More Than Conquerors Ii: They That Are with Us: A Believer’S Guide to Overcoming Opposition and Ethical Dilemmas

By Thomas Randolph Wood Jr.

Difficult situations occur every day, all over the world. They can occur in our homes, on our jobs, and even in our churches. As Christians, we must face these challenges and understand their roots in the spiritual world. We must also answer the call to witness Christ to everyone, especially those who cause us difficulty and distress. In More than Conquerors II: They That Are with Us: A Believers Guide to Overcoming Opposition and Ethical Dilemmas, minister and author Thomas Randolph Wood Jr. shows through real-world examples how true victory over situations, circumstances, and difficult persons is available through Jesus Christ.

The helpful, encouraging lessons of They That Are with Us offer answers to the hard and sometimes overwhelming challenges we encounter in our lives today. Perhaps we struggle with money, with relationships, with the future, or with faith; by sharing our stories and sharing the word of God, we can learn to honestly support each other in our walks both inside and outside the physical structures of our church buildings. Through this testimony and witness, we experience the true will of God for our congregations, for ourselves, and for our world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 24, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462029976

Thomas Randolph Wood Jr.

Thomas Randolph Wood Jr. is an ordained minister who has developed and taught numerous Bible studies. He is also an adjunct professor and the author of More than Conquerors: Five Principles for Success. He lives in Indiana with his wife and their two children.

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Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Randolph Wood, Jr.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. This book was written as a means of encouragement to any Christians that are struggling with interference and opposition. This book is not reflective of the position or mindset of any business or organization in particular. The author will occasionally use learning scenarios that are fictional; any resemblance to real situations is purely coincidental. The names of characters used in the scenarios are also fictional. The author may also use pictures of models to help the reader visualize characters in these same fictional scenarios. These are paid professionals and are not the actual persons discussed in the fictional learning scenarios. The author and the publisher are not rendering medical or legal services. If any medical or legal services are required, a professional should be consulted.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4620-2996-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-2998-3 (dj)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-2997-6 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 07/06/2011

Contents

Chapter 1

The reason this book was written

My calling into ministry

Living in changing times

If you love it, you can learn it

There is tremendous value in speaking to academic advisors

You must maintain a proper balance when learning the Bible

When you are told that you are not smart enough-do not quit

When you are told to quit-refocus

When you are doing the best you can-don’t give up on your dream

The problem with chasing a ghost

Touched by an angel

Fighting the good fight

The job isn’t finished until the paperwork is done

Day two-engine test

The continued refusal to sign paperwork

A Peculiar People

Chapter 2

Dealing with persons who lack knowledge

Priority assessment when you face opposition

Chapter 3

It is important for us to love those that are hard to love

What did David see in this crowd of discontented persons?

The benefits of being surrounded by discontented and struggling people

Chapter 4

Have you felt lead?

Can you see greatness?

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Ethical Opportunity or Insult?

*Michelle and Bobby

Situation

Dilemma

Opportunity /Insult?

History

Present Day

Chapter 7

Ethical Opportunity or Insult Robert and Que Que

Situation

Dilemma

Opportunity/Insult?

History

Present Day

Quenton and Shante

Ethical Opportunity/or Insult?

The Maid Service

Chapter 8

Dealing with blatant sin among non church members

Chapter 9

Godly Sorrow Causes Repentance

Chapter 10

The unmerited favor of God is what saves you

The problem of saying you are partially saved

The problem with losing your salvation over a flat tire

Chapter 11

Consequences of preaching the truth

*The lunch date?

Chapter 12

What is the Gospel?

Chapter 13

Adam and Eve shone like a laser light

How did God see us after sin?

What Jesus had to do for us?

Justified by faith in Jesus Christ

After you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are sealed until God redeems you

You are the temple of God

Chapter 14

*Shaquita and her new job

*Brother Smith and his bootleg video business

*Halted between two opinions

Chapter 15

*Ponchos and dress codes

*Neon hair, piercings and tattoos

*The social media: Sam, Sally, Bill and Bob

*The neighbor’s house: Jim, Alphie and Alphie’s Dad

Chapter 16

Knowing that you have the power

When do we receive the power of God?

The evidence of the adoption of God is His indwelling Holy Spirit

Chapter 17

Seeking the truth through the word of God

Comparing your Bible with the Bible of your future wife

Men and women of virtue

*The practice: Mark, Alex and Uncle Bob

Chapter 18

*What’s love got to do with it?

*Consequences of lawn aeration

Chapter 19

*Raul the hard working man and Quita

Raul and Quita

Chapter 20

Why were people baptized on the day of Pentecost?

More information about the day of Pentecost

The power that comes to you when you have the indwelling of the Holy Ghost

Chapter 21

Prostate cancer

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Keeping the faith in challenging times

Chapter 24

How to commit career suicide

Chapter 25

*Rondo and his long time job

*Jeff the dock worker and computer training

*Sue and her many lost jobs

*George and his new boss

Chapter 26

*The Ninety Nine Dollar a Month Lease

*The Loan Manager/Deacon

Chapter 27

Who will by my lasting love?

The answer to the question is yes!

Questions

She ponders

Conclusion

About the Author

To my sweet wife, LaShuan. To all of those persons that provide words of encouragement.

Chapter 1

They that are with us

The reason this book was written

More Than Conquerors II: They that are with us, was written as a means of encouragement to any Christians that are struggling with opposition and ethical dilemmas. Difficult situations can occur in our homes, on our jobs, or even in our churches. God’s word is given to us to provide assistance and direction. Psalm 119:104 states, Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way. Psalm 119:105 further states, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The idea is that by sharing the word of God and linking that word to real world situations, we can learn to honestly support each other in our walks both inside of and outside of our physical church buildings.

This book also attempts to bring to light the idea that sometimes the very persons that God in heaven called us to witness to about Christ are being ignored. Let’s face it, isn’t it easier to witness to someone who looks just like you, and thinks just like you. There is a whole world full of un-churched persons that we need to introduce to Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, we sometimes are so focused on what these individuals are doing, smoking, or wearing that a subconscious decision is often made not to witness to them. They need Christ too!

This encouraging guide also uses multiple examples or scenarios, which will allow readers to see how easy it is to become caught up in activities that are not in the perfect will of God. As you will see, there are individuals that have been raised around the church that have become involved in situations and circumstances that they know are not pleasing to God.

This book will discuss in even more detail some Biblical concepts that many may find confusing. As a minister, it is amazing how often some of these concepts were questioned and discussed during Bible studies over the years. One of the things that will happen throughout this work is that as a concept is discussed, a relevant scripture from the Bible will be referenced and cited parenthetically. This will allow you to see the source of the concept that is being discussed in detail.

My calling into ministry

In 1987, I was ordained a minister in Indianapolis, Indiana. In several years of ministry, I discovered that because of a lack of understanding of basic Bible principles, individuals of all backgrounds are disadvantaged. 2 Timothy 2:15 states, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The persons referenced in the examples and scenarios that I use as teaching tools are individuals with issues, and persons that have a need for the direction that only prayerful study of the word and a right relationship with Jesus Christ can provide. The idea is that by linking real world scenarios to Bible principles the word of God is made even more relevant in today’s society.

Living in changing times

Let’s now review events that were occurring in high technology employment and education in the seventies and eighties. In the late seventies and early eighties transformation was happening in business and industry. Many minorities were attempting to establish themselves in non-traditional work and learning environments. As you may imagine this was a very frustrating time because there were individuals that were just as determined to keep minorities in the same types of positions that they had long held. Let me clarify by stating that, some had no issues with the fact that a minority was mopping the floor of an aircraft hangar. The issues would occur when an individual believed that they were intelligent enough to either pilot or maintain aircraft. This false perception that minorities lacked the intellect to perform certain tasks was a hindrance to many as they attempted to establish themselves in aviation careers.

Former mechanics would often tell of how they worked on planes in the military, but could not find a commercial airline that would provide them with employment. One individual indicated that he loved aircraft so much that after being honorably discharged from the military, he was heartsick to discover that he was non-employable in the aerospace industry. A sad truth is that initially