Discover the More Abundant Life in Christ

Mark VanOuse

Dark storm pushed back by brilliant light.

More Than Conquerors in the Darkest of Times, Part 1 – Introduction

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[Series: More Than Conquerors in the Darkest of Times] There are times in our lives when we are suddenly hit with a crisis. Like a car getting slammed broadside on the road. But no matter how dark and frightening the crisis — even the current Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic — God reigns supreme. And that makes all the difference in our lives! This episode begins a brand new series that speaks to this truth, called “More Than Conquerors in the Darkest of Times”. Today, well look at:

  • The challenge of a crisis: above all remembering that God is King of all.
  • The profound importance of Romans chapter 8 and how this powerful chapter can bring powerful stability and victory to our lives, no matter the crisis.
  • The major themes of Romans 8.

Photo credit: Photo by Arto Marttinen on Unsplash

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Blessed #18: In Christ Realities (Part 5)

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[Blessed Beyond Imagination #18]

Many Christians struggle with living as the brand new creature in Christ that they REALLY ARE, because they think, “I don’t think I’m ‘good enough’ or ‘holy enough’ or ‘righteous enough”. That’s right: you are NOT… but the Lord Jesus Christ is! And that makes a world of difference for you, in terms of the enjoyment of the blessed new life. Today we look at:

  • The glorious truth of 1 Corinthians 1:30, which tells us that we are in Christ because GOD did it. As well as the incredible context of 1 Corinthians 1:30.
  • You are a partaker of the blessings of God, not because you are so worthy, but because of what GOD THE FATHER has accomplished IN and THROUGH Jesus Christ!
  • Romans 4:5-8 and the fact that God justifies and blesses the UNGODLY on the basis of faith, which is according to God’s Grace (Romans 4:16).
  • The Bible clearly declares that “the just SHALL LIVE by FAITH”, which looks to Jesus Christ as our all in all.

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Blessed #17: In Christ Realities (Part 4)

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[Blessed Beyond Imagination #17. The beginning of this podcast has encouragement from God’s Word dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis].

It’s true: God has already richly blessed you, believer, beyond imagination! But many struggle and ask, “Why isn’t this working in my life?”. We tackling that perplexing question in this episode:

  • Why “doing for God” is a big mistake.
  • Many look at things carnally — after the flesh, rather than recognizing the new creation realities by the Spirit.
  • The importance of walking by faith, not by sight.
  • What it means to be a “new creature”.

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Blessed #16: In Christ Realities (Part 3)

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[Blessed Beyond Imagination #16] Very few believers know who they really are in Christ…And that’s important to know, in good times… and especially in bad times! Even fewer believers experience the reality of who they really are in Christ in their daily lives. In this episode, we talk about living in the full benefits of being the blessed person in Christ that you really are. We’ll learn that because we’re in Christ:

  • We already have received all the promises God has ever made.
  • We already have received the promise of the Spirit. And we’ll learn what that means for us right now.
  • We already have the anointing.
  • We already have peace, even during the tribulations of this world, because Jesus has overcome the world.

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Blessed #15: In Christ Realities (Part 2)

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[Blessed Beyond Imagination #15. Note: the beginning of this episode has strong encouragement during this dark time of the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak and economic uncertainty.]

God has already richly blessed every single believer… beyond imagination! But most Christians have almost no idea just how much God has already blessed them in Christ! In this episode we look at more of the incredible IN CHRIST realities for every believer!

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THIS KING – the audio version

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[This is the audio version. Click here for the written version]

I have become increasingly concerned over the hysteria and panic over the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. True, we must be careful and take wise action. However, the overreaction and downright panic are much worse than the disease itself.

If God did not exist, I can see why we should panic. But He does exist. Not only that, but He is also good. Supremely good. He reigns over all, even over global pandemics like Coronavirus.

Last week, I asked for the Lord’s help to bring encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as those who don’t know Him. Several times I sat down to map out ideas, scriptures, and thoughts. It just didn’t come together. Then, early this past Sunday morning, The Lord implanted an incredible idea. In mere minutes, I developed an outline tracing the whole path of the message, the scriptures and concepts. The writing of this just flowed. I was overwhelmed with joy and strong encouragement. I just knew that this represented our King’s heart for His children and for this frightened world.

Here is a recording of what the Lord gave me. It’s called THIS KING. May you be encouraged, blessed and at peace knowing that HE overrules all!

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Fearful young woman

Do Not Imbibe of the World’s Spirit of Fear

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There is significantly greater danger for the unbeliever than there is for the believer. The unbeliever is living without Christ. They are dead men walking (Eph 2:1). They are being driven by the spirit of Satan working inside of them (Eph 2:2). They are on a collision course with a world driven by Satan whose agenda is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).

That’s why the world is so fearful: they’re fearful of climate change, fearful of disease, fearful of deadly viruses, fearful of influenza, fearful of pandemics, fearful of cyberattacks, fearful of getting their identity stolen, fearful of who’s in the White House, fearful of who’s not in the White House, fearful of terrorism, fearful of international situations. Fear, fear, fear!

The unbeliver has great reason to fear day and night. They are exposed to Satan and Satan’s diabolical scheming. They have chosen to live life without God.

How radically different is the case of the believer! The believer is born again, a brand new creature, alive in Christ and Christ is living inside of them. Greater is He who is in the believer than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Christ in us is the hope of glory (Col 1:27). The believer participates in a covenant with Father God through the Lord Jesus Christ, whereby God gives them a new heart and moves by His Spirit and forgives and blesses and cares for His children. Under this Covenant we are healed, “and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4) and so much more.

That’s why the believer must not get caught up and imbibe of the world’s panicky voice of fear, fear, fear. The world is constantly promulgating and preaching fear. Because the people of this world are those “without God and without hope in the world (Eph 2:13). So it’s essential for the believer to shut off the screeching, terrifying cry of the world. And turn ON the word of God, turn ON those who are faithfully teaching the word of God and the new creation realities. To saturate our minds with the good news of the Gospel and God’s glorious grace!

Not only are we under the personal care of Our Heavenly Father, we are also on His mission. We have been tasked to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”. This saving gospel makes a profound difference in people’s lives. God does not want anyone to live in fear, in bondage to Satan:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus (John 3:16)

I originally wrote this in 2018. We need this now, more than ever, given the current crisis (or any crisis of this scale). I am not saying to shut off information from government and health authorities. It’s important to receive timely updates from those officially charged with handling a crisis. We must be wary, however, of Satan’s tactic to draw us into the godless fear of the world.

Photo by niklas_hamann on Unsplash

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Blessed #14: In Christ Realities (Part 1)

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Every single person who is in Christ is indeed richly blessed beyond imagination. But you might be wondering: it sure doesn’t seem like I’m richly blessed beyond imagination! Maybe you even think that your life is just the opposite. In this episode, we’ll help you to understand and experience the blessed life that is your birthright in Christ:

  • First: an important caution! Addressing our tendency to dismiss these incredible realities.
  • How do we know who we really are in Christ?
  • There are nearly 200 scriptural truths about who we already are in Christ. In Part 1, we dig into some of them.

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THIS KING – A Christian Response to Coronavirus

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A new king has emerged, though not entirely new. It has been around for thousands of years, wreaking havoc on the human race. Its name is “Coronavirus” and its existence in our day is known as “Coronavirus COVID-19 “.

This king is in keeping with its name: for “corona” means “crown.”

This king is overruling the kings of the Earth, even of the mightiest nations.

For consider how this king has …

Shut down schools
Shut down churches
Shut down factories
Shut down supply chains
Shut down stores
Shut down offices
Shut down concerts
Shut down sporting events
Shut down financial markets
Shut down governments
Shut down highways and byways
This king has even shut down Presidential elections!

And in the space of just one week, this king’s tyrannical rule in the United States has shuttered institution after institution, in a landslide of malevolent victory.

But there is another KING. And He alone overrules all. Even the king known as “coronavirus.”

THIS KING has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16)

THIS KING brought the murderous King Manasseh down to his knees with hooks and bound in fetters where he turned and honored THIS KING as the LORD God. (2 Chronicles 33:11-13)

THIS KING humbled the mighty King Nebuchadnezzar who, in a moment, went insane. After seven long years, the king lifted his eyes to heaven and said:

THIS KING is the Most High and I praise and honor Him who lives forever!
THIS KING has an everlasting dominion and His kingdom is from generation to generation.
THIS KING reputes all the inhabitants of the Earth as nothing.
THIS KING does according to His will in the army of heaven!
THIS KING has power among the inhabitants of the Earth and is so great that no one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?” (Daniel 4:33-37)

To THIS KING, he said, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” (Daniel 4:34-37)

THIS KING restored the king’s reason and the glory of his kingdom, his honor, and his splendor.

THIS KING reigns infinitely supreme over all.

THIS KING is God, and there is no other. There is none like Him.
THIS KING declares the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done.
THIS KING says, “My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

THIS KING has all wisdom and might.
THIS KING changes the times and the seasons.
THIS KING removes kings and raises up kings.
THIS KING gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
THIS KING reveals deep and secret things.
THIS KING knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him (Daniel 2:20-22).

THIS KING has created all that is in heaven and that are on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
THIS KING has created all things through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)

THIS KING is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17)

THIS KING upholds the universe by the word of His power. (Hebrews 1:3)

THIS KING is worthy to receive glory and honor and power, for He created all things, and by His will they exist and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

THIS KING is the Lamb who was slain, worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. (Revelation 5:12)

THIS KING is the head of the body, the church.
THIS KING is the beginning.
THIS KING is the firstborn from the dead.
THIS KING has in all things preeminence. (Col 1:18)

THIS KING is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.
THIS KING is the One who lives, and was dead, and is alive forevermore. ((Revelation 1:11, 19)

THIS KING is the One who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)

THIS KING is I AM (Jehovah, Exodus 3:14, John 8:58)

THIS KING is Jehovah Rophe and is OUR HEALING. (Exodus 15:26)
THIS KING is Jehovah Shamma and is PRESENT WITH US. (Ezekiel 48:35)
THIS KING is Jehovah Tsidkenu and is OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 23:6, 33:16)
THIS KING is Jehovah M’kaddesh and MAKES US HOLY. (Exodus 31:13)
THIS KING is Jehovah Jireh and is OUR PROVISION (Genesis 22:14)
THIS KING is Jehovah Shalom and is OUR PEACE AND WHOLENESS (Judges 6:24)
THIS KING is Jehovah Sabaoth and is the OUR LORD OF HOSTS AND POWER (1 Samuel 1:3)
THIS KING is Jehovah Nissi and is OUR VICTORY. (Exodus 17:15)

THIS KING has the government upon His shoulder.
THIS KING is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)

It is THIS KING Whom God also has highly exalted and given the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on Earth, and of those under the Earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Even the king, Coronavirus, bows to the honor, the glory, the power, and the supremacy of THIS KING…

And so does SARS
And MERS
And H1N1
And Ebola
And AIDS
And cancer
And cardiovascular disease
And depression
And catastrophe
And oppression
And strife
And war
And hostility
And unrest
And financial ruin
And all that has brought ruin and woe to the Earth…

THIS KING is The King of Kings, The Lord Jesus Christ!

[Note: click here for an audio version of THIS KING]

THIS KING – A Christian Response to Coronavirus – CC by-nc-nd 2020 – Mark D. VanOuse

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Blessed #13: Blessed of God (Part 6)

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[Blessed Beyond Imagination, part 13]. It’s one of the most important messages that could ever be spoken… And it answers the most important question of all: can I know for sure that I have a good standing with God? EVERYTHING depends on it! In this episode we look at:

  • Faith is very important to God. In fact, the Bible says in four key places, “The just shall live by faith”. So why is it “of faith”. Romans 4:16 says, “That it might be according to grace.”
  • All of the blessedness that we have is only because of the Grace of God.
  • God blesses us because He is good. And is the source of all blessing

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