What does it take to experience victory in Jesus?
Pastor Don McGlashing takes us to Judges 4 and the story of Deborah and Barak to remind us that victory begins when we turn back to God, let go of pride, surround ourselves with godly influences, and allow God to go before us.
If you’re facing a battle today, this message is a reminder that you don’t have to fight it alone.
Victory in Jesus: A Win-Win Situation
We all go through seasons when things simply aren’t the way they ought to be. Sometimes circumstances are beyond our control, but other times, if we’re honest, our own choices have helped create the situation we’re in. The good news is that being in a difficult place doesn’t mean we have to stay there. God offers us a way toward victory.
In Judges 4, we find the people of Israel once again caught in a cycle of rebellion, suffering, repentance, and restoration. After Ehud died, Israel turned away from God again, and for twenty years they were cruelly oppressed by Jabin and his army commander, Sisera. Eventually, they cried out to the Lord for help.
Their story gives us some important principles for experiencing victory in Jesus.
1. Sometimes We Have to Decide That ‘Enough Is Enough‘
Israel endured twenty years of oppression before they finally cried out to God. It makes me wonder: What is our limit? How long will we continue holding on to resentment, pride, rebellion, unhealthy patterns, or anything else that keeps us from walking closely with God?
We get to decide when enough is enough.
I’ve heard people who overcame addiction, financial struggles, isolation, and other long-term battles describe their turning point with remarkably similar words: I finally decided enough was enough.
That decision doesn’t solve everything instantly, but it puts us on the road to victory. We can stop running, surrender what we’ve been holding onto, and turn our hearts back toward God.
2. Victory Matters More Than Who Gets the Glory
When Deborah told Barak to lead Israel into battle, Barak responded, “If you go with me, I will go.” He recognized that he needed help.
That is not weakness. It is wisdom.
Sometimes the three hardest words for us to say are, “I need help.” We can become so concerned about our independence, our reputation, or receiving the credit that we miss what God wants to accomplish through us together.
The Christian life is not meant to be lived as an individual competition. We help one another. We stand shoulder to shoulder. We share the responsibility—and sometimes we share the credit.
Victory is more important than glory.
3. Surround Yourself With People Who Walk in Victory
Barak understood the value of having Deborah beside him. He recognized the anointing and leadership God had placed on her life.
We need people like that around us, too.
The people we listen to and spend time with influence the direction of our lives. As Proverbs reminds us, “Iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). Paul also told the believers, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
I love the illustration I shared about a bicycle: everyone is happy to ride with you when you’re going downhill. But when you’re trying to push that bicycle uphill, suddenly there aren’t nearly as many people around.
So value the people who are willing to help you go uphill. Find people who know the power of God, who are walking faithfully with Him, and who will encourage you toward victory rather than pull you backward.
Let God Go Before You
The turning point in Judges 4 came when Deborah told Barak, “Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?” (Judges 4:14).
That is the heart of the message.
After twenty years of putting God behind them, Israel finally found themselves in a place where God was going before them.
We win when God enters the battlefield before us.
So what battle are you facing today? Maybe this is your “enough is enough” moment. Maybe it’s time to surrender your pride, ask for help, change the influences around you, or simply put God back in His proper place.
The victory doesn’t come because we are strong enough to win every battle ourselves. Victory comes when we surrender fully to God and allow Him to go before us.
As we face the battles of everyday life, may we remember that God is our strength, our peace, and our hope. He knows us completely, He is able to help us overcome, and He is faithful to lead us into the victory He has prepared for us.
Previously, by this speaker:
David and Goliath — The Crisis, the Critics, and the Contest (Facebook)