AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Wednesday – August 19, 2020, Av 29, 5780
I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD
Greetings to our dear and precious friends and partners and welcome back to this powerful Bible Study of the Book of John. Please take a moment right now to share this teaching and expand the reach of this Ministry. The featured scenic picture today is courtesy of Joe Getchell Jr. a friend of this Ministry. I hope you have been enjoying his pictures, he has an eye for intriguing, eye catching, scenes. God is so good to give us revelation of His Word, light to live in and by. Revelation, light, comes to those who seek, receive, believe, and do. A word about COVID-19 and the response of Christians. To be frank it is disheartening and frustrating. What is there about, for example, the following Scripture not being understood by people who profess to love God?
1 Peter 2:13-15 (KJV)
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (Bold added in verse thirteen and fifteen)
Now, let’s turn our attention to and read our primary Bible text from the Book of John for today. Read it aloud, yes, out loud.
John 16:33 (KJV)
33 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.
Jesus is in the final few hours before He surrenders to the Cross and He is delivering words for now and eternity. Jesus is telling them and us that He has spoken to us for three primary reasons.
- That in Him we might have peace.
- Because we shall have tribulation in the world.
- We can be of good cheer because He has overcome the world.
You will notice that the primary qualifier, only qualifier given, is to be in Him. Let me ask a question. Does this mean that we will have peace by simply being saved? About a three second examination of our own lives tells us that we have been saved but not in peace dozens if not hundreds of times. Notice that the phrasing is such that even “in Him” it is our choice as to whether we have peace or not. We are freewill creations and we are the captains of our lives. If we are smart, we will choose to submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, but we choose. God has wonderful plans for everyone’s lives on the planet. The only part that the heathen see and don’t recognize is the mercy of God. Sadly most Christians see or live out only very tiny bits and pieces of His plan but lots of the results of their own plans. In order to have peace (not just tranquility) we must be doing the Word of God in love led of the Holy Spirit. In this way we can rise far above the tribulation of the world overcoming the world.
Let’s talk for a moment about Bible peace. Remember, peace is a fruit of our spirit man and it is one of the three pillars of the Kingdom of God. Because we are in the image and likeness of God, we know that a fruit of the Holy Spirit is peace. This word transliterated from the Greek to English is eirēnē according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary meaning to be joined, to have prosperity, have quietness, enter into rest, and be set at one again. To walk in Bible peace, we must be joined with Him, walking with Him, learning of Him, and not walking in the ways of the world. When we are walking in Bible peace we are walking in the prosperity (joint-heirs with Christ – participants in common) of God. This is not just treasure in Heaven, but treasure right in the here and now to get the things of the Kingdom done on the God level (clearly excellent). God does not want things done “good enough” but with excellence. In peace we will have Heavens view and not be in fear or agitation but absolutely calm. The rest of God, the rest of peace, is all of the provision of God physical and spiritual. This is vast beyond natural comprehension. In peace we are one with God in Christ Jesus. Hopefully we can all see that this peace Jesus is talking about isn’t just some nice calm feeling but is a very vast provision of God. Does it seem wise to choose peace? It is our choice, it is a part of our spiritual DNA, but it has to be exercised to be productive in our lives.
Jesus tells us that tribulation in the world is guaranteed. This word tribulation means pressure (literal or figurative), anguish, burdened, persecution, and trouble according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. Walking in peace brings us far above the tribulation of the world. Jesus said that He had overcome the world. He also has told us that we could do the things He did (John 14:12).
1 John 5:4 (KJV)
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Jesus overcame the world by faith and so must we. Faith is believing God, living by every Word from the mouth of God, walking in love (absolute obedience to Scripture), being led of the Spirit of God just like Jesus. Lord willing, I will jump into chapter seventeen tomorrow as we bring our study of the Book of John for this week to a close.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name! Quit asking God to bless you, you are already blessed, you have the Blessing, give Him something to do by the words of your mouth. Once you know the will of God, decree the thing (Job 22:28, Isaiah 45:11, Mark 11:23). (The Blessing is the Holy Spirit) We have left God way to long with nothing to do in our lives.
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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