QUALITIES OF THE OVERCOMER!

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

QUALITIES OF THE OVERCOMER!

Ps 84:5-7

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

           There are some who allow the circumstances of their life to crush them beneath the weight. They are overwhelmed! Still others suffer the same blows and bear up courageously. They overcome! What is the difference?

1. The Overcomer draws his strength from God!

2 Cor 12:9

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Ps 28:8

8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

2. The Overcomer is fully committed to his God!

Isa 26:9

9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

James 1:6

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Ps 57:7

7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: [nailed down] I will sing and give praise.

3. The Overcomer makes bad things better!

Ps 84:6

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

The word for Baca is “mourning” or “the valley of weeping.” They dig a well in the dry places. God turns their journey into joy and all around them drink.

4. The Overcomer grows stronger and stronger!

Like the athlete who strains at his training, the discipline becomes easier and easier to bear.

Phil 4:13

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Isa 40:30-31

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Dear Lord, we are told to pray “lead us not into temptation” but if into temptation we are led – give us strength, wisdom and endurance. AMEN

FOLLOWING JESUS – THE REALITY OF DISCIPLESHIP!

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

FOLLOWING JESUS – THE REALITY OF DISCIPLESHIP!

Luke 9:23-24

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

           I fear that today’s Christianity is founded on quick fixes to common problems and the promise of a trouble free life without restrictive rules that cramp lust’s freedom. When the natural consequence of ignorance, selfishness, and rebellion impact us we wonder why God is so cranky!

           Discipleship is much more than a twelve step program. It is a lifestyle learned through carefully following a role model. Sure, teaching is essential because right doctrine is important, but the true disciple is one who lives his life and makes his decisions in the same way Jesus would. This takes time to develop.

           Peter is the quintessential slow learner. He misunderstood the significance of the cross and rebuked his Master for even suggesting that he might go to the cross. He misunderstood the significance of the transfiguration of Jesus and suggested the witnesses remain on the mountain and erect three tabernacles to honor each of the characters he had seen. He misunderstood the significance of the lowered sheet of animals in his vision in Acts chapters 10 and 11. He denied the Lord three times – yet he was a disciple because he kept following.

John 10:27

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Dear Shepherd, guide me in a plain path and give me the courage and strength to follow. AMEN

LIVING A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE!

Monday, July 29, 2019

LIVING A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE!

John 14:15-21

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

           If you have a red letter edition of the New Testament these words are in red which means that they were spoken by Jesus and recorded for us by John. This adds a bit of force to the concepts listed here. Simply put, Jesus is saying that obedience is not only the requirement for but the demonstration of our love for God. Being an obedient child of God does not mean that you never make any mistakes it simply means that our heart is set to obey. What are the elements of a lifestyle of obedience? I think there are at least three.

1.      LISTEN TO HIM CAREFULLY!

John 14:26

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

           Unfortunately, God does not speak to us with a voice we can hear. He uses spiritual impressions and signals upon our mind. This requires a strong connection and careful listening to the “voice” of God. He speaks through many means.

2.      OBEY SYSTEMATICALLY!

Gen 12:1

12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

           Abraham was called to leave his home and to travel to an unknown destination. It is as if a parent plans a family vacation with pleasant stops along the way and a wonderful destination at the end. All the children know is that they are on vacation! That is why the kids are always asking “are we there yet?” Because we do not know every turn of the trip we must be willing to obey by taking the very next step.

3.      EXPECT A BUMPY ROAD!

John 16:33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

           Continuing our analogy of a family vacation, we understand that there may be delays along the way. Bridges may be out requiring us to take a detour and the road may be bumpy. However it is not the road but the destination that we must keep in mind. Let’s never forget that he said “I have overcome the world.”

           Obedience is not automatic. It is a lifelong process and should become easier as we learn to trust and wait patiently for God’s guidance. At times the distant destination may be almost in view and at other times we may feel we are in a wasteland of confusion but we keep trusting and obeying.

Dear Lord, when today’s carefully laid plans are ruined by unexpected delays and detours – help me to trust the destination to you. AMEN