1 John 4:1-4 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”  NASU

I am convinced that few, if any, actually desire to be losers or failures.  I have never met anyone who truly deep inside want to fail.  Some are afraid to try and others fear the pressure, commitment and responsibility that accompanies success but nobody wants to fail.  I remember times when we would choose sides for a game and invariably there would be a couple of guys who caught everyone’s attention.  Allen the athlete and uncoordinated Carl (not real people just examples).  One was a superstar at everything he attempted and the other had difficulty walking and chewing gum at the same time.  Everybody wanted Allen but nobody wanted Carl.  The idea was to get Allen on your team but not Carl and if you were successful victory was almost guaranteed.  Getting on the right team was always a crowning accomplishment. 

In the passage cited above there are ‘two teams’ depicted one doomed for certain defeat and the other guaranteed victory.  You have the final choice as to which team you will be on.  Wait!  That is almost too simplistic for it sounds on the surface as thought we make the choice and immediately declared the victors and just need to sit and wait for the trophies to be handed out.  While it is not that simple, it is a matter of choice and that the game still has to be played.  The battle still has to be fought for the devil will not just roll over and acknowledge defeat although he is defeated.  He will try!

He will attempt DECEPTION trying to trick us into making a wrong choice as did Adam, Eve and Abraham and Sarah (Hagar resulting in Ishmael).  It is imperative that we ‘test’ the spirits and remember our gauge is God’s Word.  It is also important to remember that the devil is transformed ‘as’ an angel of light so he is not always easily recognized.  Jesus did not say we would not experience the devil’s attacks he said we would ‘overcome’ them.  He did not say we would not have to deal with the devil He said we had ‘authority’ and ‘power’ over him.  In John 16:22 Jesus warned, “…in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Let me give you a few things to consider:

•   You Are Going To Have Trials… (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)                                                                                 You may be Allen the athlete but you still need outside help.  You need the power of the Spirit of God      in your life.
• In Your Own Power You Are No Match For The Devil.
• You, As A Believer, Have All Of Heaven’s Resources Available To You.                                             (Isaiah 40:8, 12, 15, 28-31; 43:2; 45:2-3; 54:17, 19)

2 Corinthians 2:14 – “Now thanks be unto God which always, causes us to triumph in Christ…”

Let me suggest three things that must be seen for us to become what God has designed and desires.  We must SEE who He that is in the world really is.  We must SEE who He that is in us truly is.  We must SEE who we are in light of that truth.  We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Jesus.  We belong to God and have overcome for God is fighting for us and God is greater than all we face!  So when the enemy comes against you resist him, rebuke him and exercise your biblical authority over him.  Your trials are opportunities to trust God and your impossible situation is an open door for God’s miracles!

Choose to win and be blessed as you go through this day!