The Victorious Christian Life of Overcomers -Rev 3 Pt 3 © 2023 WF Cobb Truthbase.net DailyTruthbase.blogspot
Rev 3:21 To who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne 22 who has an ear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
I. There is a war between God (who wants what's best for us: Victory>Glory)
and satan (who wants what's worst for us: defeat>enslavement) {& we're losing)
Following God wholeheartedly leads to conquest and peace (e.g. Caleb).
Failing to fully follow God is actually following satan into captivity and regret (Israel).
A. We must use the weapons and methods God provides to achieve spiritual victory (in our souls 1st)
1Jn 4:4 You are of God..have overcome them cz He who is in you is greater than he who in the world
2:14 cz you are strong Heb 11:34 the Word of God abides in you and you have overcome pft wicked one
1Thess 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at The Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. WHY?
Eph 3:10
B. How do you know you're living the Victorious Christian Life?
There is so much preached about how you can't live the victorious Christian life on your own, and that you must trust in God to do it, that born-again “believers” ignore the 613 NT commands which God gave us to guide us to our responsibility and freedom Jn 8:32.
These ignorant defeated believers keep resting/waiting for God to give them the victory without stepping into the water, that they reframe staying on the shore or in the boat
as the “Normal Christian Life” and forfeit their victory to satan (our adversary).
We sing “Trust and Obey”, and Jesus weeps.
Bonus: Why did Peter go swimming? We always have all grace we need to do His will -2Cor 9:8 he fell cz he failed to believe that what God commanded He/he was able to do? Mt 8&14 little faith
Rm 4:19 not being weak in faith, he pondered not 20 He staggered not at the promise of God thru unbelief; but was strong in faith*, giving glory to God; 21 being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform/do. 22 Thus it was imputed to him for righteousness. *Heb 11:34
What ever happened to “take up the whole armor that you may be able to stand in the evil day” (temptation to self-centered living)
and then “having done all, stand”{in the unity the HS has created -Eph 6}?
Or 2Pt 1:5 “giving all diligence ADD to your faith: virtue...self-control*...endurance, godliness..love
(*Acts 24:25 Righteousness, Self-control judgment to come, & Gal 5:21 no inherit Kgdm)
2Pt 1:8 neither barren nor fruitful {glorify God -Jn 15} vs 9 blind, forgot rcvd cleansed
{1Pt 1:22 purified souls by obeying the Truth}
1:10 never fall, 11 abundant entrance to Kingdom
Eph 4:20 But you have not so learned Christ,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the TRUTH is in Jesus:
22 that you put off, re: your former conduct, the old man
which grows corrupt acc to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put on the new man
which was created acc to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, putting away lying, Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,
for we are members of one another...
But before you put on the “breastplate of righteousness” and “the armor of Light”,
you need to put off/cast off the works of darkness
Rm 13:11...love {neighbor as self v9} fulfills the law
12 And do this, knowing...now it is high time
to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness,
and let us put on on the armor of Light.
3 Let us walk/behave properly, as in the day, not in revelry/parties and drunkenness,
not in w-caprice and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Before you can be transformed by the renewing of your mind, you need to submit as a daily sacrifice, and put off the old Rm 12:1-2a. Early believers where taught to put off, and put on.
Modern born-again “believers” are taught to trust in their initial confession of faith, and stand/sit more comfortably in their corrupting sin which is rotting their flesh, and ruining their future. pres/eternal
Obedience isn't optional, it's optimal; Disobedience is deadly and demonic (Gen 3 &4 -Cain).
Dt 6:17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God,
His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you.
18 And you shall do what is RIGHT and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the LORD swore to your fathers
24 And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God,
for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.
25 Then it will be RIGHTEOUSNESS for us,
if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God,
as He has commanded us.
II. Overcomers obtain blessings/glory; Succumbers suffer loss (temporal and eternal -Rm 2)
Slumberers/Sluggards
Rev 3:I Sardis: know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2 Be watchful, strengthen what remains about to die, I've not found your works PERFECT before God
3 Remember1...received* & heard; hold fast and REPENT...if you will not wake/heed, I will come...
impv pft *aggressive acceptance -WH impv impv
It should be obvious to any unbiased student of the Scriptures that the recipients
are all born-again believers who have:
received/taken to oneself pft *aggressive acceptance WH {gospel Truth}
heard/perceived/understood aor -Rm 10:14 “births faith” WH
and are commanded to hold fast/guard1 impv {keeping a present possession -obvi!!)
and strengthen1 v2 what remains, aor impv to establish, give support to, fix down, make firm
and REPENT1 impv \cz their works are not perfect in the sight of God v2.
The corrective in each church is never believe or have faith, but act on that belief
and have works (Js 2:26 w/o which faith is dead, and cannot save {not justification aspect but sanctification/glorification = reward/inheritance Col 3, not escape from the Lake of Fire -Rev 10:15)
Js 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. {not non-existent, but unfruitful}
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”
Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see: faith was working together w/ his works, and by/ek works faith was made perfect?
Ephesus: -left 1st love...+do 1st works +be other-centered vs self-centered {service=meet needs}
2:12 I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake
and have not become weary.
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen;
REPENT and do the first works, or else I will come to you remove lampstand unless REPENT
Self-Preservation is a Natural Temporal Desire opposed to the Spiritual Eternal Choice of Self-Sacrifice
Self-preservation expresses itself:
A) in an unwillingness or inconsistency to spend oneself for the glory of God & the benefit of others
B) in a focus on the self’s: interests, security, significance, promotion, needs, desires
(power, pleasure, possessions);
C) in an aversion to risk, conflict & transparency and a devotion to comfort & acceptance.
Smyrna: +have no fear of opposition/persecution (faith in provision-protection), +but be faithful to death
2:8...dead, and came to life 9 I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the 2nd death
Heb 2:14...that thru death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who thru fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Mt 10:28 don't fear...kill the body... not able to kill the soul: Truthbase.net
fear Him able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.(not Lake of Fire; see What the Gehenna)
Pergamos: -tolerate false teaching: esp immoral/pleasure, and rebellion/insubordination (people rule)
2:13 I know your works, and where you dwell, where satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even...Antipas My faithful martyr...where satan dwells.
14...a few things cx you, cz you have there those who hold the teaching of Balaam... stumbling block before Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols (pagan worship), and to commit sexual immorality.
15 you also have those who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans (people rule), which thing I hate.
16 REPENT, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight cx them with the sword of My mouth.
17 To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.
Thyatira: -tolerate false prophetess: esp immorality; +but hold fast what you have
2:19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; works, are more than at first.
20 Nevertheless I have a few things cx you, cz you allow that woman Jezebel a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
22 sickbed, those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they REPENT of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you acc to your works. 2Cor 5:10
25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ as I also have received from My Father;
Sardis: -hypocrisy, defiled; but remember, be watchful, strengthen, perfect works, be holy & worthy
3:1 I know your works, that you have a reputation that you are alive, but you are dead.
2 Be watchful/on guard, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,
for I have not found your works perfect before God (.….or else......CONSEQUENCES)
3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and REPENT. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour...
suffer loss...blot/cross out name
4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments;
and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. See Worthy to Escape Truthbase.net
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot/cross out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Rev 20:15 anyone not found having been written PFT in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire
Philadelphia: keep command to persevere in trials, hold fast what you have, don't lose crown!
3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9 I will make those of the synagogue of satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10 Cz you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God
Laodocia: -lukewarm poor, blind, naked; +be zealous to repent, hear/invite fllshp w/ Christ
3:15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, cz you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Cz you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’
and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and REPENT.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
From Bondage Breaker sermon: Our Desire for Self-Preservation opens the Door to Bondage
Heb 2:14...that thru death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who thru fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Mt 10:28 don't fear...kill the body... not able to kill the soul: fear Him able to destroy soul and body in Gehenna
Self-Preservation = Natural Temporal Desire opposed; to the Spiritual Eternal Choice of Self-Sacrifice
Self-preservation expresses itself:
A) in an unwillingness or inconsistency to spend oneself for the glory of God & the benefit of others
B) in a focus on the self’s: interests, security, significance, promotion, needs, temporal desires
(power, pleasure, possessions);
C) in an aversion to risk, conflict & transparency and a devotion to comfort & acceptance.
1Cor 6:17 one who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that one does is outside the body, but they who commit sexual immorality sins against their own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is
in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought/purchased at a price;
therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
III. Warfare with the resources of Christ/HS overcomes the World, Flesh, and Devil -Eph 6
(World: “If Loving you is Wrong, I don't Want to be Right” and “Torn Between 2 Lovers” -below)
If loving you is wrong I don't wanna be right;
If being right means being without you; I'd rather live a wrong doing life
Your mama and daddy say it's a shame; It's a downright disgrace;
But long as I got you by my side, I don't care what your people say
Your friends tell you it's no future in loving a married man
If I can't see you when I want, I'll see you when I can,
If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right x2
Am I wrong to fall so deeply in love with you,
Knowing I got a wife and two little children depending on me too
And am I wrong to hunger for the gentleness of your touch,
Knowing I got someone else at home who needs me just as much
And are you wrong to give your love to a married man,
And am I wrong for trying to hold on to the best thing I ever had
I don't wanna be right, If it means sleeping alone at night...
I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna never, never, never be right - 1972 Lyrics.com
A. Victory over The World (faith? 1Jn 5:4)
1Jn 5:19 We know...the whole world lies under the control of the wicked one. Lk 4:4 delivered to me...
1Jn 2:16 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.
1Jn 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God,
that we keep His commandments and His commandments are not burdensome.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. (present tense)
And this is the victory that has overcome/overcomes (aor-snapshot) the world—our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Jn 16:32...you will be scattered...and will leave Me alone.
And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 These things I have spoken to you, that IN ME you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. pft!
2Tim 3:12 Yes, and all who desire/purpose to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
11...what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you must continue/remain in the things which you have learned and been assured of..
15...known Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation thru faith which is in Christ
16 All Scripture inspired by God: profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training...
A1. Embrace reality that our citizenship is in heaven,
and we're just sojourners here.
Php 3:20 our citizenship is in heaven,
from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
Jn 5:37 the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, 38 and you do not have His Word in your hearts,
cz you do not believe me-the One He sent to you.
39 You search the Scriptures cz you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. Cf Acts 7:51 always resist HS as fathers did so do you
41 Your approval means nothing to me, 42 cz I know you don't have the love of God within you. (cf 1Jn 5:3 this is the love of God, we keep His commandments & His commandments are not burdensome)
43 For I have come to you in my Father's name, and you have rejected me.
Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them.
44 No wonder you can't believe! For you gladly receive honor/glory-doxa from each other,
but you don't seek/care about the honor/glory-doxa that comes from the One who alone is God.
Heb 11:6
A2. Loyally love, obey, and serve Jesus, not the transient world/mammon* Mt 5:8 no holy...no see
Mt 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal/devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. depend
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. {Mt 6:24 devoted or despised}
16 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.
17 the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Js 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Gal 6:14 God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom/which the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. 15...new creation 16...peace & mercy/hesed
CZ of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. NLT
Col 2:18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility...vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the Body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. cf Eph 4
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, (cf Rm 6:3-4)
why, as tho living in the world, do subject yourselves...22 which all concern things which perish... 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but are of no value cx the indulgence of the flesh. 3:1
Rm 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him thru baptism into death*, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 if we have been united together in the likeness of His death*, certainly also in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified* with Him,
so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Rm 8:13 For if you live acc to the flesh you will die;
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Col 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ...
A3. Col 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
3:5 So put to death* the sinful, earthly things lurking within you/belonging to your earthly nature. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires/longing/cravings. 5:24#
Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. NLT/NIV
#5:24 Now those who are of/belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires
6 Cz of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy/slander, unwholesome/abusive/saucy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in/by knowledge acc to the image of Him who created him,
A4. 12 Therefore, as the choice/elect |
