Victory that overcomes the World
1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
The word “Victory” means conquest. To completely defeat what we are fighting with….
…..and for the Christian, we have three major enemies: the world, the flesh (our self-life), and the devil (Ephesians 6:10-18)
The world here, is not the birds, flowers, sunsets….but it is the spirit and actions of the times….
The world would have us be like everyone else…..
…..it is the common “commercial”………advertising the perfume….makeup…..car…..tennis shoes….
…..or whatever it is selling at the time……
….come and be like all of us.
We smell great,….look great,….are successful,….are all your heart could want.
Come and join us.
Peter calls this: “the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4)
Anything that corrupts….spoils, and decays……this is what the world does to the Christian life.
But, we often look toward the world,…. even if we do not follow along.
The Lord calls us out of the world system when we are born again…..
Galatians 1:4 “And gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.”
He gives us a new life in Him….
“Come and follow Me…and I will make you….” (Matthew 4:19) is what He told the disciples,…
Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Make you perfect (complete) in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
He works “in you”….to “make you” complete in Him.
He calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds….and not be conformed to this world.
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”
He gives us a new way to think about our circumstances, our situation…..His way…..instead of being conformed to the world’s thoughts about it.
The Lord calls us to……get godliness,…..with contentment:
1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.”
(Example: Demas had some show of spirituality, for he went with Paul for quite a while….but there came a day, when….”For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…”2 Timothy 4:10.
Demas never got godliness….with contentment.)
The world calls us to “be sorry”. A sadness for being wrong, or for being caught…….but God calls us to repentance….a change of mind, and life….by faith.
2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
The Lord calls us out of the world…..but also calls us into a relationship with Himself:
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
And this is all by faith.
Faith is a gift from God when we receive the Holy Spirit….and it is active, always…..working in us.
It is always showing us God: His Word, and His Character. What He has done, and what He will do.
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith….”
Jude 20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost…”
Even while faith shows us Christ Jesus……it is strengthening our belief, so we hang on to Him more…
It is enabling our trust, so we stand more firmly on His Word,….and obtain the promises of what He has said to us.
All the while saying, “God is here, with you, in this….and He is able for this.
Faith leads us out of our selves and into the path of obedience…..for His sake.
By faith we can have the victory. First it works victory over ourselves, then over the world. By faith we can have the power of choice.
1 Corinthians 15:13-14 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Let all your things be done with charity (love).”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 