Christian Living

PART 2 OVERCOMING

by james rondinone 
09/26/15
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    Learning How to Live Victoriously

œWaiting on God’s Timing

œDeveloping Spiritual Self-Esteem

   For many of us when we are waiting on God’s timing it’s easy to wonder if He has actually heard our prayers. When doubts begin to enter in follow the advice which is given from this overcoming section.

                       Waiting on God’s Timing

In the mid 1980’s, I was working as vice principal of a private Christian day school. When I was hired, I was asked if I wanted to receive my pay over a 12-month or 10-month period. I chose the 12 month period. As the end of the school year approached in June, I secured a job driving a school bus for the summer.

   During the last week of school, the head pastor of the day school called me into his office and let me know that my financial situation had changed. If I wanted to be rehired for the following school year, then I had to work for the school-related church over the summer. My comment was that whether I chose to receive compensation over a 12 or 10 month period, that the overall money to be received by me was the same. The pastor acknowledged this fact, but nonetheless said that if I didn’t work for the church over the summer, then I no longer had a job with the day school. I decided not to work for the church over the summer. I still received the remaining monies that were owed to me, but I had no job waiting for me the following school year.

   I began to send resume out to all of the public schools. Also, I prayed to God that he would open up a door for employment. With one week remaining before Labor Day, I received a call from a public K-12 school. I was told by the Superintendent that they had posted their job vacancy for a high school math teacher for one week, and no one applied. I asked her how she obtained my name and phone number, because I did not send a resume to this school. She told me that she called a fellow superintendent from a nearby school asking him if he knew of anyone that was certified to teach secondary mathematics. He replied to her that he received a résumé from some guy (me) in Johnston, RI, and proceeded to give her my name and phone number.

   To make a long story short, I was hired to teach secondary mathematics at this school. After 25 years of service, I will be retiring this year, in June 2011.

   God does answer prayer. My part was to pray to him, send out résumés, and wait patiently for His reply. We do our part and leave the rest to God.

God Keeps His Promise To Abram And Sarah

Suggested Reading: Genesis 12:1-4; 15:1-4; 17:1-19; 18:1-19; 21:1-7

   God spoke to Abraham and said that he would make a covenant with him and his descendants. Abraham would be a father of many nations. His seed would be given all of the land of Canaan for an inheritance.

   His wife, who was ninety years old, would bear him a son next year.

   When Abraham heard that his wife, Sarah, would bear him a son in Genesis 17:17, he laughed. Later, in Genesis 18:12-13, Sarah also laughed.

   In God’s timing, 25 years after Abraham had received the promise of God making of him a great nation, Sarah bore him a son and they called him Isaac.

   When God reveals a promise to us, he will provide it in his timing. Our response should be to continue to get to know him so that we can abide patiently with confidence and expectation in the meantime.

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah

bare to him, Isaac. Genesis 21:2-3

    The prophecies and faithful responses of our God always come to pass in his timing. God is faithful to keep his promises, whether it be: for a prophecy concerning the birth of his son, Jesus Christ, which took place approximately 1600 years after it was made; for the promise of the sending of the Holy Spirit, which took place about 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection; or for a word in season, when we are brought before governors or kings for our testimony about Christ.

   God makes everything right for the believer in his time.

   And don’t forget to seek him through prayer. Whatever we pray to God for — our finances; assistance in helping us find a soul mate; guidance in a particular matter; deliverance in the midst of an unfriendly environment; physical healing; guidance concerning those areas that inhibit us in our walk, etc. — God will answer these requests in his timing according to his plan and will for our lives.

   Learn to think with Christ’s mind in the power of the Spirit, and you will be able to spiritually perceive God’s answers to your prayers.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from

of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Galatians 4:4

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 1:18

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. Acts 1:2-4

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:… (Acts 1:8)

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come,… And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. Matthew 10:18-20

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

   This overcoming section will help us in developing spiritual self-esteem and not self-esteem that is based on the approval of others.

                   Developing Spiritual Self-Esteem

Depression

Sadness, gloom, dejection

a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal

Elation

an exhilarating psychological state of pride and optimism3

Spiritual Self Esteem

submit themselves totally to God and willingly accept his absolute right to order their lives4

in 1979, after attending a non-denominational church for abouta year, I was asked by one of the pastors if I would consideraccepting a position on staff as an outreach director. This position

would involve visiting people who were attending and have attended the church, visiting people in hospitals, overseeing a Bible study, picking people up to bring them to and from church, coordinating Bible classes, and from time to time being asked to speak a brief message when church gatherings took place, etc.

   I accepted the request and quit my current job. One of the most difficult things for me in this position was the fact that I was asked to accompany or sit next to the pastors in the front of the congregation about 2-3 times per week.

   I was very intimidated by this. Even more, I was very insecure about this. I was comparing myself with these pastors thinking, I don’t belong up here with them. Who am I to be sitting up here?

   I began to realize, first of all, that I was here because God wanted me to be here. Secondly, in order for me to be in a state of contentment in this circumstance, I had to learn, appropriate, and meditate upon pertinent scriptures concerning who I now am in Christ.

   No one in the Christian walk is better than anyone else. The office gifts and gifts of the Holy Spirit are given by grace. These are not merited. And for us to walk successfully in our callings, we need to learn how to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.

   I am who I am by the grace of God.

But Who Are You?

Suggested Reading: Acts 19:10-20

   While in Asia Minor, God performed unusual or extraordinary wonders, beyond those familiar to the disciples, by Paul. From the surface of his body were brought forth handkerchiefs (a sweat rag which was worn on the head; a piece of linen with which sweat was wiped from the face) and aprons (a half girdle, or covering half the person a piece of cloth which was girded round the waist to preserve the clothes of those who were engaged in any kind of work5) such that cures were performed and evil spirits were cast out.

   There were 7 sons of a man named Sceva, who traveled around from place to place in order to drive out evil spirits for profit by using an oath. When they heard Paul use the name of the Lord Jesus in the calling out of the evil spirits, they decided to use the Lord’s name when they were casting out demons.

   In this instance, the evil spirit replied back, “Jesus I know,” (to know by interaction and experience) “and Paul I know, but who in the world are you?”

   Those believers who walk in the Holy Spirit, putting on the whole armor of God, will be known by the principalities and powers. It’s not what we do for God, but it’s getting to know him personally so that whatever gets done, God is the power behind it.

   Doing things for God in our own power (religion), will cause us to be recognized by men and unrecognizable by the principalities and powers.

   Learning to rely on God’s power will cause the Lord’s name to be magnified, and many professions of faith to be proclaimed.

   So, who are you? Learn about who you are after you have received the Lord’s salvation. Appropriate these truths for yourself, and you will see God work in and around you in a mighty way.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? Acts 19:15

   Who are you now? In order for God to work in our lives, we need to receive the Holy Spirit. The receiving of the Holy Spirit comes by believing in who Jesus is. He is the God man, who came from heaven to earth in the form of a man, being born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a cross paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world and, forgiving them, was raised from the dead after three days and ascended into heaven. If you don’t’ know this Jesus, then you can confess with your mouth concerning what was just said about who he is and what he has done, and you will receive the Holy Spirit.

   Upon receiving the Holy Spirit, we are now in Christ and have become new creatures. We are to remind ourselves each morning, when we wake, as to the new creatures we have become as declared in the scriptures. The scriptures can be declared to us by attending an assembly of believers, hearing a tape, reading a book, etc. As we follow these teachings, we will be described as being Christ’s disciples. The result will be freedom from trying to please God through our own efforts or by means of adhering to an established system in order to do so.

   So, who are you now?

   You are more than a conqueror. This means to think with the divine perspective, in all circumstances, outward or inward.

   Your character and attainments are now because of grace.

   You are no longer who you used to be. All of the things that have characterized your pre-Christian life have passed away. However, you will be continually reminded of who you used to be by your own memory, by other people, by current situations, and by the devil and his demonic hosts. Our pasts, our memories and our situations just don’t go away. What needs to go away or be changed is how are we going to think in relation to all of these areas, now that we have

become believers?

   You, having become a child, an heir of God, can now become a partaker of His nature.

   You have been richly furnished with the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.6

   You are personally owned by God, never to be put up for auction.

   You have become someone who no longer relies on self-dependencies and legal confidences.

   So, who are you now?

   Hide these scriptures away in your heart, so that no one will ever be able to take these truths from you.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. Psalms 17:15

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not

all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:15-17

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Colossians 2:10

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous

light: 1 Peter 2:9

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Philippians 3:15

   In the next section we will focus on two more overcoming sections. The first will declare how to walk in God’s love which if achieved will overrule natural fear. The second will reveal to us that true confidence should not be based on self-effort, but in abiding in someone else.