OVERCOMING WHILE LIVING IN AN EVIL AGE TODAY IS POSSIBLE

Lee Evans

Ps 103:5-10  Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle's [strong, overcoming, soaring]!  [Isa 40:31.]  6 The Lord executes righteousness and justice [not for me only, but] for all who are oppressed.  7 He made known His ways [of righteousness and justice] to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.  8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness.  [James 5:11.]  9 He will not always chide or be contending, neither will He keep His anger forever or hold a grudge.  10 He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  AMP

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00:29Let's open our Bibles today to Galatians chapter 1 beginning in verse 1.

00:36The word declares, I Paul an apostle, special messenger appointed and

00:42commissioned and sent out not from any body of men nor by or through any man

00:48but by way and through Jesus Christ the Messiah and God the Father who raised

00:55him from among the dead and all the brethren who are with me to the churches

01:00of Galatia grace and spiritual blessing be to all of you and soul peace from God

01:07the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah. Verse 4, who gave, yielded

01:13himself up to atone for our sins and to save and sanctify us in order to rescue

01:21and deliver us from this present wicked age and world order in accordance with

01:27the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father. Verse 5, to him be ascribed

01:34all the glory throughout all the ages of ages and the eternity of eternities.

01:41Amen. So be it. It is no secret today to say that the world in which we live is

01:49very evil and wicked. There are treasures in the heart of man or woman who is

01:57generated by the power and grace of God and the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ

02:03on the cross. Regeneration is the spiritual change brought about in a

02:10person's life by an act of God. In regeneration, the person's sinful nature

02:17is changed and he or she is enabled to respond to God in faith. But there is a

02:25first birth and a second birth. The first, as Jesus said to Nicodemus in John

02:32chapter 3, is of the flesh and the second is of the Spirit. Being born of the

02:39Spirit is essential before any person can enter into the kingdom of God. Every

02:46biblical command to man to undergo a radical change of character from

02:52self-centeredness to God-centeredness is, in effect, an appeal to be born again.

02:58Therefore, regeneration involves an enlightening of the mind, a change of the

03:04will, and a renewed nature. It extends to the total nature of man changing a

03:12person's desire and restoring him to right relationship with God in Jesus

03:18Christ. The need for regeneration grows out of humanity's sinfulness. It is

03:25brought about through the work of God's initiative. God works in the human heart

03:32and the person responds to God through faith. Thus, regeneration is an act of God

03:39through the Holy Spirit resulting in resurrection from sin to a new life in

03:45Jesus Christ. We see this in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17.

03:51Therefore, if any person is engrafted in Christ the Messiah, he is a new creation,

03:58a new creature altogether. The old previous moral and spiritual condition

04:04has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come. The new creature in Christ is

04:12not the natural or carnal man but is only the person who is engrafted in

04:18Christ and is in the one who has the life of God in his soul. The Holy Spirit

04:24of God dwells in the heart and the peace of God is constant within his

04:30consciousness and power of God is in his life. These make up the divine treasures

04:38that are contained within vessels of clay called God's chosen people. And this

04:45was all a part of God's perfect design for working out one's salvation in Jesus

04:51Christ. And not only that, dear listener, the greatest of the treasures within the

04:57human vessel is the person of Jesus Christ and the work of Christ. And the

05:03scripture tells us that the fullness of Christ dwells within also. All of these

05:10things are pleasing and good and profitable because without these

05:15wonderful attributes of God within those who live in Christ, remember, in Christ

05:22there would be no regeneration or salvation possible. Their nature is evil

05:28and they have only evil tendencies and evil thoughts and words and actions but

05:35they think that they are just fine the way that they are. Oh, by the way, I

05:41forgot to mention the name and title of our message today and it is called

05:47Overcoming while living in an evil age today is possible. There is a story about

05:54a man who was seriously ill. A visitor asked him if he was willing to turn his

06:00life over to God and renounce the devil. The man replied, well I am willing to

06:06give my life to God but a man in my condition should not be making any

06:12enemies. This man thought that if he rebuked the devil, the devil would be his

06:18enemy. You know, we may laugh, the author goes on to say, but we must not forget

06:23the strength and influence of the devil that is very real. In fact, the number of

06:29his followers is increasing. Satan's church is growing and new groups are

06:34forming all over the United States. Satan's Bible is available in many

06:39bookstores now and in even more signs of the devil worship are appearing in

06:45graffiti and blatant Satan worship is being taught in some schools across the

06:51United States and the devil's hand signs are being flashed by those who belong to

06:57him. The author goes on to say, never forget that the devil has one goal. He

07:04wants your soul. His desire is for all men to be in hell for eternity. He is the

07:11embodiment of evil. Twelve times in the New Testament he is called the evil one.

07:17He has the power to enter a person as told in Luke chapter 22 verse 3 which

07:24says, but then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot who was one of the twelve

07:31apostles. With his craftiness he can even use the best of people to achieve his

07:37ends and we are told in Matthew chapter 16 verse 23, but Jesus turned away from

07:44Peter and said to him, get behind me Satan. You are in my way an offense and a

07:51hindrance and a snare to me for you are minding what partakes not of the nature

07:58and quality of God but of men. Also he says Satan can trap men and take him

08:06captive and we learn this by 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verses 24 through 26 which

08:14says, and the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, fighting and

08:19contending. Instead he must be kindly to everyone, mild-tempered, preserving the

08:26bond of peace. He must be skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing

08:32and willing to suffer wrong. He must correct his opponents with courtesy and

08:37gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to

08:42know the truth, that they will perceive and recognize and become more accurately

08:47acquainted with and acknowledge it. Verse 26, and that they may come to their

08:53senses and escape out of the snare of the devil having been held captive by

08:57him henceforth to do his will, God's will. Satan can fill the heart of a man or a

09:06woman and lead him into death as we're told in the account of Ananias and

09:11Sapphira in Acts chapter 5 verse 3 when Peter said to Ananias, why has Satan

09:19filled your heart? That you should lie and to attempt to deceive the Holy

09:23Spirit and should in violation of your promise withdraw secretly and

09:29appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land. Well our

09:35story goes on continuing saying, it is not old-fashioned or anti-intellectual

09:43to believe in a living powerful person of evil. Perhaps we need to see more

09:49vividly the contest in which we are participants. Paul said in Acts chapter

09:5626 verses 17 and 18, I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them

10:03from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God so that they may

10:09receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith

10:15in me. So he says instead of joking about the devil perhaps we need to restore the

10:23custom of the early church. Tertullian in AD 155 to 222 recounted how converts not

10:35only confessed the Christ but also said I renounce you Satan and all of your

10:43service and all of your works. We may not be a member of Satan's church but we can

10:50still be a follower of his according to Titus chapter 5 verse 15 because

10:58possibly we serve him by default and if we do not totally and wholeheartedly

11:04serve the Lord and are obedient to his ways and word we automatically become

11:11servants of Satan. Romans chapter 6 verse 16 declares, do you not know that when

11:19you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves you are slaves to the one

11:25whom you obey whether you are slaves to sin which leads to death or to obedience

11:31which leads to righteousness. He continues saying the old dragon the serpent is not

11:39all-powerful in fact we can fight against him and win if we will seek

11:44divine assistance from our dear Savior. We can defeat this evil foe and flee his

11:51influence on our lives. Our weapons and strength are mighty and found in

11:57Ephesians chapter 6 verses 13 through 18 and we can fight against him and

12:04triumph. With such strength and power within our holy temples we not need fear

12:12the devil yet we must constantly be alert to his schemes and devices. He

12:19wants each one of us he is powerful but he can only win if we let him. Paul said

12:27in 2nd Corinthians chapter 2 verse 11 that we are not unaware of his schemes.

12:35Well dear listener this account sums up the fact that if we do not continue

12:43growing and maturing in Jesus Christ we will be caught in evil snares and vices

12:50of Satan in this world today and you must know that the world was not always

12:57evil. The creation as we have read in the book of Genesis many times states that

13:04what God made was good and he was well pleased with it. How many of you know

13:11that whatever God created is absolutely perfect and it could not be any better

13:17than that. We learn through reading the book of Genesis that the world became

13:23evil through man's disobedience to God. In Greek the most common word for the

13:30world is cosmos which is the total sum of the universe which includes man. It

13:37was good and perfect but since the fall of man in the garden the good and beauty

13:42in the world can best be discovered discerned and enjoyed by those who have

13:48God Almighty within them. These are the blessed and the meek which are described

13:54in the third beatitude in Matthew chapter 5 verse 5 which declares blessed

14:00and happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous with life joy and

14:06satisfaction in God's favor and salvation regardless of their outward

14:11conditions are the meek and the mild and patient person long-suffering for

14:17they shall inherit the earth. These are the ones who inherit the earth who enjoy

14:23its original purpose and to inherit the earth was a promise that was made to

14:29Abraham in his posterity. It came before the law was established. This promise was

14:37guaranteed through faith. Yes, guaranteed through faith. Romans chapter 4 beginning

14:45in verse 13 for the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not

14:52to Abraham or through his seed through the law but through the righteousness of

14:59faith for if those who are of the law are heirs faith is made void and the

15:05promise made of no effect because the law brings about wrath for where there

15:11is no law there is no transgression therefore it is a faith that might be

15:17according to grace so that the promise might be sure to all the seed not only

15:24to those who are of the law but also those who are of faith of Abraham who is

15:28the father of us all. Verse 17, as it is written I have made you a father of many

15:35nations in the presence of him whom he believed, God, who gives life to the dead

15:42and calls those things which do not exist as though they are. You must know

15:49that this generation of evil will only continue for a time. Jesus did not come

15:56first to put an end to this generation. He will put an end to it at a specific

16:02time in the future when he will come back in all of his power and glory and

16:08might for this is the reason Paul calls the current time this present evil world.

16:15The first time our Lord Jesus Christ came he came as the Lamb of God to take

16:22away the sins of the world. He saves people within this world but he does not

16:28take them out of the world and we see that in John 17 beginning in verse 6

16:34when Jesus was in the garden praying before he was about to be taken away to

16:40be nailed to the cross for all the whomsoever's would choose him as Redeemer

16:46and Savior. In verse 6 he prayed to his father saying I have manifested your

16:53name to the men whom you have given me out of the world they were yours you

16:58gave them to me and they have kept your word and now they have known that all

17:03things which you have given me are from you and I have given them the words

17:08which you have given me and they have received them and know surely that I

17:13came forth from you and they have believed that you sent me I pray for

17:19them I do not pray for the world but for those whom you have given me for they

17:24are yours. Our Lord preserves and protects his

17:29redeemed children in the world during this time or age and he will come again

17:35to judge the world and this will be the consummation of the age when this

17:41present world or this present age is completed or fulfilled there will be a

17:48new age this term is designated as the coming age meaning the next life and at

17:57that time our bodies will be changed and so will the whole universe we see this

18:04in a few scriptures that I have noted and we will read the first one in Romans

18:10chapter 8 beginning in verse 19 for the earnest expectation of the creation

18:18earnestly and eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God for the

18:23creation was subject to futility not willing because the creation itself also

18:29will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of

18:34the children of God for we know that this whole creation groans and labors

18:40with birth pangs together until now and not only that but we also have the first

18:47fruits of the Spirit even we ourselves grown within ourselves eagerly waiting

18:54for the adoption the redemption of our bodies and also in Revelations chapter

19:0121 verse 1 beloved John reports what he saw then I saw a new sky a new heaven a

19:11new earth for the former sky and the former earth have passed away vanished

19:17and there no longer existed any sea you see while we live in this world Jesus's

19:26death saves us from sin as we are faithful to him in every respect as we

19:33are being sanctified Galatians chapter 1 beginning in verse 3 declares grace and

19:43spiritual blessings be to you and your soul peace from God the Father and our

19:48Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah who gave and yielded himself up to atone for our

19:55sins and to save and sanctify us in order to rescue and deliver us from this

20:02present wicked evil age and order in accordance with the will and purpose and

20:08plan of our God and Father verse 5 to him be ascribed all glory through all

20:16ages of ages and the eternity of eternities so be it we must understand

20:23that Christ's death was a voluntary gift who voluntarily gave himself up for us

20:31just think about that his love for us prompted him to give himself up for us

20:40while we were still ungodly enemies of God and at home in this evil world as

20:47told in Romans chapter 5 verses 6 and 8 and declares for when we were still

20:54without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly for scarcely for a

21:02righteous man will one die yet perhaps for a good man somehow would even dare

21:09to die but God demonstrates his own love towards us in that while we were still

21:15sinners Christ died for us Jesus's death was necessary because of our sin he

21:25literally died for our sins he died in our behalf of our sins and when he did

21:32that our sins are forgiven there's a testimony told of a famous blacksmith

21:39who after being taken prisoner and confined in a dungeon he began to

21:46examine the chains that bound him with a hopeful way to discover some flaw that

21:53might be easier to break it loose but his hope was in vain he found from some

22:00marks upon it that it was his own workmanship and creation it had been his

22:08boast that no one could break a chain that he had forged so therefore it is

22:16with the sinner his own hands have forged the chain that binds him as a

22:23chain that no human hand can break I wonder how truly appreciative we are as

22:32believing or professing Christians dear one when we think about what our

22:38beloved Savior did for us in giving of himself is your heart and soul filled

22:46with the greater awe and admiration for his undying love just for you personally

22:53he gave you his own body he voluntarily went to the cross and died a horrible

23:01death just for the sake of our own dead bodies you must understand that our

23:09bodies were dead because of sin and Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 & 2

23:14declares and you he made alive who were dead in trespass and sin when would you

23:23once walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of

23:27the power of the air the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience

23:33moreover with his own resurrection our dear Lord also raises all those who

23:42believe him unto the newness of life going down to verse 5 we see this

23:49clearly stated even when we were dead slain by our own shortcomings and

23:55trespasses he made us alive together in fellowship in union with Christ he gave

24:02us the very life of Christ himself and this new life in which he quickened him

24:07it is by grace his favor and mercy which you did not deserve that you are saved

24:15delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation therefore

24:21Jesus through his death and resurrection took away our sins by

24:27providing and empowering us with his very life and this achieved our

24:34justification before God from that time on the sinner is being changed and

24:41renewed into a new creature in Jesus Christ as they might become just and

24:48right before God and if we do not recognize our own personal sinfulness

24:55Christ's death for us is ineffective my recognition of the fact that I am a

25:03sinner is absolutely necessary if Christ's death is to achieve salvation

25:11for me and the ongoing renewal of my mind my body soul my spirit but

25:19mistakenly many people believe the lie that once saved always saved no matter

25:26what they do after their initial confession of their sins as a teaching

25:31goes by John Calvin's erroneous teaching they believe they're saved but you see

25:39when we accept Christ's death and his salvation this leads to a life of

25:46constant struggle in this sinful and evil world when Jesus removes our sins

25:53he changes us completely 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 17 says therefore if any

26:01person is engrafted in Christ the Messiah he is a new creation a new

26:07creation altogether the old previous and moral and spiritual condition has

26:12passed away behold the fresh and new has come dear listener this tells us that

26:21being engrafted is an ongoing process of regeneration and salvation and we must

26:29endure and pursue our Lord Jesus Christ until the very end of our lives this is

26:37an ongoing process and no one should rest on their morals thinking that they

26:42have arrived or they're just fine thank you the way that they are this is a

26:48battle until the end and Satan is the ruler of this world and will not let up

26:53until Jesus comes again in all of his glory and power and puts the greatest

26:59enemy under his feet this world and age in which we must remain continues to be

27:06the old fallen and unredeemed world that many are being rescued out of and are

27:13being renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit whom our dear Heavenly Father has

27:19gifted us with Christ's sacrifice can deliver the believer from the spirit of

27:25this evil age and this clearly is stated as one of the purposes of Jesus Christ's

27:32death that he might deliver us the believers from this present evil world

27:38as clearly stated in Galatians chapter 1 verse 4 understand please this does not

27:46mean that he takes us away physically from the world but he gives us victory

27:52to overcome against sin while we are in this evil wicked world we can be in the

27:59world but not of the world as our Lord prayed in John chapter 17 verse 15 as we

28:07have previously read and I stress by reading again I do not ask that you take

28:14them out of the world but that you will keep and protect them from the evil one

28:18they are not of the world worldly belonging to the world just as I am NOT

28:24of the world verse 17 sanctify them purify consecrate separate them for

28:31yourself make them holy by the truth your word is truth sanctification means

28:39the process of God's grace and mercy by which the believer is separated from sin

28:46and becomes dedicated to God's righteousness and this is accomplished

28:52by the Word of God which becomes a supernatural reality in the individual's

28:57heart his mind and soul and also by renewing the work of the Holy Spirit

29:04this is accomplished by the Word of God which becomes a supernatural reality in

29:10the individual's heart and mind and soul and also by the renewing work of the

29:16Holy Spirit sanctification results in holiness or the purification from

29:21guilt and the power of sin sanctification is a separation from the

29:27world or setting apart for God's service is a concept throughout the whole Bible

29:341st Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 23 declares may the God of peace himself

29:42sanctify you through and through separate you from profane things make

29:48you pure and holy and consecrated to God and may your spirit and soul and

29:53body be preserved sound and complete and be found blameless at the coming of the

29:58Lord Jesus Christ verse 24 faithful as he who is calling you to himself and

30:05utterly trustworthy he will also do it fulfill his call by hallowing and

30:11keeping you your listener it is absolutely the grace and the will of God

30:19that we may not be affected by any worldly philosophy of life or evil

30:26prophets that are hard at work in this last day to sway and astound and deceive

30:33the ignorant people into believing in their lies in order that we may

30:38overcome this evil world today if people are not being constantly renewed

30:44in their hearts and souls they will fall victim to the happenings in this evil

30:50world today and believe me when I say there are many lies and teachings that

30:57are being promoted in this year of 2024 in every aspect and subject of our

31:04branches of knowledge today including science medicine academia the animal

31:11kingdom the universe and everyday living and in religion in Galatians chapter 1

31:19beginning in verse 3 Apostle Paul gives us great encouragement to carry on when

31:26he prays grace and spiritual blessing be to you and your soul peace from God the

31:33Father and our Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah who gave yielded himself up to

31:39atone for our sins and to save and sanctify us in order to rescue and

31:45deliver us from this present wicked age and world order in accordance to the

31:52will and the purpose and the plan of our God and Father although we are

31:58surrounded by evil God should never be blamed for it we are reaping the

32:03consequence of our inherited and personal sin in spite of all the evil

32:09that surrounds us God is still our father and he will fully protect us

32:15while we're in the world and on our way as we remain faithful to his every

32:21teaching and way of living this straight and narrow path is not by

32:27emotion our feelings or my way of doing things as a Christian but God's Word is

32:35very specific and outlines this way for us God cannot be blamed for our failures

32:41to do as his work demands but rather we will be found continually growing and

32:47maturing in his love and grace to where we are absolutely standing in awe of his

32:53profound and mysterious power his love and reverence to save a wretched sinner

33:01such as ourselves and this is called reverential fear or solemn wonder dear

33:09ones and this is all attained by the grace of God by our faith and obedience

33:15to do as he requires for us to be called his very own children let's

33:22pursue the one whom our hearts love because he will never leave us as

33:27orphans as we forge on and overcome while living in this evil and wicked age

33:34today nothing is impossible as we trust in God and his ways let us remember as

33:42well it is God's amazing love and grace that he sent his beloved son Jesus

33:49Christ into this world as a sinner such as ourselves

34:12you

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