Being An Overcomer

Overcoming means to prevail over temptation, to conquer.  How do we overcome our weaknesses, our failures.  Let's see what the scripture says about it.

Psalm 3:3  "But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head."

Psalm 16:8  "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved." 

Psalm 27:1  "TheLord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 55:22  "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."

Psalm 118:14  "The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation."

Psalm 119:50 "This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life."

Psalm 120:1  "In my distress, I cried to the Lord and He heard me."

Proverbs 3:5,6  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 18:10  "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe."

Isaiah 41:10  "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 26:3  "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

These are such encouraging promises, I just love them.  We should have no fear if we trust in His loving care over us.  Overcoming is not a problem if we surrender our all to Him and let Him give us the power and the strength to do it.  He is more than willing, we just need to ask Him to make us willing to be willing to surrender our all to Him so that we can abide with Him all day every day. Grandma Joan

Being Faithful and Steadfast to the Word of God

It is very important for us to be faithful to God and steadfast in our beliefs and to study to show ourselves approved, which is what I am striving to do and to share things that will help you in your walk with God.  We need to know what we believe and be faithful and steadfast to our beliefs.  I hope this study will help you do just that.

Joshua 23:7,8  "That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:  But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day."

Job 11:1415  "If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away , and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.  For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear."

1 Corinthians 15:58  "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, alway abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Galatians 5:1  "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Philippians 1:27  "Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit,  one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."

1 Peter 5:9  "Whom resist stand fast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."

2 Peter 3:17  "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness."

What do you think?  Do you think you can be steadfast, and unmovable in your beliefs.  Christ has made us free, lets make sure we are not tangled up again in wickedness that we have put far from us.
We can be sure that any sin that we have been overcome by, others have suffered the same and even Christ has overcome anything that we have been tempted with.  It is a great consolation that we have in Christ, that we can overcome any temptation that Satan throws at us, through the power of the name of Jesus.  I am so thankful for that, and I am sure you are too."  Grandma Joan

Christ Dwelling in Our Temple - 2

The other day we studied about being the temple of God and I hope it sparked an  interest in how this all happens.  The following study will provide us with information on this study.

It is Revealed in the Coming of the Holy Spirit

John 14:20  "At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you."
               We in Christ and Christ in us.  

Demonstrates to the World Christ's Mission

John 17:23  "I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and has loved them, as Thou has loved Me."
                 Another clarification that I in them and Thou in Me and that God loves us as He loves His Son.

The Old Life Dies that the New may Live

Galatians 2:20  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me."
                 Our old sinful life must die so Christ can live in us and then we will live by the faith of the Son of God who loves us so much, He gave Himself for us.

Obtained by Faith

Ephesians 3:17,18,19  "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
                 I believe these verses explain themselves very well, such a promise is overwhelming!!

A Glorious Mystery

Colossians 1:27  "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
                  A mystery which we cannot understand but only experience.  And I know it is true because I have experienced it and I am sure many of you have.

Obedience Essential to

1 John 3:24  "And he that keeps His commandments dwells in him, and He in him, and hereby we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us."
                 If we want Christ to dwell in us, it says that 'we must keep His commandments.  Maybe we should look up the commandments Exodus 20 and see if we are keeping them, so that for sure Christ can dwell in us.

Possible to All

Revelation 3:20  "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him , and will sup with him, and he with Me."         


                  So important to answer the door when Christ knocks and all can open the door and invite Him in.  No one is denied that privilege.  If we are willing to be made willing, He will make us willing to serve Him and be a temple for Him to dwell in.  Oh, how I want to be that kind of temple that Christ can live in and direct each moment of my life by His Holy Spirit.  I pray that you will be willing to be made willing and that you will invite Him in.  Grandma Joan

Denying Christ

How do we deny Christ?  There are examples in Scripture that we will study this time and hopefully we will not be one to deny Him.

Matthew 10:33  "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

Matthew 26:34  "Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night before the cock crow, thou shall deny me thrice."  Spoken to Peter.

Matthew 26:69,70  "Now Peter sat without in the palace and a damsel came unto him, saying, thou also was with Jesus of Galilee.  But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest."

Mark 8:38  "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

Acts 3:14  "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just and desired a murderer to be granted unto you."

2 Timothy 2:12  "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us."

2 Peter  2:1  "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

1 John 2:22  "Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist that denies the Father and the Son."

Are you ashamed of Jesus, do you pray before your meal when you are eating out?  Does that embarrass you?  This is one area that I couldn't do for a long time but it doesn't bother me now like it use to.  I am a very timid person and I don't like to be made fun of but I am not ashamed anymore to say a prayer before I eat in public.  My Prayer is, 'Lord, help me never, ever be ashamed to be a Christian and to always demonstrate it wherever I am'.

There are all kinds of doctrines out there, but let's not get caught up in something that is not Biblical.
Isaiah 40:8 says, "The Word of God shall stand forever."  I believe that, it has stood for thousands of years so far and it will keep on until Jesus comes again.  It has help for every situation, so let's keep studying and learning.  It has helped me so much and I know it will help you.  Grandma Joan

The Glory of Christ - 3

We know from our last study that Christ was glorified, and today we will get a glimpse of His glory.

Manifested at His Second Coming

Mathew 16:27  "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to His works."

Shared by Believers

Mathew 19:28  "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Beheld Upon the Mount

Luke 9:32 "But Peter and they that were with Him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him."

Revealed in the Incarnation

John 1:14  "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Possessed Before the Foundation of the World

John 17:5  "And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me withThine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was."

Ascribed by the Heavenly Host

Revelation 5:12  "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."

When Christ comes in His glory, we shall see Him face to face and see His glory first hand.  I trust Him to save me and I am looking forward to seeing Him and casting myself at His feet in thanks-giving and praise.  As I have said before, I am not perfect but I trust in His power to save me and all those who come to Him in faith.  I pray that each of you will be there.  Grandma Joan

Abounding Grace -2-

We learned yesterday that grace is unmerited favor, something that we cannot earn, it is given freely to every sinner who repents and surrenders to Christ.

Hebrews 4:16  "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." We must come boldly to God's throne of grace, knowing that our help comes from Him to overcome sin in our lives.

Hebrews 13:9  "Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines, for it is good that the heart be established by grace..." We must test every doctrine by the word of God to make sure we are not led astray by doctrines of men instead of doctrines of God.

James 4:6  "Therefore He says, 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"
If we come to Him with humble hearts He will pour out His grace upon us.

2 Peter 1:2  " Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  This verse and the next one tells us how to have His grace multiplied upon us, we must study His word and gain the knowledge of Him and of Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 3:18  "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and forever.  Amen."

Titus 3:5-7  "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."  We are not saved by our righteous works but by His grace is how we become heirs of His kingdom.

2 Corinthians 9:8  "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you that you, always having all sufficiency in all things may have an abundance for every good work."  God will make sure that we have all the grace we need so that we may abound in every good work.

I am so thankful for the free grace that God bestows upon us through Christ.  We are not worthy but Christ is and He is the one that presents us to the Father, just as if we had never sinned, in His righteousness. That is the most awesome gift that we could ever receive, there is nothing like it in this world.  To have an eternal home with Christ forever and ever and sit at His feet and learn and learn as much as we want to learn.  Talk about an education, so wonderful to ponder.  Grandma Joan

Christ's Blood Shed for Us

Our salvation is dependent on accepting Christ's blood for the forgiveness of our sins.  If He had not died and shed His blood for our sins, we would have to die for our own and that would be the end of us.  But because Christ died on Calvary and shed His innocent blood in our behalf, we are able to accept His sacrifice for our sins and therefore we do not have to die for our own sins, because He did that for us.  Because He shed His blood for us, He can present us to the Father as if we had never sinned, because He died in our place.  But that does not excuse sin, sin needs to be repented of and forgiven which is freely done if we are sincere.

Mathew 26:28  "For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sin."   Remission meaning, cancellation of a debt.

Acts 20:28  "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood."

Romans 5:9  "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."   Justified meaning, just as if we had never sinned.

Hebrews 9:14  "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

1 Peter 1:18,19  "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from our vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

1 John 1:7  "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

Revelation 1:5  "And from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the First Begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood."

Revelation 7:14  "And I said unto Him, Sir, Thou does know.  And He said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

Our redemption is through the blood of Christ,  There is no other way.  We must accept His way and His way only.  We must accept His blood as our redeeming power to overcome as He overcame.  It's that simple, yet, it is hard to give up our selfish ways to His selfless life and live our lives for others instead of for ourselves.  Thats why the Bible says we must walk as He walked, 1 John 2:6, we cannot do it on our own, it is impossible, but the Bible also says that, 'I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me.'  Philippians 4:13.  In Christ Jesus there is power.  That's why it is easier to be saved than to be lost.  Think about it and God bless you with the strength to obey.  Grandma Joan