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The World to Come. The Restored Church of God presents David C. Pack. Answering life’s
greatest questions straight from the Bible, and announcing the wonderful good news of
the World to Come.
Thru the years, I have pastored thousands who have been called to God's Way. All struggled
against the pulls of the flesh and the temptations of Satan and his world. Some overcame. Others
did not. So many seem trapped, unable to overcome---to
grow in areas of weakness, fault and sin. Instead of overcoming and defeating their
problems, most are overcome and defeated by their problems. This need not be! You can
overcome. This broadcast reveals how.
Jesus Christ said, "Enter you in at the strait [or 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 is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few
there be that find it." Most seek the easy, broad path.
Overcoming is hard---difficult---and a life-long struggle. But it IS possible. In fact, true
Christians must overcome! 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 who have qualified to help restore His government to Earth at Christ's Return.
The Bible is filled with accounts of God's greatest servants battling sin. In every case,
they had to learn difficult, painful lessons. Examined collectively, Moses, Noah, David,
Samuel, Peter, Paul and others are seen to have fought every problem known to man.
They struggled against sins, weaknesses, faults, attitudes, and temptations of the flesh. David
fought sins and wrong attitudes and overcame them. Moses lacked faith and confidence, and
had a temper he had to overcome. Yet he will hold high office in God's kingdom. Both Job
and Elijah fought discouragement and depression, 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 the temptations of Satan and
his world, and the pulls of the flesh. A true Christian overcomes his problems, weaknesses,
sins and wrong attitudes, rather than the other way around!
Jesus said, "He that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him [no one else]
will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron," and added,
"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." When Christ re-establishes God's government
over all nations of Earth, Christians will receive real power to rule. But first they
must overcome. Christians follow---they copy---Christ (see
I Pet. 2:21). What is the pattern He established for them?
Referencing His own struggle to remain free of sin & perfect in character, Jesus said,
"In the world you shall have tribulation [so very true!]: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world." Christ had overcome both the world and its god---Satan (II Cor. 4:4)
and qualified to rule. Just as He qualified to replace Satan, so must all Christians!
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 authority.
Understand! You have been yielding to the flesh and Satan's way your entire life. You
have probably become very good at both. Believe me, as you strive to overcome and resist the
pulls at work within you, you will find that wrong patterns of conduct are "second nature"
to you---more than you know! Left unchecked, human nature consists of vanity, jealousy,
***, greed, envy, resentment, hatred, anger, pride, rebellion, foolishness, deceit and
hostility toward God. This is what you have been practicing---possibly for decades.
Overcoming will not be easy or happen overnight. It is a lifelong struggle against well-established
attitudes and a former way of life the Christian has now rejected and turned from. The one
who is walking God's path is striving to curb and withhold himself wherever God's Word instructs.
He strives to exercise himself in all matters where God says to do so. When God gives instruction
to do something, he strives to do it! When God instructs not to do something, he strives
not to do it! Learning this takes a lifetime. But remember:
Building character is why you were born. Your job is to put off the fleshly pulls of human
nature, and to put on the character of God and Christ. Though not easy, the reward is
great. God looks on intent. It is your overall desire
and motivation that is important to Him. He wants to know if, after you sin, you are sorry
for it and are determined to do better. He understands the temptations that beset us
even better than we do. He watches to see if we will be sober and vigilant as we root
sin from our lives. Will we carelessly fall back into old patterns? Will we try to overcome
on human strength alone? A Christian is led by God's Holy Spirit. Acts
2:38 shows it enters at repentance and baptism. It is this Spirit in a converted mind that
empowers one with the strength to change what human steam alone cannot. Notice: "For God
has not given us the spirit of fear; but of POWER, and of love, and of a sound mind."
The Greek for power is dunamis. It means "miraculous power or force." At conversion, a Christian
is given real power! This power establishes the righteousness of God within one's character.
One must draw upon the strength from God's Spirit to successfully overcome. This strength
is unlimited and sufficient to defeat any sin, problem or attitude---no matter how large
and foreboding such may appear! But make no mistake! Christians do not build
their own righteousness. This does not impress God. He sees it as so many filthy rags. The
apostle Paul wrote of his Christian hope to "be found in Him, not having my own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which
is of God by faith." Exactly what role does faith play? It does
play a role, but how? Ephesians states, "By grace are you saved through faith; and that
[the faith] not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should
boast." The faith of Christ in us is a gift. And salvation comes as a gift, by grace---thru
faith! But even the faith must be a gift. Otherwise, it would be a work generated by
human effort. (My booklet What Is Real Faith? carefully explains this subject.)
It is the very faith of Christ that works in a Christian. But grasp this. It does assist
in performing works in all those led by God's Spirit. These expect God's help.
Virtually all theologians, religionists and churchmen stop reading after Ephesians 2:8-9
and ignore the crucial verse 10: "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them." Get this! Christians
walk…in good works as "His [God's] workmanship," overcoming daily.
Quite literally, Jesus Christ lives His life in the Christian. Without His help, one will
get nowhere---fast! Jesus said, "Bring forth much fruit," and
then, "Without Me you can do nothing." Human power only helps a person overcome in physical
areas. Spiritual problems cannot be conquered thru physical effort. Christ is the Vine and
Christians are the branches---branches must be connected to the Vine. This happens thru
God's Spirit working in your mind. When speaking of how God's Spirit works, Jesus
said, "Out of his belly [the Christian’s] shall flow rivers of living water. (But this
spoke He of the Spirit.)" As the Christian performs good works, the Holy Spirit flows
"out of" him. It does good works. So it must be replenished, or it will be depleted and
disappear. This is why Jesus said, "If you…know how to give good gifts unto your children:
how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" The
Christian regularly asks for more of God's Spirit.
Paul wrote, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." Jesus also said,
"With God all things are possible." With God's Spirit actively working and growing in you,
this can also be true of you! Remember! Deep conversion does not occur overnight.
Paul wrote that some were "[babies] in Christ." He described how they required spiritual "milk,"
instead of "meat." The brand new Christian is much like an infant. By analogy, he first
learns to roll over, then crawl, before walking (and, at first, in an unsteady, toddling fashion).
Only later does he finally learn to run (spiritually). Paul compares conversion to running a race.
At some point, the runner must develop speed, because Paul says, "run, that you may obtain
[win]." Such is the Christian way. Slow, steady growth, thru daily practice, produces progress
in the life of the person copying Christ. The new Christian sincerely strives, from
the heart, to be different---to turn around and go the other way, the Way of God, for
the rest of his life! Be ready to apply yourself---to push to grow and overcome. Do not expect it
to be easy, like falling off a log. Grow in knowledge as well.
Jesus taught His disciples to understand the pulls of human nature at work within them.
Notice: "That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out
of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts,
covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness."
These same attitudes, pulls of the flesh and wrong patterns of conduct also work within
you and me. They leave us fertile for temptation by Satan. Therefore, many kinds of temptations
will be thrown at you all thru life. You must successfully resist them. They will often
come when you least expect them. The devil will try to strike where you are weakest---most
vulnerable---least prepared. You must be on guard---ready! Do not assume you are stronger
or more prepared than you think. Consider: "Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest
he fall." Now notice how temptation can turn into sin:
"Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own ***, and enticed. Then when ***
has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death."
Put out wrong thoughts. Don't ease up or assume victory before they are gone!
The apostle Peter added, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring
lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." And James instructed, "Submit yourselves therefore
to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Peter further instructed, "Whom
resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your
brethren that are in the world." This verse offers encouragement: You are not
alone in your struggle to overcome sin. All human beings face the same problems. Understand!
"All have sinned" and "Sin is the transgression of the law." God promises, "Sin shall not
have dominion over you." Here is how Paul explained forces at work
within him: "That which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what
I hate, that do I…the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not,
that I do." This pictures what we all face after conversion.
When you feel like this, battle! Resist! Use God's power within you. Call out to Him for
help and always remember that you must "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded." Fulfilling
this verse is not an overnight process. It takes time and much effort.
Seek God thru earnest, regular, believing prayer. Commune with God daily. Pray without
ceasing. Study your Bible. Drink it in as God talking to you personally in the same
way prayer is you talking personally to Him! Above all, do not get discouraged and give
up when the temptation is severe and appears unrelenting. Never forget that "There has
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 you are able; but will with the temptation also make
a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it [or escape]."
This is God's sure promise to all who seek to overcome!
Resisting the temptation of the devil was central to Jesus overcoming sin. Matthew 4
contains the account: "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit…to be tempted of the devil."
The devil repeatedly tempted Christ, and in various ways. Read the account. At the end
of several attempts by Satan to break Christ's will, the account climaxes.
After being offered all kingdoms of the world, Christ rebuked Satan, stating, "Get you hence,
Satan." Jesus told the devil to "get out." At this point, the temptation ended and the
devil departed. Christ had successfully resisted! Be prepared to tell Satan to get out of your
life as often as you have to. Resist him by submitting to God in all things!
Jesus passed a very real test! He overcame the world, His flesh and the devil in overcoming
sin and qualifying to pay for the sins of the world. You can overcome in the same way
Christ did. Applying the following 7 basic steps will
help you overcome any problem. They represent principles that will work in the process of
overcoming no matter the size of your problem or problems.
If you diligently apply them, they will be a formula that will help you to permanently
overcome in your life. First, honestly face the problem. Many people
will not do this. They hide their eyes from reality. Notice: "The heart is deceitful above
all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [or Who could believe it?]" Most
willingly deceive themselves about their problems. Look your problems right in the eye and see
them for what they are. (2nd) Do not get discouraged. It is very easy
to get disheartened---discouraged---upon acknowledging your problems. This is natural. Be ready for
this feeling after honestly facing a weakness, sin or fault. Paul wrote of those "troubled
on every side, yet not distressed…perplexed, but not in despair." You may feel this way
facing your problems, but don't get discouraged. Move to the next step.
(3) Set your will. Absolutely determine that you are going to defeat each particular problem
and that each will not defeat you! Take a do-or-die approach. It has been said that
the hardest battle is the first battle. Set your will to address each sin successfully.
Tell yourself you are going to defeat it---you are going to rip it from your character. But
again recognize you cannot fight the battle on your own. This leads to step 4.
Form a partnership with God. If you set out to overcome on human strength alone, you will
fail. Paul wrote, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Jesus said,
"I can of My own self do nothing." On another occasion, when speaking to His disciples about
those with certain things to overcome, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible; but with
God all things are possible." Believe Jesus’ words. If He could do nothing on His own,
neither can you. Be sure you have formed a partnership with God---that you are not working
on your own. (5) Start right where you are. Admit the problem
is whatever size it is. Neither overstate nor understate it. If it is a BIG problem,
admit it! This is part of honestly facing the problem. If you are trying to overcome
any pull of the flesh or temptation that has existed for a long time---that has been part
of you for many years---admit the size of the problem. It has been said, "The longest
journey begins with a single step." That is true for the Christian. No matter how long
it takes, or where you are when you start, begin wherever you find yourself. If you have
wasted time before addressing the problem, admit it and "Redeem the time."
(6) Be willing to pay the price. The Bible describes some who "grow weary" and "faint
in the day of adversity" and that "their strength is small." Notice: "Let us not be weary in
well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Everything of value in life
comes at a cost---a price. Sometimes this involves pain, suffering. Pay the price. Even
Christ, the Bible says, "Learned obedience by the things which He suffered." No one enjoys
pain, but sometimes it is inescapable in the overcoming process. The Psalmist wrote, "Before
I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Your word," and four verses later he
said, have "learned Your statutes." (7) Do not give up before you have succeeded.
Solomon wrote, "A just man falls 7 times [the Heb is actually many], and rises up again."
Do not give up. Never quit! Wrestle, battle and struggle until you have completely overcome
whatever obstacle, weakness, sin or problem you are facing!
Follow these points, always employing one step at a time. They have helped many win
the war of overcoming! Jesus also taught, "He that endures to the
end shall be saved." A life of growing and overcoming is a constant, daily struggle against
fleshly temptation. But Christians are now being judged: "The time is come [Peter wrote]
that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the
end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved
[get that!], where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
Paul knew he was being judged. Let's read: "Know you not [of course most do not] that
they which run in a RACE run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain
[win]. And every man that strives for the mastery [that’s the championship or victory]
is temperate in all things. Now they [non-Christians] do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we
[Christians] an incorruptible. I therefore so RUN, not as uncertainly; so FIGHT I…lest
that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [failure
or loser]" and "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the RACE that is set before us."
Paul fought mightily against sin. He saw 2 opposing forces at work within his mind. Notice
the intensity he brought to the struggle: "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,)
dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is
good I find not…I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with
me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my
members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law
of sin which is in my members." Paul saw Christianity as wrestling against
the wiles of the devil and said to "Press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus." He knew it takes great effort to win a long race.
Paul represents a classic example of how one of God's greatest servants fought to overcome
sin. At the end, he could say that he had "fought a good fight" and had "finished his
course" knowing a "crown" awaited him. But this did not happen without much running,
wrestling, pressing, fighting and warring against the human nature he strove to overcome.
He also knew his race was a marathon, not a sprint. True Christians know the same.
Adults require 15 to 20 years just to reach a certain height. This long, physical growth
process probably included a number of "growing pains." No doubt, you fell and skinned your
knee or bloodied your nose many times before reaching adulthood. Christianity is no different!
Do not become discouraged and quit growing, any more than a child should quit life simply
because he may have fallen or skinned a knee. When your child falls, you tell him to get
up---this is part of life. Christianity is no different!
Children always want to grow up faster than life's timetable permits. Though childhood
is wonderful, it seems most young people cannot wait for adulthood. Christianity is no different!
But full, mature Christian adulthood only comes after a long period of practicing the
right way. Perfection is a goal that carries with it
a way of life that governs one's every thought, action and word. God looks on the heart, the
intent of a person who is yielded to Him. As long as he is spiritually growing and overcoming---and
led by God's Spirit---he remains a converted, begotten son of God.
It is only thru regular prayer, Bible study, meditation and even fasting (going without
food and water for a period) that the Christian can overcome the 3 foes lying in wait for
him every day of his life. The Church of God has ministers available
to answer any questions you might have regarding the truth of conversion and overcoming. But
they will not call on you. You must request it. God does not pressure, persuade, beg,
cajole or force anyone to obey Him. He has made all human beings free moral agents. This
includes you. The all-knowing, all-wise, loving Creator has given men the choice, and ability,
to decide for themselves. He leaves it up to us to act on knowledge given. Thus, we
never pressure people into joining us. But you may freely contact us.
You will find these two pieces of literature very helpful: What Is True Conversion? and
You Can Overcome and Prevent Sin! Eventually, all peoples will sit before Jesus
Christ. Some will have qualified to rule and some will not. Notice: "When the Son of Man
shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the
throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: and He shall set
the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto
them on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you [all who have overcome] from the foundation of the world."
The government of God will soon be restored to Earth. All who prepared themselves will
"inherit the kingdom." Only the overcomers, those who successfully submitted to God and
resisted Satan thruout their lives, shall take part in this glorious future: "He that
overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son."
Will you start down the path to overcome sin and inherit all things?
Until next time, this is David C. Pack saying, "Goodbye, friends."
This program was made available by Restored Church of God members and donors from around
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all made available free of charge. To learn more, or to find a local congregation, contact
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