This world being an evil place filled many snares of the evil one to entrap those who finally see and hear the still small voice of light from within them, still seem to be over whelmed by these snares and pitfalls. One strong reason for this is the fact that these are indeed perilous times and for that very reason I want to draw your attention to Isaiah 59 for it describes those who remain separated from GOD and those who by way of personal choice have made the heart effort with their consciousness (of spirit) to turn to GOD. Now I am not here going to copy and paste what is found there but will trust that you will again turn to it for yourself. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace our much needed daily bread of life and water, for victory over the darkness of the evil world of today. And then I will look at our Savior and His absolute indispensableness for life, all the while under His command and making use of the ESV translation while doing so. By the way do not leave behind the thought of, can two be together and walk as one except they be in agreement.
"Victory over the World through Faith"
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1John 5:4-5)
"The enemy of our souls would love to devour our lives. "Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1Peter 5:8). We can enjoy protection from the devil through faith. For Jesus the author of faith stated that the evil one finds nothing of his within Me, having been tested of him in the wilderness after forty days of fasting and prayer. He then resisted the devil and he fled from Him. "Resist him, steadfast in the faith" (1Peter 5:9). When the enemy cannot devastate us by direct attack, he still desires to pull us down into defeat, using the pitfalls and temptations that are available to him throughout the entire world systems. "The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). All of the unredeemed, as well as all of their cultural networks, are under the influence of the evil one. As are the new converts as they are but babes of the new life in Christ, having Christ within them, causing them to have a bull's eye on their backs. These people walk about with a target upon them and many are not aware of this, nor prepared for it. Nevertheless, we have available to us daily victory over the world through Christ's faith. As the seed hidden within us as seen in Genesis 3:15, because within this verse is a double meaning of application.
The only people who can ever walk in victory over the world as born again believers in Jesus Christ. "For whatever is born of GOD overcomes the world." We urgently need the spiritual knowledge of the overcoming Grace of GOD, because of the avenues of earthly enticements that the devil can use against us. "For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world." [That is of the devil his play ground.] (1John 2:16). Through the world around us, our spiritual foe wants to draw us into ungodly areas that our flesh craves, our eyes covet, or our pride wants to feast upon. The path of victory is traveled by Christ's faith, in the faithfulness of GOD. Just as those who walked in agreement with Him long ago and were called the "righteous" men who walked with the LORD, of the ancient worlds history. "And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith." We initially entered into the victory of Christ by placing our trust totally in Him. "Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of GOD?" We continue to experience all the manifold ramifications of that victory through day by day dependency upon the Lord, Who is LORD of all.
Jesus taught these truths when He was here upon earth. "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). It is absolutely certain that the world will bring to us all many troubles and trials. Our fully sufficient hope is the Lord Jesus Christ. The world came against Jesus with all of its plots and ploys. Our Lord and Savior never succumbed at any point. He is the one we are to rely upon, in order to walk in victory ourselves. But here is the little known Truth we do so but not alone, as we are to grow in the wisdom and knowledge of GOD that is hide in Christ and in Him alone, not in mere natural literal fleshliness of man. "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1John 4:4). Trusting in the victor allows us to walk in His victory." Making use of His Faith by Grace in all Truth, as a righteous person again in the receptivity of faith.
Our Savior is Absolutely Indispensable:
The Only Intercessor,
Isaiah 59:15-20, 21 "Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
The LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then His own arm brought Him salvation, and His righteousness upheld Him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped Himself in zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, so will He repay, wrath to His adversaries, repayment to His enemies; to the coastlands He will render repayment. So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; for He will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives. "And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression," declares the LORD.
"And as for Me, this is My covenant with them,[who willingly choose to walk in agreement with Me, as in being One]" says the LORD: "My Spirit that is upon you, and My words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring," says the LORD, "from this time forth and forevermore."
The Only Remedy,
John 3:9-15 "Nicodemus said to Jesus, "How can these things be?" Jesus answering him said, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak of what We know, and bear witness to what We have seen, but you do not receive Our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except He Who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life."
The Only Nourishment,
John 6:35-40 "Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst. For I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will but the Will of Him Who sent Me. And this is the Will of Him Who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that HE has given Me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the Will of My Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
The Only Source of Truth,
John 6:61-65, 66-71 "Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit Who gives Life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him.) And He said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him by the Father."
After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of GOD." Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil." He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray Him."
The Only Savior,
Acts 4:5-12 "The next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them (Peter and John) in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom GOD raised from the dead—by Him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. For there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
The Only Foundation,
1Corinthians 3:9, 10-15, 16-17 "For we are GOD's fellow workers. You are GOD's field, GOD's building. According to the Grace of GOD given to us, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Do you not know that you are GOD's temple and that GOD's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys GOD's temple, GOD will destroy him. For GOD's temple is holy, and you are that temple."
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