September 26 Overcoming the World John 16:33
ANNOUNCEMENT: Baptist Tabernacle Church will be celebrating our 101st Homecoming Celebration, on Sunday, October 1, 2023. Our guest speaker will be Mr. Clint Andrews. Hope to see you there!
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**Pastor Glen will be in Revival Services at Stoney Hill FWB Church, Middlesex, NC from Sunday Evening, October 1, 2023, through Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Services begin at 7:00pm each night.
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Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
There is one sure fact of living, and that is the challenges that we will face in the journey of Life! As a Born-Again Believing Christian, we are told that this world is against us, and that Satan will attempt to thwart our efforts and he will be actively engaged in the systematic destruction of our witness for Jesus Christ! Recently, I overheard a young man, in the middle of a “Poor Me” rant, and he was sharing the misery with another young man, and the recipient of the ranting was less than impressed, or at least, his facial expressions indicated his displeasure! Intrigued, and a bit curious, I made a pretense to be looking at a generic product, while eavesdropping on their conversation! The young man, that was complaining about life, grew louder and louder, as he described the perceived misery of his life. The other young man, waiting for an opening, responded with grace and wisdom and he reached out his hand, placed it on his friend’s shoulder, and spoke words of authority and wisdom, when he declared, “We all have rough times, and we all have difficulties, and we all have moments when we do not understand the actions of others, and we all have to make choices!” Wow! The young man looked at his friend and seemed to be a bit frustrated with his response. “You don’t understand! My car broke down, my commode overflowed, and I have to have the septic tank pumped out, and I found out yesterday, that my job may be ending, and my wife informed me this morning that she might be pregnant! So, you just don’t understand!” The friend, seemingly unmoved by the description of this man’s misery, spoke some beautiful words of encouragement! “Are you a Christian? I was there the day that you publicly professed your faith and claimed Jesus as your Savior and Lord, so, I ask again, Are you a Christian?” His response was telling! “Yes, yes I am, but the problems that I am facing have nothing to do with my being a Christian!” His friend, once again, spoke with love and authority when he declared that it has everything to do with your Christianity! “Brother, Jesus told us that we would have troubles and trials and tribulations and frustrations and aggravations and that this life, here on earth would be difficult, but He declared that we were OVERCOMERS! Please don’t forget that, as Christians, we have the power of the Holy Spirit, dwelling in us, and His purpose is to assist our navigation through the challenges of this life! Jesus told us that all of the junk that happens is just this life, and that we must not allow the issues of life to cloud our focus, our dedication, or our devoted service to Him!” Then he quoted John 16:33 and asked his friend to allow him to pray with him! As tears flowed from this man’s eyes, he embraced his friend and spoke with confidence! “Thank you for being here, today, to share with me the reality of what is happening. I just needed to be reminded that He is in control, and that He has OVERCOME, so, I am an OVERCOMER, because of Him!” I walked around to the opposite side of the aisle, and I stopped, bowed my head, and began to pray (silently, at least I thought)! “Thank you, God, for allowing me to have experienced this “Church” moment! Thank You for Your Grace, Power, and Presence, and I repent of any time that I have doubted Your Faithfulness, and I am so sorry that I have ever questioned Your presence. Thank you for my Victory, through and because of YOU! In the name of Jesus, Amen!” I didn’t realize that I was praying out loud, and the one friend came up to me and he said, “Pastor, thank you for that prayer! We all need reminding that He is in control, and that, through Him, we are OVERCOMERS!” After a quick handshake, we departed to continue our individual lives, yet with the assurance that, although, we each have our life-paths to travel, and that we, each are unique and individually blessed, that we all share, under the Blood of Jesus, one amazing and powerful fact, WE ARE ALL OVERCOMERS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST! So when you have the tendency to complain about your issues of life, and you want to moan about the details of living, and you act as if there is a “Little Black Rain Cloud,” hovering over your head, STOP, DROP, PRAY and RECOGNIZE that HE said, “ In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” I choose, daily, to be an Overcomer! How about you? Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!