More than Conquerors Together

Good morning, Grace,

Sarah and I headed out on our kayaks. But before we go, I wanted to email you, as we remember Labor Day together. It was such a privilege to gather together yesterday. I hope the spoken Word of God yesterday morning continues to work in your heart throughout this week.

As we observe Labor Day together, I am reminded that God has not called us merely to believe individually, but to belong to one another as the body of Christ. Every person has a place. Every act of service matters. Every prayer, every word of encouragement, every unseen act of faithfulness contributes to the strength and health of the church.

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Romans 12:4–5 NKJV

That truth becomes especially important when we consider what we studied yesterday.

The Bible study explored the very real spiritual battle between good and evil, drawing from Revelation 12 and Romans 8. We examined three tactics the enemy uses against believers - deception, accusation, and the attempt to separate us from the love of Christ - and we saw clearly from Scripture that none of these tactics has the final word.

Because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, believers are not merely survivors of this battle.

We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

The enemy may deceive us into sin and then accuse us for it, but the cross does not deny our guilt; it declares that our guilt has been paid for. Nothing in all creation, including every spiritual power named in Romans 8, has the authority to separate us from the love of Jesus.

And Grace - this is one reason we need one another.

The enemy often works to isolate before he intimidates. He wants the struggling believer to believe nobody understands. Nobody cares. I have to fight this alone.

But that is not how Christ designed His church. If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:26 NKJV

We stand together. We pray for one another. We encourage one another. We remind one another of what is true when someone else is having difficulty seeing it.

Thought for the week

Deception rarely announces itself. satan does not need us to abandon our faith outright. He only needs to slightly distort the truth. When we allow culture to reinterpret Scripture, or when we let our feelings determine truth rather than God's Word, we open the door to a slow drift that can lead us far from where God intends us to be.

Guard what you believe, because what you believe will shape how you live. And when you see a brother or sister beginning to drift, don't merely criticize them; love them enough to help point them back to truth.

Accusation and conviction are not the same thing. Conviction draws us toward Christ and leads to repentance.

Accusation produces shame and guilt and drives us away from Him. When the enemy takes something that happened and tries to turn it into something that you are, remember:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 NKJV

If the Judge of the entire universe has declared you justified, the accuser has no authority to overturn that verdict.

And sometimes we need another believer beside us who will simply remind us, That's not who you are. Remember who you belong to.

You have been given the authority to declare your identity in Christ. When the battle is pressing in, stand firm.

Spot the lie.

Turn away from accusation.

Apply the blood of Christ.

Name what is true.

Declare who you are.

You are loved, you are forgiven, you belong to Christ, you are not condemned, you cannot be separated from His love, you are more than a conqueror through Him who loved you. Remember, we don't make those declarations merely as isolated individuals. We stand together as Christ's church.

On this Labor Day, I am especially thankful for the many people who faithfully labor within the Grace Baptist family. Some serve publicly, many serve quietly, but every act of faithfulness matters. Whether you teach, pray, greet, encourage, give, serve, clean, visit, prepare, lead, listen, or simply come alongside someone who is hurting, you are helping strengthen the body of Christ.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Colossians 3:23 NKJV

So, as we move through this week, hold tightly to Romans 8 and let it become the lens through which you interpret every circumstance you face.

Do not interpret God's love through your circumstances. Rather, interpret your circumstances through God's love.

And if this week becomes difficult, don't disappear from the body. Reach out.

Because together, in Him, we are more than conquerors.

Have a blessed Labor Day, Grace. Thank you for the ways you faithfully labor for Christ and for one another.

In His Service,

Lars