More Than A Conqueror

Romans 8:35 (NKJV)Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

When we are taught about the above scriptures it is usually referenced in a way that defines believers as always having favorable outcomes in life. Have you ever experienced a setback and said “I am more than a conqueror”, have you ever been in the running for an important business deal and said “I am more than a conqueror”, have you ever been challenged in any way shape or form and have used this scripture to claim victory over what has been challenging you?

Now all of that is fine, as God’s children we have supernatural favor in areas of our lives that produces good results. But when I look at those scriptures now I see something totally different from what I have been taught. What really stands out to me is not verse 37 but rather verse 35.

Verse 35 speaks on being separated from the love of Christ and what how you can potentially let adverse situations separate you from that love. If verse 37 only references good times and always having favorable results then it kind of contradicts verse 35. Why would always being successful threaten the separation of the love of Christ, usually that is when most believers tend to draw closer to God.

You may be asking what I’m getting at. What I am getting at is this; every now and then we may come across an experience in life that does not produce the results we think that it should. Have you ever been rejected for a job, while being a Christian? Have you ever been turned down for that mortgage to purchase your dream house, as a Christian? Have you ever lost a loved one that you prayed so earnestly for, or have you ever been a part of bad relationship break up while being a Christian? We all have experienced some kind of unfavorable results while being a follower of Christ, results that we cannot explain and often question God as to why it happened.

When you experience disappointment and heartache how do you react? Someone who is more than a conqueror is able to remain in a state of peace, in a state where they can say “You know what God, it didn’t work out the way I wanted but you know what’s best for my life and I trust you always”. Someone who is more than a conqueror will overcome the mix of emotions that can adversely affect your mental mindset of peace. Am I saying not to grieve in the case of loss or maybe even be a bit upset, no not at all. I’m just saying be sensitive and able to discern that which threatens that peace and sense of love that we get through Christ.

Let’s take Jesus as an example; Jesus was being beaten and killed on the cross but through it all he was more than a conqueror. Through it all he said Father forgive them for they know not what they do. How many of us can honestly say they would be able to do that right now today.

So from this day on whatever you experience in life whether good or bad always know that you are more than a conqueror, not because you will always get favorable results you desire but because you will always be at peace in whatever situation you face.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Love is the Key

It has been about two or so years since Tracy and I started Kingdom Vizion Ministries, sending out Word of the Day messages. During this time God has built both of us up in wisdom and maturity. Many of the messages that we send out are messages that can be a little hard to read and ones that may even convict your spirit. The greatest lesson that I am learning is that the message is not meant to tear you down but to build you up.

My job is first and foremost not to tell you things you ought to do and not do them myself, as we progress in ministry and move closer and closer to one day establishing a brick and mortar church this is something that has to always be the case. When we write we write from a stand point of love and not disappointment. It can often be disheartening to see the potential but not yet see the fruit, but love is the standpoint we take. Today we want to let everyone who is reading this know that we love each and every one of you.

The last thing we want you to do is beat yourself up because you think that you are not perfect enough for God and that you are unworthy to be sent by Him. You are already perfect in Gods sight. Is everything we do always right on track, probably not. God cares more about your heart than your works, if your heart is pure than the rest will line up. Living by the Word of God is impossible out of your own strength and intelligence; it takes the working of the Holy Spirit to be able to carry out what He has established for you. So if you are out there beating yourself up because you try and try and try and always seem to come up empty handing, I say to you stop trying and just start walking.

There are many of you out there that are experiencing situations in your lives that are out of your control. I know I always talk about people putting themselves in their own mess but there are some out there that have been put in a mess that they did not create. You see what you want to do and it’s just not happening, you want a better life and it seems that it’s just not coming; you want to be healed of whatever it is afflicting your body and it seems to only be getting worse. For those of you that may be experiencing something like this, I say to you just keep praising God. For your breakthrough is coming, sometimes when a situation is at its worse that means the end of that thing is near.

Don’t lose faith, don’t grow weary, He is right there in the midst with you. Just like when the three Hebrew boys were thrown in the fiery furnace. God was right there in the midst of fire with them and they came out unbound and free because of their faith and confidence in God and what they knew was true. We often times think that God will rescue us from the fire and in some cases that is true. In other cases He will lead you through the fire because one thing that the fire does is purify you. You saw when the Hebrew boys were put into the fire their hands were bound and when they came out they were no longer bound. God did not leave them, He did not stop loving them, He led them through.

So I tell you just keep praising, keep believing, and keep strong in the faith. I was listening to a song today by casting crowns and every time I listen to this song I am moved so much because the song just radiates God’s love in the times we need it the most. You can check it out too, just click the link below.

Casting Crowns: Praise You In This Storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHdcyue0bSw
Daryle Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

It’s Time!

This morning as I got up to praise and worship I was looking for songs on the internet and I ran across this awesome song that was a great encouragement. It made me get up and dance around, and it started my morning off right. It doesn’t matter what happens the rest of this day let us let the words of this song permeate our hearts. I invite you all to rejoice with me this day. For any of you that might have had a rough start this week, or have been going through a lot lately. Put this song on get up, listen to the words and just let it all go!!It’s time to return to the joy of our salvation!

http://www.morningstarministries.org/Media/Player.aspx?fullpage=True&media_id=1000030958

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”

Psalm 32:11 “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”

Mark 11:22 “So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.”

John 16:33 "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."

Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org