How Can I Overcome in 2023?
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21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Introduction
Introduction
Bro. Alan Sunday at 1:30
Bro. Wendall’s meetings 2 weeks
All of us make mistakes.
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Quotes
There is one redeeming thing about a mistake. It proves that somebody stopped talking long enough at least to do something. - Book of Lists, 1980
I’d rather try and fail then fail to try.
We make mistakes because we are human, but we are washed from our mistakes by the water of the Word.
But when we come here, we are here for one specific purpose. This is the house of correction. This is the throne. This is the throne of God, and judgment goes forth from the house of God.
The Holy Ghost is among us. And we’re here to take reckoning among us, to see where our short places are, our shortcoming, and how can we catch from where we should be, over to where we ought to be now; where we are, and where we ought to be.
And that’s what we study. Ministers study those places, for their people. When they see the people, the lack, then they begin on that. 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
What are we overcoming in 2023?
I typed “How Can I Overcome” in Google and these are the suggestions that come up based on the most common searches in our location:
(Show Slide)
Depression
Anxiety
Social Anxiety
Fear
Jealousy
Procrastination
Loneliness
Lust
Stress
My Anxiety
These are things we all deal with at some point in our lives.
What are some other things we fight in 2023?
Religious deception
Bad attitudes influenced by and expressed on social media.
Soft living which makes us unwilling to resist the devil because of difficulty.
Overstimulation by entertainment resulting in boredom which leads to infidelity or sexual sin.
A casual attitude towards the things of God.
You say, “but Bro. Ben, I have the Holy Ghost”. Wonderful, now you are empowered to overcome.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Bro. Branham was asked the question: Is it possible for a Holy Ghost filled person to be influenced to do minor things that he doesn’t want to do?
You’re right in the place then to be drove by these things. You just put yourself up a target. 61-1015M - "Questions And Answers"
4 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.
How do we overcome in 2023? The same way they did 60 years ago, the same way God’s people have always overcome.
No. 1: Keep Life in You
No. 1: Keep Life in You
(Log in the water)
Overcome, keep Life in you. When life went out, that’s what brought that log to that condition. See? And it made it worse than ever when it laid in the branch where the water was.
(You need to be more than a church attender)
And then, there, you take a Christian, that’s supposed to be a Christian, let the Life of God go from him, and the experience, the joy of serving Christ; and, living in a church where such is going on, he rottens twice as quick, right, living right under.
So, if we are trying to follow the Message of the hour, or at least this part of the Message, we should live constantly in the Life of Christ.
Cause, if it don’t, you lay around, and know that these things that you’re supposed to do, and don’t do it, the Bible said, “He that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it’s sin.”
Then you become doty, rotten, when you’re separated from the Life of God. So, strive with all that’s in you, to stay in the Life of Christ, that you would be fruit-bearing. 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Stay in the race! If you don’t have the joy you did have, the peace you did have, the zeal you did have, do something about it! What can I do? Go back where you left it.
No. 2: Get in the Ark
No. 2: Get in the Ark
Now, think hard now. If you are laying around, getting doty, get in. Hurry, quick, ’cause the door might close at any time.
And there’s always been an ark in God’s economy. There was an ark in the days of Noah, for the saving of His people. There was an ark in the days of the law, ark of testimony. In the days of the law, they followed the ark.
And there is a third dispensation now; like Noah’s time, Lot’s time, and now this time. There is an ark now. And that ark is not a denomination, neither is it a good works that you do.
It’s “by one Spirit,” Romans 8:1, “we are all baptized into one Body, in the domain of that Kingdom, one Spiritual baptism.” No matter how good, how bad, whatever, you’re in that Kingdom by Holy Ghost baptism.
That’s the only way you overcome. It’s all that is under the shed Blood is overcomers, ’cause you cannot overcome, yourself. It’s He that overcome for you. You’re resting.
“How will I know then, Brother Branham, that I’m in There?” Watch what kind of a life you’re living. Just look around. See if it’s just lived out of you, automatically. Or, do you have to strain and pull, see, then you’re doing it. But don’t try to do it. 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
Example: Baby putting on a coat.
Now, don’t struggle. “Not him that willeth, or him that runneth, but God.” Just let God. Just yield yourself to Him and walk on, with a perfect, satisfied faith, that, “What God has promised He is able to perform.”
Not joining one denomination, another denomination, running this, that, or the other, trying this. Just yield yourself to God, and walk with Him, peaceful, quiet, not interrupted. Just keep on walking with Him. 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
No. 3: Expect to be Tested
No. 3: Expect to be Tested
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Now, we’re expected to be tested. “He that cometh to God must first be tested.” Tested (what?) with the Word. That’s God’s test. Do you believe it? “He that cometh to God must be tested.”
That only shows a true child, then, see, be tested. …You can’t overcome ’less there’s a test give to you. And when test is given, it’s to see whether you can overcome or not.
And Jesus said, “To him that overcometh,” the test. The test is the greatest thing that ever happened to you.
It’s a testing time. It’s one good evidence to us that God is with us, when we’re tested, for all children of God are tested and tried. 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
No. 4: Don’t Look Back
No. 4: Don’t Look Back
(Bro. Branham talks about people leaving creeds to follow the revealed truth)
Well, Lot’s wife did the same thing, you know. She set out, to go with Lot, follow her husband, her children, her loved ones, but It wasn’t in her heart. She still loved the world. So it’s possible you can make a start, and still be the world in you.
She never overcome. And even though she was well on the road, it finally overthrowed her. She had to take that one big, long, last look. There’s where she got caught.
Don’t even look back. Don’t have no desires. Keep going. Put your mind on Calvary and keep moving towards Christ. 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
“Not he that starts; he that finishes.” Many start the race, but there’s One finishing it. There’ll be many churches start, many groups of people. There’ll be one Group finish. That’s the overcomers. 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
No. 5: Be like Reverend Mr. Lily
No. 5: Be like Reverend Mr. Lily
That’s the overcomer. He overcome the mud. He overcome the things of the world. And now he freely gives hisself out. Everybody can look at him. His life, you can’t put a finger on it.
He’s a real overcomer. You can’t say nothing about him now. Say, “He come out of the mud.” But he’s not in the mud now. He’s on top of it. Amen. You can’t, then, point back what he was. What is he now? He’s on top.
Then the bee comes by and say, “That’s wonderful perfume. I believe I’ll go and get my part.” He just opens up his heart, “Come on now. All right.”
Everything takes from him. See? He’s a real pastor. He expresses the Glory of God. And look where he come from. He had to overcome, to do that.
One time, he or she was young and fair, beautiful. They had a lot of temptations to go through, but they overcome that. They overcome. Now they’re expressing the real beauty of Christ in their life. Notice, expressing, through the mud. 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
(Young people and young couples)
We overcome this mud of our flesh by humility.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
No. 6: Recognize the Devil in Every One of His Tricks
No. 6: Recognize the Devil in Every One of His Tricks
Lot of people says, “There is no devil. It’s just a thought.” Don’t you believe that. There’s a real devil. He’s just as real as you are or anybody. A real devil, and you must recognize him real. You must know he’s a devil.
Then, the same time that you recognize him, and know that he’s a devil and he’s against you, then, to overcome, you must recognize that the God in you is greater and mightier than he is, that the One that’s in you has already overcome him. And, by His grace, you are more than a match for him.
You look back, say, “I’m doing this and I’m doing that,” then, no, you’re defeated. “But there’s no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, that walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Then you realize that you’ve overcome.
And you know that he is a devil. You can’t say, “I got a sickness, and I don’t believe it is a sickness.” Oh, yes, it is a sickness. You got cancer, you “don’t believe it is a cancer.” It is a cancer. It is a cancer.
But, remember, “Greater is He that’s in you than he that’s in the world.” You must realize that the Holy Spirit that’s in you has already overcome this thing. And He’s in you, and you can overcome by Him. 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
The weakest light overpowers the greatest darkness. Light particles swallow up the darkness which previously exists.
That’s the One that’s in you, is Light. And the one that’s in the world is darkness. So, the Light has proved to overcome the darkness, and the man that’s in Christ and knows that he’s overcome the things of the world.
It has no more ties to you, at all. You’re free. “Walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, and we have fellowship one with another.” 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
7. Don’t Listen to the Devil’s Proposition
7. Don’t Listen to the Devil’s Proposition
Sometime Satan can take you, and when you think that you’re doing the will of God, and can make you a proposition, you’ll fall for it.
Now let’s just take, for instance, like our sisters. They’re pretty. And he can get you to a place, that, you let your hair grow out, you didn’t realize it looked so nice on you, and, the first thing you know, you get kind of feeling a little stuck-up, little above something else.
Some of you men, you know what I mean. See? And he can take that same thing and proposition it with you. That’s right. See. You got to overcome that.
Just remember, you’re living for God. You have one objective, and that’s Jesus Christ. Outside of that, there’s nothing else counts. That’s Him. Then, secondly, for your family. Then, thirdly, for yourself.
But, first, for God; next, for your family; and next, for you. You’re number three; that’s the end of the road. Put yourself last; He did. 63-0825M - "How Can I Overcome?"
To overcome we need to take these things seriously.
Example: Cigarette Smoker
Lets be rugged Christians, and fight to live in this land where all the promises lay.
A soldier who is not confident in his weapons or support will hesitate when he sees the enemy. Lets be confident when we face our enemy! If we see something wrong, get rid of it!
Conclusion.
Conclusion.
You are overcomers! All that are in Christ are overcomers. The Old Testament saints raised with Him, the New Testament Saints are risen with Him.
Isaac Watts wrote:
Must I be carried to the skies
On flow’ry beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
By faith’s discerning eye.
When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine
In robes of vict’ry through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.
Sing “Keep on the Firing Line”
