As we go through life, we must make decisions that can have a major effect on the will of God in our lives. Whether it be a job, relationships, where we live, or college, we cannot make those decisions based on the physical. What looks good carnally, or to our flesh, is how we base some of our decisions and that will deceive us every time. We must have spiritual maturity to make those decisions based on prayer and fasting and the advice of the godly council in our lives.

In Genesis chapter 13, we find Abraham and Lot leaving Egypt on a path back to Bethel. Abraham and Lot had both acquired a lot of cattle and wealth. The herdsmen were fighting amongst each other so Abraham made the decision that he was going to have to split from Lot. The first thing of importance to note is that when they arrived in Bethel, Abraham found an altar he had previously built there. He made a sacrifice and prayed and worshiped God. When we are facing major life decisions we need to find an altar and pray and seek God. We need to sacrifice those things in our life that cause us to look at things in the carnal. Abraham’s faith and connection to God was where it needed to be. In Genesis13, it does not say anything about Lot participating in anything at the altar. So what this tells us is that Lot was likely leaning more towards the carnal. Abraham gave Lot the choice of where he could live and told him, “Lot, you can either have the left or the right.”

Lot looked upon the plain of Jordan and saw how marvelous it was. There was an abundance of water, the grass was green and it looked beautiful. The bible compares it to the Garden of the Lord.

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Genesis 13:10

When we have major life decisions that pop up in our life we can get excited. We can start to see how a job gives us more money or prestige and we can start to operate by sight. Our heart can have the tendency to lose track of the spiritual and all we can see is the worldly benefits that it brings. When we get to that point, we can have a hard time seeing that Sodom is waiting on the other side. Before we know it, we are living in the middle of Sodom. Lot never thought that one decision would eventually cost him EVERYTHING. We have to remember the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that we are to “walk by faith and not by sight.” Jeremiah 17:9 says that “the heart is deceitful above all things.” When we make choices that are based on our emotions, we are going to be led astray. Instead, we should walk by faith and make decisions based on what Jesus spoke in Matthew 6:33. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” When we pray, fast, and seek godly council, we are aligning ourselves with God’s Word and will for our life.

Roy Lane and his wife, Melissa, are the Directors of Hyphen, the young adult ministry at Apostolic Life in Urbana, IL. They reside in Sidney, IL with their two children. Roy is also a firefighter with the Urbana Fire Department.

At some point in time you have probably heard the phrase “blood is thicker than water.” The context of the meaning, the way we use it today, is blood-related family is more important than anyone else. Throughout time this phrase has lost its original covenant meaning which is, the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water in the womb. Meaning, the ones I’m in covenant with are to be considered of more value than the relationship with a brother I may have shared the womb.

 

God has been in covenant with his people from the beginning of time. God made a covenant with Noah never to destroy the earth with water again. God made a covenant with Abraham that He would give him a land for his descendents to come. And God has made a covenant with you and I.  Ephesians 2:11-13:

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

I’m thankful that God robed Himself in flesh and shed His blood so I can be in covenant with Him. I now  have a promise and hope in this world.

I heard a story of a man who was battling cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy treatments via IV. One day the IV port became dislodged and chemo got on his skin. It immediately damaged his flesh and he had to seek treatment at the hospital. While the doctor was cleaning up the wounds the man asked, “How can a medication that is suppose to be saving my life do so much damage to my flesh upon contact?”

The doctor looked at the man and said, “The blood can handle what the flesh can’t.”

 

No matter what you are facing in life remember that “blood is thicker than water!”

 

Les Cotton is the Pastor of Student Ministries at Apostolic Life in Urbana, IL. He and his wife, Emily, are also the pastors of the Mandarin language ministry and directors of Elevate Campus Ministry where they oversee weekly Bible studies at the University of Illinois and Parkland College campuses.

An overcomer is defined as “someone who prevails.” If we are going rise above the hardships we face, endure until the end, and finish the course, we must overcome the challenges we find on our Christian walk. We will face times of turmoil and tragedy, but it is our reaction to those hard times that determines everything.

 

Characteristic #1: You must be a worshiper.

Immediately after finding out the news that he had lost his children and nearly all of his personal possessions, we can find Job’s initial reaction to this news in Job 1:21.

 

Job had learned of an unspeakable tragedy, something that would cripple any parent. Even after finding out this horrendous news, Job blessed the name of the Lord. He gave God the glory. Job had a made up mind that He would not allow his circumstances to dictate his worship. This is the first characteristic of an overcomer. 

 

Characteristic #2: You must have a relationship with God and a revelation of who He is.

Job 19:25 says:

 

Job had a revelation of Jesus Christ. He had an understanding about the very nature of God. Job didn’t curse God. Job didn’t blame God. He didn’t fold under the weight of his situation because he knew something that nobody else knew. Before God ever parted the Red Sea, Job knew that God was his Deliverer. Before Jesus ever shed His blood, Job knew that God was his Redeemer. Before John ever put pen to paper and wrote the inspired words “for God so loved the world,” Job had a revelation about the love of God. Had he looked at his situation without this revelation, it would have appeared that God had abandoned him. Job could trust God because he had peace through this revelation. If Job had not sought after God daily and developed a personal relationship with Him, Job wouldn’t have an understanding of the kind of God he served. And without this revelation, he would not have overcome.

 

Characteristic #3: You must respect and love God’s word.

The next characteristic of an overcomer is understanding the importance of the Word of God. Job understood the importance of the Bible…before there was a Bible. Job 23:12 says:

 

Job said God’s word was more important for his survival than food was for his body. Job couldn’t pick up the books of Law and study them.  He couldn’t read from the words of the prophets and apply them to his life. He didn’t have the opportunity to read from the gospels or memorize verses from the epistles, yet he still had an understanding of the importance of the Word of God in his life. I wonder what Job would have done for the opportunity to pick up one of our bibles and be able to read from it when he was in the middle of this trial? How many times have we taken our Bible for granted? Job would have loved to read from it and study it and write it on the tablets of his heart. He would have done anything for that opportunity. If we are going to overcome, we must fall in love with the Word of God. 

 

Characteristic #4: You must prioritize your life and live accordingly.

The last characteristic of an overcomer that Job demonstrated is that he lived a prioritized life. Job chapter 31 gives us the following facts about how Job lived his life:

He did not withhold from the poor.

He was a giver.

He didn’t put his hope in gold and didn’t rejoice because of his great wealth.

He served those that were in need.

He fed those that were hungry.

He clothed those that could not clothe themselves.

 

Job was a man who had his house in order. His priorities were the right priorities. He fully understood the concept of seeking first the Kingdom of God. Had riches and gold been Job’s top priority, I believe he would have cursed God when it was all taken away. Had Job loved his money and glorified himself in his success, he would have never been able to stand when pressure was applied to his life. Job had a solid foundation. He lived a prioritized life and as a result, he overcame tremendous adversity.