It was common to hear everyone talk about how bad the academic records in that college was. So it was normal to opt out at the final year to go write the final exams in another school. But I made up my to stay in the school for the final exams. I knew I could have personal victory in the midst of corporate defeat. That was what happened.
Friend, when it comes to a life of success and victory, you must have a grasp of this truth; it is possible to have a personal victory in the midst of corporate defeat. It is also possible to have a personal defeat in the midst of a corporate victory.
Ultimately, you should have personal victory in the midst of corporate victory. It’s all a function of the understanding you have and the principles you are working with. What Christ has wrought for us is a corporate victory but we must learn how to translate this corporate victory into our own personal victory (Romans 8:37, 1 John 5:4).
The ideal is that Christians are not supposed to fail, fall sick, be afflicted or defeated but the normal for some Christians is far from the ideal (2 Corinthians 8:9, 1 Peter 2:24). The ideal is what you have in scriptures, the normal is what an average person experiences (Psalms 119:89, 2 Corinthians 1:20). We must keep journeying from normal experience into ideal experience in our walk with God (2 Peter 1:3).
Your life can either be close to hell or close to heaven. As much as heaven on earth is real, hell on earth is also real. You can be a Lazarus on your way to Heaven or the rich man on your way to hell (Luke 16:19-23). You should be an Abraham on earth on your way to heaven (Genesis 13:2).
Jesus has taken responsibility for our corporate victory but you need to take responsibility for your personal victory (John 19:30, Philippians 2:12-13). Stop blaming God, people or the devil for your outcomes in life. All things are yours in Christ but what is yours practically is what you choose (1 Corinthians 3:21). You are not born a winner or loser. You are born a chooser (Deuteronomy 30:19).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria