Let me ask you something. How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as a victorious person, able to conquer the problems of the world? Do you see yourself as an overcomer?
There’s an old hymn that says, “I’m just a poor old sinner, saved by grace.” This song has a nice old melody and the words sound real religious. The only problem is the words are not completely true. A partial truth always sounds good and sometimes even very religious. But only the whole truth sets us free.
Yes, before you were a Christian you were a poor old sinner, and when you accepted Jesus you were saved by grace through faith, but once you became a Christian you became redeemed. You became victorious and, according to the Bible, you became more than a conqueror. Jesus became our redeemer. He made a way of escape from poverty, sickness, and spiritual death.
However, some Christians don’t understand that we have been redeemed from the curse of the law. They accept sickness and poverty as part of life. This should not be. We have been set free from the curse of the law. We need to start acting like it. We need to quit speaking the lie and speak the truth. We’re not “just poor old sinners.” We are the righteousness of Christ.
Before we were Christians, we had a debt. Unless this debt was paid, we could never have everlasting life. But the problem was, we could not pay the debt. It required a perfect sacrifice. We were not perfect. So, our debt was impossible to pay.
But then Jesus came to earth as a man and died in our place. He took stripes on His body for our sicknesses. He redeemed us. He paid the debt we could not pay.
Now, when we become a Christian, we receive all the benefits of a paid up account. We have health and prosperity available. Now don’t take me wrong. I’m not saying that there will never be problems. But what I am saying is this. We don’t have to be diseased and in poverty. The problems can be solved. Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law.
We are victorious. Jesus has defeated Satan and we as Christians are the body of Christ. We are not only on the winning side, we are on the side that has already won.
Unfortunately, there are many good Christians who see themselves as beat down and defeated. Why? It’s because they believe the lies of the devil.
Several years ago my son was on the state championship football team. One thing you can always spot on a championship team, and that is this: They believe that they are winners. A winning team is always filled with the belief that they can come in first. The coach must be an encourager. He must constantly build the boys up and keep them looking toward the goal.
A different coach could take this same team and instead of encouraging them, he could discourage them. How would he do that? He would do it with his words. The only thing required to take a winning team and make it a losing team is to start speaking losing words. The more the words are heard, the more the team will believe. And a team that believes they are losers will be losers.
That’s what Satan tries to do to the believer. He says “you’re a loser.” He says, “You can’t be healed.” He says, “You can’t be prosperous.” He says, “You’re just a poor old sinner, saved by grace.”
Read the first two chapters of Ephesians and you’ll discover who you are in Christ. You are victorious!
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.