THE STRUGGLE IS REAL!
While we may struggle along, I am thankful there is One that is there with us all the way!
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Each day we wake up, the struggle with this old world and its ways is on. There is a reminder in this scripture though— “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”. What a wonderful reminder when we face the temptations the world throws at us. When we are tempted to compromise or to quit remember— “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” When we are tempted to quit on family remember— “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”. When we are tempted to compromise our testimony remember— “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”. When we are tempted to quit church remember — “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”.
Whatever he throws at us, we have the Holy Spirit living in us to help us have victory over him! Don’t ever forget that Christian soldier and you won’t sink in this old world we live in! So, GET UP, GET READY, and GO ENJOY WORSHIPING YOUR SAVIOUR!
BE ASSURED
"The Lord is my Shepherd," not was, not maybe, not will be. "The Lord is my Shepherd"-is on Sunday, is on Monday, and is through every day of the week; is in January, is in December, and every month of the year; is at home, and is in China; is in peace, and is in war; in abundance and in poverty. -Taylor
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 1 John 3:19-20
Who is Jesus to you? If He is anything less than Lord and Saviour, you’ve missed who He is! You’ve missed the reason He came to the Earth. You’ve missed the peace He gives to all who repents and trust Him as Saviour! You’ve missed the fullness of the joy salvation brings!
Have you missed who Jesus is? GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH this morning with this prayer on your mind, “Lord Jesus, show me who you are today!” If you go seeking Him, He will show you who He is, but you must respond!
BE VICTORIOUS
Be ashamed to die until you have won a soul for the Lord Jesus.
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. James 5:20
The only thing we do in someone’s salvation is sowing the seed and applying a little water. That’s really all any gardener or farmer does. They prepare the field by tilling the soil. They make rows to receive the seeds. They add fertilizer, seed, and water or they let the natural water from the Lord. They sit and wait until God creates one of this world’s greatest miracles; life! I am reminded this morning that our responsibility in being victorious in seeing the lost, dying, and hurting come to know the Lord is sowing the seed of the Gospel and applying the water of the Word. Without those two things we are living in a hopeless world! It is neither you nor I that does the saving, it’s the Lord Himself! So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:7
BE CONSISTENT
Whatever you do for the Lord be consistent about it—it will make all the difference!
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. Philippians 1:27-28
I recently heard a story about an old miner. He had been working this gold mine for many years and gave up. He sold the mine, lock, stock, and machinery. An old scrap metal man bought the mine and its contents. He was about to start scrapping the metal when he said, “I’ve never tried mining and I’ve got all this equipment, why not give it a try for a few days.” He dug three feet and hit one of the largest gold deposits ever hit. Someone asked the old miner what he thought. He said, “Don’t stop three feet from victory!”
Where ever you are in your Christian walk, don’t give up or give in! Don’t give up on serving the Lord because it is worth ever ounce you invest in Him and in others! Don’t give in to the pressures this life throws at you! Be consistent in your walk with Jesus, you never know when someone is watching you!
God has got something for you child of God! And it’s something better than a bunch of gold! So be consistent! Waiting if necessary, studying with an expectation, and witnessing to a lost, dying, hurting world to make a difference!
RESPONSE OF VICTORY
I fear God, and next to God I chiefly fear him who fears Him not.- Saadia Ben Joseph
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Psalm 46:2-3
What do we have to fear when we understand God is on our side? Why should we fear man or what He may do to us? Why do we fear the unknown when He knows what that is? Why do we fear what we don’t understand? When we have victory in our life by knowing He is God, we will also come to realize we have God for our defender and we need not fear any evil! That my friend is our only reasonable response.
GEAR UP!
There is a fierce enemy seeking to destroy you. What will you do to prepare to have victory?
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8
Satan doesn’t want you to have victory in your life. So he throws everything he can at you so you will trip up, fail, and fall. What are we to do; gear up! We must be sober and vigilant.
What does sober mean? Well it has the meaning of not being drunk, being alert, and being aware. We are not to be overcome with this world and it’s ways in such a way that causes us to let down our guard. If and when we do—the enemy attacks!
What does vigilant mean? It means to be kept awake. Often after we have our Sunday lunch the Z monster sets in. We sit in our recliner and before you know it we are snoring like a freight train going through a tunnel. With that deep sleep going on we can’t hear the enemy sneaking up on us to attack. We must keep watch for the enemy is lurking!
There are other ways we can gear up as well; prayer, Bible reading and study, serving at church, attending Sunday School, and church activities are excellent ways to gear up and get ready for your adversary’s attack!
VICTORY IN JESUS
Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for the Lord.
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14
Many that claim to be Christian forget one of the things Christ said, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 Jesus came to serve and that is about the last thing anyone wants to do today. As Children of God, this should be one of our goals as well; to serve others! Without the thought of fame or fortune, we need to get down in the trenches, get our hands dirty, and serve one another! Without serving we will not see lasting victories in our life! But the key is to be “In Christ”!
If you are not in Christ, the victories you have in this life will be temporary. The only victories that will mean anything or last for eternity are those accomplished in Christ.
VICTORY IN DEATH
Satan thought Jesus was defeated but God had other plans!
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? Luke 24:5
Many in this world are staggering around just like those women the first Easter morning; they are hopeless. Hopeless because they have never heard the Good News of the Gospel or they have rejected what they have heard because of pride. Many would rather stay right where they are at, in misery, rather than humble themselves. Many “live” defeated even though God has other plans for them, all they have to do is humble themselves.
Are you one of those people? Are you hanging on to a prayer prayed when you were young but there was never a change in your heart? Humble yourself! Do you feel unworthy of God’s salvation? He came seeking the mightiest of sinners so humble yourself!
Satan surely thinks you are defeated today just like He thought Jesus was but God has other plans for you! Would you like to remain defeated or would you like to have victory? All you have to do is humble yourself, asking God to forgive you of your sins, and trusting Jesus as Saviour!
STILL SINNING?
Salvation brings with it the Holy Spirit, in which, He gives us the ability to have victory over sin!
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17!
What sin are you still succumbing to? What sin is it that so easily besets you? If you could have victory over it today—what would you give? You don’t have to give up any time. You don’t have to give up your God- given abilities. You don’t even have to give any money. There is only one thing that you can give that will make a difference—Yourself!
God doesn’t need your money. He doesn’t need your time. He doesn’t need your abilities! What He needs is your availability! Are you willing to be available for Him so you will have victory over your sin?
VICTORY IS IN JESUS!
Every victory that we have is because of the Lord Jesus!
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
As I was standing by the graveside yesterday for a dear saint of God, I was thinking about the victories God has given, is giving, and will give one day. It’s all because of God’s amazing grace! No really, it is! Every victory I have in my life can be traced back to Jesus. If it had not been for Jesus, I wouldn’t have met my wife. If it wasn’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t have gotten saved. If it wasn’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t be preaching. If it wasn’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t have a home reserved for me in Heaven! If it wasn’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t be able to spend eternity with Him!
What about you, what victory has He given you?
STAND UP IN THE STORM
Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for, because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything. --Peter Marshall
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:13-16
Thunderstorms are something to wake up to. The patter of rain on the roof has a magical sound that is hypnotic in a sense. If we are not careful, we will all turn the alarm clock off and just go back to sleep!
Friend, during the storms of your life don’t hit the snooze button or turn the clock off, there isn’t any time for that. There is a spiritual war going on and if you are going to have victory over your flesh, you’re going to wake up and get busy. Get busy preparing for the battles of the day by:
1. Getting into God’s Word. (Psalm 119:11)
2. Confessing known sin. (Proverbs 28:13)
3. Praising the Lord for past, present, and future victories. (Psalm 33:1)
4. Having faith! (Hebrews 11:6)
How prepared are you for today’s battles?
MONDAY IS TODAY…
Don’t count your eggs before they hatch…you won’t know how many chicks you have until they’re in the pin.
Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1
Many people have posted gloom and doom pictures over the last 24 hrs about Monday being today. “Keep calm and pretend it’s not Monday. Monday…I want to break up. What to do when you encounter Monday” are just a few of the sayings that gets to the point of no one likes Mondays!
But let me remind you of a certain truth about Mondays; God made them too! And with a Monday comes another 24 hrs. to bring Him honor and glory! For us to share the Gospel call. But there is a problem us posting about Monday—yesterday: none of us were guaranteed to make it to today. We didn’t have to make it to today and we are not guaranteed tomorrow. So I have a bit of advice for you; invest in today like it’s your last for it may very well be!
Silence is just a different enemy!
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
I believe with my whole heart that if the church of the living God would stand up and speak up a lot of the mess going on in this world would be silenced. If what’s called the moral majority would stand up and speak up during elections, during debates, and during when it matters most we could see a turn in this world for the glory of God.
But if you want to continue to see this world silence the witness of God, just sit back and say nothing. With the enemy of silence at the helm it won’t be long until you won’t have to worry about hearing about Jesus anymore because His name will be outlawed to mention!
Don't let sin in or it will stay a while!
No affliction or temptation, no guilt or power of sin, no wounded spirit nor terrified conscience, should induce us to despair of help and comfort from God. –Scott
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14
Nothing, I said nothing should come between us and our Saviour! But, yet it does. Sin creeps in and before we know it we are drowning in a sea of sin that the Lord has to lift us out of! Child of God, get an accountability partner! Get INTO THE Word! Get in a Bible believing church and every thing else will fall into place!
Learning along the way.
The best way out of a difficulty is through it. –Anonymous
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: Proverbs 24:3
Have you ever been working on something and run into a problem? Maybe you didn’t calculate correctly on the cost. Maybe you didn’t plan for something and in the mist of the project it became a problem. Maybe you didn’t program a thermostat the right way when you originally set it up and well it took you an hour to figure it out…..yep been there done that!
Well if we quit in the middle of the project, who would finish it? Who would get more money, get the finishing supplies or in my case—reprogram the stat? No-one! Sometimes we have to go through the door of adversity in order to learn some valuable lessons!
How do you need to react to the Word of God?
No one ever graduates from Bible study until he meets the Author face to face. –Harris
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: James 1:18-19
In these verses I see that we need to react to the Word of Truth in three ways:
1. Swift to Hear—We should be prepared to hear the Word of God when read, when taught, when Preached, or even when sung!
2. Slow to Speak—We should only speak when the Word of God has penetrated our lives. Taking time to meditate on what was said.
3. Slow to Wrath—Instead of having a wicked response to the Word of God we better take the time to consider what the Word means in and to our life.
How you react to the Word will determine whether you live a victorious or defeated life!
There is power in prayer
"Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." - Max Lucado
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
So often victory in our life is just a prayer away. Do we recognize the need of prayer? Do we take time to pray before our day begins? Do we pray for our friends and family? It's good to be in the habit of praying and not just over our meals! Before all else fails-- pray!