Overcoming

...There is no condemnation unto those that have risen in Christ Jesus, but there is yet a condemnation unto all that have not risen unto Christ Jesus in the spirit. To those that have not been eating of the same meat, neither drinking of the same spiritual drink.

And let us be minded of this that we may all be of such that have drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, that also followed us, and that is the Rock of Christ. Christ is the Rock, the Rock of Ages. That is the Rock that we shall fall upon. If we fall upon that Rock, it shall be well with us. Then we are humbled; then we are near unto the Lord. But, if we do not fall on th at Rock and that Rock has to, in time, fall on us and condemn us, it says we will be ground to powder; we will be put to nothing.

Therefore again we have this spiritual concern in us that we discern all matters well and that we choose well. Let us choose as the wise man that dug a deep foundation and built his house thereupon and he let the storms then assail it and the rains beat vehemently upon it, and it suffered no loss, but it stood.

So are the children of God planted into this garden here upon earth. If they are founded upon this Solid Rock, they will stand. They will stand all spiritual trials and temptations. And we have read how God will make such an end to all temptations that we are able to bear them.

Oh, ofttimes over the spiritual children of God, many a storm assaileth! Ofttimes great dangers they are facing, and yet again the storm will lay itself and still itself, and we can feel how God was within the storm, and how well protected we were and that there was no harm that befell us.

Oh, beloved, when we trust in the Lord and when our faith is grounded upon Him, then we are able, are we not, to feel comforted; and it only gives us new life and encouragement when we hear of such.

And we find here also, "But with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the wilderness." Why were they overthrown in the wilderness?

We were reminded today of our Lord and Saviour Jesus in the wilderness, how He faced the many trials and temptations and how He overcame and how well-pleased God was with Him already when He took upon Himself to be baptized by John the Baptist. He went through with it in a humble way with the rest of the people when He was baptized. That was pleasing unto God, that He was humble, that He exalted Himself not because He was the Son of God, but rather humbled Himself that God could speak unto Him that He was well-pleased with Him as His Son.

And how God then did give Him grace there in the wilderness to overcome! He had only that to overcome with what we all have - that is the Word of God. If we only take it to hand and heart often and consider it and claim it for our drink and food, then we can be strengthened. Then we can be made able to not be overthrown in this wilderness where we are living, beloved ones.

It is a wilderness ofttimes when we consider the great evils round about us and how evil is multiplying itself. We cannot help but say, "It is an evil time."

But beloved, why is it such an evil time? It is because it is what the people make it. What God made, He made well and He made it good. But the people have made it what it is.

Let us therefore warn ourselves that we are not of such people that would take such sides and be overthrown.
--Sermon Excerpt: Elder Bro. H.K.