Israel never gained complete victory over their inheritance. As a result they were enticed into sin by the Philistines they did not overcome. God wants every one of us to gain complete victory. God wants us to press forward in faith until our whole spirit, soul, and body is preserved blameless to the coming of the Lord. Whatever we do not conquer will seek continually to entice us to sin.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Thessalonians 5:23)

There are promises in the Scriptures that offer total victory over every spiritual and physical bondage. Never, never, never quit until you have gained complete victory. Do not reason or talk yourself out of total victory. The Bible promises total victory. Claim your inheritance!

Only those believers who come against the sins of their flesh with the full fury of the Godhead, with all the redemptive graces God has provided, will be able to stand during the coming hour of darkness.

We must pray fervently without ceasing that we may be found worthy to escape the deceptions and spiritual destruction that will be brought forth by Antichrist. Through the help of the Lord Jesus we can stand in triumph, in the fullness of victory, in His Presence when He appears.

God always is able to deliver us totally from every bondage. The question is one of our participation in the process. Are we really doing all we can? Are we walking in Christ to the best of our ability? If we are not we have no hope of participating in the first resurrection.

It is as God considers us worthy, as we do our best to overcome the bondages of sin, as we put to death the deeds of our body, as we crucify our flesh with its lusts, that God is moved to complete the work of deliverance in us. First, God judges us to be worthy of deliverance. Then God's hand brings judgment on our adversary, Satan, and sets us free to eternal life.

We are judged according to our works. One of our most important works, a work that leads directly to the worthiness that qualifies us for the first resurrection, is our submitting to God and resisting the devil. The Christian who continues to serve unrighteousness has no hope of being raised from the dead at the appearing of Christ.

Another important work is that of taking heed to the admonitions of the Scriptures: to the New Testament and, where applicable, to the Old Testament.

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. (Romans 6:17)

The New Testament is filled with various admonitions to godly behavior and illustrations that teach us the importance of righteousness and holiness. The sincere disciple meditates on each of these and seeks the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit in the fulfillment of them.

To be continued.