What does it mean to Overcome?
To Overcome means to subdue, have the Victory, prevail , or conqueror.
For us, as Christians, we are called to overcome everything which stands in the way of our doing the Lord’s Will.
This is a battle. We are to do battle with our lusts, our self life, and the world, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
First, Christ speaks of His Overcoming:
Luke 11:21-22 ” When a strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace:
But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, He taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.”
This is speaking about Christ Jesus’ overcoming the Devil and releasing his prisoners.
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
This is speaking about His overcoming the world.
Both of these He overcame for us. On the Cross, when He said, “It is Finished”,……the Victory was won.
The Devil would have to open his prison house for those who received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.
The World and it’s influence, would not be able to persuade the Christian, who truly obeyed Christ; to follow it’s corruptions.
1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
The Victory is won; but we still have to enter into it, for ourselves, personally. This is the Battle.
We have to exercise the faith Christ gives us, in our lives, today.
For faith lays hold on God and His promise of Victory, and brings down from God the needed grace,…..that we can have it.
1 John 5:4-5 “And whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Faith looks to God. It says that God will, with Christ, “freely give us all things.”
Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
In the letters to the seven Churches; Christ Jesus commands those who have ears to hear; to “Hear what the Spirit says”. (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28, 3:5, 12, 21-22)
From the times of the Apostles, who warned of “wolves in sheep clothing” (Acts 20:29)…….to the present age, Christ Jesus is saying:
“Follow My Holy Spirit,….by hearing what He is saying to you;…..and overcome that which stands in the Way of doing My will for your life;…..My Spirit will show you all that hinders you, and how to remove it from your life.”
Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”
Just as the Man Christ Jesus, overcame every obstacle that stood in the Way of His Father’s Will for Him, here on earth….
(He went to the Cross, was Resurrected, and received all power in heaven and earth for His Church. Matthew 28:18-20)
….So must we overcome everything which stands in the way of Christ’s Will for our lives
He gives the faith which overcomes,…..the light which makes the darkness in our lives flee away,…..and the grace, by the Holy Spirit within, to finish the work He has given us….
….within ourselves, and….
…and the work of the Spirit in us, by us, and through us…for others.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 