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available…”
Satan wants to stifle you and hinder your progress. He wants to bind you with chains of defeat and destroy your life and faith. God is telling us that He will give us sustainable victories.
