"We Are Overcomers"
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Welcome to White Marsh Baptist Church. It is Sunday, March 29th. And I pray that all is well. Let me Begin by saying that I I am miss our church family and we missed it the handshakes the hugs and the fellowship but we are thankful to God that we are in the midst of it all that he has given us a way to stay connected in the midst of these circumstances. He's provided us with the website Facebook. And and of course Faith Life of you may be wondering as well as you have certainly been faithful in your giving and things of that nature ways in which you will be able to still continue to support the ministry of White Marsh Baptist Church in the main things in which way you want to do. I'm just serve God in the capacity and when she is called as to what we are certainly working on that. So we are we are asking for your continued prayer and patience as I'll lose your team Works closely together to do all that we can do to serve God as he is called us to you to serve the kingdom of God. So this morning I just want to continue to let you all know that we are here and that we are praying for all of you as well. So I made it like I mentioned some of the ways in which we stay connected is of course throughout website. So I continue to stay connected to us through White Marsh Baptist. Com website. Also through Facebook facebook.com White Marsh Baptist. And also as I mentioned as we continue to move forward will continue to bring you these types of sermons on a Sunday after Sunday until things change with an hour. Movies in around the world dealing with the covid-19 situation. I know some of the things that I hear all the daily basis people are worried and concerned but we know that God is certainly made us a promise and you will keep us and we just going to continue to pray and trust God that the same time look for opportunities to serve as God moves when I heart to do so so we have opportunity to listen to the sermons and then we're also going to look at some other ways maybe Facebook live also look at and maybe start some YouTube videos and things that makes it so we just praying that you all will be patient with us as we move forward. These are certainly Uncharted Territory for us, but we will also do all that we can to be faithful in the ministry that God has called us to amen. So let's get to it song 91. Is our call to worship it says those who live in the shelter of the most high will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord. He alone is my refuge my place of safety. He is my God and I trust him. Amen somebody for he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings is faithful promises are your armor and protection? Do not be afraid of the Terrors of the night nor the arrow that flies by day. Tonight's Red Sox in the darkness Northern disaster that strikes and midday. Do a thousand fall at your side though 10000 are dying around you these evils when not touch you. Just open your eyes and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the Lord your Refuge if you make the most high your shelter. No evil will come for you. No plague will come near your home. But he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go and he will hold you up with their hands. So you won't even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cougars you will crush fears lions and serpents under your feet. The Lord says I will rescue those who love me I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and all of them. I will reward them with a long life. I will give them my salvation. Amen, let us pray father. We thank you for this time that you allow us to come together. We're excited this morning and we just give you a hug and praise and glory and my father we know that all the circumstances that are surrounding us right now may seem difficult and may even seem to be uncertain sometimes but we know God that you are true and that you are faithful and then I'll circumstances that we face never change who you are that you're still seated High when you're mighty strong and that you are in control and when you just hold true to your promises God, we know God that you're faithful and we certainly pray the alarm for those who have been directly as well as in directly impacted by the Kobe Kobe 19 Democrat. We all fixing right now, and we asked Lord that you continue to heal and strengthen and I pray the Lord in Jesus name that through it all father you would draw us all close to you father that we may continue the Lord to experience the great love and mercy and Grace. But you haven't bestowed upon each and everyone of us father. We thank you for your grace and your mercy your love and your compassion in the my name of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, we pray.
This morning. We're going to look at it first John chapter 5 verses 1 through 5 me if you know that that's we were meeting together in church. We have been in the series through the book of 1st John and we fully understand and know that John you see the word love in the encouraging that he certainly gives to all of us in the commands receive from God himself out of us as Believers Brothers and Sisters in Christ who have been washed by the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to to to love one another and also how significant it is for us to realize that is out of the love that God has certainly shown to all of us that we are to love each other in love those around us. The John oftentimes makes a shift. I miss teaching at all throughout their the guy that hates his gospels as well as his mother's as well. You make sure that he brings across its points do to help us to better understand our walk with him in front of us to be faithful in our relationship with Christ. I'll need challenges our son and our walk with God and challenges. I was thinking as well as urges us to follow and obey God to do the people that God has called us to be so this morning in first John chapter 5 will read that this morning and then we'll look at some things that John has to say in some ways when she can encourage us this morning. And so John chapter 5 verses 1 through 5 reads as follows. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. And whoever loves the father loves the child born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and observe his Commandments. For this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the son of God.
This morning. I like to share with you from a title of we are over commerce. We are Overcomers on in the Bible a we know especially the New Testament Believers are called by many names are the names of the Saints record beloved. It called children of God on vagina uses a pretty unique name here in the book of First John chapter 5 he refers to those who have put their face in that trust in Jesus Christ soudabeh a reminder of of who we are the word of encouragement for me at least to remind us that we have victory in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when he calls us Overcomers reminds us that no matter what the circumstances we may say. So what we may go through in life and certainly speak to what we may be facing even now an hour. Add a meeting with John at the different types of circumstances and I World in our country and our communities and all that no matter what we are reminded by God and by John in the scriptures has been reading 1st John chapter 5 that that we are Overcomers on the word Overcomer. I actually comes from the Greek term or word which means of Victorious or to have Victory reason why we have Victory I ultimately it's not because of anything of Our Own Strength. So I own ability, but the fact of who Jesus Christ it's and who is the object of our faith was Jesus Christ, if you remember in the gospels, Jesus said that we should not be anxious or we should not have fear or be so concerned about the things that happen. Worldwide because he overcame the world and because he is an overcomer we also because of our connection was The fact that we are one with him, we are Overcomers as well, but don't also mentioned a few things that I like to point out this morning about Overcomers. I want us to be encouraged this morning as well as we I read the text this morning why is important for us to recognize that we are Overcomers that's some characteristics. I believe that the scripture to point out to us this morning and the first characteristic for the Overcomer tour of the Overcomer. Is that the overcoming DivX exhibits saving faith in Jesus Christ that my brothers and sisters I believe is the first and most important of the mall. You cannot be an overcomer. Bless you. First have a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. The first part of verse 1 says whoever believes that we're believes mean a continuous face a continuous dependency of continuous trust in Jesus Christ believe that Jesus is the Christ and is born of God that you believe Jesus Christ is who he is. He's not just some nice guy who talk nice things or did good things for some people but instead that he is the son of the Living God that he himself is fully God and fully man. You see that makes all the difference in the world and our relationship with him and that if you were in fact as you remember in John chapter 3 when Jesus had a conversation with Nicodemus I had mentioned to him when Nicodemus came to him by night and Jesus simply said to him Except a man be born again. He shall not see nor shall we enter the kingdom of God and other words you have no parts of the Kingdom unless you are born again. She's so I always must be us putting a face and I'll trust in Jesus Christ and believing that he is everything that the scriptures teach about Jesus Christ and the second characteristic for us as as Overcomers is that The Overcomer exhibits love for God as well. As for others John in the same a pistol in there earlier chapters. He mentions the reality show that the importance and significance of us loving one another and how it speaks to our relationship with God. In fact John mentioned to us that if we say that we love God, but yet we hate our brothers or sisters and then we are liars. That's what he calls his liar. She said you can I love God whom you have not seen and yet I hate your brothers and sisters who you see everyday on a daily basis. So I would love for one. Another first and foremost is there isn't is a true sign of the love that we have forgot. So let's look at the second part of verse 1 and whoever loves the father loves God loves the child that is born of him. So those who are believers who have put Face and trust in Jesus Christ, if you remember only I mention that we are called and in the scriptures children of God children of God of those who have been born of God and so we should be loving one another we should be loving how those who have been born of God. It was a children of God. And so if we say that we love God if we have a love for God that we should be loving one another we should look forward to meeting coming together as Brothers and Sisters in Christ Fellowship in with one another we should look forward to serving one another being a part of each other's lives in helping each other encouraging each other building each other up as brothers and sisters. We are a family of God that God himself has put together out of his Sovereign will and his grace and his his mercy so these are two characteristics that we've seen so far. Of of the Overcomer first. Our relationship was Christ the fact that we exhibit saving faith in Jesus Christ and secondly the factory exhibit love for God as well. As for others third one being that the Overcomer exercises obedience to God if you remember in the gospels, Jesus said if you love me, you will obey me. If you love me. You will obey me. You'll do as I say. And so if you look at vs 2 3/8 in by this we know that we love the children of God and we love God and observe his Commandments. For this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments. And then John tells us that his Commandments are not burdensome. My brothers and sisters as children of of of God, we should always I find joy in obeying God you should always find joy and doing the things that God has called us to do we should always find joy in serving God and Nazi obeying have a following his Commandments as being burdensome. Instead we should find joy in a tall. We should appreciate the fact that God has given us new life. And God has has has has planned our lives out for us. We should be seeking the kingdom of God in the Bible tells us first above all things and knowing that God will provide us with everything that we will ever need. Obedience is far more greater than any sacrifice that we can ever make remember. Jesus said that that in the Bible tells even the Old Testament is Jesus quoted from it that listen God requires obedience over sacrifice.
So so the Overcomer should should exercise obedience to God and following his Commandments. And that itself is it true test of our love for him if I could we listen to the fact that we follow him the fact that we do the things that he has called us to do in these Commandments that guy's something given to us as simple and plain. I believe that this song Jesus made it quite clear when the the religious leaders came to him and ask him. What is the greatest commandment and Jesus answered by saying love the Lord thy God with all of your heart and your your mind all these string all of Who You Are You need any says in the second is just as important as this is significant. He says love your neighbor as you love yourself and in these two hang all of the law and price if you love God will do the things that are pleasing to him. When we love others. We love our neighbors as we love ourselves with what we will do the things that are uplifting to our neighbor will do the things that are encouraging Sorenson crazy child. They will think about others even in in more highly than we think of ourselves in the medication will always be willing to serve and to love the way in which God is calling. I don't think my brothers and sisters at those Commandments a burdensome at all. In fact, we did good for us and for our relationship and so I want to encourage us all today to describe two to allow these characteristics of being Overcomers an overcomer really are the believer themselves. We are Overcomers because we are believers and we have put out and I'll trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior.
We have the identity John gives us of the Overcomer free. Look at Verses 4 through 5. This is what it says for whatever is born of God overcomes the world another words, whatever God brings forth. Nothing can overcome instead it overcomes whatever the world system may bring against
And is in this is the victory. What is overcome the world the song with John says John says it is our faith. Bison, who is the one who overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the son of God. So the identity of of the Overcomer John puts it this way. He says
John gives us a clear description of the Overcomers identity. The one who believes that Jesus is the son of God my brothers and sisters. Listen, do you believe that Jesus is the son of God?
When I asked that question one more time, do you believe that Jesus is the son of God if you if the answer to that question is yes, and you are an overcomer. You're an overcomer enough and no matter what you say no matter what I say this and this life no matter what the world brings at us. We are Overcomers. No matter what happens no matter what circumstances come out all the way. None of them can compare.
None of them can compare to the promises in the glory that we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. None of them can change the mind of God in the way in which she looks at us and sees us.
None of them can separate us from the love of God. We know that according to the Book of Romans the Apostle Paul racing and shares with its nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. You are an overcomer. I am an overcomer. Amen.
how
how are we Overcomers throttle face? What's most important is the object of our faith? Who is the object of our faith the Son of God Jesus Christ himself?
Thought about putting faith in yourself. Thought about putting the thief in the night and now they have jobs with an economy that about pregnancies in our own strength and our own ability is about putting faith in the son of the Living God our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ.
It is it is through Jesus Christ that we are Overcomers.
Is a promise that that was given to us in the Book of Revelation chapter 3 verse 21. Jesus says it this way. He says he who overcomes my brothers and sisters. I will grant to him to sit down with me on my Throne as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his throw. If you read the Bible if you stayed about a you know, all that Jesus went through.
You know all the circumstances that he had to face. You know all the ridicule, you know all the pain and all the struggles. You know all the suffering that he had to go through. And yet he writes and says I listen listen I also overcame. How encouraging is that for all of us?
Jesus said I also overcame that in spite of all the circumstances that was unfavorable all of the all of the situations that he may have faced in his life as he walked in this Earth really cure a shame that he was put through.
backstabbing that he had to deal with the suffering that he went through when our behalf
he still overcame.
I said listen, because I overcame. I sat down. with my father Bistro Encourages us today that if that's missing no matter what the circumstances are. No matter what the suffering me seem like around us no matter what we may have to face and go through in this life. If we if we hold on to the reality of the fact that we are Overcomers as he himself is an overcomer.
That we will be granted. Down with him on his throne.
wow, my brothers and sisters What is encouraging promise for us? We are Overcomers This Promise is made to us. We are believers you saw the definition. The definition of it is is those who have faith and believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God if you believe that today, then you are an overcomer and This Promise is for you.
This Promise is made to me. as well
I want to pray.
those of you who may be listening this morning and see if you've never put your faith in your trust in Jesus Christ this morning as you've never accepted Christ as your lord and savior. No Romans tells us about a simple and plain tells us cuz you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.
And believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead. You shall be safe.
Someone playing week when we humble ourselves and come before him and me admit that we are sinners in need of a savior. The fact that we understand that we are not Lord of our own lives, but that Jesus is Lord.
And then when he came into this world, he came to to live out a life to set an example for us, but also said to pay the penalty of all of us and in his take upon himself all about shame and guilt. Pay the price for our sin. I know that God raised him from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Heart Festival without Mouse.
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no matter where How far God we may seem to be?
The blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ cleanses us of all our righteousness.
Father in heaven, we come before your merciful and gracious throw this morning to say thank you God for all that has happened this morning, and we thank you Lord for the words of encouragement from your scriptures. We pray father that you will encourage us to this time father that as we have our lives of Simply slow down from that it would take the time to spend the time that we now have with you that there are no longer be any more excuses for any of us, but that we will open up your word and read and spend time with you in prayer and communion that will enjoy the time that maybe we haven't always had to spend with our families until it's enjoy that time as well to connecting our relationships make phone calls reach out farther stay connected no guy that the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is never limited by four walls of any church or any building.
Father we thank you. That we are the church that we are the body of Christ.
Thank you for your love your compassion Your Grace your mercy and I Want To Praise You Lord in Jesus name for all who are listening in this morning. I asked the Lord for blessing upon them. I ask that you continue to encourage them. I pray for every family that is represented this morning God In The Name of Jesus Lord. We thank you Father and you continue the Lord to give us strength and wisdom and guidance would help us to continue the Lord to broadcast and do some of the things that we need to do father too much. I've left the kingdom of a lot of Great and Mighty God We ask Lord in Jesus name that you helped us to continue to encourage each other in these times and we pray the Lord we praise the Lord for those who are working diligently and hard to find cures and put together things to help us through these These Times Lord in the name of Jesus me you strengthen them. We pray father for First Responders those who are on the front lines and all of this will we lift him up? Doctors nurses we pray for children God in Jesus name. We praise the Lord for educators Lord there. I need some help right now. Got it. Just thank you for that and praise the Lord for military families. You pray for our president government load out all the way from the federal from up top of all the way down here and deal with the local government is well a lot of decisions in the things that I need to be made with. No. I have to deal with job situation. So we lift them up to you father. We know God of this distribution is taking place guide for those struggling right now. We left them out to you father in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We pray that we listen we love you and we thank God for each and every one of you please be encouraged. I want to just say real quick. Thank you for for for all the other than the text in the prayers words of When this is new to all of us and we're going to get through it. God is good. He is faithful see you on the strong. He's in control and he knows exactly what he's doing. God bless each and everyone.