We Are Overcomers!

Today we were blessed to attend church with our son and his bride at the wonderful little church where they were married.

We have been visiting there frequently over the past few months. It's too bad that we live thirty miles away, or we would be there more often.  After years of serving in the ministry, it is wonderful to be at a place where we feel the presence of the Lord, ministering to us..as well as to everyone around us.  "Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place". 

And what is interesting to us is that this is just a little country church, hardly big enough to hold more than 80 people maximum, with none of the popular attractions that seem to be considered so essential in the church world today...and yet today they had so many children stand up and go to "children's church" the congregation broke out into applause as we sang "Jesus Loves Me"... and when we had communion at the close of the service they ran out of "wine" (grape juice), and someone had to run out to the kitchen to get some more...or perhaps they turned some water into wine...but again...what a blessing! So many there to partake of communion they had to go get some more to serve them all...

It just goes to show that you can't always judge a book by its cover, or a church by its name.
You have to go inside, meet the people, the pastor, and partake of communion together to know whether or not the Spirit of the Lord is truly in a place...

The last couple of Sundays the pastor has been preaching about not giving up on our dreams, our hopes, our calling.  Today's scriptures were from Hebrews 12:1-2, I Corinthians 15:57-58, and I John 5:4-5.  I will quote them here for you, and then perhaps you can write your own sermon to yourself based on these verses...

Hebrews 12:1-2

1.  "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by 
so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight, 
and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2.  Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, 

Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,

despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

I Corinthians 15:57-58

57.  "But thanks be to God;

who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58.  Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

I John 5:4-5
4.  "For whatever is born of God
overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world...
our faith!"
5.  Who is he who overcomes the world, 
but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Perhaps you are feeling defeated, beaten down by the world, frustrated with what seems to be dead ends and no hope in sight...but those thoughts aren't coming from God, my friend.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then you are an overcomer through Christ!  Christ has already given us the victory that overcomes the world...Our faith!! If we believe in Jesus Christ, we will overcome this world and all the sorrows of it.
No, that doesn't mean we will never experience disappointments or grief, but it does mean that we don't have to stay locked in with our sorrows. 
"Thanks be to God...Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"
So,
"Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable, 
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

So now...
what are you going to do?