Jesus did Overcome

Easter for us as Christians is the time to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I am so joyful that His death was capped off with His overcoming that death with resurrection. Yet, this morning I was reminded that Jesus overcame before He died and rose again.

“³²Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. ³³I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:32-33 (ESV)

In this passage, Jesus is speaking with His apostles and explaining to them plainly who He is. He is giving them no doubt as to His deity and that He is not in need of anything from this world. He says to them in verse 33, “I have overcome the world”. This statement and interaction with the apostles comes before His death and resurrection. Jesus had been building up to this moment with them for some time and this was the beginning of His showing the world that He had overcome, but going to the cross as an innocent man and dying for you and me so that we would not have to die in our sin.

Jesus was hated. Where He was followed and celebrated for the work He was doing, He was looked at as a charismatic speaker who was taking the attention away from those in religious power. He was hated by them before they hated you and me as we were the followers and may still be swayed back.

“¹⁸If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” – John 15:18-19 (ESV)

Jesus was not of the world and therefor was not under the rule of the world. He overcame the world well before His death and resurrection. Jesus knew however that we needed a more firm example of our acceptance and that He had overcome. So, He died, and then was raised again. I now can see with my eyes that He had overcome this world. Jesus is greater than all and was not constrained by this world, He ruled over it through His love for you and me and His sacrifice for us.

What is your view of Jesus overcoming the world? Were you of the thoughts that it was His death and resurrection where He overcame? What if you look at it from the perspective that He overcame and ruled this world and was crucified to demonstrate His rule over the world?

The Darkness Does NOT Overcome the Light

This morning I am shifting to study the word “overcome” and I begin in John as he speaks of the light that is the LORD.

“⁴In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:4-5 (ESV)

When reading this verse and studying of the light of the LORD, it is clear to me that the darkness is a powerful thing. Darkness is all around. If we are not aware, darkness is even disguised as good. Take the example (I want to be clear in that this is an example of evil appearing good and should only be taken as such) of the Holocaust. Those on the side of Hitler believed that to make things better there needed to be a cleansing. When we think about things, a cleansing can be good, but as we know, in this instance it was not good and was filled with darkness. So, we have to be very careful with darkness as it is very deceitful and powerful.

But, there is one thing that will not be overcome by darkness and that is the light. In its simplest form, a lit candle, light provides the ability to see in the darkness. But, the light that is the LORD, is way more powerful. No matter the darkness that comes, the light of the LORD will not be overcome. Take the example above of the Holocaust. The darkness was destructive and powerful to the point that there was despair all around. But the light of the LORD won out in the end. The Nazis were defeated and that darkness was no more.

Make no mistake, darkness will continue to fight. Whether it is theft, drugs, murder, or even those things more subtle like turning attention away from the LORD. Darkness is not going to give up. But, we have the light that is the LORD on our side and He will not be overcome. He will root out the darkness so that all will see. We only have to open our eyes and see.

What are your thoughts on darkness and the light? Are you even aware of the power of darkness? What if you were, through your belief in the light, realized that darkness does not have a chance to win?

Qualities that Lead the Escape of Sinful Desire

“⁵For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” – 2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV)

And there they are, the qualities that I have to undertake each and every moment. I notice this morning that they begin with faith and build up to the quality of love. What a great quality to have. We have to love. After all, it is the top two commandments.

“³⁷And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)

Jesus, when asked, identified love as the important part of those commandments and it is no wonder that Peter identifies it as one of the key qualities to escape sinful desire. But, it is not just about knowing the qualities, we are called to live them out.

“⁸For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” – 2 Peter 1:8-10 (ESV)

Peter lets known that the qualities, where having them is important, it is more important to live them out. And notice in the second half of verse 10 that “if you practice these qualities you will never fall”. This fall is not related to the experience of hardship or persecution, but that you will escape the trap of sinful desire.

“³His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, ⁴by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” – 2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)

So here we have it. Immerse into the qualities that are good, faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. They begin with faith and the pinnacle is love knowing that the top two commandments are rooted in love. When I am living these qualities daily, I am able to escape sinful desire and inherit the kingdom of God.

“¹¹For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 1:11 (ESV)

What are you doing to escape sinful desire? Are you looking to simply be good? What if you lived daily the qualities above knowing that they will keep you from sinful desire?

Own Desire Leads to Death

Wow Trevor, no holding back this morning are you. Well, it is the truth that hurts the most once it is realized.

“¹⁴But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” – James 1:14-15 (ESV)

And there you have it, no, I am not holding back, only presenting the truth as found in God’s Word. James is writing in this passage of the “Testing of Your Faith” (according to my English Standard Version). But, notice that here he is not speaking of testing, but tempting and when reading the full passage we find that indeed God does not tempt us, but our faith will be tested.

Back to the verses above, James tells us that we will be tempted, but that temptation comes from our own desires. When we are presented with the what the world offers, we are tempted to accept which takes our eyes off of Jesus. And when our eyes are off of Jesus, our hearts will eventually follow and we are led to sin. I ask the LORD daily to keep my hands and heart active with His work to avoid the wandering eyes that will see the temptations of the world and lead to sin.

As we see in verse 15 above, that sin that comes from the temptation of the world ultimately leads in our death. We will find ourselves focused on our own desire in the world and will lose ourselves to it.

“²⁴For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” – Luke 9:24 (ESV)

Jesus said that when we are in the business of our own lives, we are actually out of business. But as we give ourselves to Him fully we will be in business forever. I have to remember to desire the LORD and not the world as presented. I have to stay vigilant in my looking to Jesus or I risk giving into the temptation of the world which will lead to sin and will ultimately end in death.

What is it that you desire? Are you finding yourself tempted by the things of this world? What if you were to focus your desire on the LORD and His work to avoid the temptation of sin which will lead to death?

Desire Through Faith

“¹⁶But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” — Hebrews 11:16 (ESV)

They is all of those who were righteous in the eyes of God, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah. There are/were of course many others who were considered righteous and all of them were fully faithful to the LORD. They gave of themselves fully for things that seemed impossible, as they knew in their hearts that they would be delivered at the had of God. Each of these desired something better, a heavenly better and knew it would be provided through their faith.

What a great testament to me these are. They demonstrate their full faith and devotion to the LORD and in return, they knew that He would provide. There was not expectation of how, only that He would. They placed full faith in the LORD to provide for their desire for better.

I have to use this in my own life. I have to remember to place my full faith in the LORD, knowing that He will provide. I cannot expect things to go as I plan them, only that they are resolved. I have to be open to how the LORD will provide and simply do the work he has assigned me and live in faith that it will lead to the provision for better.

What a great other view at the idea that I should only desire the LORD. In this instance, I am to desire better, but only as God sees fit for me and have full faith that He will indeed provide. My desire is rooted in the LORD and His plan for me. I can want for things and hope that they will come. But my desire should be in the LORD and for things that will be better in His sight and know that through my faith in Him, I will get the better as He sees fit.

What do you desire? Are you putting all your hope into something that you want? What if you placed all your hope and faith in God knowing that He will provide the better that He has in store for you?

Buckle Up

“¹²Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” — 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

So you want to be a follower of Christ and live a life as an example of Him. Get ready, as it is not an easy road to be on. Paul notes above to Timothy that when one seeks God and to be an example of Him, the days are nothing if not filled with challenges.

I can speak to this personally that when we are living for God, we are misunderstood. I gone into situations where I am not shy about my faith in Christ and at those times I am cast aside as inflexible and not like the rest in that are there. To that, I can say I am glad it was found out early to save more persecution as I went forward.

I know that being a follower of Christ was never said to be along the easy road. Yet, it did take some time to realize it as I grew in my faith and understanding of the LORD through His Word. And where I am not one to take a lot of risk, thankfully there is really not a lot of risk in the LORD. There is uncertainty in the moment as we never really know the outcome of God’s plans for us, by following Him, the reward is already known and we only have to do His will to receive.

Buckle-up is where I land this morning in my thoughts of this passage. I know that being a follower of Christ is not easy, and therefor I have to be ready for whatever is placed in the path to work through for Christ. I have to be strapped in and ready for anything that may come my way. I may not know what that is, but I have to know that it may not be pleasant in the moment. I have to study and prepare for those challenges that are sure to be there. The Word of God gives me the straps to buckle with and the learning to get me through.

“¹⁶All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

What is your view of following Christ? Are you looking for all rainbows and sunshine? What if you went in knowing the path is going to be filled with challenges and you buckle-up for what is to come?

Desire for the Better

Each morning I come to my desk and bible study with an open heart and mind for the LORD to guide me as to what He would have me learn. And, each morning I am brought to the scripture where about half the time I have been been before, only this time to learn something new from the same verse or passage. This morning is not any different.

“²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²²If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ²³I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” – Philippians 1:21-26 (ESV)

I have been to this passage many times and have learned that it is important to remain here in this world to do the work that God has for me. I have to stay for the better of those in this world to bring the gospel to them so they have the opportunity to gain from salvation as I have.

But today I am here to learn about the other side, gaining from death and how I am to desire that gain for the reward that is to come in heaven. Paul writes that he desires the better, dying to be with Christ. What a great thing to set one’s sights, being with Christ because it is better than what is here and now.

I began my devoted morning bible study back in October of 2016 and the first of “Trevor’s Thoughts” was through a study of “Jesus is Better”. One of that study’s first lesson was centered on exploring your “kingdom purpose”. Here is one sentence from that writing, “Our ‘kingdom purpose’ comes to us by simply following the plan Christ has for us.” I wrote that on October 8, 2016 and it still holds true today. We are to follow the plan Christ has for us.

That plan is for us to be here doing His work, but the desire for the better, gaining through death to be with Christ is okay and encouraged. Where being with Christ is our ultimate destination, I still have work to do here in this world and as such, being with Christ is simply my desire and something that I will certainly be looking forward to reaching.

What is the work you have here in this world? Is that in line with your desire for the better? What if you kept doing the work of Christ for those here in this world and kept the desire for the better, being with Christ, as just that, the desire and the end destination to look forward to reaching?

Desire the Higher Gifts

Each morning as I study I am introduced to something that I was not thinking of before. This morning is not really any different. I have stated that one should only desire the LORD and yet this morning as I continue with the study of the word “desire” I see that I should desire higher things.

“³¹But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.” – 1 Corinthians 12:31 (ESV)

So, how does it work I ask. I am to desire the LORD and yet desire higher things. So confusing when you are not looking at the whole picture.

These “higher things” are of the LORD and not of the world. That is the way. I am to desire the LORD and all that He has and will give. He will provide all that I “need”. The “higher things” here are gifts that only he can give to us and I have to desire the gifts that He has for me, which may be different than my neighbor.

“²⁷Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” – 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 (ESV)

Not all of us can be healers. Not all of us can be teachers. Not all of us will be administrators. We each have our role in the church and that is what we should desire, the gift that the LORD has for us based on our role He has tasked us.

“¹Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” – 1 Corinthians 14:1 (ESV)

Paul gives additional insight into that which we are to desire in his letter, “spiritual gifts”. These gifts will be different for each of us and that is what we should seek from the LORD. It is easy to see that which others have and think that we should have that as well. But doesn’t that broach the idea of covetousness? So my previous learning related to the word “desire” is correct even now. I am to “Desire the LORD” and “Stay as You Are” and “Desire the Higher Gifts” as are the titles to some of my recent posts.

What is your view of desiring? Are you still of the idea that you should desire more? What if you focused your desire on the LORD and the higher things that only He can/will provide for you?

Stay as You Are

If you are unmarried or you are widowed, stay that way. There is no reason to get in a hurry to change your current relationship status. You should be focusing your desire on the LORD and not on another partner.

“³⁷But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.” – 1 Corinthians 7:37 (ESV)

In this passage from 1 Corinthians, Paul is speaking directly to those who may have lost a spouse or those who may be engaged to be married. The above verse is referencing the idea that our desire should be in check, either we satisfy our physical desire by marrying so we can get back to desiring the LORD, or that we have our desire on the LORD and our physical wants are of much less consequence. Either way, our desire should be on the LORD and not on the physical.

I know for me, it is great to have a wife of 28 years that satisfies my physical wants. I do not need to look elsewhere and can focus on the LORD with my desire. I am content staying where I am. I know of others who have been engaged for a good time and are content to stay there as they grow spiritually. I recently witnessed a couple engaged to be married who have focused on the LORD and one of them was baptized, declaring publicly dedication to the LORD and the other in the relationship was beaming with joy. I say all of this in that the LORD would rather us stay where we are than get caught up in the wants of the flesh. But, make no mistake, that if being married helps with satisfying the physical so that one can get back to the desire of the LORD, then marriage is good, as long as it is rooted in the LORD.

All we do should be for the benefit of your relationship with the LORD. It is not for our own wants physically. It is for the glory of the LORD. Whether that is being married or remaining single, all is to keep us focused on the LORD. I say, stay where you are and get your desire for the LORD to the top of your things to do list before another.

What are you focused on in relationships? Are you looking to fully satisfy your physical at all costs? What if you were to take the approach to stay where you are and focus your desire on the LORD before another?

Desire to Do What is Right

Doing what is right is not easy.

Oh, let me explain. There is what is right and then there is what is legal. This morning I continue my study of the word “desire” and was led to Romans chapter 7 and the passage titled “the law and sin”. A great passage that Paul wrote describing how the law leads to sin in that before we knew the law, we could not sin against it. Yet now that we know the law, we find ourselves fighting with sin over it.

“¹⁸For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” – Romans 7:18-20 (ESV)

Paul understood that our flesh self is controlled by the sin in the world. That when we set out to do something, we are blinded by that in the world that keeps us in line according to the law. And by doing so, we are a slave to sin that is found as a result of the law.

But, Paul also understood that internally we are good thanks to the LORD. We have accepted Him into our hearts and there He dwells within us to provide us that guidance to what is good and right. We have, as Paul states and I believe as well, “the desire to do what is right”. Yet, we have the world out there advising to follow the law and therefor are driven to sin.

It is interesting that Paul declares that he does not have the ability to carry out what is right when in fact he is imprisoned for doing the work of the LORD. Paul was unapologetic at doing the work of the LORD and for that he was imprisoned. He was not following the law, but following that what is right in the LORD. But, Paul, being the man of God he was, was not satisfied with just his doing what was right. He wanted that all would do right.

Again, doing what is right is not easy. I may be contrary to the law of man. But, I have to remember that what is legal, or within the law, may not always be what is right in the name of the LORD. I have to obey the law of man where I can and when the Law of God, or that which is right, is more than the law of man, I should do that which is right. I am judged physically here in this world, but the judgment of the LORD in heaven is where my allegiance is ultimately found. The consequences of this world are of no consequence when I have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.

What actions are you generally taking? Are you following the law, or what is right? What if you worked to do what is right regardless of the consequences in this world knowing that you answer to the LORD ultimately?