VICTORIOUS THROUGH LIFE'S CONTRADICTIONS

Victorious Through Life's Contradictions

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: The Word Becoming Personal (Logos to Rhema)
2. Everyone Faces Contradictions
3. Fine-Tuning Your Ears to the Inner Christ
4. From Fear to Thanksgiving and Praise
5. Staying Spiritually Awake
6. Made to Stand: Safe and Unharmed
7. Seamlessly Mirrored in the Son of Man
8. Face-to-Face Living and Constant Prayer
9. The Storm on the Boat: Resting in the Victory
10. Closing Encouragement

Introduction: The Word Becoming Personal (Logos to Rhema)

Pastor Lori opens by sharing her love for reading the Word of God and how a particular passage moved from being just logos, the written Word, into rhema, a living and personal revelation for her. She explains that she has been meditating on this scripture repeatedly, reading it at night and reflecting deeply on each phrase. Leonard adds humor by sharing how he seeks God early in the morning while Lori does so late at night, covering the whole day in prayer between them.

They emphasize that the Word is not meant to be read quickly or mechanically, but slowly, allowing each phrase to speak to the heart and reveal deeper truth. This sets the tone for the entire message: living from inner spiritual awareness rather than outward circumstances.

Everyone Faces Contradictions

The central scripture Lori reads is from Luke, and she highlights the part about everyone on the planet facing the same contradictions and opportunities to be snared by fear.

Luke 21:34–36- “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Leonard and Lori explain that no one is exempt from difficulties. Even believers experience sickness, financial struggles, emotional pain, injuries, surgeries, pandemics, and other hardships. They openly acknowledge their own experiences with physical issues like torn ligaments, surgeries, and illnesses.

They stress that contradictions are not a sign that something is wrong with your faith or that God has abandoned you. Contradictions are part of life on this planet, and everyone faces them. The difference is not whether you face contradictions, but how you respond to them.

Fine-Tuning Your Ears to the Inner Christ

Lori focuses on the phrase about habitually fine-tuning your ears to resonate with your inner self. She explains that while the world talks about “your inner self” in terms of positive thinking or self-esteem, the true inner self for a believer is Christ Himself.

She says plainly: her inner self is Christ. Jesus lives inside her. She is His address. Therefore, tuning into the inner self means tuning into Christ within.

This means living from identity, not from circumstances. Instead of asking “Why is this happening to me?” or “Why do I always struggle?”, the believer is invited to remember who they truly are in Christ.

She shares how, for years, she questioned God during hardships, asking, “Why me?” when facing injuries, illnesses, and major trials. But she realized that this mindset allowed the senses and the flesh to dominate her life. She was letting contradictions create fear instead of allowing Christ within define her reality.

Victory begins when believers habitually tune their inner hearing to who they already are in Christ.

From Fear to Thanksgiving and Praise

Lori explains that when you live from the flesh and the senses, fear takes over. But when you shift to living from Christ within, something changes.

She says that when she remembers who she is, the “thumb comes out of her mouth,” meaning she stops living like a spiritual baby and begins walking in maturity and confidence.

Leonard adds that when you do this, thanksgiving and praise naturally follow. Instead of complaining or worrying, you begin thanking Jesus for who He is in you and who you are in Him.

They describe how praise dissolves fear. As you thank God and focus on Christ within, anxieties lose their power. Fear disappears not because circumstances change, but because identity changes.

Staying Spiritually Awake

Lori reflects on the phrase “remain wide awake.” She explains that staying awake spiritually means staying aware of who you are in Christ.

Luke 21:34–36- “And take heed to yourselves… Watch ye therefore, and pray always…”

She gives a practical illustration: when someone just wants noise off, TV off, lights off, and wants to sleep spiritually, they are actually giving in to contradictions. Spiritual sleep happens when believers stop listening to the inner Christ and start listening to external chaos.

But staying awake means staying rooted in the Word, reminding yourself of your face-to-face union with Jesus. This keeps the believer alert, peaceful, and spiritually alive.

Made to Stand: Safe and Unharmed

Lori highlights a powerful phrase from the passage: “You have already been made to stand.”

She emphasizes that believers are not trying to become victorious. They already are victorious.

Luke 21:36- “…that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

She explains that the escape Jesus talks about is not physical escape from problems. It is spiritual realization. The escape is discovering that you are already safe, already secure, already unharmed because you are mirrored in Christ.

Leonard adds that when believers do not resonate with the inner Christ, they fall prey to fear and remain stuck in spiritual immaturity. But when they live from who they truly are, they live in victory even while facing contradictions.

Seamlessly Mirrored in the Son of Man

Lori emphasizes the phrase “seamlessly mirrored in the Son of Man.” This means there is no separation between Christ and the believer.

She references 2 Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 3:18- “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

She explains that when you look in the mirror spiritually, you see Christ. You are His reflection. You are His image. You are His address.

This truth cannot be heard enough. The more it is heard, the more it becomes part of the believer’s consciousness, and the less fear dominates their life.

Face-to-Face Living and Constant Prayer

Lori speaks about becoming fully acquainted with your “face-to-faceness” with God. This means living in constant awareness of God’s presence and union.

She explains that prayer is not just sitting down formally for hours. Prayer is living in continuous communication with God throughout the day. While walking, driving, working, or even talking to others, the believer remains inwardly connected to God.

This face-to-face living is effortless because Christ lives within. It is not religious striving, but relational awareness.

The Storm on the Boat: Resting in the Victory

Leonard closes with a powerful illustration from the story of Jesus and the storm. He reminds us that Jesus told the disciples they were going to the other side. The victory was already spoken.

When the storm came, Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat. Leonard explains that the back of the boat is actually the most vulnerable part. If a boat sinks, it sinks there first.

Yet Jesus slept because He trusted the spoken Word of God. He knew the outcome. The contradictions did not disturb Him.

Leonard says this is how believers are called to live. Resting in the truth, sleeping in peace, knowing the victory is already secured in Christ.

The storms may come, but the destination is guaranteed.

Closing Encouragement

Leonard and Lori end by encouraging believers to live from Christ within, not from fear or circumstances. Everyone faces contradictions, but believers are not called to live in panic. They are called to live in peace, identity, and rest.

The victory is already yours because Christ lives in you. The escape is not running from problems, but realizing who you already are.

We hope this article blessed you and encouraged you to live victoriously through life’s contradictions. Share this teaching with others so they, too, can discover the peace, rest, and victory found in Christ within.