THE WINNING LIFE

“I PRESS toward the GOAL for the PRIZE of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 3:14

In order to appreciate the place of Wisdom in Winning by the Word, we need the revelation of the WINNING LIFE: “I PRESS toward the GOAL for the PRIZE of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phi.3:14). To WIN means to be successful or victorious in a contest, conflict, or endeavour. God created us to win in life, with the accompanying contentment and sense of fulfilment. This is evident in His first words: “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over…” (Gen.1:26). Then, God commanded them to go win: “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over...” (Gen.1:28a).

God is the Ultimate Winner! He succeeded on the Creation Project and continues to be victorious. Man, made in God’s image and likeness, was designed to be a Winner. Although Man fell from Grace through disobedience, in Christ, the Redeemed Man is re-empowered to be a winner. God has “crowned him with glory and honour” (Psa.8:4-5). God created us to win in all dimensions of Destiny: Spiritual, relational, physical, financial, professional, vocational, ministerial, and in every other aspect of life.

Too often, we think of eternal life only as pertaining to heaven. Eternal life, however, has already begun in the here and now: “...I have come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jh.10:10b). ZOE – the Life of God in Man – refers to a quality of life as well as quantity or a forever length of life. Unfortunately, many Christians have been conditioned to believe that winning is unimportant and even unbiblical! We have eternal rewards waiting for us in heaven; but God’s provision of victory applies now, to our human existence.

The opposite of Winning is Losing. And many Believers have been deceived into thinking that a “losing” lifestyle makes them more spiritual. Losing will only leave one frustrated, unfulfilled, and totally without impact as a witness. The world will not be influenced by a bunch of losers, but by those who through the Instrumentality of Wisdom, operate in Realms of Winners. For the Believer however, winning is not about adopting a worldly, cutthroat, win-at-any-cost mentality. In the world’s way of thinking, when someone wins, it means everyone else has to lose. It is an exclusive mentality, and it also implies the domination of others. God’s concept of winning is different.

Winning for the Believer is not exclusive or dominative. In God’s System, there is room at the top for everyone. Also, instead of dominating people, the Godly Winner dominates opposing demonic forces and circumstances. In God’s Kingdom “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). We have Dominion here in this life, because we are “in Christ Jesus”! Jesus said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Mt. 28:18). The Power we have in Christ makes us winners in this life, and guarantee Victory in all of life!

Philippians is a book about Winning written by a unique winner – the apostle Paul. Though he experienced many difficulties in his life, he never lived under his circumstances. Instead, he lived above and controlled them. Paul learned to walk the Winner’s Way. He knew he had been apprehended by God for a special purpose – his divinely ordained destiny; refused to be satisfied with the status quo; and determined to PRESS – pursue and expend maximum effort – toward his God-defined GOAL or MARK, for the PRIZE of his High CALLING in Christ!

That Prize worth pressing for is ZOE, Eternal Life, the very Life of God, devoid of sin, sickness, poverty, strife, and every negativity! To really enjoy the fullness of this Prize on this side of eternity, we must lay hold on God’s High Calling – God’s Perfect Will for our lives – by Wisdom!