PART I9 AM AN OVERCOMER

What determines godly decisions?

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Making Godly Decisions Gives Us Victory

After we’ve become born again (born anew), we need to learn how to think, speak, and act according to the new creation (creature) we’ve become. This newness of thought in speech and actions can be developed if we’ll apply as many of these guidelines as we can, such as:

 

�-�Attending the assembling of believers.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Form the habit of meeting with fellow believers for reading, exhortation, and worship.¹²⁵ This encourages others and provokes them to love and good works.¹²⁶ If you’re unable to attend due to restrictive circumstances, then obtain the message if it’s available through CD, hard copy, video, etc.

                                      

�-�Attending a gathering of the saints where the teachings instruct how to allow God’s influence on the soul instead of supporting passionate desires that have the character of this present age.

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;                       

Some of these messages could be described as disciplining in grace. These emphasize refusing ungodliness (not denying God’s influence on our soul) and worldly lusts (passionate desires having the character of this present age) and instead accentuate to live soberly (with a sound mind), righteously (injuring no person in his body, mind, reputation, or property¹²⁷), and godly (to allow God’s influence on the soul) in this present world.        

                 

�-�Attending a worship service that teaches us how to think the way Christ did.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We’re to make the Lord Jesus our model, exemplifying the attitude that He exhibited, which consists of a spirit of humility, self-abnegation, and an interest in the affairs of others.¹²⁸

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.                 

The church members are also reminded to be not conformed (put on the form, fashion, or appearance) of this world but be transformed (appear as new persons with new habits) by having the entire bent of your mind changed by spending time meditating on God’s word, memorizing it, and making it a part of your inner man.¹²⁹

                                               

�-�Confessing known sin to God the Father and those against whom we’ve committed an offense.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.     

If we confess or admit ourselves guilty to God the Father, the result of inward conviction, along with confession to our fellow man of offenses against them, He’s faithful to forgive (remission of the punishment in time due to sinful conduct; remove lost fellowship with Him)us of our sins, along with freeing us from their guilt.

     

�-�Appropriating (memorizing) Scriptures that allow us to think the way God would like us to think.

Psalms 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

In times past, when trials came, the psalmist tells us that he erred mentally and stopped following the way God wanted him to go. But now he has learned to treasure up in memory God’s Word that he might not sin against Him. May we follow his lead.

Just to clarify, the Old Testament saint obeyed the directives set forth in the Mosaic Law. As an application, the New Testament saint lives according to the new ways to think, speak, and act set forth in the revelation of truth conveyed to certain disciples of the early church by the Holy Spirit.                                                                           

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.                                                                                   

When different trials come, God will provide us with the appropriate way to patiently bear (endure) them.  

                       

�-�Meditating on memorized Scripture throughout the day so that we’ll prosper in all areas of our lives.

Psalms 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

How I love His word �" it’s my object of study or reflection all day long!

Psalms 1:2-3 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Every motive should be towards thinking about, understanding, and reflecting upon the Word of God. If we do this, we’ll be like an alive, beautiful, fruitful, useful, and enduring tree set out in a favorable place and cultivated with care because it receives nourishment from a river that runs through it. As a result, we’ll prosper like never before in the sense of responding to adversity or prosperity with divine perspective.

                                      

�-�Keeping habitual company with fellow believers who have Godly wisdom.

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

He who continuously keeps company with people who have wisdom shall be wise. Conversely, he who has intercourse and companionship with those who act stupidly or foolishly will suffer moral ruin.

1 Corinthians 4:15-16 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

Though you have myriads of instructors who keep you in the first rudiments of teaching, whose purpose is to keep you in bonds under their authority, yet you have not many spiritual fathers. Therefore, be followers of me, i.e., of those in leadership who exhibit humility, [self-denial], and faithfulness.¹³⁰

                                    

�-�Praying that the Holy Spirit will guard our hearts.

Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

Praying that our love (God’s love) may abound in knowledge and judgment. Thatthis love, which is produced in the heart of the yielded believers by the Holy Spirit, will abound (overflow) more and more within the guiding limitations of knowledge (a better understanding of God’s Word as translated into their experience¹³¹) and judgment (spiritual perceptiveness; depth of insight into God’s ways).

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

When God’s love is superabundant within the guidelines of knowledge and judgment, one of the areas that will no longer inhibit us in prayer is worrying. This spiritual condition will allow us to make our requests to God in an attitude of remembering [His] goodness in the past and in the realization of his blessings in the present.¹³²

                                                                                                    

�-�By love, serve; in lowliness of mind esteem; and stir up for assistance.

Galatians 5:13-16 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

By love (divine love; [such love means death to self, and that means defeat for sin] since the essence of sin is self-will and self-gratification¹³³), serve on another (promote one another’s spiritual welfare).

Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.                                 

In lowliness of mind (in humility; to be conscious of our entire dependence on God for all of our abilities¹³⁴), let each esteem other better than themselves (to regard with honor whatever there is of the other person’s excellences or what they excel in; to look at the good points in the character of others¹³⁵).

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Consider one another (take careful note of each other’s spiritual welfare), to provoke (stirring up each other’s religious affections and ministries) unto love and to good works (assistance may be shown toward fellow Christians and others).

The next subject we’ll look at is another one of the most misunderstood topics in the church. When someone hurts us, an explanation of how we should respond seems simple, but there’s so much more about this subject that believers have never heard about.