INSIGHTS & NOTES FROM
"Many Christians serve after a fashion, but it cannot be said that it is always patient, faithful service. It is when the notion strikes them, or their conscience pricks them, or when nothing else interferes, that they manage to sandwich in some time for prayer or ministry to the sick & lost, or for help for other's needs, & so on."
"Total faith in God's Word & loyalty to it is the deciding factor that distinguishes true overcomers from nominal Christians." "There is no greater test or evidence of an overcomer than his total loyalty to God & His Word, at whatever the personal cost." I Timothy 4:1, 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 "...it will only be those who are firmly grounded in the Word of God & maintain absolute loyalty to the truth that will be safeguarded against possible deception." "(2) Those who enter the deeper life & come to the fulness of Christ will overcome through tribulation. Revelation 2:8-11" I Peter 2:21; cf. 4:12-16; John 15:18-21, Revelation 2:9-11 "Since the deeper life is the crucified life (Phil. 3:10), then those who allow the Holy Spirit to bring them to this place will be those who have overcome their fear of tribulations & remain faithful through them." "Tribulation, trial & testing are the means by which God prepares His disciples for greater blessings & a deeper walk with Him." "We are called to overcome through tribulation, not by avoiding it at all costs." "(3) Overcomers will hold fast to Jesus' Name & not deny His faith. Revelation 2:12-17" "The time is rapidly approaching when Satan once more will be allowed to sift the Church as wheat, separating thereby true overcomers from nominal followers of the Christian religion." Revelation 13:7, 15 - 17 "It means also not to deny the power of Jesus' Name to continue to save, heal, deliver, & to do His supernatural works today, as in the past." "No Christian work can prosper that neglects to respect & use the power & authority of His Name, or that attempts, on the other hand, to use it merely to promote the teachings or religious programs & institutions of men. But where it is spoken in faith, in harmony with the Word, Christ is pleased to demonstrate that He is still reigning on the throne of heaven." "(4) The 'last works' of overcomers will be greater than the first. Revelation 2:18-29" Joel 2:23f "It is an all too evident fact that the greater majority of Christians never progress much beyond their initial salvation experience with Christ." "It is only as we press on into the deeper life & exercise total faith in every area of our lives that our last works shall be more than the first." "Many will be saved 'as if by fire,' either from the lack of fruitful works in the Lord, or because their works were 'dead' religious works not approved by God. Sadly, many have not taken a step beyond Pentecost since receiving the Holy Spirit." "(5) Overcomers will be careful to watch lest they defile their garments. Revelation 3:1-6" "It is possible to bear the name 'Christian' & deny its life & power in actual practice." "One may have the 'form of godliness & deny the power thereof.' One may be busily engaged in various forms of religious activity & still have no sincere hunger & thirst for the deep things of the Spirit." "We are to overcome, Jesus tells us, in this realm in four ways." "a. Be watchful (vs. 2)." "b. Strengthen the weak areas in one's spiritual life (vs. 2)." "c. Remember the truth which has previously been received & hold fast to it (vs. 3)." "As we are shown in the Parable of the Sower, if we do not assimilate the Word & act on it when it is sown in our hearts, then the seed will die." James 1:22 "Remembering the Word & holding fast to it will also guard our minds & hearts against Satan's deceptions & perversion of doctrine (I Tim. 4:1)." "d. Repent (vs. 3)." "We are not merely to be hearers, but doers of the Word." "(6) Overcomers will keep Jesus' Word of endurance. Revelation 3:7-13" "God will not allow us to excuse our failures on the basis of weakness, for he has promised us that 'There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it' (1 Cor. 10:13)" "Overcomers are not promised a life free from trial, but grace to overcome through trial." "In this hour, God is not looking for those with great strength, talent & intellect, so that they might work independently of Him, & boast of their accomplishments; He is looking for the simple, the weak, the foolish, the base & despised (1 Cor. 1:26-29) who will be consecrated vessels, willing to yield themselves totally to Him, & who will keep His Word & endure." "(7) Overcomers will be those who are spiritually zealous, overcoming the temptation to lukewarmness & apathy. Revelation 3:14-22" "Vagueness & neutrality characterize everything from politics to religion. Nothing is really just black or white today; everything seems to be just a neutral gray." "'So then because thou art lukewarm, & neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth' (3:16)." "No one can be satisfied with the contemporary religious status quo & be an overcomer" "(8) Overcomers will be victorious concerning eight particular temptations & sins, which shall defeat many. Revelation 21:7-8" Deeper Life In The Spirit, by Hobart E. Freeman, pgs. 56 - 66.
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AuthorCross Preaching Pentecostal Pastor. Husband to Tonia, Father to 3 beautiful girls, Monica, Zoe & Briana, & Grandfather to Wesley & Elliott Archives
September 2023
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