God’s Plan for Victory

by Dr. Gary Linton | Updated February 18th, 2023

Victory was God’s original plan for mankind, but it was forfeited through the fall, and is restored through the cross. His Word will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent (Isaiah 55:10-11), but we must speak it out, unleash it, and send it out into the world (Matthew 4:1-11).

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Hebrews 2:8 – “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”

The following scriptures are listed in alliteration style which will help you remember the verses. It will also assist preachers and teachers in sermon preparation.

Victory Prescribed

In terms of human emotion, victory is accompanied with strong feelings of elation. Victory dances and cries similarly parallel war dances and cries performed before the outbreak of physical violence. The definition of victory is:

“The overcoming of an enemy or antagonist; Achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties.” (Merriam-Webster)

“Originally applied to warfare, given to success achieved in personal combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition.” (Wikipedia)

Victory Praised

In accordance with our definition of victory, it is often preempted by shouts of victory or praise. Shouts of victory and praise must be set forth in faith prior to actually receiving and experiencing victory.

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were heard to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” (Acts 16:25-26).

“Clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph” (Psalm 47:1).

“Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed (delivered) Jerusalem” (Isaiah 52:9).

“He appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever. Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated” (2 Chronicles 20:21-22).

Victory Purposed

God has purposed victory for us in His Word. Let’s appropriate all He has purposed for us.

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

“Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5).

“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon that I have given you. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:3 and 5). Compare with the New Testament counterpart Ephesians 1:3

“Who are protected by the power of God through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5).

“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing” (Psalm 34:7-10).

It’s significant to note “The angel of the Lord” is singular. This, no doubt, refers to the Lord Jesus Himself. He is the “captain of the host of the Lord” (Joshua 5:13-15). He is head and commander over all the angelic host of heaven. He, Jesus, is the one who is encamped around us, accompanied by His host of angelic beings.

Victory Proclaimed

God has proclaimed victory over us. We must do the same over our lives and situations, in agreement with Him and His Word (Matthew 18:19).

“Fear not. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians (enemies) whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13-14).

“Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly” (Psalm 68:1-3).

“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” (Isaiah 43:2).

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness (vindication) is from Me, Says the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17).

“When the enemy comes in, like a flood The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19).

Most translations place the comma after “flood” in this verse, signifying the enemy comes after us like a flood. Though our enemy does pursue us like a flood at times, the comma should be after “When the enemy comes.” In this way the verse signifies that when our enemy come after us, “like a flood The Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him.”

“Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries, And all your enemies shall be cut off” (Micah 5:9).

“Fear not, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16).

“The Lord shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for he is strong that executes His Word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it” (Joel 2:11).

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14)?

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)?

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).

Victory Purchased

Jesus purchased our victory at Calvary. It was paid for spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and situationally in the natural realm. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden (Genesis 3), they forfeited victory. Jesus purchased victory at Calvary.

“When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display/spectacle of them, having triumphed over them through the cross” (Colossians 2:15).

“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men. Now that He ascended, what is it that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things” (Ephesians 4:8-10).

Victory Perpetuated

We see from the preceding verse that during the three days between Jesus’ death and His resurrection, He descended into the lower parts of the earth. At which time, He took back the keys to hell and death releasing us from bondage. Jesus gave the keys to us, thus, perpetuating the victory He wrought over hell and the grave.

“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of Hell and of Death” (Revelation 1:18).

“Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19).

“What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:19-23).

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6-7).

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).

Victory Promised

God promises us victory. We can depend on Him to keep His Word.

“For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

“Thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To preach deliverance to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed (bruised); To preach the acceptable (favorable) year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19). This anointing is passed on to us as we preach the gospel – His Word!

“I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you” (Luke 10:18-19).

“And it shall come to pass in that day (in this day), that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing’ (Isaiah 10:27).

“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

“The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20).

Victory is God’s plan for His people. Let’s stop allowing the world, Satan, and circumstances of life to rob us of His plan.