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Posts Tagged ‘Blood of Jesus’

He That Overcometh

Posted in Overcoming, tagged , , , , on July 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »

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Scripture reading: Revelation 2:8-11

We find the church being split in two. Part of them will overcome and the other part will not overcome. There are overcomers and there are losers. Sometimes words do not convey the strength of meaning to us when we hear them. For instance, you hear the word overcomers and you wonder to yourself what is to be overcome. Overcomers first of all overcome their own natures. They overcome the mind of the world, the mind of the flesh, the mind they inherited from their families, and they overcome strong emotions. If you do not overcome your emotions and have them under control, then they will overcome you and destroy you. Overcomers overcome their own will and their own desires.

This is a battle royal when a person overcomes himself through the Blood of Jesus Christ and the power which God has given. For indeed, the Spirit of God has given us power to overcome familiar spirits, old family ties, things that pull us down and make us losers. We are not to go out and overcome other people. We need to overcome the flesh, the devil, and the world. This is what we mean by “he that overcometh.“

I John 2:15-17, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

What is the love of the world? One day I went to the supermarket and observed the people. They all looked alike. I knew somehow that some Christians had come in, but there was no difference between the way the Christians looked and the way the sinners looked. They all seemed to be part of the sexual revolution. They were showing as much of their bodies as they could, both men and women, young and old. The mind of the flesh had been ministered from Hollywood, Paris, London, and from other fashion places to the minds of these people. The people have become one with this mind of demonic spirits that control the world.

We must realize that the ways of the world, the thoughts of the world, the emotions of the world, and the desires of the world ARE NOT OF GOD. The people of God ARE EXPECTED to resist these things and to be different. It is difficult, but the Holy Spirit in us will help us to be different. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

We have many songs that say, “I love you, Lord Jesus” and the songs are so beautiful. When you hear the people of God singing, you hope and wish their love was true but there is very little truth in it, because those who love the world do not love God. The quicker we realize we do not love God, the quicker we will come to repentance and say, “Oh God, I have discovered that I love the world and I do not love you. Give me Your love.” God will pour out His Spirit upon you. “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” This is the promise to the overcomer.

(Excerpt from The Book of Revelation, Volume 1, pg. 36-37)

Thought for today: Remember it is your own nature that you must overcome in order to be the overcomer.

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In Whose Eyes a Vile Person Is Contemned

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , , , on June 20, 2022| Leave a Comment »

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Scripture reading: Isaiah 7:15 & 22

The world has almost completely reversed the human concept of right and wrong. The only true basis of what is right and what is wrong is the accepting of God as the paragon and Jesus Christ as the “Plumbline”.

Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

Darkness is covering the land and gross darkness is taking hold upon the people.

The meaning of the word “contemned” is to disdain or to be contemptible. The Word of God is saying here that we should not esteem those who are evil. The Christian conscience that has been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ abhors evil and does not allow us any kind of pleasure in those who are evil both by their actions and by their life style. On the other hand we find an increasing number of those who profess to be “born again”, freely fraternize with those who are living and fostering an evil and ungodly way of life.

If I should ask my readers, “What is the greatest evil of today that is called good?” I am sure I would receive a multitude of good answers, but most of us would either be afraid to even think of the truth, or if we do, we would shy from the expression of it. The greatest force for good in the world is the CHURCH. There is no doubt about it that God called out a people in Jesus Christ to come out of the world and the things of the world and to be part of His kingdom on the earth. This people are to eventually deliver the earth from all its evil and in the end the “earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea….” BUT if this people, who are the called out of God, who accept the name and the right to be called CHURCH, but refuse to come out of the ways, deeds and thinking of the world, thus looking like the kingdom of God on the outward, but speaking like the world from the inward, then this people would be evil parading as good, darkness parading as light, and bitter showing itself as sweet. There is such a mixture in our present day church system that unless one sees from the eyes of God, it would be almost impossible to discern good from evil.

Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind THAT ye may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

In conclusion let me quote from Isaiah 7:15 & 22:

7:15, “And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give, he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall everyone eat that is left in the land.”

7:22, “Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the EVIL, and choose the GOOD.”

Butter and honey represent the pure unadulterated WORD of GOD. The people’s taste is being confused between bitter and sweet, but God has promised that those who desire to know the truth will know it by divine intervention.

(Excerpt from The Omega Message, October 1983)

Thought for today: Let us eat butter and honey, the unadulterated Word of God, so that we may be able to refuse the evil and choose the good.

 

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Where Judgment Begins

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , , on June 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »

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Scripture reading: I Peter 4:17

The children of God who believe in justice and mercy, must agree that a loving God who is abundant in mercy must judge the children of His household before He judges the world.

I Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

God’s judgments take many different forms, some of which include the allowing of His enemies to come against His people to punish them. One of the staunchest laws of God is the law of Sowing and Reaping.

Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Only the Blood of Jesus Christ remits sin, otherwise all sin must be punished. Sometimes we only see the effects on the outward man, and we tend to wonder why would God allow this? But we should never forget that God is righteous and whatsoever is done of God is righteousness.

As an accountant it is very easy for me to understand that there must be a time of reckoning when all the accounts must be balanced. At the end of the business year there is a time of reckoning, but if the business is being liquidated, then all the accounts must be closed at the same time. This concept is the one which the Scripture speaks of in I Peter 4:17.  – The time is come – for what? – for the judgment of the Church.

It is not enough to accept Jesus as Saviour, we should know him as Lord and follow Him. The majority of Christians dwell in the realm of accepting Jesus as Saviour, but following foolish shepherds who are not following the Lord or who follow Him afar off. The present darkness into which the world is entering demands that we follow Jesus the whole way in order to overcome.

Midnight, as mentioned in Matthew 25, is going to separate those who had the work of God done in their souls from those who frustrated the Holy Spirit, not allowing him to do the transformation within the area of the soul. Jesus Christ redeemed our souls by His death, and he came to save our souls. If in the final analysis, we reject the completion of this work in the soul, then the mind and the emotions will remain unregenerated and we will fail to overcome Satan in the power of his strength.

(Excerpt from The Omega Message, June 1982)

Thought for today: It is not enough to accept Jesus as Saviour, we must know Him as Lord and follow Him.

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The Spirit Indeed Is Willing – Part 2

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , , , , on April 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »

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By Mavis M. duCille

Scripture reading: Zachariah 4:6

Taking a look at the Old Testament, there appears much evidence of the weakness of the flesh, like…

DAVID – chosen of God, courageous, a champion, a good soldier, but was led by passion to violate the law; (to) yield to gross sin. When the Spirit of the Lord anointed him, he did mightily; outside of that, he was an ordinary man subject to the weaknesses of the flesh.

MOSES – leader and law-giver of Israel; was as God to the people; spoke with God’s personality; moved mightily under the anointing, but manifested as an ordinary man when provoked.

SAMSON – Showed such supernatural power and might, yet there was the expression of the carnal appetites; weak in resisting temptations.

The plotting, planning, cunning, scheming JACOB (could have been a familiar spirit; mother deceived Isaac, Laban her brother deceived Jacob) had a bout with the angel all night, but thank God he had the tenacity to hang on for the blessing or measure of deliverance which he received towards morning. The Jacob nature must be dealt with by the Spirit before any possession of the Land. No one is going to conquer those giants in the land, but the one who owns the land. The Land is OURSELVES. Each individual is well acquainted with the giants that rise up in his or her own soul to challenge the Spirit. Some have been there so long, that they appear to be part of the person. The individual may even be afraid to lose that spirit which might well be a controlling spirit. Anything that cannot be identified with the gift of the Holy Spirit and righteousness (Christ’s nature) is of the carnal, evil spirit, and must be driven out of the land.

There are so many examples in the Old Testament proving the weakness of man, that it is virtually impossible to deny the fact that “in man dwells no good thing.” Without the Spirit there is bound to be failure.

Take Peter as an example. In the New Testament, Peter had been with Jesus for three and a half years, and seen and shared in all that Jesus manifested; yet, in his humanness, he denied Him before the people, and returned to fishing after Jesus left. No wonder Jesus said to him, “Peter, lovest thou me?” – asking the same question three times and receiving the same answer from Peter, even with a little disgust at the last. Then Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” At one time, Jesus told Peter, “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee.”

Peter, as well as all of us, have to be fortified by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, or there is no overcoming of the flesh (the world, the flesh, and the devil). Peter’s impulsiveness and all other weaknesses of the flesh, as well as all of us, have to come under the effectual working of the Spirit if we are to be transformed to HIS IMAGE.

It is not because these characters mentioned in the Bible were bad or evil that they fell short of the expressed image of God, but because in the Old Testament, (or in other words under the old covenant), the Spirit of God was not yet come to indwell the believer (John 7:39), and in (the) three and a half years that Jesus was on the earth with His disciples, the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified. Therefore, Peter was without strength. Jesus said, “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” When the Spirit fell at Pentecost, Peter rose up in the midst and proclaimed the wonders of salvation.

The willingness to the Spirit anointing was not enough for the Old Testament believers. Some did mightily in spite of their limitations, yet they were judged.

God expects greater overcoming from those to whom He has given not an overshadowing of the Spirit only, but an indwelling portion to all who will receive.

To this FORTY-SECOND GENERATION, therefore, He says, “Thou art inexcusable, O man,” (Romans 2:1), in that God has, through Jesus, laid the way wide open to redeem man from the bondage of corruption (bondage of human nature), and raised us through the Spirit to overcome the weaknesses of the flesh.

“…Not by might, nor by power (in the natural), but by my SPIRIT, saith the Lord of hosts,” Zechariah 4:6.

There is no sin or weakness that the blood of Jesus, the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit cannot overcome.

Walking in the Spirit destroys or retards the weaknesses of the flesh, (and) builds spiritual character, thus the true nature of Christ is formed in the believer.

The Holy Ghost is given and is always willing and ready to purge the dross, that the gold (which is the nature of God) may come forth; that the world may see Christ Jesus living in His temple. As the temple of God, we should allow the Spirit to deal with the weaknesses of the flesh, so that the Divine Nature might destroy the evil nature, and take full control of the man for Christ’s sake. Amen.

(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, 1997, pages 71-74)

Thought for today: There is no sin or weakness that the blood of Jesus, the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit cannot overcome.

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In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him – Part 2

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , , on April 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »

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By Mavis M. duCille

Scripture reading: Proverbs 3:6

God has assigned us to a partnership with Him through the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son. By the Spirit and the Word, He makes each part of the Contract clear; His part, as also our part. When Paul sought the Lord regarding his thorn in the flesh, God’s reply was, “My grace is sufficient.” Paul had this responsibility by the grace of our Lord and Saviour, through the effectual working of the Spirit in him, to have the victory over that thorn. He must have really fought a good fight, as he said, seeing it was not the thorn in the flesh that ended his physical life, but some of the rulers of this world.

“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed,” Psalm 2:2. History repeats itself.

Our only hope and protection is hiding in the Rock, and dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High. It demands a daily commitment to His PERFECT WILL for each individual. What man of war goes into battle on his own dictates? He would be a fool, and would die like Abner. Man in himself is no match for the enemy, for it is a battle against a very high intelligence: against principalities and powers, not flesh and blood. See Ephesians 6:12.

Therefore it takes “…being endued with power from on high,” baptized in the Spirit of God, and complete obedience to the CAPTAIN AND SOLE COMMANDER, who is our Lord Jesus Christ (CAPTAIN OF THE HOST) and Lord of All. He sees and knows each battle from beginning to end. Yes, the infinite God knows each person’s battle from beginning to end; that is why we must trust Him – He is our VICTORY. We must acknowledge God in all our ways. In nothing can we be our own MAN or WOMAN, and do our own thing whenever we feel like it. Our behavior, our speech, our attitudes can arrest the flow of God’s blessings, and cause us to forfeit our heritage in Christ.

Oh, how many times we are caught in being careless or impatient, acting out of the will of God, and are caught in the snare. The price is pain, regret, remorse. “Oh, what needless pains we bear, all because WE DO NOT CARRY EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER.” “Wait upon the Lord – wait, I say, upon the Lord.” Good things come to those who wait.

For instance: it might be good and proper for one to buy a house, car, horse, property or anything, even choosing a partner in marriage or business, etc., but God wants us to realize that there is a special one of any or all of these; that God with His love and foreknowledge would choose for you – the special individual that we are to Him. Our knowledge is limited, therefore, we must always bear in mind that our CAPTAIN who is ALL WISE, ALL KNOWING, is the perfect consultant whose ears are always open; His doors never close; He just sits waiting, looking and listening for His children to ask so “it can be given.” Of course, we should not ask:

  1. To heap upon our lusts
  2. Amiss
  3. Wavering.

Times without number, Jesus testifies of His union with the Father, showing how absolutely necessary it is for total submission to the Father’s will. John 8:14-18 gives the working arrangement with Jesus and the Father. Although the Father has given to the Son ALL POWER for deliverance and judgment, yet He did nothing but the Father’s will. In healing and miracles, etc. “My Father… and I work;” in judgment, “I judge no man… yet my judgment is true.”

Seeing that Jesus, the Son of God, found it necessary to acknowledge the Father in all things, thus fulfilling His perfect will for Him, how about us? All power is given unto us through Jesus; as He was, so are we to be in all obedience and humility, that we might also find our place in His purpose for His creation.

In order to walk safely and securely, (to) be blessed in Him and be a blessing, there is the need to be found in Him; not having our own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of the Father. This righteousness will desire, seek after, long for and be satisfied with nothing but the Father’s perfect will.

Each new day brings its new demands of new experiences in our Christian walk. Our Heavenly Father has given the Holy Spirit with the necessary tools to fight our battles, but although He knows the order of the battle completely, He cannot breach our free will. He tells us in His Word to trust Him each day that He might be in control through the Spirit. “IN ALL THY WAYS (and through all thy day) ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS,” Proverbs 3:6. The power and glory of heaven is made available to us through Jesus Christ, but if the whole world of wealth is made available to one man, woman or child, and he or she does not choose to effect that claim, it becomes useless to such a one.

We are encouraged to appreciate and appropriate that which was lost in the first Adam, but restored in the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, to bring us into eternal victory. God uses every method to awaken us to the consciousness of who we are, where we are and what we ought to be. He allows us to go ahead and do things we desire so badly – which are not His perfect will – knowing that the circumstances will teach us the bitter lessons of what it means to move out of the will of God. Happy are we if we learn the lessons through one or two experiences. It is very sad when our own attitudes rob us of being able to glean from our experiences the lessons God intends that we embrace, seeing that the sole purpose and intention of His dealing with us is to bring us into union and communion with Him, that we might walk as wise men.

(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, 1997, pages 45-47)

Thought for today: Yes, the infinite God knows each person’s battle from beginning to end; that is why we must trust Him – He is our VICTORY.

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