Abundant Grace Fellowship
The Power To Overcome, Parts 1 -3
Power To Overcome, Part 1
By Pastor J.D. Link
Abundant
Too many Christians are down cast. Too many children of God have victim mentalities. Too many believers have a mind set of defeat; of being conquered; a poverty spirit. This is a sad state of affairs, indeed. No doubt Satan has a good belly laugh when Christians think that they’re powerless victims; and even more, so when Christians think that it is God who wants them that way. Satan is a liar, and the father of lies (Jn 8:44); so he’s good at it. If you are not firmly rooted in The Word of God, you are a good candidate for being deceived. You must know the Truth, and this means you must abide in God’s Word (Jn 8:31-32).
In contrast, our Father in heaven must surely mourn, for “Ye shall receive power, when the Holy Ghost has come upon you” (Act 1:8). Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power (Act 10:38), and we have this anointing from Him (1Jn 2:27). God has given us the spirit of power (2Tim 1:7). This Greek word for power is Dunamis, which means “miraculous force or power”. According to HIS divine power, we’ve been given all things that pertain unto life and Godliness” (2Pt 1:3). God has given us the full measure. We have more than enough. We can do all things through Christ Jesus.
We must acknowledge this power that works in us. The power that raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in us (Rom 8:11). We must know this. “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection…” (Php 3:10). The Apostle Paul prayed that the Ephesian church would understand this power (Eph 1:17-23). God can do tremendously awesome things according to the power that works in us (Eph 3:20)!
“How can I get this dunamis - this supernatural power?” Just ask your Father in heaven (Lk 11:13). It is a free gift, available to all who will believe God for it (Acts 2:38, 10:45). It is the power of God to live the overcoming life. It is the power of God to fulfill the purposes and plans of Jesus Christ for your life. Jesus demonstrated the divine order for us. He was water baptized to fulfill all righteousness (He is our example). Then, the Holy Ghost descended upon Him in the form of a dove. At this point, He began His preaching ministry - with signs and wonders following. His first miracle was turning the water into wine in John 2 (although some un-inspired writings have Him doing crazy “miracles” as a child in
The Divine order has been laid out (Acts 2:38-39). The Gospel must be preached/taught (Mt 28:20, Rom 10:14). The hearer must repent, believe, and call on Jesus' Name (Act 3:19, Rom 10:9-10, 13). The person must then be water baptized (Mt 28:19, Mk 16:16, Act 8:12, 36-38, 9:18, 10:47, 19:5). The person is then baptized in the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:15-17, 19:6). In Acts 9:17 & 10:44-46, the Holy Ghost baptism took place before water baptism, but neither one ever comes before repenting and believing on the Name of Jesus.
God’s directions, or commandments, are not suggestions. God rewards obedience. God disciplines disobedience. “But I don’t feel like doing what God's Word says.” God didn’t ask you how you felt. If God says to do something, then you do it. It amazes me how many Christians don’t want to obey God’s Word and way of doing things, yet they expect God to bless them anyway. The truth is, you’re already blessed in Christ; but your not going to see them come to pass in your life until you do what God says. I’m not going to bless my child for disobedience. I still love them and care for them, but I will not reward them. They will be rewarded for obedience. Rebellion is witchcraft; stubbornness is iniquity and idolatry (1Sam 15:23). There is no difference. A rebellious, stubborn person is no different in God’s eyes than a person who practices witchcraft, worships idols, and is full of iniquity. Do you want to be an overcomer? Do what God says. It’s just that simple. Until next time, rejoice in The Lord! Next Week: Pt 2
The Power To Overcome Part 2
By Pastor J.D. Link
Abundant
Last week, we began talking about God’s power to overcome. We discussed the fact that we need to know the power of God, and walk in the power of God. God said His people are destroyed for “lack of knowledge” (Hos 4:6). If we reject God’s knowledge, we will be rejected. However, this is easy to remedy. Find a quiet place and sit down: You, The Holy Bible, and The Holy Spirit. Open your heart and your mind. Read The Word; pray over It; meditate on It; believe It. Let The Word and The Holy Spirit teach you. We talked about God’s Divine order laid out in Acts 2:38-39, and about being obedient to His Word. Let us continue on this theme.
As we saw last week, rebellion is witchcraft and stubbornness is idolatry and iniquity. God sees them in the same category, although we often don’t. While we may shun witchcraft (horoscopes, tarot cards, Harry Potter, voodoo, etc.) as an evil thing; often, we don’t feel as strongly about rebellion towards God’s Word. Although we would never think of worshiping an idol; yet we don’t see stubbornness towards the things of God as being all that big of deal. God does. Don’t call Him Lord, unless you do what He says (Lk 6:46). Don’t draw near to God with your mouth, and be far away in your heart (Mt 15:8). You were initially saved trough faith, in obeying the Truth; and you stay saved through faith, in obeying the Truth (Gal 3:1-3, 1Pt 1:22).
God has blessed us already through Jesus Christ; but you cannot appropriate that blessing until you do what God says. Obedience opens the door to God’s blessing. For instance, Jesus is not going to die for you when you repent. He already died for you. Your sins are already potentially forgiven. However, His death will not benefit you in any way until you obey God’s Word concerning how to be saved. Until you acknowledge you are a sinner, and not right with God; repent (turn from your own way, and go God‘s way); believe in your heart Jesus died for your sins and God raised Him from the dead; and confess with your mouth that He is Lord: you will not be saved. This is The Word of The Lord.
This applies to all of God’s wonderful blessings. They are already available to you through Jesus Christ; you cannot work for them. Yet, you must obey in order to receive them. Obedience is the key that unlocks the door. Let’s look at financial blessing. God says He will multiply the seed that you sow. According to how you sow, it will determine what you reap (2Cor 9:6-10). Well, if you sow nothing; then nothing will you reap. Don’t blame God, that’s just a law of the kingdom. If you don’t like your harvest, change what you’re sowing. It’s just that simple.
Some people have it all backwards. They look at other people and say, “Well, if I had what they have, I’d be a giver, too.” Well, did you ever think, that the reason they have it to give is because they are givers? No, it’s easier to sit back and complain that the people that have it to give just “got lucky”, and you didn’t. The same is true for people with a good attitude. Some think, “Well, if I had their life, I’d be happy, too.” Well, did you ever stop to think, that the reason they have the life they do, is because it’s what they decided to have? It’s what they confessed with their mouth? It’s what they believed in their heart? It’s what they determined? No, it’s easier to play the victim, and just believe God doesn’t want to bless you: They’re special, and you’re not. Lies! Lies! Lies! Get off your pity pot, and decide you’re going to go with God’s Word!
Do you want God’s best? Do you want God’s perfect will to come to pass in your life? Do want to be an overcomer? Get into God’s Word, and do what He tells you to do! Quit making lame excuses why you can’t! You can, if you purpose in your heart to do it! Quit messing around with the things of God! Get serious! Get your act together! And watch what God does in you and through you! Dare to believe! Until next time, rejoice in the Lord! Next week: Pt. 3
The Power To Overcome Part 3
By Pastor J.D. Link
Abundant
Over the last couple of weeks, we have been discussing the different principles in the Bible that equip us to live the overcoming life. Knowing and understanding these principles will enable us to live the victorious life that Christ died to give us. Jesus did come to destroy the works of the devil (1Jn 3:8); and that’s exactly what He did (
So far we’ve covered: 1. The necessity of knowing God’s power (Phi 3:10) 2. The necessity of receiving God’s power (Act 1:8) 3. The benefits of praying in the Spirit (Jude 20) 4. The necessity of obedience (1Sam 15:22-23). Today we’re going to look at the last two in this series, which are: 5. The necessity of prudence and 6. The necessity of faith.
If you want to be an overcomer, you must be prudent. Prudent means intelligent and wise. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord (Ps. 111:10). A prudent man deals with knowledge (Prv 13:16); he wants to understand his way (Prv 14:8); he looks well to his going (Prv 14:15); he regards correction (Prv 15:5). A prudent man gets knowledge (Prv 18:15); he foresees evil, and hides himself from it (Prv 22:3). You can’t live the life of a fool, and expect to reap the life of a wise man. If you want to play the fool, then you’ll receive the fool’s reward. If you want to reap the benefits enjoyed by a wise man, then you must sow what a wise man sows.
A Christian who lives a foolish life and does foolish things; shouldn’t be surprised when it comes back to bite them. If you planted corn, would you be shocked if you reaped corn? Of course not. Then why are you shocked when you reap trouble for all the foolishness you’ve planted? For instance, if you want to sow being a drunk; then don’t be shocked when you reap: alcohol related health problems; having a hard time keeping a job; you’re marriage falling apart; your kids not wanting to be around you; and generally making a fool out of yourself. That’s the harvest you get. It isn’t God’s fault, nor is it the devil’s. I should know- I lived that way for a long time, and it was my own choice. But, as the late Waylon Jennings sang, “I got sick and tired of always waking up sick and tired.” Through the power of Jesus Christ, I got delivered from the bondage of alcohol. Hallelujah, thank you Lord Jesus!
Last, but not least, you must have faith to be an overcomer. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith (1Jn 5:4). We must have child-like faith in God’s Word; this is not an option (Mt 18:4, Lk 18:17). You won’t receive from God any other way. Without faith, you will not please Him (Heb 11:6). That’s why Jesus said, “Only believe!” (Mk 5:36), as well as, “Have faith in God!” (Mk 11:22). Faith is important to God. That’s why Jesus said, “When The Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Lk 18:8).
There are two times Jesus marveled in the Gospels. Once for great faith, another for great unbelief (Mt 8:10 & Mk 6:6). I don’t want Jesus to marvel at my unbelief. Overcomers believe. Overcomers have faith. Overcomers exalt God’s Word above the problem. Jesus said it is done unto us, according to our faith. Not His faith- our faith (Mt 9:22, 29, 15:28, Mk 10:52, Lk 7:50, 17:19). We often ask, “God, can you do such and such?”. However, God is more just in asking, “Can you believe me for such and such?”. We shouldn’t be questioning God’s willingness or ability to answer; but rather, our willingness and ability to believe. Only believe!
I pray you have been blessed and challenged by this series, and until next time, rejoice in the Lord! (Phil 4:4)