September 2015

And They Overcame...

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Revelation 12:11

What is it like to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and what can you expect to happen when you do?  As the overview of the book And They Overcame states, that path is as distinct and diverse as each one who traverses it.

Here is a great resource detailing testimonials of a few who have come to know Jesus Christ. These testimonials not olny speak to the continued veracity & relevance of the Scriptures, they affirm that Jesus Christ is still very much alive today!

I hope this book blesses you and strengthens your own testimony in the faith.

This book is comprised of 21 personal handwritten testimonies of how real people entered into salvation and how Jesus Christ became a reality in their lives. Each account is different and distinct because every person on earth is faced with a different set of circumstances and living situations. Even though all of these people are coming from different backgrounds, they all have one thing in common; Jesus Christ has brought salvation to their souls and is delivering them from the shackles of sin and death.

Drifting Away From My Core

Please take time to read this testimony from a Sister in the Lord.

I can attest to this struggle, having gone through it myself. In fact, I can say that I still encounter situations where I have to make this choice and the Lord uses those to show me other areas in my life where soul ties with these familiar spirits need to be broken.

Drifting Away From My Core

I will make an honest confession.  I care what people think about me.  Sometimes to my own detriment.  I encountered a  situation today that left me somewhat emotional.  While I attempted to fight back tears, I had to ask myself why I felt so hurt.  When I came to the realization of the origins of those feelings, I let the tears go and cried. I cried, not because of what the person said to me, but I cried due to the realization that I still greatly care about what people think of me and how they view me.  I was heartbroken that this person I have known and loved for years would utter comments towards me that were not in the affirmative because of a difference in opinion, and I was hurt.  My reaction caught me off guard. 

I'd done so well pretending not to care how I was perceived by certain groups or individuals and talked big talk like I was ready to let things run off my back like water.  I thought I had shaken the feelings of needing to be liked and accepted by others because of the personal stances I took on certain issues.  I thought I was as strong on the inside as my talk would lead one to believe, but the talk proved to be a smoke screen for something weak on the inside.

Boldness

"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1

I have been praying lately for more boldness. This is something which also the disciples asked for prayer.

"And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word." Acts 4:29

"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:19-20

Variations of the world "bold" appear various times in the Scriptures, but do you know where it appears the most?  In the book of Acts.  At the birth of the church, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus Christ and changed them dramatically.  Where they had once been afraid, they were now bold.  I can think of few other words which so appropriately describe their preaching.

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled..." Acts 4:13

"...they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" Acts 4:31

"...he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus." Acts 9:27

"And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus..." Acts 9:29

"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold..." Acts 13:46

"Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord" Acts 14:3

"And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue..." Acts 18:26

"And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months..." Acts 19:8

They needed boldness, not only because they were facing persecution, but because the pressure against Christians to be quiet is supernatural.  The satanic powers in the heavenlies attempt to pervert the atmosphere globally so as to prevent the Gospel from being preached. There are spiritual powers at work to stop the mouths of Christians and prevent the testimony of Jesus Christ from being proclaimed, because Satan knows that once this happens, the end will come (Matthew 24:14).