July 2024
Welcome Overcomers! God the Father is the Team Owner of the Overcomers. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Coach. The Holy Spirit is the Quarterback. The Players are the believers and receivers. Are you a member of the Team -- the Household of God? In the apostle John's vision of the new heaven and new earth, He who sat on the throne said:
"He that overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murders, sexually immoral, sorcerers, Idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:7-8, NKJV).
An Overcomer's Response . . .
Steve wrote: "I recently saw an interview with you and learned about your testimony of the moment you accepted Jesus Christ and forgiveness."
"I saw how emotional you became when speaking about forgiveness. After watching it, I felt compelled to write you. I could sense your genuine sincerity when you were talking about Christ and that is the reason I wanted to reach out to you, so that maybe I could have an awesome testimony to share one day. I had no idea about your relationship with Christ or your ministry.
"When I was listening to you explain how you felt the exact moment you received Christ into your life, how wonderful it was and that you couldn't believe it was "free," I must admit I was jealous. That was very inspirational to me! I've been searching my entire life for that feeling you experienced that moment, which has cost me time, money and pain. But as you said, it cost you nothing!
"To this day I'm still searching, so I throw myself into studying the Bible every single day as much as possible. I make notes, highlighting and memorizing passages that I enjoy, but still, I have an emptiness that I can't explain, and even when I pray, it feels like my prayers are getting lost in the air. I do believe there is something behind this life, the afterlife and spirits. I have experienced things that can only be explained using words like "angels", "demons" and "ghosts". It has been running throughout my entire life, possibly quenching or grieving the Holy Spirit.
"After taking your advice, I have made The Christian Toolbox on your website a part of my daily routine. I really appreciate it. It's easy to read, and I'm enjoying it. It gives me an actual "starting point", so this is a good thing for me. It's organized, and I'm not getting discouraged by judgment. Also, my wife and I have made it a habit to talk about Jesus out loud and make it clear that negativity and lingering spirits are not welcome in our home. We're not letting the devil get a foothold (Ephesians 4:27). I've noticed the atmosphere in our home is becoming lighter, with more laughter. We are so thankful for your time and ministry, that has helped us so much. Steve, Raleigh, NC."
Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulations; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, NKJV).
We Overcome the World in Christ . . .
In the beginning, Adam and Eve lost the game of Life to Satan in the Garden by choosing to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, doing their own thing, instead of eating from the Tree of Life as God commanded (Genesis, chapters 2 & 3). Sin entered the world and brought death and separation from God upon all mankind. The god of this world, Satan, reigned for 2000 years through lost souls yielding themselves to his lies, deception and schemes, until Coach Jesus entered the game. He bruised Satan's head as promised, but Satan would bruise Jesus' heel at the cross (Genesis 3:15).
The apostle Paul explained our victory in Christ like this: "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them at the cross" (Colossians 2:13-15, NLT). Jesus took our punishment for sin, freed us from our sin nature, gave us His righteousness and rose from the dead to give us eternal life!
In my correspondence with Steve, I learned that he was allowing demonic activity to freely take place in his home for years. We must realize until Satan and his demons are cast into the bottomless pit and the lake of fire in the end, ". . . every child of God defeats [overcomes] this evil world, and we achieve this victory through faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5, NLT). Are you a believer?
In the early '60s in High School, I was a member of a football team called the Fighting Farmers. I was also the "yell leader" for the Freshman class.
Today I'm proclaiming my victory in Christ, fighting the good fight of faith on God's team, ". . . not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of Truth and the body armor of God's Righteousness. For shoes, put on the Peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all these, hold up the shield of Faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on Salvation as your helmet, and take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all of God's holy people" (Ephesians 6:12-18, NLT). In other words, our Armor is the Truth found in the knowledge of the Good News, that our Righteousness in Christ has brought us Peace through Faith in the blood of Jesus, Who is our Salvation according to the precious promises of God in His Word -- the New Covenant, which we testify of with our mouths.
We Overcome The Flesh By The Spirit . . .
Once born of the Spirit, we receive God's divine nature as new creations. Jesus said: "That which is born of the flesh [natural birth] is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit [Spiritual birth] is spirit . . . You must be born again" (John 3:6-7, NKJV). The Holy Spirit regenerates our fleshly nature from the Fall of man in the Garden. He empowers us to overcome our fleshly desires [thoughts, choices and feelings] that lead to the works of the flesh [actions]. The Holy Spirit is the Quarterback calling the plays sent in from Jesus, the Coach, who defeated the works of the flesh. As Players on God's Team, we overcome the world and the flesh with the sword of the Spirit, speaking the Word of God out loud, praying in the Spirit and praising God for all His wondrous works (Psalm 26:7).
The apostle Paul tells us how to win the game, saying, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit lusts against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fortification, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like, of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in times past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another" (Galatians 5:16-26, NKJV).
The apostle John explains how we have little children, young men and fathers on God's Team. He writes to little children ". . . because your sins are forgiven"; then he writes to young men ". . . because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you overcome the wicked one" and he writes to fathers ". . . because you have known Him who is from the beginning." Then again, he writes: "You are of God, little children and have overcome them [evil spirits] because He who is in you [the Holy Spirit] is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 2:12-14; 4:4, NKJV).
We Overcome The Devil By The Blood . . .
Under the Old Covenant in Exodus 12, the children of Israel applied the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of every household so the death angel would see the blood and pass over their homes without killing the firstborn. Today, we apply the blood of the Lamb [Jesus Christ] throughout the day by meditating and confessing the Blood Scriptures with thanksgiving, praise and worship. Then the anointing released from within our heart, frees us from the world, the flesh and the devil. So now is the time to meditate and confess the Blood Scriptures by faith for an overflow of the Spirit by clicking the links below:
The Blood Of Jesus chart
The Blood Of Jesus brochure
My "How To Overcome The Devil" podcast blurb is as follows: I find that I need to keep reminding myself of how I overcame the Devil. Jesus said: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation [problems]; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, NKJV). Jesus is speaking to His disciples regarding what preceded this verse; that He would be gone but would send the Comforter -- the Holy Spirit. He will, in turn, give them peace. They'd have tribulations, but Jesus tells them [and us] that we'll have peace; peace between you and God the Father and peace between our brothers and sisters in Christ. How? Because Jesus has overcome the world, therefore we have overcome the world.
In Revelation 12:10-11, John records, "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death'" (NKJV). Salvation, strength, the Kingdom and the power, we have received through Jesus Christ. We overcome the "accuser of the brethren" [the Devil], who has been cast down. John wrote: "And when I saw Him [Jesus], I fell at His feet as dead. But He [Jesus] laid His right hand on me, saying to me, 'Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death'" (Revelation 1:17-18, NKJV).
The Spirit makes my victory in Jesus a reality to myself and others through my ongoing testimony of what the Blood of the Lamb [Jesus] has done for me. I've been justified (Romans 5:9), redeemed (Ephesians 1:7), sanctified (Hebrews 13:12), and the blood cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7). I pray this message encourages you to testify the Word out loud about the power of the blood of Jesus. Selah! [Click here for the Abounding Love Podcast].
Jesus Christ is ". . . the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever." I agree: Jesus Christ, ". . .You were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and nation, and have made us us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 1:5b,6; 5:9-10, NKJV).
SEVEN PROMISES TO THE OVERCOMER: Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation, says, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation, chapter 2 & 3, NKJV).
The Loveless Church: "To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (2:7).
The Persecuted Church: "He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death" (2:11).
The Compromising Church: "To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it" (2:17).
The Corrupt Church: "And he who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations -- 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron, they shall be dashed to pie ces like the potter's vessels' -- as I also have received from my Father; and I will give him the morning star" (2:26-28).
The Dead Church: "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (3:5).
The Faithful Church: "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name" (3:12).
The Lukewarm Church: "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (3:21-22).
WE WIN! These promises are ". . .the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1) in the new heaven and new earth, when we as ". . .Overcomers shall inherit all things, and I [Jesus] will be his God and he shall be My son" (Revelation 21:7, NKJV). Are you an Overcomer on God's team?
A Prayer For You . . .
"After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principalities and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under his feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all . . . to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him" (Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:10-12, NKJV). Amen!
START NOW! "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled" (2 Corinthians 10:3-6, NKJV).