Keep Fighting the Good Fight of Faith!
"He who overcomes will like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:5-6
Jesus is telling us in this passage that we are to consistently live our lives for Him. To "overcome," means to 'succeed in dealing with; to defeat; to prevail.' When Jesus saves you, it is forever, however, we are not to just sit back and do nothing. Rather, we are to live our lives in such a way that God is glorified and the light of Christ shines through. "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16. God could have taken us to heaven the moment we got saved, but He chose to leave us in the world so that we could point others to Him with our words and our lives.
Whether you realize it or not, people are watching your life. These people are those whom you work with, work out at the gym with or those who work at the places you shop. The question we need to ask ourselves is, "Is my life matching up with my belief? Am I living my life in such a way that people want what I have (Jesus)? Paul explains this in 2 Corinthians 13:5. "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless of course, you fail the test?"
Our relationship with Christ is one that should continue to grow throughout our life. We should not be the same as we were five years ago or one year ago. God will continue to grow you in Him. This process is known as transformation. Our heart's desire should be that we want to know Him more and more. I don't know about you, but I know one thing for certain, and that is the fact that I have not "arrived" yet. Paul stressed this in these words: "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14. Paul was one of the greatest apostles who ever lived and he knew that it was about keeping his focus on Christ Jesus and what He had done for him. He admitted he was not perfect, as none of us are, but stayed consistent in his walk with the Lord. God is constantly showing me areas that I need to let Him have His way in. Like John, I say "He must become greater, I must become less." John 3:30 My heart's cry is for my Lord to keep changing me, making me more and more like Jesus.
Friend, there are times when you are going to fall and give into temptation. We are not perfect and will not be until Jesus comes back for us and changes us once and for all. What I want you to remember, is that when you do fall, run to Jesus and confess your sin to Him. Yes, He already knows what you have done, however, as we confess our sin and repent (or turn from), He promises to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from ALL unrighteousness." Hold on to that verse and do not believe the enemy's lies. The enemy will put all sorts of thoughts in your mind like "you must not be a Christian," how could God love you after you did that," or "God will never forgive you." You will want to retreat and not be around other believers or try to run from God. Friend, the first thing you need to do is to get in God's word and hold on to His truth. That is the way you will live a victorious life. Remember, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10
"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again." Proverbs 24:16 When you fall, fall forward. Don't stay where you are...get up and cry out to Jesus. Hold on to the hope you have that is in Christ Jesus and in Him alone. "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23
I want to leave you with these words, "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21
Jesus is telling us in this passage that we are to consistently live our lives for Him. To "overcome," means to 'succeed in dealing with; to defeat; to prevail.' When Jesus saves you, it is forever, however, we are not to just sit back and do nothing. Rather, we are to live our lives in such a way that God is glorified and the light of Christ shines through. "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16. God could have taken us to heaven the moment we got saved, but He chose to leave us in the world so that we could point others to Him with our words and our lives.
Whether you realize it or not, people are watching your life. These people are those whom you work with, work out at the gym with or those who work at the places you shop. The question we need to ask ourselves is, "Is my life matching up with my belief? Am I living my life in such a way that people want what I have (Jesus)? Paul explains this in 2 Corinthians 13:5. "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless of course, you fail the test?"
Our relationship with Christ is one that should continue to grow throughout our life. We should not be the same as we were five years ago or one year ago. God will continue to grow you in Him. This process is known as transformation. Our heart's desire should be that we want to know Him more and more. I don't know about you, but I know one thing for certain, and that is the fact that I have not "arrived" yet. Paul stressed this in these words: "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14. Paul was one of the greatest apostles who ever lived and he knew that it was about keeping his focus on Christ Jesus and what He had done for him. He admitted he was not perfect, as none of us are, but stayed consistent in his walk with the Lord. God is constantly showing me areas that I need to let Him have His way in. Like John, I say "He must become greater, I must become less." John 3:30 My heart's cry is for my Lord to keep changing me, making me more and more like Jesus.
Friend, there are times when you are going to fall and give into temptation. We are not perfect and will not be until Jesus comes back for us and changes us once and for all. What I want you to remember, is that when you do fall, run to Jesus and confess your sin to Him. Yes, He already knows what you have done, however, as we confess our sin and repent (or turn from), He promises to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from ALL unrighteousness." Hold on to that verse and do not believe the enemy's lies. The enemy will put all sorts of thoughts in your mind like "you must not be a Christian," how could God love you after you did that," or "God will never forgive you." You will want to retreat and not be around other believers or try to run from God. Friend, the first thing you need to do is to get in God's word and hold on to His truth. That is the way you will live a victorious life. Remember, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10
"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again." Proverbs 24:16 When you fall, fall forward. Don't stay where you are...get up and cry out to Jesus. Hold on to the hope you have that is in Christ Jesus and in Him alone. "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23
I want to leave you with these words, "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21
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