Ep. 84 | You've Already Won | Louder Than Words

Listen in as Austin Shekell shares today’s daily devotional featuring the song "You've Already Won." Let’s be Formed by The Word together!

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Music has a unique way of touching the heart. A song can bring back a memory, lift our spirits, comfort us in a difficult season, or help us express what words alone cannot. That's one reason music has always been an important part of worship. Through the songs we sing, we celebrate God's goodness, declare his truth, and remind ourselves of his faithfulness. Over the past several weeks, we've been formed by God's Word as we've journeyed through Genesis. Over the next two weeks, while Pastor Eddie is away on a mission trip, several leaders from the Orchard Community Church will guide us through a special formed by the Word series called Louder Than Words. Together we'll explore the scriptures, truths, and personal stories behind some of the worship songs that have shaped our faith and encouraged our walk with Christ. Our prayer is that these devotions will help you listen more carefully to the songs you sing and deepen your appreciation for the God those songs celebrate. So wherever you're listening today, lean in and open your heart. The God who spoke in the beginning is still speaking today. Let's listen together.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

It was a normal Monday morning for me as a third grader at Bethany Christian School. My mom dropped me off, and I began to play with my friends like I normally do. Not soon after, I was called back to where my mom was at the time, and she gave me some very difficult news for my 10-year-old brain to comprehend. That news was that my best friend had died in a tragic car accident as he was on the way home from his grandfather's funeral. Really, really difficult things. I'll never forget trying to process that news and all the questions that would inevitably follow. As I was sitting in his funeral service, even as an unbeliever at 10 years old, I had to ask God, why? Why would you allow this to happen? And that will be at the heart of our discussion today. Why does God allow us to suffer? Why does it feel like we're in a constant battle with sin and evil? What's the purpose of suffering in our lives? If if you follow Jesus for a while, you know that we wrestle with those types of questions. But here's what we also know we know that Jesus offers peace in the midst of chaos. But if you're like me, at times that seems distant at best. Today we're going to look at scripture and look at a song that ties it all together. The passage we'll look at today is John 16, 33, and the song will be You've Already Won by Shame and Shame. Our passage today comes directly after Jesus tells us that he is the vine, we are the branches, and that if we abide in him, he will abide in us. What a great promise. It's also just four chapters removed from our Savior being flogged, mocked, and nailed to a cross. Jesus says these words in John 16, knowing full well what he is going to accomplish on Calvary, and in knowing that he can say in our passage that he is simultaneously the one who turns sorrow to joy, the one who brings peace and the chaos, and the one who has overcome the world. John 16, 33 quotes Jesus saying these words, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world, but be courageous, I have conquered the world. This passage ties in so well with our song, and it also spits in the face of the white knuckle culture that we live in. There's a tension in our culture to have this mentality when suffering is in trials arise. There's a pull to try to do it all ourselves and fix it all ourselves. I like to ask this question to myself and to others when we're walking through a mentality like this. And here's the question: if you do it all yourself, if you're trying to fix it all by yourself, how's that really working out for you? The real answer to that question will always expose some deeper issues with our faith and ultimately with our trust in the finished work of Jesus, who he is and what he's done. The lyrics of the chorus proclaim these words, and I love this so much. It says, I'm fighting a battle you've already won. No matter what comes my way, I will overcome. I don't know what you're doing, but I know what you've done. And it says again, I'm fighting a battle you've already won. I encourage you to think about these words and maybe think about a time in your life where those words have reigned true. And if and if you're listening today and you have no clue how this can be possible for you, I encourage you and implore you to give Jesus a shot and see what he can do. There was a moment in my life within the last year or so where it seemingly felt like I was in the fight of my life. Have you ever been there? I was anxious and in a dark, depressive state. And that's really hard for me to admit, but it was no doubt the truth. I had no idea until this moment how real and how awful mental illness can be. I didn't know why God was allowing this. Still can't fully wrap my head around why my best friend died at 10 years old. But this song helped me refocus in that time and see while I may not ever understand, I can know a few things for certain. Number one is that Jesus has won my primary battle on the cross. Jesus has won your primary battle on the cross. Period. End of story. And if that's true, surely he is with me and he is with you in our everyday battles. The gospel is clear. Jesus lived the life that I could it, for which he died the death that I deserved to die. And three days later, he rose victorious over death, health, sin, and the grave to offer you and I the life we can and will never deserve. Guys, what a gospel and what a savior that we have. While this is true, yet often I still find myself drifting back and forth from this grace. Why is that? It's because I forget. I forget the words in the first part of You've Already Won that that proclaim this truth. It says this there's peace that outlasts darkness, hope that's in the blood, there's future grace that's mine today that Jesus Christ has won. So I can face tomorrow, for tomorrow's in your hands all I need you will provide, just like you always have. You see, Jesus offers us something the world in all of its luxuries cannot. Peace that outlasts darkness. True earth-shattering darkness, like losing your 10-year-old son. True isolating darkness with seemingly no end. Our hope as followers of Jesus rests in the fact that our battle is already won. This is why we can face tomorrow, not with fear and uncertainty about what it may hold, but with hope, because tomorrow is in our Savior's hands and with the knowledge that he is with us in every battle we face. Once again, John 16, 33, I have told you these things so that you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world, but be courageous, I have conquered the world. Do you see here that Jesus promises suffering? And I know that's not greatly encouraging in this context, but what is encouraging here is the fact that he has conquered all of it. Here's what I found to be true about battles and suffering. They almost always lead us to a more meaningful, deeper trust in the Lord, and they almost always lead us to more meaningful and deeper places of worship. Places that would have never been possible apart from the battle and apart from suffering. Life will no doubt have good days, normal days. It'll have really hard days and everything in between. But the question is this where does your hope lie when life hits the fan? Because according to Jesus, it will. Here's my final encouragement to you. My encouragement and challenge to leave you with today is the second verse of our song that we've been looking at called You've Already Won. And it says this When the sea is raging, your spirit is my help. He'll fix my eyes on Jesus Christ. I'll say that it is well. Oh, I know that it is well. My prayer for you is that you would fix your eyes on Jesus daily and know that come hell or high water because of Jesus, because of Christ, we can know it is well, and we can know certainly that He has already won.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

Thanks for joining us today. We are so glad that you chose to spend a few moments with us in God's Word. If this episode has encouraged you, we ask that you leave us a review or maybe share this episode with a friend. Also, would you consider sending us a note to let us know what God is doing in your life? Pastor Eddie would love to hear from you. You can find this email in the show notes. Until next time, stay in the scriptures, keep following Christ, and allow your life to be formed by the Word.