HOW DO WE OVERCOME? (Ephesians 1:7-11)

The Very Rev Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye
Provost.

In our text today, we realise that redemption from Christ gives us victory and allows us enter in God’s purposes for our lives. Our overcoming is connected to God and ourselves; Christians. God in His much care and love sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins on the cross. He has made available His Holy Spirit to give us the power to live as conqureres and also blessed us with the fellowship of believers to Stir us up in the walk of salvation. We therefore need co-operate with our heavenly father by doing the following to overcome sin and the devils plans:-

1. Avoid the trend of conforming to the world. We are to accept and believe Christ as our Lord and saviour and never go back to wickedness (1 John 5:5. The world as a creation also called earth has no problem but the wrong is the ungodly customs of people living in it. (Romans 12:2). We are to remain faithful to God and mantain integrity without any disobidience. (I John 5:4:, Revelation 17:14)
2. Allow Christ to give us hope so that we can be of good cheer during trials. Getting saved does not mean absence of problems but we are assured of God’s presence as we pass through every valley. (Psalm 23:4. Even when challenges come, we, children of God are expected to depend on Him fully, have the joy of the Holy Spirit deep within and mantain our position as consecrated holy and righteous people and priests before God. (James 1:27, Exodus 19:7, Matt 4:1-11). For example, do not go to a witchdoctor to solve a problems, just pray and get right Godly advice.
3. Witness Christ to the unsaved people. Jesus tells us to be the light to the world which is full of darkness; Sin (Matthew 5:14, 16). Darkness is too bad that even saved christians who have not been well discipled get entangled by ungodliness and total lack of reverence for God. Titus 2:12 reveals the need to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts of money and pleasure. These can be very promising and fulfilling temporarily but at the end they leave those who practice more empty. It is only God who trully satisfies our needs. We should preach this Christ verbally and through our lives’ testimonies’ to attract unbelievers to salvation and help those already born again to be rooted in Christ.
4. Remember that Jesus Christ is coming back for His pure Church.This used to be one of the main reasons for salvation, to spend eternity with Christ in heaven. However with the increase of prosperity messages, many christians aim at getting saved to get a car, good house, alot of money in the bank among others at the expense of everlasting life. Mathew 6:33, states that these are additional blessings if we live for God. No wonder a Christian can fight his wife in the morning but still run in the next service to lead worship because of the shallow focus into spiritual things, thus grieving the Holy Spirit. We should long for Gods comment; “Welcome good and faithful servant.” Life is too short in the world, even a hundred years is very little but eternity in heaven or hell is forever.
5. Pray and Practice Spiritual warfare. The devil is ever roaming looking for people to devour through problems and other avenue that divert us from Godliness(1 Peter 5:8-9, Eph. 6:10-20). We should pray, fast, attend services and have individual moments of prayer, reading the Bible and being involved in ministry. We should be aware that being born again is a battle that never stops but God’s presence helps us overcome. May God bless and help you live a victorious life through the redemption of Jesus Christ.

The Very Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye,
Provost, All Saints’ Cathedral, Kampala.