7 day plan

Born of God and Growing in the Family Likeness

Day 6 of 7

NIV

1 John 5:4-5

4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Reflection:

The third ‘new birth’ characteristic we’ll look at is faith. Faith launches us into the Christian life and is how we live the Christian life. As John Wimber taught, “The way in is the way on”. Remember, faith means Jesus has my trust, my heart, and my allegiance.

For faith ‘to overcome’ indicates that in life we will face many challenges that need to be overcome.

What do you do when you are facing something tough? Get angry, oppositional, passive aggressive, moan and complain, run away, or give up? Instead, consider turning it into a prayer point, and lament the situation before God. Realise he is the Good Shepherd. Ask for his help. Be open and expectant for his leading.

Recently I was going through something tough. I’d prayed about it quite a bit. After a long time, God spoke to me clearly through a teaching at church. I made sure I wrote it down. I came away with a completely different perspective, clarity for how to proceed, and confidence that God has got this.

How did I overcome this personal challenge?

Faith – my trusting relationship with Jesus, who is Lord of all, is the channel through which God will meet my needs and bring about victory.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that there is nothing I will face that I will face alone, because you are with me. While I do not believe every situation is from your hand, thank you I can trust you in every situation. Thank you that because of my trusting relationship with you – the Lord of all – I can and will overcome.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Days

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

1 John 5:1-21

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

6This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Concluding Affirmations

13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

16If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

18We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.