Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: 1 John 4:4

the big win — October 15, 2025

the big win

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Our little Bethany was only 13 months old and was surprisingly verbal for her age.  My wife laid her out to change her diaper one day.  In the middle of the mess, my baby began to happily sing, “vicry Jesus.”  Being translated, it’s “Victory in Jesus.” 

She had heard the song reverberate at church which was reinforced by her mother who joyfully sang it as she worked around the house.  

I’m not sure if the baby knew what the song was about – or maybe she did.  In her world, a diaper change would be a great victory.

And who doesn’t appreciate a great victory?   An election won, a championship trophy awarded; a checkmate to end the game.  There is an indescribable joyful emotion that fills us when we win.

Our younger selves passionately pursued victory, but age has taught and tempered us.

While only a few enjoy the thrill of victory, the rest suffer the agony of defeat.  Competition usually yields one winner and a slew of losers.  As in politics, there is no glory in, “also ran.”

And most victories are short lived.  Win the Stanley Cup this year and surrender it the next season.  Win an election, make your changes, and then watch them unravel in the next administration. 

The trophy from high school eventually ends up in a box in the attic.  Very few remember the name of the former Senator from Vermont.  The once wealthy MVP from the Super Bowl is now selling used cars in Modesto. 

Victory is temporary at best but there is one win that still wows us.  Its benefits and blessings never cease. 

The apostle John spoke of it in 1 John 5:4-5.  He wrote, “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

So, what is this about?   John uses the word “world” to represent the earthly system that operates under the subtle influence of the evil one.  He uses this word many times in his short epistle. 

John described this world as being driven by sinful passions.  We have a competitor whose play book includes “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” – 1 John 2:16. KJV

And that competitor has controlling interests in the media today.  It’s on my TV, and my I-pad and my podcasts.  It’s a tidal wave of trash that relentlessly pushes its way into my world and sometimes into my mind. 

But John tells us that we who believe that Jesus is truly the Son of God – have victory.  Our faith in Jesus is the victory.   Elsewhere John reminds us that we can overcome the world because Christ dwells in us – and He who dwells in us, is far greater than he who is in the world, says John (1 John 4:4).

Because Christ lives in us, we can carve out victories on a consistent basis.  We can resist and defeat the lusts, and temptations rife in this world. 

Our victory will not be forgotten or stuffed away in some dusty attic because we experience it every day.  It happens when temptation comes, and we say, ”No. I am not going there.”  

We see it when we patiently relate to an irate driver.  We experience it when we courageously stand up for our faith when it is being ridiculed. 

We find it when we cry out to the Christ in us for His help in a stressful situation.  He who is in me really is greater than he who is in the world.

But maybe the best thing about this victory is that we can all be winners. There does not need to be a single loser among us. 

How about you?  Do you need a win in your column?  Find your victory in Jesus! 

A PRAYER: Lord, I enjoy being a winner.  Thank you for making it possible. 

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Scripture passages are from the NIV unless otherwise noted.

what the devil? — July 7, 2021

what the devil?

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I took a course called Angelogy, which is the study of good and bad angels (also known as demons).  It was a requirement for those headed for the ministry. 

The angel portion was awesome and comforting.  The demon portion was eerie and disturbing.

One dreary night I needed to borrow a book for my research project.  So, I ambled over to the school library, which was housed in an old converted home.  The building was locked and empty except for a fellow classmate who I hoped would let me in.

I knocked and then watched for him through the window.  He didn’t show.  So, I tried hitting the doorbell in machine gun fashion.  The chime was one of those that had 3 gong-like tubes that sounded like something from the Adams Family.  

He heard me this time.  I watched him cautiously creep into the hall, but he wasn’t looking toward the door where I stood.  His tense face was nervously searching for the source of the sound. 

Now this amused me greatly – so I did the machine gun with the doorbell again.  And he jumped like a snake had bit him on the heel.  He then pointed down the hall with a trembling hand and screamed, “Satan, I bind you in the name of Jesus Christ.” 

Thank goodness he cast the demon out of that doorbell!  

________

Some people suspect there’s a demon behind every tree, while others have banished such notions to the myth pile.  Are demons real and if so, what do we do about them?

Real they are!  Jesus interacted with or spoke of demonic entities over a dozen times in the Gospel of Matthew.   His adversaries are as real as Jesus Himself.  They aggressively opposed the agenda of God then, and still do today. 

In Haiti, where demons are celebrated, their presence is overt and eerie and scary.  In my neighborhood, however, their subtle presence is mostly experienced as they tease that broken part of us, until it gives birth to sin. (James 1:15)

So how do we protect ourselves?

– Deny them your attention!

A band of misdirected angels arrogantly coveted the place of God.   They rebelled and God cast them to earth in judgment as demons.  But they still crave attention.  Some of us are happy to offer it to them.  We go demon hunting and often give them more credit than they deserve. 

In truth, Satan and his minions are like dogs.  They sense our fear and will use it to their advantage.  Treat them like the bullies they are and just ignore them and they will look elsewhere for the attention they crave.

– Draw closer to Jesus! 

When Jesus encountered demons, they responded in fear.”  Luke 4:33-34 says, “Now in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us?”  

          That demon wanted nothing to do with Jesus.  The same was true of the demon in Luke 8:28. He said, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I beg you, do not torment me!”  Demons are not comfortable in the presence of Jesus.  They would rather be elsewhere. 

          Fortunately, Christ indwells the believer and the apostle John said, “…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  (1 John 4:4) Christ within us, is far greater in power than the evil ones around us.

And His powerful presence still repels the demons.   So, dig deep, and cultivate an intimate relationship with Jesus and you’ll do well. 

Scripture tells us to “flee immorality” but never the devil.  James on the other hand wrote, “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) He and his disabled diabolical forces are toothless and pose no threat to the person who is “strong in the strength of the Lord’s might (Ephesians 6:10)

Beware, however, of pranksters with doorbells!

A PRAYER: Lord help us to strike a balance in this area of spiritual warfare.

Scripture references are from the NET Bible ®