Overcome

OVERCOME

Scripture: 1 John 5:4

INTRODUCTION

It is exciting to realize we are privileged to live at the end of this dispensation. when the conflict between Satan and his demons and Christ and His saints is fast moving toward a climax. The Word of God describes this period in the history of mankind as being in two different spheres, both of them critical.

THE WORLD TODAY

We read the description of world conditions in general from Paul’s second letter to Timothy:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, high-minded. lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep Into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith (2 Timothy 3:1-8).

This passage in the letter of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, with Its indisputable, detailed description of the conditions of society toward the close of this twentieth century, bears the unmistakable stamp of divine revelation. Surely the extent and the accuracy of these prophecies must convey a positive and a challenging message to the Christian church! let us hear It loud and clear. Time Is running out.

In spite of and in contrast to these terrible conditions in the world, there are times and places where revivals occur and the power of God’s Holy Spirit, working through the lives of converts, brings a change in the conditions of society.

As long as this dispensation lasts and so long as God’s people give themselves to prayer, the possibility of such revivals must be ever with us. We have witnessed such revivals in our time in Korea, in South America, in Africa, and elsewhere. May we never lose sight of the overriding desire of the Father:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

WHERE THE CHURCH STANDS TODAY

While that is how the world looks, what about the church?

When we read the messages to the seven churches of Asia, we understand they were directed not only to those specific congregations mentioned but also to us as in terms of prophetic significance. We turn to the last of those seven letters, the message to the church at Laodicea, and discover a description that can be found In these last days within the Christian church:

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent (Revelation 3:14-19).

The seriousness of this message is seen In John’s description of "one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as If they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength" (Revelation 1:13-16).

DANGERS FACING THE CHURCH

Such language conveys strong warnings against complacency.

First of all there Is the dangerous condition of lukewarmness which corresponds to Inactivity and neutrality in the Christian life.

The church is in danger of trying to accommodate everyone and in the process losing its effectiveness and thereby becoming lukewarm. There is only one way by which a person can become accepted into the body of Christ and that is by the experience of the new birth.