How To Be An Overcomer

How to Be an Overcomer

Rev.3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

Do you have things in your life that you need to overcome? If you are like the rest of us, you know that there are areas and situations in your life that need to be improved or overcame.

Those who overcome will find rest at the throne of the Father, even as Jesus, our forerunner, rests on the throne, secure in his victory over hell, sin, and death.

Jesus is pointing us to the fact that his victory over death and sin was done for us. To all those who are 'in Christ' by faith, and who believe that he is the Lamb of God who took our sins away, His victory is our victory! Jesus died as every person, not just for every person.

Look at the words of Jesus in John 16:33, "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."

'In Jesus' we are overcomers! No matter what kind of tribulation the world throws at us, we can't lose, because of our identity with Jesus, and our trust in our relationship with him. He is our peace. He is our victory. He is our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption!

Because Jesus is in us, and we are in him, we are overcomers. We are more than conquerors because of him who loves us. We have been saved by his grace, through the faith which he has freely provided. Hallelujah!

1 Jn. 5:4,5 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus Christ is the son of God?

All our striving, good intentions, and our firmest resolutions are not as effective as the faith which is born of God! Christ within us is the overcomer! No matter how things look to us, whatever evidence our natural minds or circumstances present to us, our God given faith tells us that we will overcome by trusting in God's love for us.

Look to Jesus in every situation. Listen to the Holy Spirit as he whispers to you that you have been given the gift of righteousness, and you have not been abandoned by your Savior. Your sins and shortcomings will not scare God away or make him love you less than he did at the Cross when he gave his all for you! Don't give up! His grace is more than sufficient, and his love for you is un-quenchable! You are engraved on the palms of his hands, he hasn't forgotten or forsaken you. there is no place where his grace cannot reach you and give you what you need!

Do you want to be an overcomer? You must be born from above; ask Jesus to be your personal Savior and Lord. Rest in his love and know that, no matter what happens, you are his, and nothing can separate you from him! His work on your behalf is finished. He has given you eternal life!

Keep on trusting God, quit trying to do things your way, and remember that you are a new creature in Christ. You are predestined to be conformed to his image. Trust in his victory, and overcome everything that the world, the flesh, and the devil try to throw at you. Enjoy your new freedom in Christ,and remember that He loves you, no matter what!

Rev. Chuck Loubert 4-30-12

Want to Reign in Life?

Want to reign in life?

   We all want to be successful and overcome the obstacles and challenges that we are faced with in this life. Conventional wisdom declares that we must strive, be intentional, determined, and faithful (or lucky), in order to have a successful life; but there is a better way to reign in this life, and the pay-off is guaranteed by the word of God himself!.

"For if by one man's offense death reigned by one [referring to Adam]; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Rom. 5:17

   All those who believe and have accepted the gift of righteousness that was made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus, have an abundance of grace. Your life can be successful and you can reign in this life, when you realize how much Jesus has done for you, and how much he truly loves you. Eternal life includes the 'here and now'.

   Jesus died to save all men, and his free gift of righteousness is available to all who will receive the "abundance of grace"! Those who insist upon establishing their own righteousness, will never partake of the righteousness that is given freely through grace and received by faith.

   Jesus came to save sinners, therefore; the self righteous, and those who are content with their fallen state, will not see the need to rely on God's grace and his free gift of eternal life.

   This grace that saves us, is the unmerited favor and unconditional love that God has extended to all who will receive it. By receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior and your Redeemer, you unlock all the treasures of salvation that your heavenly Father has stockpiled for you!

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who has called us to glory and virtue:" 2Peter 1:2,3

   Too often, we Born Again believers, are content to rely on our own limited resources, and we don't dip into that stockpile of grace that is our inheritance in Christ. We accept that we are saved by grace, but we try to continue on with our lives, relying on our own strength and our own habitual way of doing things. It's 'business as usual', until there is a crisis of some sort, then we storm the gates of heaven for relief and rescue.

   We can avoid all sorts of problems and trouble, by simply relying on the wisdom and direction that God has promised to give us freely by grace. We can truly reign in this life by trusting in Jesus! No matter where you are, or what your situation, Your heavenly Father loves you and wants the best for you. Your failures and setbacks will be turned around as you rely on his grace to sustain and help you! You will find all the endurance and the joy that you need to take you through all of your present trials, and you will find yourself giving glory to God for the victories that will follow.

   Our heavenly Father has given us his word, in the pages of the Bible, to show us his ways, and his grace toward us. His unconditional love is revealed to us as we read the promises and instructions there.

   He has also sent his Spirit to interpret what we have read, and to open our understanding to his truth. The Spirit also reveals Jesus to us, in the Bible, and in our everyday lives. He will speak to your heart when you need direction or comfort. He will give you insight into your circumstances, and help you make better decisions. The Holy Spirit is your helper, he will show you options and opportunities, and give you the wisdom and the strength to make positive changes in your life.

   We can reign in this life by learning to step aside and allow the will of God to operate in us and through us. His kingdom is the realm that we now live in, and He is our source of supply and our wisdom!

   He is never surprised or baffled by anything that happens, He is in control of your future, and you can trust him totally. Fear and anger are a direct result of a lack of trust in his love and his grace; His resources are not limited to what you can see or imagine! Your job might not always be there for you, but Jehovah Jireh, 'The Lord Who Provides' is always here for those who trust him. Our confidence is in him, not in our own limited abilities.

   We all have different struggles in this life, but Jesus is our victory! Our past hurts, and our messed up thinking, can be overcome as we yield to the rule of grace in our hearts, and our minds can be transformed as we absorb his truth. If you are willing to change, He will bring you into maturity and make you an asset to the kingdom. You don't have to hang on to your miserable old stubborn ways, you can be free and have his peace ruling your heart and mind!

   The promise is for this life, you don't have to wait until you die and go to heaven, you can reign through Grace Power right now!

©2011 Rev. Charles J. Loubert

Good Government Guaranteed

Good Government Guaranteed

Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,The Prince of Peace."

   There is a Governor whose name is above all names, and his reign is eternal, his wisdom and power exceeds that of all earthly rulers.

   Presidents, dictators, and kings all have only a few years to rule before death removes them from this earth, but there is a man who has conquered even death, and he is the governor of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is both God and man, he is the King over all Kings and the Lord of all Lords.

   The Kingdom of heaven is not merely the place where Believers go when they die, but it signifies the the rule and influence of God in the present and future world, and His influence in the heart of the believer. Just like leaven in a batch of bread, will change the nature of the dough, so also the word of God and his Spirit transforms the child of God from within; and the believer becomes a positive force in his or her world.

   Jesus wants to govern us from within, and shed his love abroad in our hearts by the presence of his Holy Spirit. As we yield to the reign of God over our lives, we are conformed to the image of Christ, and we are able to influence the world around us. The rule and love of God can be manifested through us as we yield to him.

   His light will show us where we have pockets of resistance to his will, and his grace gives us the desire and power to change! He is our teacher, our defender, our peace, and our righteousness! You can rest in the grace of God and let him take charge of governing your words and actions!

   The government is on HIS shoulders, not your shoulders. Quit trying to give him advice on how to run his kingdom, and just enjoy the ride. It's not your job to tell everyone around you what to do and how to do it, you are called to love and edify your brothers and sisters. Jesus is the governor, and he knows what he is doing at all times. He wants all of us to enjoy fellowship with him and to trust him. He came to give us abundant life and to save us from our own unruly and unwise ways.

   We see a great mystery in this passage in Isaiah: how can the same person be a child,and the everlasting Father at the same time? The Mighty God and Prince of Peace became a man, born as a baby in Bethlehem, and fulfilled all of the detailed prophecies that foretold his birth, life, death, and resurrection. Jesus, our redeemer, completed his mission to save us from our sin, and now he sits at the Father's right hand, as our advocate and intercessor.

   I thank God that he has given us his Spirit and his Word to reveal his goodness and grace to us. The eye of faith can see what the limited human mind can not even begin to believe or comprehend! You don't need to understand all that your Heavenly father is doing in your life, you only need to trust his ability to govern wisely, and you will rest in the peace that comes from believing him.

   The people who hold power in the world are fallen, fallible, and not always benevolent in their purpose. Good government is an elusive and unstable commodity in this world, but in the kingdom of heaven, good government is guaranteed by the very nature of our king! God is love, and as he gains our cooperation and obedience, he can reign over the works of darkness in us, and around us.

   Jesus came into the world to save sinners; his grace and forgiveness are free to all who want it. Let Him govern you and give you the grace to prosper, in spite of your circumstances and your faults. Aspire to walk worthy of the Kingdom that you are called to, as a child of God, and as a subject of the Prince Of Peace.

   As our counselor, the Spirit of God will guide us and comfort us in all that we do. Wisdom is the inheritance of every child of God who will allow himself to be governed by King Jesus. He governs by love and not by coercion. The Mighty God governs us from within, through the power of grace. "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

   The Prince of Peace has come to reconcile us to God. Let go of your rebellion and your lawlessness. Let King Jesus reign in your heart, and allow him to ease your mind of all burdens. He said, " Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

   There is no need to be ruled by your selfish weaknesses and your addictions; you can choose King Jesus, and let his love restore you and heal you. His grace will govern you and keep you for all eternity, when you choose to wear his yoke, and allow him to be your 'Mighty God'. 

   Grace and peace came through Jesus Christ- that's how he governs!

©2011 Rev. Charles J. Loubert

Kindness Through Grace

Kindness Through Grace

Eph. 2:7,8 "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

God expresses his abundant grace, by the kindness that he shows to us, through our Savior Jesus. We are saved, healed, redeemed, rescued, preserved and forgiven, because our Heavenly Father chose to love us when we were yet sinners. If we weren't sinners, there would be no need for forgiveness, but thank God that he saw our condition and made a way for us to be reconciled to him.

His kindness has made it possible for you to have an intimate relationship with him; an ongoing and un-interrupted relationship with him! Jesus is your advocate with the Father, and he said he would never leave or forsake us! If you believe that his word is true, and that his kindness is meant for you, You can be saved by faith in him. His kindness is free for the asking! " And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."(Rev. 22:17b)

There is a purpose for this kindness that has been shown to us. We are new creations in Christ, created to show kindness to the people around us. We are created for "good works."

Eph.2:10 " For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto [for] good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

You are a unique work of art, created by God! His purpose for you, is to touch the world around you with his unconditional love, through your kindness and good works. You are created to pass on the kindness that He has shown to you!

Let God have his way in your heart, and let him heal the hurts and emotional scars in you, so that you can be a light in your world. You can show the the world that God is love, by being kind and forgiving. ( A grumpy, stingy Christian, is not passing God's grace on to others.)

Do the world a favor- put others first, practice preemptive kindness, and unconditional good will. Be helpful, not critical. It's your job to show kindness to the undeserving and to the unworthy! Be slow to take offense, and quick to compliment. Be a willing servant, not a resentful employee.

It's not your job to point out people's mistakes and sins, It's your job to point people to Jesus, and show them kindness. Be somebody's answer to prayer! You just might be the one who God wants to use, to reach someone with a smile or a pat on the back!

As you grow in grace and in the knowledge of his will, you will find out that it's important how you treat the people around you. Let Jesus live big in you, so you can learn to be kind, and a little bit more friendly.

  Don't waste your time trying to find your 'destiny', or your 'ministry', or your 'talent'; God will send you plenty of opportunities to serve him by being kind to the people who you encounter every day. The Lord will direct your path as you rest in him, and show his grace to those around you.

You were created in Christ Jesus to do good works and to point people toward Jesus.

God Bless you in your walk with Him!

©2011 Rev. Charles J. Loubert

Accepted in the Beloved

Accepted in the Beloved

Eph. 1:4-6 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved.

Who is 'the beloved' ? When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, they heard a voice from Heaven say, "This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased". Then, at the mount of transfiguration, Peter, James, and John heard the voice of God again when he said, "This is my Beloved Son, hear him." Jesus, mankind's representative and Savior, is "The Beloved" !

Before you were even born, at the foundation of the age, your heavenly father made a plan to adopt you into his family, and make you a part of the body of Christ. There is no reason to doubt your standing with God! You are accepted in the beloved! It was the Father's good pleasure to accept you into his family!

The Greek word for 'accepted', is also translated as 'highly favored' in Luke 1:28, when the angel Gabriel greeted Mary and said, "Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee:" You also are highly favored! You are one of God's favorite people! The Lord is with you!

By believing in Jesus and accepting the fact that he took your place and suffered for your sins, you are given a new life in Christ. Don't disqualify yourself for any reason! You are eligible to receive eternal life, because God's grace [his undeserved favor and good will] is free to all who will believe him, and accept his wonderful gift. (Rom.10:9,13)

Your need for a savior, and your inability to keep God's rules and commandments, qualifies you for eternal life, and for the total forgiveness of all your sins! Jesus came to save sinners!When you dare to believe the good news of your redemption, you are adopted into God’s immediate family, and you are pleasing to the Heavenly Father because of your faith in his son Jesus the Messiah.

Nothing can change that fact! No one can take your salvation away, and no sin is bigger than God's grace and mercy! Nothing can separate you from the love of God! (Rom.8:38,39)

Brother or sister: when you have failed or fallen short of what you think God expects of you, remember that you are still accepted in the Beloved! Don't let the enemy use your sins or mistakes as an opportunity to fill you with discouragement and condemnation. Acknowledge your sin to your Heavenly Father, and accept the fact that your sins were forgiven and taken away at Calvary; Accept by faith, that you are accepted in the Beloved- in spite of your guilty feelings, and your unworthiness.

When you are told by misguided teachers, that God will not hear you or accept you because you have sinned, just remember, that, you are "Accepted in the Beloved"! When you were still a sinner, and dead in your sins, God loved you and sent his son to be your savior.

Your salvation and forgiveness was a 'done deal' when Jesus rose, victorious, from the grave! By accepting what God has done on your behalf, you have placed your faith in him and reaped the benefits of his grace and unconditional love.

When you pray, remember that you are one of God's favorite people, you are accepted in the Beloved, and God hears your heart's cry. You can have boldness and confidence before your Heavenly Father, because Jesus has paved the way into the throne room of God. Your petitions are presented with faith, when you understand your favored status with God. (Keep in mind always, that your access to the throne is because of what Jesus has done, and not because you have deserved special favor by your own merits or good works!)

Eph.3:12 ESV "in whom [in Christ] we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him."

Heb. 4:16 KJV "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Accept the fact that you are accepted in the Beloved !

©2011 Rev. Charles J. Loubert

Wells of Salvation

Wells Of Salvation 1-19-10

Isa 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."

Isa 12:3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

   Isaiah chapter 12 is a song of praise that Isaiah wrote to celebrate the deliverance and salvation of Israel and his trust in the Lord Jehovah; even though he knew that Israel and Judah was soon to be taken into captivity by the Babylonians.

  Isaiah acknowledges Jehovah as his salvation and declares his trust in him. We should also declare our trust in the Lord when things on the horizon are looking ominous. We can trust and not be afraid for the Lord is our strength and our song. There are two other places in the bible where the writers declare the LORD (Jehovah) to be our 'strength and song'. (See: Exodus 15:2, and Psalms 118:14 .)

   Dire circumstances are never bigger than the God that we serve! Let us declare him to be our salvation and rest in his strength! Draw water from the inexhaustible wells of salvation; drink freely of the water of life, and determine to enjoy the abundant life that he has promised us. In spite of any problems that we are faced with, He has promised that he would never leave us or forsake us; nothing can separate us from his love!

   Sometimes we claim the Lord as our strength, but we forget that he is also our song and our source of joy. He wants to flood us with his joy in the midst of our problems, give us strength to overcome, and give us a song to heal our grief and misery.

   The original Hebrew word which is translated as 'salvation' has whole range of meanings: it is more than a promise that we will go to heaven when we die! 'Salvation' [yshuah] means deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health, help, and salvation; according to Strong's dictionary of Hebrew words. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means 'Jehovah Saves'. Jesus is our salvation; he is our deliverance, our health, our prosperity, our help and our victory! Jesus said “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jn.16:33

   This salvation that Jesus has secured for us by his Blood, is a complete salvation, and all who trust him, will enjoy the benefits of his grace in this life, as well as in the next, when we are long gone from here.

© 2010 Rev. Charles J. Loubert

Let Peace Rule Your Heart

Let Peace Rule Your Heart

Col.3:14,15 "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

It sounds too simple doesn't it: put on charity, and let peace rule: It really is that simple!

   You put on charity; and you allow the peace of God to rule in your heart. If you are a new creation in Christ, you have a choice in these matters! You don't have to be tossed around by the storms of life, and by the obnoxious people in your path. Inner peace is your inheritance from your Heavenly Father. No matter what is going on around you, your Heavenly Father is there with you and his Spirit is in you, to bring you through it, and make you an overcomer!

   When you receive Christ as your lord and savior, you are equipped with all the love and peace that you will ever need. The love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who transforms the human spirit at the time of the new birth. When you put on Christ, you have put on his charity (love). God is love, and you are in Christ- there is no lack of love in Christ!

   Where there is love, peace will rule! How could it be otherwise? I'm talking about the real peace that comes from Jesus, not the 'peace' that is dependent on right circumstances, and favorable situations. The peace that is to rule the believers heart is not dependent upon outer conditions, it is a result of the abundant life of God, which courses through the heart of the Christian who is saved by grace, and has learned to rest in God's unconditional love.

Rom. 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

   A kingdom is ruled by a king, and our King Jesus is "The Prince Of Peace" !

   Our part, is to allow King Jesus to rule us, to let his peace rule our hearts. Our normal state is one of peace! Our 'default mode' is peace and joy. Our peace of mind and our awareness of God's presence seem to depart, when our focus is directed to the appearance of things, and away from the facts of our redemption in Christ. It is our undisciplined thinking habits, and our ignorance of God's word and his nature, that cause the turmoil in our minds and hearts when we are faced with conflict and problems.

   When you 'put on charity', you have focused your faith on the fact that Jesus loves you, and dwells in you, and he will never leave you or forsake you. Charity is God's unconditional love ! You are the object of his love, and the conduit of his love for the others around you. Knowing that you are loved, in spite of your failings and sins, will give you peace in all circumstances.

   When you believe that God loves you unconditionally, you are able to love others unconditionally. your peace of mind is not tied to your circumstances, or to to the way you are treated by others. When Jesus is your foundation in this life, you can know that your hard times are always temporary!.

Your awareness of peace is not based on your feelings, or your present situation, it is accessed by faith in God's promises, and held onto by the perseverance that his grace provides.

Jesus said. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

   When things are not going well, and people have disappointed you, you must believe the promise of peace that Jesus has given us. You won't always automatically feel peaceful, but you can rely on the Holy Spirit to supply what you feel is lacking. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit, which God has supplied to his children by grace. Sometimes fruit seems to take a long time to develop; but in Jesus, our harvest is sure and abundant. As a result of the eternal life given to you at the time of your new birth, you have all things that pertain to life and godliness! (1 Peter 1:2,3)

   People who feel condemned and unworthy, tend to condemn others and to make life miserable for those around them. Those people who know the secret of God's grace and his unconditional love, are a joy to be around. When the peace of God is active in your life, you will be a problem solver and a peacemaker. those who lack peace, are problem makers and abusive to others in their words and their actions.

   I thank God that he has made a way for us to overcome our guilt and condemnation, by giving us the gift of his righteousness, and removing our sin problem at Calvary! Because of what he has done, we are able to enjoy the peace which he provides, and be a blessing to our friends and family. If you are mean-spirited and envious and sarcastic, you don't have to stay miserable, you can allow yourself to be ruled by God's freely given peace.

   His grace is free for the taking, you can change if you will let Jesus have his way in your life, and quit trying to do it all yourself. Let his peace rule you, and enjoy resting in his love!

©2011 Rev. Charles J. Loubert