Arise And Overcome

“An overcomer is not one who does not fall, but one who refuses to stay down when he does.”

  

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

My enemies, don’t be glad because of my troubles! I may have fallen, but I will get up;
I may be sitting in the dark, but the Lord is my light.

                                                                                                                                                                     Micah 7:8 (CEV)

We have all heard the expression, “Everyone makes mistakes.” It’s true. When we allow our flesh to guide our choices, we can make wrong decisions. But as Christians, we are more than just natural human beings. Through Christ, we have been made new and created in the image of God.

We are spirit, soul, and body. This means we do not have to be controlled by our flesh or by the mistakes of our past. We can choose to follow the leading of our spirit—the part of us that has been made alive unto God.

When we make a wrong decision, we can turn to God for help, learn from His Word, and allow His instructions to guide us forward. Our past does not have to determine our future. We do not have to remain in bondage to yesterday’s failures.

We can arise, learn, grow, and move forward. We can choose to walk in the freedom and victory that Jesus has already purchased for us.

Victory Decision

I will no longer allow my mistakes to hold me back. I will rise above them, learn from them, and move forward in victory.

That You May Prosper

3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health…”

I believe God’s desire to prosper his children is part of the full gospel. “Oh, you must be one of those prosperity preachers and I just don’t believe in that.” My guess is that you do. You want every dime you can get your hand on. Did you give your paycheck back this week because you didn’t feel you deserved it? I doubt it, because everybody is after prosperity. Everybody wants to pay their bills, make their mortgage payment on time, live in dignity, put shoes and clothing on their children and send them back to school. The ability to do those things is called prosperity.

“Beloved I would that you prosper and be in health…” This verse goes on to say, “…even as your soul prospers.” Bob Nichols has never, preached material prosperity over spiritual prosperity, we have preached this thing in balance. But I hate poverty, I hate sickness and the works of the devil. We are here declaring that if you are poor, hang around, you are going to pull out of that. If you are sick, hang around, you are going to get well. If your home is in trouble, stay around a little while and God is going to restore harmony in your home. That’s what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about, the assurance that God is going to turn it around.

A man came to me one day and said, “I served time in jail and when I got out I came to this church and asked Jesus into my heart.” He was coming to tell me that for the first time in his life he paid a $300.00 tithe. He said he had never been able to do anything like that before he came to Jesus. And he said the blessings just continued to flow. He had a church family that loved him, a place that welcomed him and make him feel like he had worth. Not only that, God had given him a beautiful home for half the price. This may not have happened to you yet but it will. Just hold steady and keep on believing, keep on giving, keep on praying, keep the switch of faith turned on and God will turn it around for you.

Self-defeating Self-image

“God sees more in you than you see in yourself.” 

12And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. 16And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

Judges 6:12-16

In this passage of scripture the writer reminds us that there is one qualification for victory – that God be with us. As long as we are looking at our own shortcomings we will not be able to focus on the victory that God has waiting for us. Don’t feel qualified or deserving of the miracle? Well, in the natural you may not be. But God doesn’t look on your natural qualifications or what you may have done in the past. God always sees you in Christ. He sees you through the blood of Jesus. He sees you victorious in the things He sends you to do and so should you!

And besides that we are supposed to see ourselves in Christ. He is the image we are supposed to be looking at. It’s never been about me and what I have done. It has always been about what God has done for me and who He has made me to be. Self defeat is a trap of the enemy. It always starts in our thoughts. It is a sneaky way to keep us living on a lower level. Basically anything that starts with “self” is born out of the flesh. It’s now about us, it’s about God!

 Victory Decision

A low self-image is a distorted form of pride and is self-defeating. I will get into God’s Word and begin to see myself the way God does and act accordingly.

Feelings Follow Action

“Love is a decision, not an emotion.”

 37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

Acts 15:37-39

 The walk that God designed for us to have is one of faith. Not feelings.

1 John 4:8

The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

When you choose feelings of bitterness over love you are choosing the circumstances over God. What moves you? Is it your feelings? Is it the events of your past? Or is it your heart desire to be more like God? Well, God is love.

Is it easy to love? Not always! Some people are easier than others to walk in love with. However, that is their problem, not yours. Difficult people are missing the most important thing, love. They are missing out on relationships. Your responsibility is to do what GOD said to do.

Galatians 5:13 (Practice Love)

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.

You think, well okay, I have to walk in love. (Big sigh!) No you get to. You get to act like Jesus. Have those people you are having a problem with beat you until your face is unrecognizable? Have they nailed you to a cross? That is what they did to Jesus. But what did he say? Father forgive them. It was the ultimate display of love.

Sometimes we have to draw boundaries so that people don’t bring harm into our lives. That’s okay. Sometimes people quit talking to us or separate themselves from us. So how do you love a person like that? You pray for them. You pray the Word of God over them. You ask God to let you see them the way He sees them. The way He saw you when you were most unlovable. It will change your heart. And soon, the feelings of love will follow the action of prayer.

Victory Decision

As time went by and Paul chose to walk in love toward Mark, this relationship became profitable for the spreading of the Gospel.  When I act in love, the feelings will follow.  From this point on I choose to walk in love.

Acting in Faith

“The action of heaven is waiting on faith on the earth.”

19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

                                  Matthew 16:19

 11Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

Isaiah 45:11

God is a faith God. The Bible is full of stories of men and women who acted on their faith in God and received blessings for it. We have to release our faith in order for God to move on earth. He is waiting on us!

Victory Action

God is waiting on me to do my part. As I act in faith, God will make things happen for me.

God Does What I Cannot

“When you come to the end of your resources, you have only begun to tap the unlimited resources of God.”

1And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. 8And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. 11And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water; 15And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company. 17And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. 18And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. 19And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

1 Samuel 30

9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Victory Decision

I will do my best and let God do the rest.

Commitment

“The pieces never fit until you commit.”

 

24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

 Matthew 16:24-25 

3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

Proverbs 16:3 AMPC

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV

Commitment is a challenge many people face. Moving forward in life depends on making thoughtful decisions. When following God, one must choose wholeheartedly to stay on the path He sets. Often, this takes faith because we cannot see every outcome ahead of us—only God can. He always has our best interests at heart. Choosing His way means that, despite any difficulties along the journey, you can trust it will lead to a positive outcome. The key is being fully dedicated to this path.

Victory Action

I will willing renew my commitment to God daily by continuing to put my trust in Him for my future. I will not give into worry or fear about the future. I will use the Word of God as a sword and confess it daily over my life as causes my thought to be agreeable to His will.

 

God Loves You!

“Even thought you’ve missed it, God still loves you.”

4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-7

We don’t walk perfectly, but God’s love isn’t based on our actions. He loved us before we existed, sending Jesus to die for our sins even knowing what people would do. God acted in faith that we’d join His family, focusing on our hearts. Our restoration is guaranteed by Jesus’ sacrifice. No matter what your past includes, the Blood of Jesus has covered it so that even God doesn’t see that anymore. He looks at you and just sees Jesus.

Today, by faith, I will walk free from my past. I will set my heart to seek God and become more like Him through spending time in His presence and His Word. I will look forward with hope and live in peace with God because of the blood.

Forgiveness

“When God forgives, He forgets.”

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 8:12

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12

  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isaiah 43:25

You cannot sin so much as God can forgive. If it comes to a pitched battle between sin and grace, you shall not be so bad as God shall be good. I will prove it to you. You can only sin as a man, but God can forgive as a God. You sin as a finite creature, but the Lord forgives as the infinite Creator. – Charles Spurgeon – 

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. – Ephesians 1:7

  Victory Decision 

I acknowledge what God’s Word says about me is true! I declare that ALL my sins are forgiven and I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I will not dwell on my past. I will meditate on the blood of Jesus and receive everything He died for me to have.

Conversation with God

“If Jesus needed to pray, I need to pray.”

Jesus was given to us by God to not only be our salvation, but to also be our example of a the life that God wants us to live. Pray is a key part of that life. Prayer at it most basic level is communication with God and Him communicating with us. Jesus knew it was important to spend time in communion with His Father.

 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. Matthew 14:23

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. Matthew 26:36

Jesus spoke about prayer to His disciples and to those who listened to His teaching. His parables included references to prayer.

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Luke 18:1

Paul continued the teaching showing us that we should always be in prayer and that there are different kinds of prayer.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:18

Clearly prayer is important to God and should be important to us.

Victory Action

Today I set aside time to spend with God in prayer. I will have a conversation (talk AND listen) with my Father in Heaven. I will also be aware of His presence and fellowship with Him throughout the day.