IN JESUS
CHRIST GOD PROMISE THE CHRISTIANS TO OVERCOME ALL KINDS OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND
DANGER WE ARE FACING IN CHRISTIAN LIFE.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 [57]But
thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[58]Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye
know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1. PAUL EXPERIENCED DEEP DISCOURAGEMENT BUT OVERCAME IT THROUGH
PRAYER AND HUMBLENESS BEFORE GOD.
( Acts 20:19-24 ) [19]Serving
the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which
befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
[20]And how I kept back nothing that was
profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and
from house to house,
[21]Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the
Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
[22]And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto
Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
[23]Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every
city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
[24]But none of these things move me, neither
count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,
and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the
gospel of the grace of God.
2. THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST OVERCAME WORLDLINESS TO LIVE
RIGHT BEFORE GOD THROUGH A STRONG CONVICTION BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD
( II Timothy 3:14-17 ) [14]But
continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,
knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
[15]And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which
is in Christ Jesus.
[16]All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
[17]That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.
* Timothy
was trained and raised in the faith by his mother and grandmother.
2 Timothy 1:5 When I call
to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy
grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
3. STRONG CHRISTIANS OVERCOME THE UNEXPECTED ATTACKS OF
SATAN THROUGH CONSTANT PRAYER TO GOD.
( Ephesians 6:10-18 ) [10]Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
[11]Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be
able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
[12]For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
[13]Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of
God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand.
[14]Stand therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
[15]And your feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace;
[16]Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
[17]And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
[18]Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints;
*
Even during the era of the early church, prayer was the
ultimate weapon and armor for God's people to overcome the attacks of the
Devil.
(Acts 12:1-7) [1]Now
about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the
church.
[2]And he killed James the brother of John with
the sword.
[3]And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he
proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
[4]And when he had apprehended him, he put him in
prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him;
intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
[5]Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer
was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
[6]And when Herod would have brought him forth,
the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains:
and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
[7]And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon
him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and
raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his
hands.
4. THE PRAYERS OF CHRISTIANS UNLOCK GOD'S PERFECT
GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION FOR HIS PEOPLE.
(Psalms 91:1-16) [1]He that
dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of
the Almighty.
[2]I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my
fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
[3]Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of
the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
[4]He shall cover thee with his feathers, and
under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
[5]Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by
night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
[6]Nor for the pestilence that walketh in
darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
[7]A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten
thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
[8]Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see
the reward of the wicked.
[9]Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my
refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
[10]There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall
any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
[11]For he shall give his angels charge over thee,
to keep thee in all thy ways.
[12]They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest
thou dash thy foot against a stone.
[13]Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the
young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
[14]Because he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my
name.
[15]He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
[16]With long life will I satisfy him, and shew
him my salvation.
5. CHRISTIANS DO NOT STOP REACHING OUT TO LOST PEOPLE
EVEN IN THE FACE OF GREAT OPPOSITION BECAUSE OF THEIR DEEP LOVE FOR THEM.
( Acts 5:20-29 ) [20]Go,
stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
[21]And when they heard that, they entered into
the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they
that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the
children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
[22]But when the officers came, and found them not
in the prison, they returned, and told,
[23]Saying, The prison truly found we shut with
all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had
opened, we found no man within.
[24]Now when the high priest and the captain of
the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them
whereunto this would grow.
[25]Then came one and told them, saying, Behold,
the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the
people.
[26]Then went the captain with the officers, and
brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should
have been stoned.
[27]And when they had brought them, they set them
before the council: and the high priest asked them,
[28]Saying, Did not we straitly command you that
ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with
your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
[29]Then Peter and the other apostles answered and
said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
* God
bless you all always *
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