Be an Overcomer
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· 5 viewsWe become overcomers through prayer, promises, patience, praise and purpose.
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Revelation 3:21 (CSB)
“To the one who conquers (overcomes) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
in the 2019 movie starring Pricilla Shirer “Overcomer” High school basketball coach John Harrison and his team face an uncertain future when their town's largest manufacturing plant shuts down unexpectedly. As hundreds of people move away, John reluctantly agrees to coach cross-country, a sport he doesn't even like. His outlook soon changes when he meets Hannah Scott, an unlikely runner who pushes herself to the limit. Inspired by the words and prayers of a new friend, John starts to train Hannah for the biggest race of her young life.
This morning I want one message to ring clear in your mind and in your heart -
YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER!
An overcomer in your workplace
An overcomer in your home
An overcomer in your addictions, your battles, your burdens, your struggles - Whatever is standing in your way to victory today - YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER through Christ Jesus.
How do I know this ? Because as a believer you are walking around with the power of God within you and it’s time you tapped into it and realized the strength and power God has given you.
Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you.
Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—
Today let’s look at practical ways to not only BE an overcomer -BUT- how to remain an overcomer.
Overcome with Prayer.
Overcome with Prayer.
I am going to safely assume that if you have attended FBCP for any length of time you already know how I feel about prayer. Prayer is vital to a growing walk with Christ, and it is vital in the church. (old bracelets - PUSH - pray until something happens & FROG - fully relying on God.)
James 5:16 (NKJV)
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
A. All of our victories begin with prayer.
Elisha prayed/called on God and fire fell from heaven
Daniel prayed in the face of conflict
Jesus prayed and Jesus taught how how to pray - Our father…
B. All of our testings and troubles can be taken to God in prayer. We overcome through prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (CSB)
pray constantly,
Stand on God’s Promises.
Stand on God’s Promises.
By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Salvation, Understanding Of
I don’t understand electricity, but I’m no fool—I’m not going to sit around in the dark till I do. I don’t understand the thermodynamics of internal combustion and the hydraulics of an automatic transmission either, but I’m no fool—I’m not going to stay in one place until I do. The truth is that I don’t understand a great deal of the things that are part of my everyday life, but I make them a part of my life anyway.
The same is true of salvation. No one will fully understand how God could become man, how he could die, how his death could be the basis for our forgiveness, how he could give you and me a new life, and all of the other aspects of salvation. But only a fool would ignore such a great opportunity just because he didn’t understand it
A. God’s promises are given for our salvation.
That all can know the saving grace and mercy of God. (eph. 10:13)
B. The promises are given for our learning.
Through them we find God’s will, instruction, and guidance.
I’ve heard some people say - “I wish God would speak to me, I wish I knew what God wants me to do, I really want to know the will of God, I just wish I could hear from God - the truth is - we possess the heart of God within the pages of the Bible, God’s word. He is speaking through the passages and revealing Himself to us as we study and read His Holy Word. If you want to hear God speak - Read His Word. He is speaking!
Overcome with Endurance.
Overcome with Endurance.
And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
endurance - the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.
I ran track in school, I still enjoy WATCHING track events. I was a sprinter - a short distance, as fast as I could go and the race was over. Not much endurance required, just speed. Jamie on the other hand runs long distances; in fact she has a marathon coming up in January. A marathon takes endurance, patience, and planning. Running 10-15-20-30 miles at a time - She goes for the distance and I cheer her on. Life is a marathon - it is not a sprint. We must endure to the end, we have the power and ability through Christ. Another thing - Just like I cheer for Jamie - We need to cheer for one another as well. Life is rough enough. Cheer for each other.
The word endurance in this passage literally means - patience. “Let patience have its full effect”
A. Most of us lack patience / endurance.
God sometimes allows trials and troubles to come our way to increase our patience (endurance)
B. We learn patience / endurance by waiting on the Lord.
(They that wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings as eagles, they will run and not get weary, walk and not faint Isa. 40:31)
An oak tree takes time. Starting from an acorn and weathering many storms along the way to becoming the strong trees that we often see in God’s creation. Learning patience and endurance takes time - BUT we are overcomers! We do what it takes to OVERCOME!
Praise God.
Praise God.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!
A. God desires our praise - for everything.
give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Kids are a great example of this. I have watched kids at the playground climb to the top of the slide, sit down, and hurl themselves down the sliding board. I have watch them hit mud, trip and fall over, and all sorts of things - no matter what - they get up, most of the time laugh, and head right back up to the top to do it again. They are just thankful to be outside playing.
Likewise - we must develop an attitude of praise and thanks no matter our situation.
A heart that says - as long as I live I will praise the Lord. (no matter what, no matter who is around me, not matter where I am standing in the church building, no matter what - I am going to give God the praise the He alone deserves (if you can get loud over sports and not Jesus - something is wrong with your praise(r)
B. God hears our Praise.
Our praise often moves that arm of God when nothing else can. and it enables us to OVERCOME.
(paul and silas - Acts 16:24-25)
Wrongly Arrested - in jail - chained to the wall - facing death - but in the midnight hour (the darkest part) they began to sing and pray!
God heard the praise and shook the jail - people got saved as they praised through their own problems.
We become OVERCOMES when we praise God even in circumstances that we do not understand.
Promote His Purpose & Kingdom.
Promote His Purpose & Kingdom.
This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A. We promote God’s Kingdom and purpose when we witness to the lost and seek to bring them to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.
We are called to work - to be missionaries right where we are. Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
If there you have never accepted Christ as you savior - never recall a time in your life that you called on the Lord for salvation - I ask that you listen closely to me. God loves you, and He wants you to come to repentance and call on the name of the Lord and be saved. Saved for sin leading to eternal life in hell, apart from God - a place of suffering. Romans in the bible tells us that we have all sinned and displeased God, and that we have earned death (hell) for sinning against God BUT that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord and this eternal life is in Heaven in the presence of God. No matter what you have faced in life, there is not one sin that you could have ever committed that God is not ready to forgive. Romans 10:13 says - that anyone (you, those around you, me) that calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. There is salvation in none other - Jesus only. Jesus said: I am the way - I am the truth - I am the life.
I ask that if you need to make this decision today - that in just a moment you step out of your seat and come speak to one of our pastors or deacons - do it today, tomorrow may not come, and it may be too late - we are not promises another day.
B. We promote God’s Kingdom when we faithfully serve Him with our time, talent, and treasure.
He is worthy of it all.
We OVERCOME by working for God. Saved people Serve.
Again, in the movie OVERCOMER - Hannah Scott said this and it needs to be something that each of us remember every single day.
Hannah Scott : “I am created by God. He designed me. So I'm not a mistake. His Son died for me, just so I could be forgiven.” “Overcomer”
Because of this each of us are and can be OVERCOMERS.
