THE KING’S BUSINESS
166
aged. He is also a liar and the father of lies. He is a murderer. He would murder our peace, joy, love and faith. HOW TO OVERCOME THE WORLD. Now, very briefly how are we to overcome? I want you to take your Bibles and see. The Bible tells us, first of all, how to Overcome the world. We turn to First John, chap ter 5 and verse 4, and read: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the 'world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith?’ It is so simple, and yet how many there are who do not know it. They are living by struggle and reso lution instead of faith. They are try ing to do their best, but you general ly find that while they have motion, they make little progress. It is like sitting in a rocking chair or a door swinging on its hinges ; all motion, but no progress. If only we would be less independent and more depend ent, we would know victory over the world. If our victory was deter mined by the strength of our wills, or the earnestness of our resolutions, or the nature of our surroundings, then there would be those who would never be overcomers; but when it de pends on faith, then the very weakest may be an overcomer. We all have faith. God has given us plenty of that. That’s why the world is not a hell. It does not matter about the quantity, Jesus said, though it be as a grain of mustard seed. That is small enough. It is the object of the faith that determines its nature and result. The pole of the trolley car isn’t much, but it communicates the power to the car, and so our faith. Faith is the channel between the soul and God. We are as strong as the one we trust. “All things are possi ble to him that believeth.” Bet us not try but trust.
HOW TO OVERCOME THE ELESH. Then how are we to overcome the flesh? Gal. 5:16. “Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.” There are many of whom it can be said that the world and worldliness trouble them very little, but they are the victims of the flesh. Their de sires, ' passions and appetites are strong and they are continually be ing overcome. The Lord here shows us that if we walk in the Spirit— the atmosphere of our lives—we shall not be overcome. We are only able to crucify the flesh by the Spirit. So as we walk in and with Him we do not fulfill the fleshly lusts. As we yield our bodies up to His rule and sway, He cools, cleanses and controls. If we of ourselves try to do it we will only fail. Our efforts only ag gravate the evil, but if we commit all to Him, He will guide our walk, and govern our bodies, and lead us in continual triumph. Let us yield every part of our being to His indwelling, give up trying, but never ceasing to trust. HOW TO OVERCOME t h e DEVIL. Then again, how are we to over come the devil? In James, chapter 4, verse 7, we read: “Submit your selves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” A friend came to me and said: “The Bible says, ‘Resist the devil and he will flee from you.’ Well, I tried that, and instead of fleeing from me he flew at me.” “But,” I said, “the trouble with you is that you have only taken half of the verse.” “Submit yourself unto God.” “Resist.” That makes the difference. I tell you, friends, if you meet the devil in your own strength you will find you are no match for him. Submit to God and in the power of that submission,
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker