Conquerors By Being Doers Of The Word

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

June 26, 2023

in Spritual Growth

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June 25, 2023:
Readings: Jeremiah 20: 7-13
Romans 5: 15b-19
Matthew 10:24-33

In the beginning, God created everything. Nothing exists without Him. This is our foundation which is solid. As a people we have different opinions and concepts about the things to come. But we are to follow Him in our lives. If we are to follow Him and are called to be like Him, it would mean that we are to be conquerors. The Church, sadly has not taught us everything because we even fear the enemy when we have anxieties and worries. God has established life for us. In His Son’s Baptism, He was empowered by the Holy Spirit. He was taken to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The devil was well aware of the power of Jesus, and he wanted to test Him.

God has set a pattern and a lifestyle for us to follow Him. Jesus told His disciples, “Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” So, in essence, if our Master has gone through tests, don’t we as His disciples or followers go through tests as well and are given the ability to overcome? He said “all authority has been given to Me.” Then He tells His disciples to go in His Authority. It is unfortunate that many churches teach that evil will become so strong that Christ has to come and rescue us. We should trust God alone. He has given us the power to overcome. Jesus’ one purpose in coming to earth is to destroy the works of the enemy. Why does it appear these days that the enemy seems to be stronger with all the evil around us? Why? Because we have placed other things to be more important than God. If we do not let God be priority in our lives, the enemy will come and let us succumb to his ways. We are overcomers when we overcome problems and situations. We are victorious when we win battles. Christ’s work is complete. He has given us the responsibility to heal the world. Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” We are supposed to be royalty when we trust God in what He has done for us. It doesn’t matter what they throw at us, we will not waver or succumb to the wiles of the enemy. We continue to stand firm and be able to walk through the “fiery furnace” heated 7 times hotter when we know who is for us. Like an army, we do not bow to the enemy and we won’t give up until we win.

What is our attitude today? Should we see things in a short-term manner, or should we think of that which is for long-term, or for eternity? Truth will always be brought out. We cannot hide it. It will be shouted from the house tops. When Christ died and went to hell, He released the prisoners and set the captives free. It may seem like His death was a failure, but through His death, sin was destroyed. Truth will always win. We may face difficulties, but greater is He in us than things that are in the world.

Ephesians 4: 9-10 What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.

Roman 8:37 “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

1 John 2:14 “I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”

Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

And may this be our daily prayer:

“Almighty God, give us grace to be not only hearers, but doers of Thy Holy Word, not only to admire, but to obey Thy doctrine, not only to profess, but to practice Thy religion, not only to love, but to live Thy Gospel. So grant that what we learn of Thy Glory we may receive into our hearts. and show forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.