Christian Living

Part 3 Overcoming: Learning how to live victoriously

by james rondinone 
10/03/15
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●Walking in Perfect Love

●Making The Lord Your Confidence

  As we learn to walk in God’s love fear will have no place.

  How does a believer walk in God’s love? Let’s read the following and find out.

                        Walking in Perfect Love

Fear

1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

2. that which causes a feeling of being afraid; that of which a person is afraid: Cancer is a common fear.

3. Archaic. to experience fear in (oneself).

4. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone’s safety7.

In 1977, I believed in Jesus Christ as the one who: preexisted time, is one of the members of the trinity, came to the earth and took on the form of a man, being born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life, listened to and obeyed the directives of his Father, went to the cross, paid for the penalty of sin, and forgave the sins of the whole world. Those who believe in who he is and what he has done will receive another comforter, the Holy Spirit, who will come inside of us and indwell. He will testify of Christ, recall scriptures to our mind, give us gifts, unveil truth, comfort and strengthen us, etc.

   At this time I was attending a Baptist church, and had no knowledge of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I was asked by one of the pastors to come up to the pulpit and share my salvation testimony.

   As I walked up to the pulpit’s microphone, I was scared to death, shaking like a leaf. I remember asking God in my mind to pleasehelp me to calm down. Immediately, a peace came over me and took control of my emotions. The waves of the storm subsided.

   I gave my testimony and realized that there was more to this Christian life than I could imagine. God’s presence overruling my emotions was something that I had never experienced before. I thanked God for answering my prayer and wondered how I could access this peace on a more regular basis.

   I have since become aware that by learning, appropriating, and meditating on pertinent scriptures that give us God’s viewpoint on fear, we can mentally apply this word when fearful situations arise. As we do, God will honor his word by comforting us with his presence

in the midst of trials and tribulations.

Samuel And Saul

Suggested Reading: 1 Samuel 15:1-26

   Samuel, a prophet and judge of Israel, by divine commission commanded King Saul to destroy Agag, the king of the Amalekites, along with every man and beast. But, he disobeyed the divine injunction, by taking Agag alive and sparing all the best of the cattle, along with all that was valuable. Instead of pursuing the campaign and finishing the destruction of both man and beast, he returned to Gilgal.

   Because of his disobedience, God took the Spirit away from Saul, and gave him an evil spirit.

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

1 Samuel 16:14

   Samuel, informed by God of the king’s disobedience, went to Saul and told him that God had rejected him from being king.

Samuel and David

Suggested Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-23

   The Lord told Samuel that Israel’s next king would come from one of the eight sons of the family of Jesse. The son that God chose was named David.

   Because of Saul’s disobedience, the Spirit of the Lord left him and an evil spirit came upon him. Saul was advised by his servants to find someone who was skillful in playing the harp so that when the harp was played the evil spirit would depart from him. David was recommended by one of the servants. He was described as being a keeper of the sheep, a cunning player on the harp, a mighty valiant man, a man of war, prudent in matters, a comely person, and one accompanied by the Lord.

   So David was brought before Saul to play the harp before him. When he did, the evil spirit departed from him.

Saul and David and Goliath

Suggested Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1-58

   The Israelites, who were under the leadership of their king, Saul, were preparing to battle the Philistines. A man of the Philistines, named Goliath (who was nine feet nine inches tall and skilled in arms) put forth a challenge that the Jews send forth one man to fight him. All of the men of the army fled when they saw him, being afraid.

   In the meantime, David, who was tending his father Jesse’s sheep, was asked to bring food provisions for his three elder brothers, who were enlisted in Saul’s army.

   When David arrived, he heard Goliath’s challenge and let Saul know that he would go out and fight against him. Saul questioned David’s preparedness. David answered him by letting him know of his prior engagements with a lion and a bear, which occurred while he was tending his father’s sheep.

   David’s weapons were a sling and five small stones. As he approached Goliath, Goliath belittled him. However, David said that he came in the name of the Lord, who would deliver him into his hand.

   David hit Goliath in the middle of his forehead, which caused him to fall to the ground. Then, David took Goliath’s own sword and killed him.

   I believe that during those times when David was caring for the sheep, that God was working in his life preparing him for the day when he would use him to defeat Goliath. Because David learned how to walk with God while he was tending the sheep, he was subsequently directed and empowered by Him to defeat the lion and the bear, which tried to kill the sheep.

   This same dependence on God’s guiding and leading caused David to step forward in the midst of the crisis. It was God directing David, and David’s subsequent response to go forward by faith. As he took hold of and applied grace (five stones) to kill Goliath, so was Goliath killed.

Then said David to the Philistine…but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand;… (1 Samuel 17:45-46)

   God-directed leadership is leadership which reveals God’s plan for victory. As the leader relies on God, so is this reliance enunciated to the members of the congregation. As we obey the leadership’s directive to rely on God’s perspective in the midst of the battle, the victory is won — though we might not see the evidence of it at that moment.

   If we are continually mindful of our enemies or problems, then we will be consumed with the effects of these occupations. Go to God and ask him for his perspective concerning your enemies or problems.

   When God reveals his perspective, which will always line up with his word, appropriate this mindset for yourself. The result will be a lifting up of your head, because you will be able to look at your situation in a new way. Eventually, God’s power and strength will come forth, and you will no longer will be abiding in fear, but in confidence.

   There will be times when we are walking in the Holy Spirit and situations will occur suddenly that will cause us to be afraid of some person or thing or cause us to be anxious concerning their real or imagined adverse effects. If we find ourselves worrying about the same thing over and over again, then admit this preoccupation to God the Father as sin. Then turn to the Holy Spirit and ask him to guard your heart (seek God in prayer for guidance concerning those areas that inhibit us in our walk). As you receive from him and become sensibly (spiritually) minded, your own passions will be brought under control.

   The key is getting to know God, the helper. The more we get to know him — by thinking from divine viewpoint, confessing known sin, exercising our gifts, and seeking his counsel — the more we will be impacted by his presence, which will provide us with comfort in the midst of adversity.

   Learn from God how to overcome the lions and bears in your own life, and fear will be replaced with courage that is based on relying on Him for the victory.

And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies. Exodus 12:51

And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. Exodus 14:8-31

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Psalms 3:1-6

 …the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 27:1)

Be not afraid of sudden fear,… For the Lord shall be thy confidence,…(Proverbs 3:25-26)

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:34

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

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

… The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:6)

   Who or what do you place your confidence in?

   This overcoming section will unveil to us where our confidence should lay.

Making The Lord Your Confidence

Insecurity

lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt: He is plagued by insecuritie8.

What is confidence? In the natural realm, confidence could refer to being good at performing our talent. Our talent could be as a singer, carpenter, chef, dentist, soldier, baseball player, etc. In the spiritual realm, confidence has nothing to do with self-effort. Confidence is abiding in someone else — Jesus Christ.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4

   When we learn God’s word, appropriate it for ourselves, and meditate upon it, this releases God’s love to be operative in our lives.

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10

When we believe in Jesus Christ, then He will send the Holy Spirit to abide in us.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16

   As we let the word abide in us, we release the Holy Spirit to empower us, enabling us to have confidence to be victorious in the midst of adverse circumstances.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

   So remember, confidence is not relying on ourselves, but on God.

…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

Elijah and The Prophets of Baal

Suggested Reading: 1 Kings 16:33; 17:1; 18:1-58

   Elijah the prophet went before Ahab, the king of the 10 tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and told him that there would be no rain in the land, because of the apostasy of himself and the people who had forsaken the commandments of the Lord in order to follow Baal.

   Elijah put forth a challenge to Ahab concerning the prophets of Baal in order to demonstrate that “if Baal be God, follow him or if Yahweh be God, follow him.”

   Elijah invited King Ahab, along with the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets of the groves of Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, to Mount Carmel. While there, they built an altar, placed an animal on it and prayed to Baal to send fire and consume the sacrifice. The same conditions applied to Elijah and his God, Yahweh. The God who consumed the sacrifice would be considered the true God.

   The prophets of Baal offered a bullock as a sacrifice. From morning until noon the prophets of Baal prayed, but nothing happened.

   Elijah built a stone altar and put the other bullock on it. He also built a trench around the altar. Then, he ordered four barrels of water to be poured over the sacrifice on three separate occasions, which fully soaked the sacrifice, the wood that it lay on, the stone altar, and even filled the trench under it. After this, Elijah prayed to the Lord. Fire from the Lord came down and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stone altar, and the water that was in the trench.

   The prophets of Baal were then taken hold of and executed.

   Elijah had confidence in Yahweh, that he would answer his prayer and reveal to all those who were present that he is the true God.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 1 Kings 18:37-38

   As we learn to trust in the Lord, he will preserve us in straits and difficulties. This doesn’t necessarily mean that we will be delivered from all adverse circumstances. It means that we will be delivered in the midst of our circumstances, because we have a consciousness toward God. The more we rely on him like the psalmist by means of his rod (word) and staff (a picture of the Holy Spirit), the more the realization of who he is (e.g. he is my: security; stronghold in whom I trust during trials; deliverer; immovable firmness; shield, as defense of his servants; protection from enemies; refuge or a secure height) will become a reality to us.

   As we learn how to trust in God by thinking Godly thoughts, we will be kept from being caught in a trap or snare of our own making. No one thing, including ourselves, can separate us from God’s love. Because we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, God’s love is always available to us. When we choose to walk in the flesh, the love which the Holy Spirit sheds in our heart will not be operative. Confess known sin and put on a new mind, Christ’s mind, and God’s love will begin to flow again in your life.

   God will not forsake us in the midst of hostile circumstances. However, it will seem to us that he has when we think contrary to God’s means of deliverance, which is according to his word.

   Be ever confident, because if God is for us, who can be against us?

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalms 18:2

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4

For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. Proverbs 3:26

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor

angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

   In the next section we will learn about three more overcoming sections: the value of Christian meditation; what causes a believer to rejoice in persecution; and how to maintain faithfulness in marriage.