sermon: He Who Overcomes
Struggle as an Integral Part of Spiritual Growth
John O. Reid
Given 06-Apr-04; Tape #659C
Description: John Reid contends that intense struggle is, by design of Almighty God, an integral and necessary part of the overcoming process. Just as fighting to escape its cocoon strengthens the butterfly, our calling requires effort above what the world has to endure to become free of Satan's cocoon. These struggles lead us through this life in a way that develops the mind, character, attitudes, and skills we will need to handle our reward in God's Kingdom. We must learn from the excesses or shortcomings of the seven churches in Revelation 2-3: 1) Recapture that first love, 2) have courage under persecution, 3) do not compromise the truth, 4) hold fast to it even though persecution, 5) get busy with godly work, 6) hold fast, do the work, and increase strength in all obedience, and 7) purchase God's truth even through trial. The common denominators in these admonitions are to hold fast and overcome (with the help of our High Priest), resisting the world's temptations. (70 minutes)
Keywords/Topics: Balaam, Balak, Be defeated, Blah era, Butterfly/cocoon, Child rearing, Church of Ephesus, Christ as High Priest, Compromise, cleansing of the earth, Day of the Lord, Delegate and abdicate, Depths of Satan, Diligence, God's plan, First love for God, Form of Godliness, God's purpose, God's works, Gold tried in the fire, Holding fast, Jezebel, Laodicean, Little strength, Morning star, New Heavens and New Earth, Nicolaitans, Overcoming, Pergamos, Philadelphia, Prophecy speculations, Sardis, Season, Seven churches, Smyrna, Spiritual blindness, Synagogue of Satan, Tessera stone, Thyatira, Unexpected trials
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