5 May 2009
The Power to Overcome
Posted by admin1 under: Sermons .
And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth (Judges 16:15).
The following stories should be put in remembrance: Jesus was tempted three times. In all three times Jesus prevailed and used the scripture to defend himself from the darts of the devil. After overcoming his three temptations the angels came and ministered unto him (St. Matthew 4: 1-11).
Peter denounced Jesus three times. The third time the cock crew and Peter wept bitterly (St. Luke 22: 34;61). Jesus asked Peter to confess him three times. And the third time Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him for the third time if Peter loved him more than these (St. John 21:15-17). Paul prayed three times for a thorn which was in his flesh. And it is at the third time that Paul got the answer that God’s grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12: 8-9).
And now from the book of the Judges we see Samson being tempted three times. And at the third time, Samson gave in, and was over come. Samson had great strength (Judges 16:6). The Old Patriachs knew where their strength came from, wherefore they sang, “the Lord is my strength and song” (Exodus 15:2). Samson did not realize that the presence of God gave him the physical strength.
Without God, we do not have the strength to overcome the devil. The word of God is powerful (Hebrews 4:12). If we rely on it, it will give us strength. Jesus, though the Son of God, used scriptures to defend himself from the devil. The word of God is a shield to them that put their trust in him.
Our temptations have purpose. Temptations are there to strengthen our faith in God. They are there to strengthen our character. It is by overcoming temptations that Job was justified and found to be a righteous man who escheweth evil (Job 1:8). Joseph too resisted the devil (Genesis 39:7-20).Temptations give us the opportunity to stand up for God and stand up against the devil. Indeed many promises can be made by our mouths, but few can keep the promises they make. It is easy to say we love God and hate evil. And it is through temptations that our true faith is put to the test. Temptations, if we overcome them, give us opportunity to choose God, and not to hold two opinions (I Kings 18:21).
When temptations come, where will they find us? A song says “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!”. What will we be standing on? If we are standing on the word of God, even after great temptations, we will still be standing. For they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).
How essential is it for us to overcome? To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne (Revelation 3:21).
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