How We Find Victory

Every morning when you rise up, what is commanding you, “You will serve me”? If there is anything other than Jesus Christ issuing that order, it doesn’t have preeminence over God. It doesn’t have the right or the power to dominate your life any longer.

Dismay comes when we look at the size of our opposition and then we look at the mediocrity of our own ability to fight with it. We lose sight of God when we start looking at ourselves and our own strengths and resources. Because of that, a deep-seated fear settles in our hearts.

What voice greets you every morning? What voice taunts you and defies your ability to bring it into submission to Christ? Is it alcohol, drugs, depression, lust? Whatever it is, it rises up and says, “You will serve me. You don’t have it in you to fight against me. You’ve failed before. You will yield to my voice, and what I tell you to do, you will do.”

Now listen to this: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NKJV).

What phenomenal power! How do we access this power? Well, Paul went on to write, “…and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:6). What is this particular obedience? I think you’ll be surprised to see what it is, at least in part.

There’s a point where you and I have to get some gravel in our gut and rise up to say, “I would rather die in the valley than let this voice mock the living God, let this voice mock the promises of God, the people of God, the purpose God has for my life. I was intended for more than this. God didn’t intend for me to tremble every morning at the voice of darkness.”

There is a point where each of us must stand up and say, “No. I will not serve you. I will serve the Lord.” That is obedience. That is the beginning of God’s victory and power in us.

^{Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001. In May of 2020, he transitioned into a continuing role as General Overseer of Times Square Church, Inc.}