Courage

‘Overcoming vs. Being Overcome’ 

Last week our Father spoke to us as a church some very challenging words. We have been crying out to Him to lead us this New Year in the way of true spiritual growth and ministry. Or how to overcome fear and not be overcome by fear. We feel He told us to examine and test ourselves that we might begin this NewYear in faith and courage.

We are currently individually and corporately taking the time to do just that and have come to realize that we should never take our fellowship with our Father for granted or even assume that we are still walking in His faith. The painful truth is not only can we lose our fellowship with Him… we, as a church, can also lose our position and support from Him.

There are very obvious scriptures that state that we can not only lose our fellowship with God but fall into His vengeance as well. Here are just a few…

Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE."                (Heb 10:28-30)

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Heb 6:4-6)

Just as an individual can lose his fellowship with God a church can lose God’s support. Without God’s support we will neither grow nor increase our ministry.

The Lamp-Stands

A true biblical church is a gathered group of born again disciples who possess and walk in the light (truth) of God. In this manner they hold up (support) the truth for all to see. Like a lamp-stand holding up a candle. Not just reading the scriptures or even just studying the scriptures but receiving revelation concerning those scriptures and walking in that light they give. In this way the church is likened unto that lamp-stand which holds (supports or lifts up) the Light (truth) of God. An obedient church is viewed by heaven as a lamp-stand. The lamp-stand holding up the light (ie, walking in its light) is its heavenly validity. 

The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. (Rev 1:20)

A lamp-stand does not give light itself … it just ‘holds or supports’ the light. Christ is our light. We hold Him and His Word up by obeying it. That is why the scriptures state that the church is the pillar and support of the truth.

…but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground (support) of the truth. (1Ti 3:15)

A church that no longer walks in the light (revelation) of God given it, will no longer be allowed to support (be a pillar) of the truth. A church not walking in the light given it … is not a church at all. In other words a gathered people must not only contain the light, it must walk in that Light (revelation) or it’s people will walk in darkness thus having no right to proclaim truth. This ability to support or uphold the truth is a church’s heavenly credentials and its credibility in the earth.

If a church refuses the admonitions and exhortations of the Lord it can lose its heavenly credentials and thus it’s reality before men. If a church no longer walks in what they proclaim, they will have their ability to support or uplift the truth (their Lamp-stand) removed from them. If this happens… their credibility as a church is removed and they will quickly become just another group of well meaning believers.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.  (Rev 2:4-5)

That is why, the previous week, our Father spoke to our church about self-examination and testing ourselves to make sure not only our salvation but whether we are still walking in faith. We believe because we are doing as He has asked… He is now speaking the next word of preparation for the New Year…. Courage!

Courage

There will only be two types of Christians left in the earth as this current and terrible spiritual demonic invasion continues. Those who see’s with God’s eyes and those who see with their own. If you don’t know what I am talking about when I say ‘this current spiritual demonic invasion’ or feel that 21rst century Christianity is doing just fine… you are already blinded and deceived. Our advice to you would be to cry out to the God of Light for new spiritual eyes. Only those who have let Christ change the way they see things will escape their own destruction by fear. As things progress there will be those who are overcome by fear, worldliness, ungodliness and those, who by their faith and courage, overcome these things and prevail with God’s strong support.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (1Jn 5:4)

Two Over-Comers

In the book of Numbers 13:17-20, we find a story about two such over-comers. Here we see Israel poised to cross the Jordan and claim their inheritance. Moses had asked for twelve representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel to go and spy out the land that God had promised them. They did so and ten of those men came back with discouraging reports that disheartened Israel. Two of those twelve men came back filled with confidence and encouragement and stated that Israel, with God’s support, could surely overcome and take the land that God promised them. These two men were God’s Overcomers.

Notice both groups of men… those who were overrun by fear and those who overcame fear physically saw the same things. Yet because of the condition of their hearts (spiritual eyes), they each saw two very different conclusions.

Then they told him, and said: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan." Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." (Num 13:27-33)

and... 

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' (Num 14:5-8)

The secret of the over-comer's positive assessments was in the names of the two men. Caleb’s name means …strength and Joshua’s name, who stood with Caleb in his assessment, means… ‘Yahweh is Salvation’. His name is the same name as Jesus (Joshua, Yehoshua or Yahshua). To overcome with spiritual eyes we need to be strong and know that it is our Father who will deliver us. This is where Courage comes from.

These men were over-comers, because when God’s people become fainthearted God always raises up Over-comers to do His will. Over-comers are always found in and with God’s people (the church) they are not lone rangers. They are called upon when courage is needed to prevail in accomplishing God’s work.

God always uses over-comers because they have been trained to see with spiritual eyes and their eyes have become spiritual because their heart is set on the will of God not their survival!

Yet, even now our Father’s eyes are scouring the earth to find those whose hearts are completely His, that He might strongly support them and give them a heart of courage.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.  (2Ch 16:9)

A completely loyal heart results in spiritual eyes… spiritual eyes that sees what God sees and that always results in courage and obtaining God’s full support! That is why we must test and examine ourselves to see if in every area of our lives we are still living in faith… ie. pleasing to Him. 

There has never been a time in history that over-comers are so needed in the churches. Quit waiting around for everyone else to change… search your own heart, let God tell you how He sees things and become courageous!

In Conclusion….

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. (Luk 11:21-22)

The ‘strongman’(the devil) has for too long berated God’s people. Like Goliath of old he stands and taunts the army of God and blasphemes our Father as well. He hold captives the hearts of our youth and makes good men’s hearts tremble. Where are the David’s? Where are the people that would rather die than let this berating continue? It is time for the stronger man (overcomers) to rise up over come him. Rise up, oh beloved of God, and overcome with the courage that comes from a loyal heart.

You say you don’t have what you need? God is ready to provide His company of loyal hearts with weapons and food for the right and left hand. Here is just some of what's available to all over-comers….

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." (Rev 2:7)

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."                       (Rev 2:11)

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." (Rev 2:17)

And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— 'HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; THEY SHALL BE DASHED TO PIECES LIKE THE POTTER'S VESSELS'— as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. (Rev 2:26-28)

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Rev 3:5)

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. (Rev 3:12)

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Rev 3:21)

What do you see happening? Christianity appears to be declining, atheist and paganism is on the rise, persecution of the faith is increasing, many young people are leaving the faith, the enemy has become overwhelming? Don’t stand around, wringing your hands saying … ‘What shall we do?’

Let God open our eyes and see what is even more true. Like the young man whose fearful heart only let him see the presence of the enemy instead of the strong support of God.

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2Ki 6:15-17)

Those magnificent promises are made to any and all that would dare become an over-comer… now. They are not for the ‘twin-souled’ (double minded) sometime in the distant future. These enablements are needed … and being given to people… right now. Remember our Father doesn’t use everyone around you… Sometimes His eyes are searching and waiting … for you! 

This is going to be a good year!