Dear Beloved in Christ,

    Revelation 21:7 tell us "He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Every believer must ask themselves: Am I overcoming in my present circumstances? Am I moving forward by faith even in the midst of adversity and difficulty? Is my single focus the Lord Jesus Christ?   Four principles when observed consistently, will cause a believer to overcome or "BREAK THROUGH":
    1. Continual Repentance
    2. True WORSHIP, in spirit and in truth
    3. Prayer
    4. The Word of God (read, study, obey)
    
    Concerning the "double portion", I want to direct your attention to 1 Kings, chapter 19. The Lord told Elijah that "Elisha" would take his place; 1 Kings 19:16. The name Elisha means "God is salvation". The Church's responsibility is to point others to "salvation" in Jesus Christ. Jesus is not only our Savior, He is also our "Master".
    Elisha (an overcomer), became a recipient of the "double portion" of Elijah's anointing. In 1 Kings 19:19, Elisha came into contact with the anointing, as his "spiritual father" Elijah passed by. The "father" clothes his "child", in this case with a "mantle", the principle of adoption, and the anointing that he carries.
    1 Kings 19:20-21 - Elisha left the oxen, sacrificed them and fed the people. "Elisha" makes a complete separation from his previous livelihood, ministry, background so that he could pursue one thing: his "walk with Elijah". This also speaks to us of breaking our ties with a previous "father" (the first Adam or satan; John 8:44; Romans 5) and "mother" (the old church, the structure of Babylon); 1 Kings 19:20-21. Elisha willingly left his entire past behind to follow his spiritual father. He AROSE, WENT AFTER ELIJAH and MINISTERED TO HIM; 1 Kings 19:21. He did not have to be swayed, manipulated or forced into these decisions.
    Instead of being "yoked" to his "oxen", Elisha is "yoked" to his master; Matthew 11:29-30. As a matter of fact, Elisha would follow Elijah everywhere he went; he would not leave Elijah or even be out of his sight; see 2 Kings 2:2,4,6. The two together: "father" and "son", smote the waters (the seas of humanity are divided through their mantle (ministry), and they "went across"onto dry ground; 2 Kings 2:8.
    Elisha was tested in the areas of: his affections, sincerity, will, faith, patience, character and spiritual endowments. He passed the tests - he "broke through" every obstacle. And as Elijah's "son", he asked for a double portion; he met the conditions to receive it; Deuteronomy 21:17; Isaiah 61:7. Elijah and Elisha walked together and talked together, as Enoch walked with God (then saw redemption); 2 Kings 2:11; Genesis 5:24.
    When the time came that Elijah would be "taken up", lifted into another dimension, Elisha saw it, because he would not take his eyes off of his master!  IF YOU CAN SEE THE ASCENDED LORD, you will receive His portion; 2 Kings 2:10.  Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. The "chariot" is the principle of the throne of God in motion; horses are symbolic of the overcomers. After Elisha saw these things, he took hold of his OWN CLOTHES and tore them into 2 pieces; 2 Kings 2:12-14. He tore apart his old identity, his own effort, his own equipment.  After this, he was qualified to take and use Elijah's mantle. The disciple must not only "follow the Ark", he must also desire to BECOME ONE WITH THE ARK, thereby causing others to want to follow as well; 2 Kings 2:15-18. Elisha received a "double portion" of the spirit of Elijah; he was obedient and "stripped himself" willingly.  Elijah worked 8 miracles; Elisha worked 16 miracles.
    
    Perhaps when the Church follows the pattern as seen in Elisha's life in full identification with the Master, then the double portion anointing will be evident; see 2 Kings 2:15.

    
    Terri Hill

PROMISES   FOR   THE   OVERCOMER

There are rewards promised to the one who “overcomes”. The word “overcome” in the Greek means “to subdue, to conquer, prevail, get the victory”.
Jesus is the greatest example of an “overcomer”. He said “These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me, ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”; John 16:33.

These Attributes Describe The Overcomer:
1. An overcomer is a believer who remains constant in his victory over sin, the world, and satan, even though he is surrounded by opposition and apostasy; Romans 12:21.
2. An overcomer endures to the finish, hears and responds to what the Spirit is saying to the Church, and accepts only God’s standard as revealed in His Word; Matthew 10:22.
3. The scriptures tell us that everyone who is born of God overcomes the world by their faith; they believe that Jesus is the Son of God; 1 John 5:4-5.
4. They are filled with (baptized in) the Holy Spirit; Matt. 3:11; Acts 8:15-17; 19:2-6.
5. They gain the victory over the worldly things described in 1 John 2:15-16:
a. the lust of the flesh – realm of sensual gratification, impure desires, sinful pleasures; 2 Timothy 3:4
b. the lust of the eyes – materialism, the love of money, covetousness; 1 Tim. 6:10
c. the pride of life – arrogance, self-sufficiency, position, popularity; Luke 11:43
6. They overcome the accuser of the brethren (satan); Revelation 12:11:
    a. by the Blood of the Lamb; Hebrews 12:24; 1 Peter 1:18-19
    b. by the word of their testimony; Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12-14
    c. by loving not their lives unto the death; Luke 17:33; 2 Timothy 4:6-8
7. They overcome the deception of false doctrine by studying the Word of God, which contains true doctrine. They pay a price for the knowledge of the truth, by searching the scriptures as the Bereans did; Acts 17:10-11; 2 Timothy 2:15.
8. They overcome the works of the flesh by walking in the spirit, and bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Galatians 5:16-21.
9. They overcome by forgiving themselves and others; Mark 11:25-26.
10. They overcome through adversity, persecution and afflictions by keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith; Hebrews 4:15; 5:9; 12:22.

The Seven Churches In The Book Of Revelation Had To Overcome Some Obstacles:
These seven churches existed at the time of John’s writing, but the messages given to all seven churches are still valid for those who live on the earth today. Some individuals within the assemblies were true believers, and some were not. The messages given to each of the churches reveal the strengths, the weaknesses, the instructions, the warnings and the promises given to those within the assemblies who overcome; Revelation 21:7.
1. The Church At  Ephesus; Revelation 2:1-7:
Strengths: hard work, didn’t tolerate wicked people; endured hardship; didn’t grow weary
Weakness: abandoned their first love; legalistic; works mentality
Instruction: repent and do the things they did at first
Warning: Jesus would remove their lampstand (church, authority, light) from its place
Promise: would be given the right to eat from the Tree of Life in the paradise of God

2. The Church At  Smyrna, Revelation 2:8-11:
Strengths: endured slander, suffering and poverty but were spiritually rich
Weakness: none
Instruction: don’t be afraid of suffering; remain faithful in prison, persecution and death
Warning: none
Promise: will be given the Crown of Life and will not be hurt by the second death

3. The Church At  Pergamum, Revelation 2:12-17:
Strengths: showed loyalty to Christ; didn’t deny Him when going through trials
Weakness: tolerated false teachers, idolatry and sexual immorality
Instruction: repent
Warning:  Jesus would fight against them with the sword of His mouth
Promise: will be given Hidden Manna and a White Stone with a new name on it

4. The Church At Thyatira, Revelation 2:18-29:
Strengths: demonstrated good deeds, love, faith, service, perseverance
Weakness: tolerated false prophets and immorality related to sex, money and power
Instruction: repent; those who aren’t deceived hold on to what you have until Jesus comes
Warning: would be cast into a bed of suffering; followers would die; deeds repaid
Promise: would be given authority over the nations and the gift of the Morning Star

5. The Church At  Sardis, Revelation 3:1-6:
Strengths: some keep themselves pure
Weakness: has a reputation for being alive but is dead; deeds are unfinished
Instruction: wake up and repent; hold fast to what you have received
Warning: Jesus will come like a thief and they will not know when He comes
Promise: the faithful will be dressed in white; name not blotted out of the Book of Life

6. The Church At  Philadelphia, Revelation 3:7-13:
Strengths: has a little strength; obedience to Jesus and His Word; endures patiently
Weakness: none
Instruction: keep the faith; let no one take your crown
Warning: none
Promise: has an open door that no man can shut; will be kept from the hour of trial; will be made a pillar in God’s temple; He will write on them His new name

7. The Church At  Laodicea, Revelation 3:14-22:
Strengths: none
Weakness: lukewarm; trusts in riches but is wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked
Instruction: repent; buy gold tried in fire; need white garment; anoint eyes with eyesalve
Warning: if you don’t repent, you will be spit out of His mouth
Promise: if you hear His voice and open the door to Him, He will come in and sup (have fellowship); those who overcome, will sit with Him in His throne