Life can be difficult and filled with troubles and sorrows and severe trials. But you do not need to become depressed and to feel absolutely like everything is hopeless. I have been there, done that in the past. But since I have been born again, I am filled with hope and faith and much love and gratitude towards our awesome Creator and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Our main obstacle is the devil and his schemes and temptations, as well as the lure of the world and its sinful pleasures and enticements. You cannot have one foot in the Christian church and the other foot slipping into the ways of the world. God wants us to be holy and pure.
"But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:15-16
To be holy is to be set apart.....set apart from sin and impurity and set apart to God.
The Bible has much to say about being an overcomer, especially in the book of Revelation. The word of the Lord given to the apostle John for the 7 churches has mentioned to each church about overcoming. (Revelation chapters 2 and 3). But first let's consider other Scriptures about being victorious and being an overcomer.
1 John 5:4-5 tells us, (4) "For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"
Notice that verse 4 above says that those who are born of God (born again) overcome the world. If you are truly born again then the Holy Spirit indwells you and enables you to have strength to resist worldly lusts and temptations. You will want to be obedient to God. Notice also that our victory comes from our faith.
In verse 5 of 1 John 5 it informs us that only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God can truly overcome the world. Only those who continue to live by faith, and those who trust and obey God will be able to overcome.
Notice that verse 4 above says that those who are born of God (born again) overcome the world. If you are truly born again then the Holy Spirit indwells you and enables you to have strength to resist worldly lusts and temptations. You will want to be obedient to God. Notice also that our victory comes from our faith.
In verse 5 of 1 John 5 it informs us that only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God can truly overcome the world. Only those who continue to live by faith, and those who trust and obey God will be able to overcome.
To be a conqueror is to be victorious and to be an overcomer. Consider Romans 8:37-39:
(37) "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
As believers, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). If you are truly born again, nothing can separate you from the love of God. You have, with the Holy Spirit's help, the power to overcome anything, even the attacks of the devil. Also, overcomers are all those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Stay strong in the faith.
Keep looking up! Keep watching !
Have a Christ centered weekend... and life !
(37) "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
As believers, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). If you are truly born again, nothing can separate you from the love of God. You have, with the Holy Spirit's help, the power to overcome anything, even the attacks of the devil. Also, overcomers are all those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Stay strong in the faith.
I had intended to dwell primarily on the verses in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 that deal with the rewards given to those who overcome. The Lord must have had other plans. To go into detail will no doubt require another post another time. For now I will only briefly mention what those rewards are.
Overcomers will be blessed to eat of the tree of life (Revelation 2:7) ; they will not be hurt by the second death (Revelation 2:11); they will eat of the hidden manna and be given a white stone with a new name written on it (Revelation 2:17); they will be given power over the nations (Revelation 2:26); they will be clothed in white garments and their name will not be blotted out of the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5) ; they will be made pillars in the Temple of God and new Jerusalem's name and the name of God will be written upon them (Revelation 3:12); and overcomers will sit with the Lord on His throne (Revelation 3:21).
The most wonderful reward of all is being with the Lord forever in heaven, worshiping Him in an atmosphere of total love and adoration. Our finite minds cannot begin to comprehend the glory of the Lord and of heaven. It is so awesome to think about it.
But if you are not a born again believer - not saved - then you do not have the wonderful hope of eternal life in heaven. You know what the alternative is........torment in hell forever.
Choose life !
Choose Jesus !
Go to the Lord and ask for forgiveness of your sins; be truly repentant and by that turn away from a life of sin; confess your sins and have a true and sincere belief that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is the Savior of the world.....to all who come to him in faith and belief.
Salvation is not a mere head decision to believe in Jesus; it is a change of heart, a contrite heart that wants to be right with the Lord. Only God can take a heart of stone and turn it into a heart of flesh; one that will totally surrender all to Jesus.
We are living in the last hour of the last days. Jesus could return at any time; it is that imminent.
Don't delay!
Jesus loves you and will welcome you with arms wide open to embrace you in forgiveness.
Romans 10: 9, 10, 13 tells us: (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." - John 14:6
Keep looking up! Keep watching !
Have a Christ centered weekend... and life !
