HOW TO BE AN OVERCOMER
1 John 5:1-5
Morning Meditation 5/21/2007
"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every onethat loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By thiswe know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep hiscommandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of Godovercometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world,even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeththat Jesus is the Son of God?"
In America we are oriented to winning. I recall in October of 1987 a little girl 18 months of age got international attention after she fell 22 feet into a well. The rescue teams worked around the clock and 58 and ½ hours later they brought her out to a cheering people all over the country. Our text speaks of a situation much greater than this. The greatest losers are those who neglect their eternal souls. Matthew 16:26 says, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” A Christian can lose his rewards by ignoring God’s will for his life but he cannot lose his soul. So this subject has something in it to challenge the unsaved man, whose interests are to make it big in this world, and also the Christian who quits too soon after his conversion.
TO BE AN OVERCOMER ONE HAS TO BE SAVED
The above text says, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is bornof God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that isbegotten of him."John says, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”This is simplicity itself. God made it easy for a sinner to be saved. Hecreated in every man a measure of faith and when that faith responds to the gospel the person exercising it is saved. Some of the things hindering a person from being saved (be an overcomer):
1. Personal pride. It is common among the sons of Adam that one feels secure because he has made it in life and if he has made it here, he will make it at the Judgment. Wrong thinking.
2. The humility of repentance. Real repentance will bring one to his knees.Someone has said that before the cross the ground is level. In other wordsthe rich and the poor meet as equals before the cross. The poor mandiscovers that he does not get credit for being poor and suffering from itat the judgment. The rich man discovers that his riches do not enhance hischance of being saved. All have sinned and all are commanded to repent. Itis repent or perish.
3. Procrastination. This is a way that Satan traps multitudes. It is notthat they can’t be saved, it is that they are too busy. There are those inhell who knew what they needed to do to be saved but they were just too busymaking a living and having their fun to take time. Proverbs 27:1, "Boast notthyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."
4. Stubbornness. Proverbs 29:1, "He, that being often reproved hardenethhis neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
5. There are those who think they have gotten away with sin because God has not intervened. Ecclesiastes 11:9, "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways ofthine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment."
6. There are those who have seared their consciences by believing what the evolutionist teaches. He thinks that because he does not believe in God that He does not exist. Wrong thinking.
THE PROMISE TO THE OVERCOMER
The Holy Spirit tells us in Revelation 21:7, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."Who is the overcomer? Verse 1 says, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is theChrist is born of God…”There are great promises that the Lord has made to the saved. He willfulfill every promise. Peter takes up this truth in 1 Peter 1:4-5, "To aninheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
THE WAY OF THE OVERCOMER
It is a way of obedience:
1 John 5:3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." The word“grievous” means “burdensome.” Are you burdened down in the work of the Lord? If so, something is wrong. Doing God’s work God’s way is not a burden to the overcomer.
SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OVERCOMER
The overcomer has the joy of the assurance of salvation. We can know we aresaved.
2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"The overcomer has a unique relationship with the Lord.
Revelation 2:17, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." This is speaking of a special relationship that the saved have to the Saviour. The overcomer is promised a position of authority during the millennium: Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in histhrone."May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ,
Bro. White (Evangelist and good friend of Joe Tarr)
Monday, May 21, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Selling Out Cheap
SELLING OUT CHEAP
Gen 25:27-34
Morning Meditation 5/11/2007
"And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me,I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went hisway: thus Esau despised his birthright."Jacob and Esau represent opposing principles; only now those principles are brought out into the open. The conflict and its issue is now enacted whereeveryone can see it. Sooner or later the inner struggle we experience willmanifest itself openly in our lives.
First let's look at-
THE UNAPPRECIATED PRIVILEGE
"And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, Iam at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? AndJacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold hisbirthright unto Jacob."The attitude of the two boys is demonstrated in the sale of the birthright. Esau was a man of the field. He was probably admired by all those aroundhim. He had the smell of the field on him and he often brought back venisonand his father delighted in him. He was Isaac's favorite. Esau representswhat we are by nature. His mind was on the present. He did not look into thefuture.Jacob was a plain man living in tents. Jacob saw into the future. He wasinterested in what God was doing and his desires were Spiritual. In the case of Esau and Jacob the conflict went on and came to a head whenJacob brought Christ into the world and Esau brought Herod. Esau did notappreciate the privilege of the first born. There is no discharge in theconflict between the two natures. The flesh and the Spirit will never bereconciled.
Next we see-
A TIME OF DECISION
This was a testing time. This test was not where Esau began his decline. It only manifests a confirmed attitude. The flesh is popular and is totally egocentered. When he was confronted with a decision that had to do with eternal things he failed the test.Note three things about Esau. Hebrews 12:16, "Lest there be any fornicator,or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright."1. He was a fornicator.2. He was a profane person.3. He sold his birthright for comparatively nothing.There is a time in our lives where we must make a decision. How you respondto God's call on your life will reveal if you follow Esau or Jacob. This time may be a time of weakness. Satan tempted Jesus during a forty dayfast in the wilderness. Satan is a master in catching us when things aregoing bad. It may be trouble with finances, sickness that has affected yourthinking; it may be a child that is rebelling and it's breaking your heart. This is a bad time to make important decisions. We need to learn to dealscripturally with how circumstances are not in our favor. There comes a time in every Christian's life that he must make a decisionabout the depth of his commitment to the Lord. What are we willing to giveup to answer His call. What if God calls your child to preach and go out asa missionary? Would you encourage him to follow the Lord no matter what?What about your personal commitment? Is Christ first in your life?
THE TIME OF REGRET
here was a time when Esau regretted this bad decision. Hebrews 12:17, "Forye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, hewas rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought itcarefully with tears."Esau found no place of repentance. It had nothing to do with his salvation;it had to do with the Spiritual privilege that would be afforded him becauseof his birthright. The door was slammed in his face forever. Will there be a time of regret for the Christian who has no depth to hiscommitment to the Lord. The saved will stand before the Lord and his works will be tested by fire. 1Corinthians 3:15, "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."What about the man whose works are put to the test of fire and he stands being reminded of what might have been. Tears will not be wiped away untilafter the Judgment Seat of Christ. I want to remind you, you will not bejudged at this judgment. Our judgment as Christians has already taken place on the Cross. However, there will be grief by those who were just nominal Christians.
Revelation 21:4 says, "And God shall wipe away all tears fromtheir eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passedaway."Esau sold out cheap. He did not appreciate the eternal value of thebirthright. When decision time came, because he did not place a proper valueon his birthright, he sold it for a bowl of stew. He regretted that he soldthe birthright, but it did not change what had happened.May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. Tarr's Friend --Dr. White
Gen 25:27-34
Morning Meditation 5/11/2007
"And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me,I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went hisway: thus Esau despised his birthright."Jacob and Esau represent opposing principles; only now those principles are brought out into the open. The conflict and its issue is now enacted whereeveryone can see it. Sooner or later the inner struggle we experience willmanifest itself openly in our lives.
First let's look at-
THE UNAPPRECIATED PRIVILEGE
"And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, Iam at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? AndJacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold hisbirthright unto Jacob."The attitude of the two boys is demonstrated in the sale of the birthright. Esau was a man of the field. He was probably admired by all those aroundhim. He had the smell of the field on him and he often brought back venisonand his father delighted in him. He was Isaac's favorite. Esau representswhat we are by nature. His mind was on the present. He did not look into thefuture.Jacob was a plain man living in tents. Jacob saw into the future. He wasinterested in what God was doing and his desires were Spiritual. In the case of Esau and Jacob the conflict went on and came to a head whenJacob brought Christ into the world and Esau brought Herod. Esau did notappreciate the privilege of the first born. There is no discharge in theconflict between the two natures. The flesh and the Spirit will never bereconciled.
Next we see-
A TIME OF DECISION
This was a testing time. This test was not where Esau began his decline. It only manifests a confirmed attitude. The flesh is popular and is totally egocentered. When he was confronted with a decision that had to do with eternal things he failed the test.Note three things about Esau. Hebrews 12:16, "Lest there be any fornicator,or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright."1. He was a fornicator.2. He was a profane person.3. He sold his birthright for comparatively nothing.There is a time in our lives where we must make a decision. How you respondto God's call on your life will reveal if you follow Esau or Jacob. This time may be a time of weakness. Satan tempted Jesus during a forty dayfast in the wilderness. Satan is a master in catching us when things aregoing bad. It may be trouble with finances, sickness that has affected yourthinking; it may be a child that is rebelling and it's breaking your heart. This is a bad time to make important decisions. We need to learn to dealscripturally with how circumstances are not in our favor. There comes a time in every Christian's life that he must make a decisionabout the depth of his commitment to the Lord. What are we willing to giveup to answer His call. What if God calls your child to preach and go out asa missionary? Would you encourage him to follow the Lord no matter what?What about your personal commitment? Is Christ first in your life?
THE TIME OF REGRET
here was a time when Esau regretted this bad decision. Hebrews 12:17, "Forye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, hewas rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought itcarefully with tears."Esau found no place of repentance. It had nothing to do with his salvation;it had to do with the Spiritual privilege that would be afforded him becauseof his birthright. The door was slammed in his face forever. Will there be a time of regret for the Christian who has no depth to hiscommitment to the Lord. The saved will stand before the Lord and his works will be tested by fire. 1Corinthians 3:15, "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."What about the man whose works are put to the test of fire and he stands being reminded of what might have been. Tears will not be wiped away untilafter the Judgment Seat of Christ. I want to remind you, you will not bejudged at this judgment. Our judgment as Christians has already taken place on the Cross. However, there will be grief by those who were just nominal Christians.
Revelation 21:4 says, "And God shall wipe away all tears fromtheir eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passedaway."Esau sold out cheap. He did not appreciate the eternal value of thebirthright. When decision time came, because he did not place a proper valueon his birthright, he sold it for a bowl of stew. He regretted that he soldthe birthright, but it did not change what had happened.May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. Tarr's Friend --Dr. White
Thursday, May 3, 2007
HE CAUSES US TO TRIUMPH
2 Cor 2:14 Morning Meditation
5/3/2007
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." Paul credits the Lord as the cause of every triumph in the Christian life. The words "Now thanks be unto God" translates "thriambeuo" and means, "totriumph, to celebrate a triumph." It is from the root word meaning a hymn sung in festal processions. It is a "Sudden outburst of gratitude incontrast to the previous dejection in Troas." -Robertson's Word Pictures.When the Church meets, singing is always one of the main parts of theservice. These songs of praise are songs that celebrate our victory in Christ. Let's look at some things that He is the cause of in the Christian's life.
HE IS THE CAUSE OF SALVATION1. He is our Creator and wants to be our Re-Creator. Ephesians 4:24, "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Salvation is God's plan not ours. Ephesians 1:4-6, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before himin love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by JesusChrist to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To thepraise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in thebeloved." Note the words, "Wherein he hath made us accepted." He is thedynamic of this transaction. There is no sweat on the face of the believerbecause he didn't do a thing but cast himself on the mercy of God, i.e.,"God be merciful to me a sinner."2. He is directly involved in the salvation of each soul. The Word ispreached and His Holy Spirit is His unseen presence to enforce theregeneration of the believer when faith is exercised. He is the CAUSE of oursalvation.
HE IS THE ONE WHO CAUSES US TO STAND
1 Corinthians 2:5, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,but in the power of God."The word "faith" in this verse is not talking about saving faith; it istalking about what we as believers believe. Many of those to whom Paul waswriting would have to seal their testimony of salvation by standing firmlyon what is believed. God is able to make us to stand. Romans 14:4, "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his ownmaster he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is ableto make him stand."In the work of soul winning, I have run into many who have used for anexcuse for not immediately receiving Christ as Saviour, that they could nothold out. First of all, a person is not saved by holding out; he is saved byletting God do the holding. John 10:27-30, "My sheep hear my voice, and Iknow them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and theyshall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. MyFather, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluckthem out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one."
HE IS THE CAUSE OF HOLINESS
1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is madeunto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"It is God who makes Christ Jesus unto us wisdom, and righteousness, andsanctification, and redemption. The word "sanctification" in this verse isthe translation of a word that means "holy."This means that Christ is our holiness before the Lord.
HE IS THE CAUSE OF OUR SECURITY
Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost thatcome unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."This verse says that "He is able" to save to the uttermost, "seeing he everliveth to make intercession for them." Our security is in His intercessoryministry.Romans 8:35-39, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shalltribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; weare accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we aremore than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, thatneither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, northings present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any othercreature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is inChrist Jesus our Lord."The world, the flesh, or the Devil cannot separate us from our position thatwe hold in Christ Jesus.
IT IS HE THAT CAUSES US TO BE VICTORIOUS
1 John 5:4, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this isthe victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." We are saved byfaith in Him, and once in Him, He becomes our victory in this present evilworld. "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, andmaketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." We arealways triumphant in Him. He gives us His triumph. May the Lord bless these words to our hearts. In Christ- Bro. White (Dr. Earl White is a friend of mine and a great man of God with much wisdom, thus a sometimes contributor to this blog.)
2 Cor 2:14 Morning Meditation
5/3/2007
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." Paul credits the Lord as the cause of every triumph in the Christian life. The words "Now thanks be unto God" translates "thriambeuo" and means, "totriumph, to celebrate a triumph." It is from the root word meaning a hymn sung in festal processions. It is a "Sudden outburst of gratitude incontrast to the previous dejection in Troas." -Robertson's Word Pictures.When the Church meets, singing is always one of the main parts of theservice. These songs of praise are songs that celebrate our victory in Christ. Let's look at some things that He is the cause of in the Christian's life.
HE IS THE CAUSE OF SALVATION1. He is our Creator and wants to be our Re-Creator. Ephesians 4:24, "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Salvation is God's plan not ours. Ephesians 1:4-6, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before himin love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by JesusChrist to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To thepraise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in thebeloved." Note the words, "Wherein he hath made us accepted." He is thedynamic of this transaction. There is no sweat on the face of the believerbecause he didn't do a thing but cast himself on the mercy of God, i.e.,"God be merciful to me a sinner."2. He is directly involved in the salvation of each soul. The Word ispreached and His Holy Spirit is His unseen presence to enforce theregeneration of the believer when faith is exercised. He is the CAUSE of oursalvation.
HE IS THE ONE WHO CAUSES US TO STAND
1 Corinthians 2:5, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,but in the power of God."The word "faith" in this verse is not talking about saving faith; it istalking about what we as believers believe. Many of those to whom Paul waswriting would have to seal their testimony of salvation by standing firmlyon what is believed. God is able to make us to stand. Romans 14:4, "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his ownmaster he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is ableto make him stand."In the work of soul winning, I have run into many who have used for anexcuse for not immediately receiving Christ as Saviour, that they could nothold out. First of all, a person is not saved by holding out; he is saved byletting God do the holding. John 10:27-30, "My sheep hear my voice, and Iknow them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and theyshall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. MyFather, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluckthem out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one."
HE IS THE CAUSE OF HOLINESS
1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is madeunto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"It is God who makes Christ Jesus unto us wisdom, and righteousness, andsanctification, and redemption. The word "sanctification" in this verse isthe translation of a word that means "holy."This means that Christ is our holiness before the Lord.
HE IS THE CAUSE OF OUR SECURITY
Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost thatcome unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."This verse says that "He is able" to save to the uttermost, "seeing he everliveth to make intercession for them." Our security is in His intercessoryministry.Romans 8:35-39, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shalltribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; weare accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we aremore than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, thatneither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, northings present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any othercreature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is inChrist Jesus our Lord."The world, the flesh, or the Devil cannot separate us from our position thatwe hold in Christ Jesus.
IT IS HE THAT CAUSES US TO BE VICTORIOUS
1 John 5:4, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this isthe victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." We are saved byfaith in Him, and once in Him, He becomes our victory in this present evilworld. "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, andmaketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." We arealways triumphant in Him. He gives us His triumph. May the Lord bless these words to our hearts. In Christ- Bro. White (Dr. Earl White is a friend of mine and a great man of God with much wisdom, thus a sometimes contributor to this blog.)
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