You Can Overcome and Prevent Sin

So many seem trapped, unable to overcome—to grow in areas of weakness, fault and sin. Instead of overcoming their problems, most are overcome by their problems. This should not be—and need not be! You can overcome. Here is how.

Christ said, "Enter you in at the strait [difficult] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad [easy] is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [difficult] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it" ( Matt. 7:13-14). Most seek the easy, "broad" path.

Overcoming is hard—difficult—it is a life-long struggle. But it is possible. You can overcome. If you are a Christian, you must overcome!

Yet, this world is drifting along, completely unaware of God's great purpose for man, which is to build character in this life. He is preparing a team of those who will qualify to be part of restoring His government to earth at Christ's Return.

The Bible Pattern

The Bible is filled with accounts of God's greatest servants battling to overcome sin. In nearly every case, they had to learn difficult, and sometimes painful, lessons. When examined collectively, Moses, Noah, David, Samuel, Peter and others are seen to have fought every kind of problem known to man.

They battled sins, weaknesses, faults, attitudes, and pulls and temptations of the flesh. David fought sins and wrong attitudes and overcame them. Moses lacked faith and confidence and had a temper that he had to overcome. Yet, he will hold a great office in God's kingdom. Both Job and Elijah fought discouragement and depression, even to the point of wanting to die. But these men endured—they overcame. They slew their problems, rather than being slain by them!

These men were actively trained by God and had to overcome Satan, the temptations of his world and the pulls of the flesh. A Christian is one who overcomes his problems, weaknesses, sins and wrong attitudes, rather than being overcome and defeated by them!

To the Overcomer

Through the apostle John, Christ said, "And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron…" ( Rev. 2:26-27).

In His instruction to Laodicea, He adds, "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame , and am set down with My Father in His throne" ( Rev. 3:21).

These verses picture Christ re-establishing God's government over all nations of the earth. Christians will receive real power to rule. But first they must overcome. Christians are those who follow—who copy—Christ ( I Pet. 2:21). Then what is the pattern Christ established for us to follow? Did He overcome?

In reference to His own struggle to remain free of sin, perfect in character, Christ said, "In the world you shall have tribulation [how true!]: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world " (John 16:33 ). Christ had overcome both the world and its god—Satan ( II Cor. 4:4). Recall that Christ said, "even as i also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Christ overcame and qualified to rule. Just as He qualified to replace Satan, so must we!

Such enormous power to rule could never be given to people who are unprepared—who have not qualified to properly use it. God will not hand great authority to people who might rebel and revert to Satan's ways. God's servants must use this life to build His very character, so necessary for those holding offices of great authority.

Updates of Akuou

We had time after BS to do a bit of sharing and praying for one another. Below are the updates for those who came for BS and their prayer requests for their walk with the Lord. I have typed out everything to the best that I can remember and have written down. Please correct me if I'm missing out anything or have mis-represented you.

For those who would like to update of your happenings via email, you're very welcome to do so. This will really allow us to keep in touch with one another's happenings and to support one another in prayer in our daily walk with God. Remember no man is an island! =D

1) Joel
- Please pray for God's strength to be able to do outreach in the neighbourhood

- More time to pray and seek God for direction.

2) Jason
- His job scope has changed to work in the newsroom instead. He requested it so as to gain more exposure.

- Please pray for more time, discipline & the desire to see God.

3) Haoguang
- He has passed out of his current training and will start the "Airbourne training" whereby parachuting is involved next week.Please pray for safety in the midst of the training, his mum is pretty worried for him.

- Please also pray for resilence in the faith as there are negative influences around him in camp (e.g. his
camp mates are puzzled as to why he doesn't speak any vulgarities and is pressurizing him to do so
because they get a kick out of hearing it coming out of his mouth)

4) Viona
- She is going for a biblical Turkey trip under 2 Tim 2:2 ministry from 28 mar to 9 apr. She has been busy
trying to clear the sudden influx of many projects at a time but thank God that He made the projects quieten
down so she's pacing herself better to handle the workload.

- She has been asking the Lord as to how to handle the different churches issue between she and her
boyfriend. Currently it's very hard for either one party to join the other at his/her church. She's seeking God
whether it's possible to just stay in different churches?

- Also, she's still unsure where might this relationship end up in. Her concern is that her boyfriend is not
feeling very close to God but yet wants to settle down, thus she's concerned and is still considering.

- She is starting to picking up to do the BS homework for 1 Thess and James, please pray that she'll keep
her focus on the Lord.

5) Chris
- Her project at work has launched and currently operative. However, she has been selected to join another
project and she prays that the schedule won't be too hectic like the last.

- She is currently committing herself to a 35 week long course called "Disciple 1" conducted by church and
also MHI tuition and have been coming down to church more frequently nowadays. Thank God that the
schedule has been quite smooth so far.

- She has applied for 2 courses for her master degree in supply chain studies. One is part time and the other
full time, both with NUS. The full time she'll need to get a scholarship.

She received news that she has been short-listed to go for the scholarship interview next week. She found
out that there will be 23 interviewees for this scholarship and there's only 10 places being offered.

- Please pray for God's grace and she is really looking forward to a change soon. Away from her working
environment.

- Thank God that with the bible study, disciple course, commentaries that she has been reading (which she is
making effort to work on them everyday). All this has allowed her to have a more consistent walk with the
Lord. Please pray that she will continue to persevere and carry on, especially for disciple.

6) Denise
- She is continually busying herself with studies, netball and house. She just finished her netball and house
comps.

- The netball season is coming soon and she'll be training every mon, tues, thurs & fri. Friendly matches are
scheduled either wed or sat per week.
- She has changed her position too and need to train very hard. She has about a month to train and perfect her new position.

- Pray for strength and that she will set a good example as vice captain. That she'll not get tired of learning
the new position and to maintain a positive attitude that will rub off on her other team members.

- Pray too for continual surrender to God everyday in her walk with Him. That she will not lose focus and will
always have the correct motive and purpose in all things that she does.

- Pray that she will have the discipline to have a consistent studying plan and not push things to the last
minute for preparation that might be too late.

7) Wanlin
- She has been studying very diligently the past one week as her Common Tests will start next week.
However, she has not been able to finish up the syllabus that she'll be tested on. She is just stress and had a panic attack on Friday. But thank God that after prayer and a rest she felt much better and was able to continue.

- Please pray for God's assurance and peace during her Common Tests. Her heart is that she will not lose
focus that she's studying for God's glory but sometimes its very hard for her once she starts to panic that
she can't finish studying.

- Please pray that she will be able to find the best studying pattern suited for her and that she is assured
that God honours her heart of worship unto Him. That His presence is one of approval and grace.

8) Gladwin
- He has a deadline for YM curriculum materials coming up, a YM workshop to plan, a YM scorecard for
YSG's health, BS teaching for Akuou and Bearers of Christ to plan for. He is really stressed but he knows
that he'll need to spend time seeking the Lord and praying for wisdom to handle these matters.

- He attended the Ignite conference on last sun-tues and it was very refreshing for him. He is going for
another conference coming up next week too. It's been a season of learning for him and he sees the
important need for meditation on God's word to allow this knowledge that we have to live in our hearts and
that we can live it out in our lives too. He encourages for the whole SG to do so.

- A good thing he learnt in the Ignite conference was about saving money and it was rather timely as he
might be changing jobs soon and this will affect his current income.
- Please pray that his family will be willing to accept this change and the impact to be softened.

- Thank God for a time of rest. Please pray that His walk with the Lord will be deepened.

- His sister has been coming back pretty late these days and it's getting worrying. Please pray as the Lord
leads you.

9) Abby
- Thank God that her boss is feeling much happier because there is more work coming in. He is feeling less
depressed.

- Please pray that she'll continue to persevere in doing her BS homeworks for 1 Thess and James. She has
learned that in order to keep her eyes on the Lord is really simply to keep on reading and meditating on
God's Word.

Hellos

Sarah here. Glad said the blog's pretty quiet so decided to stir up some excitement for a bit. =P Just thought I'd let all know that prayer covers the requests typed out on this blog. In fact, this Sunday, the church that I'm now attending is having an International Day and some of us will be putting up stuff that represent some part of the Singapore culture. Hee. We decided on drinks and have made cards containing some info of those drinks. Behind those cards, we also added prayer requests for Singapore and I took them off our Akuou blog! =)

It's almost mid-March. Couple of months more and I'll be away from Singapore for 1 year. Whoosh, does sound long.. and I miss you guys! Keng and I definitely plan to come back some time this year for a break - just haven't set when. Please pray for us as we decide if we should go on a short term mission trip this Summer or some time this year. Take care & keep those sms-es (I reply up to 500 sms free per month) and emails coming!!

Have you been tuned?

“EVERY workman knows the necessity of keeping his tools in a good state of repair, for "if the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength." If the workman lose the edge from his adze, he knows that there will be a greater draught upon his energies, or his work will be badly done. Michael Angelo, the elect of the fine arts, understood so well the importance of his tools, that he always made his own brushes with his own hands, and in this he gives us an illustration of the God of grace, who with special care fashions for himself all true ministers.

We are, in a certain sense, our own tools, and therefore must keep ourselves in order. If I want to preach the gospel, I can only use my own voice; therefore I must train my vocal powers. I can only think with my own brains, and feel with my own heart, and therefore I must educate my intellectual and emotional faculties.

I can only ,weep and agonise for souls in my own renewed nature, therefore must I watchfully maintain the tenderness which was in Christ Jesus. It will be in vain for me to stock my library, or organise societies, or project schemes, if I neglect the culture of myself; for books, and agencies, and systems, are only remotely the instruments of my holy calling; my own spirit, soul, and body, are my nearest machinery for sacred service; my spiritual faculties, and my inner life, are my battle axe and weapons of war. M'Cheyne, writing to a ministerial friend, who was travelling with a view to perfecting himself in the German tongue, used language identical with our own:- " I know you will apply hard to German, but do not forget the culture of the inner man-I mean of the heart. How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember you are God's sword, his instrument- I trust, a chosen vessel unto him to bear his name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfection of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God."

Even in your recreation, rememember that you are ministers.
When you are off the parade you are still officers in the army of Christ.. But if the lesser things must be looked after, how careful should you be in the great matters of morality , honesty and integrity!

Here the minister must not fail. His private life must ever keep good tune with his ministry, or his day will soon set with him, and the sooner he retires the better, for his continuance in his office will only dishonour the cause of God and ruin himself. ”

-Charles Spurgeon-
Extracted from "Lectures to my students: Lecture 1 The Minister's Self-watch"