Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 1
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Matthew 16:18
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Luke 10:19
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1John 2:13
“I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him Who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.”
1John 4:4
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One Who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
1John 5:3-5
3 “In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome,
4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 2
John 16:33
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Because Jesus overcame, so can we. Because we remain in Christ, He empowers us to overcome, and enjoy the same rewards as He does. All power and authority has been given to Christ Jesus, and He has imparted this to the believer who walks with Him. When He comes again, He will also bring the fullness of our rewards with Him.
Revelation 2:7
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:11
“Whoever has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
Revelation 2:17
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name on it, known only to the one who receives it.
Revelation 2:26-28
26 “To the one who is victorious and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the nations —
27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’ — just as I have received authority from My Father.
28 I will also give that one the morning star.”
Revelation 3:5
“The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before My Father and His angels.”
Revelation 3:11-12
11 “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of My God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from My God; and I will also write on them My new name.”
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 3
Revelation 3:21
“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
Revelation 21:1-27 (Read)
Revelation 21:7
“Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be My children.”
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Death — Part 4
Hebrews 2:14-15
14 “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil —
15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by fear of death.”
2Timothy 1:8-10
8 “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
John 5:24
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him Who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
1John 3:14-15
14 “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 5
Genesis 4:1-7 [AMPC]
1 “And Adam knew Eve as his wife, and she became pregnant and bore Cain; and she said, I have gotten and gained a man with the help of the Lord.
2 And [next] she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground.
4 And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering,
5 But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.
6 And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
1Corinthians 15:25-26
25 “For He (Jesus) must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through [in union with] Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1Corinthians 15:54-57
54 “And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished [forever) in and unto victory.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
56 Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power [upon the soul] through [the abuse of] the Law.
57 But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 1:18
18 “And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead)."
Revelation 20:1-15 (Read) Satan Bound; The Judgment
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 6
God’s Light Overcomes the Darkness
John 8:12
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I AM the Light of the World. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Genesis 1:3
“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
John 1:3-5
3 “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Ephesians 5:13
“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible — and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.”
Light Be!
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 7
Living as God’s Children
Ephesians 4:17-32 [AMPC]
17 “So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds.
18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature].
19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].
20 But you did not so learn Christ!
21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],
22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another.
26 When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.
27 Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him].
28 Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need.
29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).
31 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).
32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 5:1-17 [AMPC]
1 “Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].
2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.
3 But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God’s consecrated people).
4 Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God].
5 For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]—for he [in effect] is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience.
7 So do not associate or be sharers with them.
8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].
9 For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
10 And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].
11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret.
13 But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.
14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.
15 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.”
Revelation 22:3-5
3 “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him.
4 They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 8
God’s Will for the Overcomer: The Fear of the Lord is a Loving Reverence for God
Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Hebrews 12:28-29
28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
29 For our God is a consuming fire.”
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 9
From the Beginning
Genesis 1:26-31
26 “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’
27 So God created man in His Own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’
29 And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;’ and it was so.
31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
After the flood during Noah’s Lifetime
Genesis 9:1-17
1 “So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea.
3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
5 Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of a man.
6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.
7 And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.’
8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying:
9 ‘And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you,
10 and with every living creature that is with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth.
11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth’
12 And God said: ‘This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.
14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;
15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’
17 And God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.’”
Acts 21:25
25 “As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”
John 13:34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 10
When God Reigns in the Earth
Isaiah 11:1-16
1 “And there shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse [David’s father], and a Branch out of his roots shall grow and bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord—
3 And shall make Him of quick understanding, and His delight shall be in the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord. And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, neither decide by the hearing of His ears;
4 But with righteousness and justice shall He judge the poor and decide with fairness for the meek, the poor, and the downtrodden of the earth; and He shall smite the earth and the oppressor with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of His waist and faithfulness the girdle of His loins.
6 And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatted domestic animal together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed side by side, their young shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.
9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
10 And it shall be in that day that the Root of Jesse shall stand as a signal for the peoples; of Him shall the nations inquire and seek knowledge, and His dwelling shall be glory [His rest glorious]!
11 And in that day the Lord shall again lift up His hand a second time to recover (acquire and deliver) the remnant of His people which is left, from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia, from Elam [in Persia], from Shinar [Babylonia], from Hamath [in Upper Syria], and from the countries bordering on the [Mediterranean] Sea.
12 And He will raise up a signal for the nations and will assemble the outcasts of Israel and will gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
13 The envy and jealousy of Ephraim also shall depart, and they who vex and harass Judah from outside or inside shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex and harass Ephraim.
14 But [with united forces Ephraim and Judah] will swoop down upon the shoulders of the Philistines’ [land sloping] toward the west; together they will strip the people on the east [the Arabs]. They will lay their hands upon Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will obey them.
15 And the Lord will utterly destroy (doom and dry up) the tongue of the Egyptian sea [the west fork of the Red Sea]; and with His [mighty] scorching wind He will wave His hand over the river [Nile] and will smite it into seven channels and will cause men to cross over dry-shod.
16 And there shall be a highway from Assyria for the remnant left of His people, as there was for Israel when they came up out of the land of Egypt.”
Isaiah 61:1-11
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
3 To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
4 And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
5 Aliens shall stand [ready] and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But you shall be called the priests of the Lord; people will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and the glory [once that of your captors] shall be yours.
7 Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.
8 For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong with violence or a burnt offering. And I will faithfully give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with them.
9 And their offspring shall be known among the nations and their descendants among the peoples. All who see them [in their prosperity] will recognize and acknowledge that they are the people whom the Lord has blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as [surely as] the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring forth, so [surely] the Lord God will cause rightness and justice and praise to spring forth before all the nations [through the self-fulfilling power of His word].”
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 11
Isaiah 62:1-12
1 “For Zion’s sake will I [Isaiah] not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest until her imputed righteousness and vindication go forth as brightness, and her salvation radiates as does a burning torch.
2 And the nations shall see your righteousness and vindication [your rightness and justice—not your own, but His ascribed to you], and all kings shall behold your salvation and glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name.
3 You shall also be [so beautiful and prosperous as to be thought of as] a crown of glory and honor in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem [exceedingly beautiful] in the hand of your God.
4 You [Judah] shall no more be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land be called Desolate any more. But you shall be called Hephzibah [My delight is in her], and your land be called Beulah [married]; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married [owned and protected by the Lord].
5 For as a young man marries a virgin [O Jerusalem], so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
6 I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who will never hold their peace day or night; you who [are His servants and by your prayers] put the Lord in remembrance [of His promises], keep not silence,
7 And give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise in the earth.
8 The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: Surely I will not again give your grain as food for your enemies, and [the invading sons of] aliens shall not drink your new wine for which you have toiled;
9 But they who have gathered it shall eat it and praise the Lord, and they who have brought in the vintage shall drink it [at the feasts celebrated] in the courts of My sanctuary (the temple of My holiness).
10 Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones. Lift up a standard or ensign over and for the peoples.
11 Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the Daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes [in the person of the Lord]; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work and recompense before Him.
12 And they shall call them the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.”
Luke 4:1-20
1 “Then Jesus, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit
2 For (during) forty days in the wilderness (desert), where He was tempted (tried, tested exceedingly) by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, He was hungry.
3 Then the devil said to Him, If You are the Son of God, order this stone to turn into a loaf [of bread].
4 And Jesus replied to him, It is written, Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone but by every word and expression of God.
5 Then the devil took Him up to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the habitable world in a moment of time [in the twinkling of an eye].
6 And he said to Him, To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I give it to whomever I will.
7 Therefore if You will do homage to and worship me [just once], it shall all be Yours.
8 And Jesus replied to him, Get behind Me, Satan! It is written, You shall do homage to and worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.
9 Then he took Him to Jerusalem and set Him on a gable of the temple, and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down from here;
10 For it is written, He will give His angels charge over you to guard and watch over you closely and carefully;
11 And on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus replied to him, [The Scripture] says, You shall not tempt (try, test exceedingly) the Lord your God.
13 And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time.
14 Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the [Holy] Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of Him spread through the whole region round about.
15 And He Himself conducted [a course of] teaching in their synagogues, being recognized and honored and praised by all.
16 So He came to Nazareth, [that Nazareth] where He had been brought up, and He entered the synagogue, as was His custom on the Sabbath day. And He stood up to read.
17 And there was handed to Him [the roll of] the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened (unrolled) the book and found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],
19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound].
20 Then He rolled up the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing [attentively] at Him.”
Life Walk Bible Lesson 27: Overcoming Like Jesus — Part 12
John 15:1-17 [AMPC]
1 “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].
4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.
9 I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me].
10 If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love.
11 I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.
12 This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.
13 No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.
14 You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do.
15 I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]
16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], He may give it to you.
17 This is what I command you: that you love one another.”
Revelation 10:1-11
1 “Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, robed in a cloud, with a [halo like a] rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his feet (legs) were like columns of fire.
2 He had a little book (scroll) open in his hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
3 And he shouted with a loud voice like the roaring of a lion; and when he had shouted, the seven thunders gave voice and uttered their message in distinct words.
4 And when the seven thunders had spoken (sounded), I was going to write [it down], but I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up what the seven thunders have said! Do not write it down!
5 Then the [mighty] angel whom I had seen stationed on sea and land raised his right hand to heaven (the sky),
6 And swore in the name of (by) Him Who lives forever and ever, Who created the heavens (sky) and all they contain, and the earth and all that it contains, and the sea and all that it contains. [He swore] that no more time should intervene and there should be no more waiting or delay,
7 But that when the days come when the trumpet call of the seventh angel is about to be sounded, then God’s mystery (His secret design, His hidden purpose), as He had announced the glad tidings to His servants the prophets, should be fulfilled (accomplished, completed).
8 Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke again to me, saying, Go and take the little book (scroll) which is open on the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.
9 So I went up to the angel and asked him to give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it and eat it. It will embitter your stomach, though in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.
10 So I took the little book from the angel’s hand and ate and swallowed it; it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but once I had swallowed it, my stomach was embittered.
11 Then they said to me, You are to make a fresh prophecy concerning many peoples and races and nations and languages and kings.”
Life Walk Lesson 27 — Part 13: Overcoming Evil with Good
In today’s Life Walk Lesson, we will be looking at Scripture from the Bible, and concepts from other ancient writings, to learn how to live victoriously, in the face of evil circumstances.
Let’s look at what God did with the Children of Israel. In Deuteronomy 8:15 (NIV), it is recorded:
“He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock.”
Now let’s look at the experience Jesus had in the wilderness, recorded in Matthew 4:1-4.
1 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.
3 The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’
4 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Jesus gave His disciples encouragement one day, as it is recorded in Luke 10:19, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
And how is this possible? Let’s look at Romans 12:21. It says,
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Now, let’s see how Jesus overcame evil, by doing good. In Acts 10:37-38, Luke writes:
37 “You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached —
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.”
And Jesus tells John the Baptist’s disciples, in Matthew 11:5,
“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”
What is the good news Jesus is referring to? Let’s look at Matthew 5 again and see what Jesus spoke about with His disciples.
Matthew 5:3-13
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
How can we behave like salt in the earth?
According to what Jesus just described in His sermon on the mountain, in verses 4 through 11, He shows us that in the natural realm, we can comfort those who mourn, nourish the hungry and thirsty, be merciful to those who need it, have a pure heart toward one another, be peacemakers, and treat people with integrity.
Those who behave in the opposite manner are led by the evil one, and consequently that kind of salt is “trampled,” like snakes and scorpions, so Jesus teaches us to behave well in the earth.
The Apostle Paul tells the Romans, in Chapter 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. And in verse 19, he writes, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly awaits for the revealing of the sons of God.”
The earth cries out for the sons of God to be revealed, for they will act righteously in the earth, inherit it, and treat it well.
How can we Overcome evil by Doing Good?
Let’s look at Isaiah 6 and Luke 4 for the good we can bring, in Christ:
- bring good news to the poor
- heal the brokenhearted
- proclaim liberty to those who are captive to something, or someone, physically, mentally, or spiritually
- release from prison those who are bound [the Hebrew words mean “redoubled” and opening of the prison; it also means “opening eyes wide” from a word which means, to open the eyes, or to open the ears; jail-delivery, and figuratively, salvation from sin]
- proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God [Hebrew for “acceptable” is goodwill, favor; it implies God’s delight, that which is pleasing to God, God’s satisfaction, God’s acceptance of us, His good pleasure, His desire toward us] love one another, accept one another, show favor to one another, and be pleased with one another. Our desire is for the benefit of the other person, so we esteem others higher, according to Philippians 2:3, for even the angels declared “goodwill to all men” at the birth of Jesus.
- to comfort all who mourn, and console those who mourn in Zion, giving beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning
- clothe others with praise for a spirit of heaviness
- rebuild and repair that which has been ruined
- employ strangers and foreigners, and give them a job in your farm, or field
- be a priest to people, interceding for them, and a servant to God, being sent by Him to help others, for this brings double honor — we have seen the word “redoubled” earlier, in reference to releasing the bound, and rejoicing in one’s God-given portion. Knowing were one belongs brings everlasting joy [See also what God did for Job, after He healed him, and restored to him double what he had before: Job 42:12-16]
- God loves justice, and righteousness, and to direct our work in truth
- God will make even your children famous because of what you have done for others
Now let’s look at our reward for overcoming evil by doing good:
Psalm 112:1-10
1 “Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.
2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is established;
He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
9 He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted with honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be grieved;
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked shall perish.”
And now let’s read Matthew 25:31-40
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
34 ‘Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in.
36 I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?
38 When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You?
39 When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’
40 Then the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.’”
In Isaiah 58, God is speaking to the people about fasting, and He tells them what He really desires from them. Let’s look at it now in Isaiah 58, beginning with verse 6 on through verse 9.
6 “Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.”
God takes care of us, His light in the world, especially when we take care of those He loves, for He says, in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only [begotten] Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
And in the Gospel of John, Jesus defines the real meaning of friendship as laying down one’s life for his friends; Paul says, Look not only to your own needs but to the needs of others as well, [Titus 3:14] for God shall supply all your needs according to His riches, according to Philippians 4:19.
Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
John 10:28-29
28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” [Many early Manuscripts: “What My Father has given me is greater than all”]
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
How can we remove “the yoke” from someone, or their heavy burden? How did Jesus remove the yoke?
In ancient times, a yoke always referred to slavery, bondage, and servitude of some kind. As an animal is yoked, and then ploughs the ground in a farm, so also is slavery considered a yoke of bondage. In a time where in Western culture we do not have such conditions, as a rule, there are other ways a person can feel a yoke which brings weariness. Stresses at work, school, within the family or community, bring the kind of weariness that requires God’s intervention, to bring us rest, and peace to our souls once more.
How can we do that for one another? If someone is addicted, bound to substance abuse, for example, how can we help them in the most effective way?
Intercession, and earnest prayer, will always be the best help to them, for until they want deliverance, only God can intervene directly. For some people, the root of the matter is the sense of not belonging, or liking where they are, so they choose a way of escaping which pacifies their anger. Love overcomes a whole lot of things, so keep loving. Sometimes getting professional help yourself may be the answer, whether that is from your church, or your services in your local community which help those with relatives of those addicted.
Who’s Responsible? The Source of Evil on Earth
Genesis 6:1-7
1 “Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,
2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
3 And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.’
4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’”
Cross Reference: 1Enoch 7-8
Chapter 7
1 “And all the others together with them took unto themselves wives, and each chose for himself one, and they began to go in unto them and to defile themselves with them, and they taught them charms and enchantments, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants.
2 And they became pregnant, and they bare great giants, who’s height was three thousand ells: [4,134 feet/1,260 meters]
3 Who consumed all the acquisition of men. And when men could no longer sustain them,
4 the giants turned against them and devoured mankind.”
[R.H. Charles: Notes: 1. charms and enchantments: Wisdom 12:4, and 18:13; and 2. bare great giants: for further reference see Sirach 16:7; Jubilees 7:22-23; Wisdom 14:6; Tobit 6:14; 1Baruch 3:26; 3Maccabees 2:4; The text of E Gg is defective here, and must be made good from G’s which gives: ‘And they bare unto them three kinds: first great giants, and the giants begat Naphilim, and to the Naphilim were born the Eliud, and they grew according to greatness.’ That these classes of giants were mentioned here presupposed by 86:4 and 88:2 of our text. Moreover Jubilees 7:21-22 is based on this passage: ‘The Watchers took unto themselves wives…and they begat sons — giants,’ the Naphilim <and the Eljo>, and they were all unlike, and they devoured one another, and the giants slew the Naphil, and the Naphil slew the Eljo, and the Eljo slew mankind.’ In 7:24, Jubilees quotes the greater part of 8:5 of our text of E Gg…The three classes of giants goes back to Genesis 6:4…Jubilees 7:21]
5 And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and to devour one another’s flesh, and drink the blood.
6 Then the earth laid accusation against the lawless ones.”
[My Notes: These were indeed giants in comparison with the humans. The sons of the Watchers were worshiped as gods, as were the Watchers, also know as fallen angels, because of their abilities, and for fear of them. When the women gave birth, according to one ancient writing, their abdomens burst in child-birth, causing the death of the mother. This left a people group in Cain’s genealogical line, of motherless children, raised in a very powerful male-dominated society, of humans who hunted for meat, which was not given to them to eat at the time, according to Genesis 1:29-30. The defiling of earth came from all the shed blood, of both animals and humans, and the utter voracious devouring of all of God’s creation, without regard for life, or morality.
It has also been recorded that these fallen angels cohabited with animals, and hence we have half-men/animal, like the centaurs, which represented “barbarism and unbridled chaos,” and half women/animals, like the mermaids, or monsters of the sea, in stories throughout ancient history. For example: God speaks of a monster of the sea, He called Rahab, in Isaiah 51:9, Job 9 and Job 26, but here is another description from the Odyssey, “Nobody could look at her with delight, not even a god if he passed that way. She has twelve feet, all dangling in the air, and six long scrawny necks, each ending in a grisly head with triple row of fangs, set thick and close, and darkly menacing death. Up to her waist she is sunk in the depths of the cave, but her heads protrude from the fearful abyss, and thus she fishes from her own abode, groping greedily around the rock. (Odyssey, 12:87-95)]
And if you think it is not possible to have that many teeth, may I share with you a news item about a 7-year old boy in India, whose parents thought he had a cancerous growth in his mouth, and in whom doctors found 526 teeth, which they were able to extract. [CNN Report]
Back to 1Enoch:
Chapter 8
1 And Azazel taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working with them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all coloring tinctures.
2 And there was much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they were led astray, and became corrupt in all their ways.
3 Semjaza taught enchantments, and root-cuttings, ‘Armaros the resolving of enchantments, Baraqijal taught astrology, Kokabel the constellations, Ezeqeel the knowledge of the clouds, Araqiel the signs of the earth, Shamsiel the signs of the sun, and Sariel the course of the moon.
4 And as men perished, they cried, and their cry went up to heaven…[Note: “To heaven” + saying, ‘Bring our cause before the Most High and our destruction before the Great Glory, before the Lord of all the lords in greatness.’]
Enoch reveals their natural behaviors, and now their character, in verses 11-12.
1Enoch 15:8-12
8 “And now the giants, who are produced from the spirits and flesh, shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, and on the earth shall be their dwelling.
9 Evil spirits have proceeded from their bodies; because they were born from men, and from the holy Watchers is their beginning and primal origin; they shall be evil spirits on the earth, and evil spirits shall they be called.
10 As for the spirits of heaven, in heaven shall be their dwelling, but as for the spirits of the earth which were born upon the earth, on the earth shall be their dwelling.
11 And the spirits of the giants afflict, oppress, destroy, attack, do battle, and work destruction on the earth, and cause trouble: they take no food, but nevertheless hunger and thirst, and cause offenses.
12 And these spirits shall rise up against the children of men and against the women because they have proceeded from them.”
Clearly we have evidence of such behaviors still in our modern world, even though there are no longer any giants, as King David removed the last of them during his reign as King of Israel.
You may wonder how it is that after the Flood there were still giants? The genetic DNA passed on through the genealogical line when Cain’s family was joined to Noah’s ancestors, passed on the genes. All this is recorded in the Ancient Book of Jasher and not, however, today’s topic. Let’s get back to what we can do in our sphere of influence, for it is our character God is interested in.
Overcoming Evil with the Kingdom of God in You
Romans 14:16-18
16 “Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the Kingdom of God is not eating or drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.” [Acts 10:15]
God shows His favor to “the acceptable” as we have seen already. He is delighted with, and takes pleasure in, desiring to be with, even live with, the accepted, His chosen children who love Him.
John 14:23
“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
That creates such a sense of belonging, doesn’t it? We belong in the Family Kingdom of God, and God comes to us and lives with us.
Luke 17:20-21
20 “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the Kingdom of God is not something that can be observed,
21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the Kingdom of God is in your midst. [NIV Note: or, is within you.]
Paul reminds us in 1Corinthians 4:19-21
19 “But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.
20 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
As we have seen from ancient history, the powers of darkness brought utter chaos, and fear, whereas the Kingdom of God brings light, and faith, hope, and love. [Genesis 1:3]
2Timothy 1:7
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”
Galatians 5:22-23
22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
We have seen, throughout Scripture, that God teaches us to feed others the fruit of the Tree of Life, so that we can change our culture, our environment and our world, by overcoming evil with good.
King Solomon says, in his proverbs:
“The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.” Proverbs 11:30
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4
Isaiah 63:7
“I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deed for which He is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us — yes, the many good things He has done for Israel, according to His compassion and many kindnesses.”
John 5:19
“Jesus gave them this answer, ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can only do what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”
Encouragement:
The commission remains the same — heal the sick, deliver those who need it, and raise the dead. Feed the hungry, clothe the unclothed, visit the sick and bound, with the intent to help them out of their situation. This isn’t about prison breaks, and releasing criminals back into the cities, but, I believe God is speaking of those who are falsely imprisoned for the testimony of Christ, as many of His disciples were. Many of these were family members of Jesus’ followers, and God didn’t want them to be afraid to visit them and care for their needs, as illustrated by Paul’s own experience, when people came to visit him when he was under house arrest, and they took care of his needs.
If all you can do is give a kind word that will make someone’s day more bearable, then you have done something good. Love and forgiveness go a long way in overcoming evil. Reach out today, as best you can, to be God’s messengers of good in your sphere of influence, and God will reward you, even if all you have done is give someone a cup of cold water on a hot day.
Removing all Evil
There is a similar concept to Isaiah 10:15, recorded in The Ancient Book of Jasher, where Abram proves to his father, Terah, that the idols cannot do anything, whether for themselves or for anyone else.
Inanimate objects, whether tools or idols, can do nothing of themselves, except that there is someone behind them using the tool or idol for their own purposes.
In the case of idols, then, it is the demonic powers who dwell in the idols, who enslave the people to do their demonic will, which Abram exposes. Neither then can a human being say, “By my own powerful arm I have done this”, for humans are only influenced either by demonic powers, or led by the Holy Spirit. [In context: The Ancient Book of Jasher 11:12-49]
Also known as The Book of Yashar, and, Sefer ha-Yashar, (and also quoted by The Chronicles of Jerahmeel), The Ancient Book of Jasher, records the event where Abram uses his father’s own logic to disprove Terah’s own ideas to him.
God Himself uses the same logic, through many other prophets, when addressing the ancient nation of Israel, who continued to worship the man-made idols [carved or molded representations of these fallen angels], even after God revealed Himself to them on countless occasions as the One and Only True God.
[See Joshua 10:13 for Joshua’s cross reference to this Ancient Book of Jasher, meaning, The Book of the Upright, which is an Historical record of events from the Creation of mankind through to the time of Joshua’s death. Herein, Joshua verifies his own record of the miracle of the sun standing still, thereby corroborating his own account with outside evidence.]
A quick glance at the Kings List of Babylon and Assyria will remind the Bible Student of the some of the names we have seen so far of some of the “gods” mentioned, who were actually kings. Those who lived and reigned during the pre-Flood time period would have had reigns of many hundreds of years. The list of kings with thousands of years of reign has not been verified, according to this article, and yet it is plausible based upon the concept of a prior creation, before our own, as I have mentioned, wherein the Watchers ruled over that creation.
I have noticed that what has been called Myth, by some, has often been based on a reality which someone else considered unbelievable. Hence, we have “mythical” gods and goddesses written about in Greek and Roman histories and stories, which were, according to Scripture, those who were called “the Watchers” — the fallen angels, who cohabited with humans, and to whom children were born, as giants of various sizes, also recorded in the Book of Numbers, and specifically in Genesis 6:4 and many other Ancient and Apocryphal Writings.
The Study of Ancient Greek History deals with many of these “gods” and “goddesses”, referred to even by Homer, and are quite recognizable as those of both the pre-flood, and the post-flood societies, who ruled over mankind.
See also: The Sumerian Kings List
Encouragement:
Walking with God, in a one-on-one personal relationship with God is the life-long goal of every believer in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Who came to earth, and was physically descended from Abraham, and King David, and of course, Adam, “the son of God” according to the genealogy in Matthew 1.
It is my intention to present this walk with God through History as one easily embraced by the Bible Student, because He is a loving Father, who desires our well-being, and our admittance into His Kingdom by strong, unwavering, and unshakable belief, and faith in Him as our God and Father.
As we have seen, the consequences of refusing God’s love, His provision, and His shining light, so that we can see the way to go, is disastrous, both spiritually and physically over time. He is very patient, as we saw in the pre-flood period when God waited almost a thousand years before completely destroying the evil on the earth during the time of Noah.
With much grace, God waits for all to come to the knowledge of His ways, which are best for us, for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ, Who ever lives to intercede for us. The 120 years allotted to mankind as a test-period to see whether humans would obediently walk with God, in Genesis 6:4, is just that. God desires that the righteous live much longer, as recorded in the Book of Isaiah, where God describes one who dies at an hundred years of age as just an infant, for his days are to be as the days of a tree, which can live many hundreds and even thousands of years. [Psalm 92:12; Isaiah 65:20-22 NASB]
Once again, at the consummation of all things, there will come a day when time is up, and evil will be completely removed for all eternity, and righteousness alone shall remain. Be one of the righteous who has the opportunity to go to heaven at death, and reign with God in the earth upon resurrection.
