Friday, April 13, 2012

Double Portion, Double Trouble, Double Blessing Part IIII

Jesus Christ, even before His death on the Cross, told us not to worry about the challenges which face us as believers:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33)

The same apostle would explain the fullness of this comfort in his first epistle:

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."  (1 John 4:4)

Christ in every believer, the positive expectation of good and glory, He lives in us, His more than overcoming power lives and thrives within us. We need to walk as He walked, to see ourselves as He sees us, for:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)

To make sure that no one misses this vital point about our new identity, the double portion within us that empowers to overcome every hardship:

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)

We connect with God in us by faith, believing in the power within us through the Holy Spirit. By faith we work out what God is already working within us.

Jesus also promises that we will receive all that we need in this life, even in the face of persecution:

"Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

"But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." (Mark 10: 28-30)

We do not lose with God, because in effect we have nothing but an eternal sin debt. We are slaves in bondage to sin and death:

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

"Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." (Ephesians 2: 1-3)

We had a sin debt beyond calculation, which only Christ's death on the Cross could pay. Yet not only did He pay for our sins, He redeemed us from the curse of the law, and He gave gifts unto me, the chief of which is the Holy Spirit, who grants us the Life, Presence, and Person of Christ Jesus!

We are more than conquerors in Christ! No matter what persecution you may face, no matter what railing you may face, you have the Name and the Person of the Son of God living within you!

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

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