"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" --1John 5:4-5
What is the Overcoming Life?
We need to define what John meant when he spoke of the 'world' and what he meant by 'overcome'.
1. The 'World' --There are two kingdoms, the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of darkness. Both kingdoms are actively influencing the present culture. The world is the part of culture that is being influenced by the kingdom of darkness. This culture, the 'world', opposes the rule of God in the culture as well as in individual lives.
"The reason why so many Christians fail all through life is just this--they underestimate the strength of the enemy. My dear friend; you and I have got a terrible enemy to contend with. Don't let Satan deceive you. Unless you are spiritually dead, it means warfare. Nearly everything around tends to draw us away from God" --D.L. Moody
2. Overcoming--This is a military word, which means to conquer enemy ground. This is an offensive act rather than a defensive act. Most think of overcoming sin defensively. But we are not to be overcome by the desires of this world, but rather live victoriously.
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
Now if we are being overcome by evil, who is on offense?
If we are overcoming evil with good, who is on offense?
3. The Overcoming Life--is a live lived in victory over the temptations and power of the world through faith. It is vibrant in faith, free from idolatry, and free from habitual sin (i.e. pornography).
How Does Faith in Christ Overcome the world?
Faith overcomes the world by the following three reasons.
1. Jesus has Overcome the World.
Listen to the word of Jesus spoken on the night we was betrayed, knowing he was heading towards the cross to claim victory over sin and death.
"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart [be courageous]; I have overcome the world" (1John 4:4)
2. He who is in you is greater than the desires of this world.
"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you [Holy Spirit] is greater than he who is in the world" (1John 4:4).
3. Jesus' victory is ours through faith.
'And this is the victory that has overcome the world--Our faith" (1John 5:4).
"Now if I have got the Spirit of Christ, if I have got the same life in me, then it is that I have got a power that is greater than any power in the world, and with that same power I overcome the world"--D.L. Moody
How Do I Live the Overcoming Life?
"We want to keep in mind that if we are going to overcome the world, we have got to work with God. It is His power that makes all the means of grace effective"--D.L. Moody
1. Be Born Again.
"Truly, Truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:16-17).
2. Cultivate God's Word in Yourself.
"I write to you, young men, because the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one" (John 2:12-14).
3. Fall Out of Love With the World.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1John 2:15-17).
4. Keep Yourself From Sin.
"We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (1John 5:18-19).
One final thought...
Christ victory over the world is our victory through our faith! We must believe that the rewards of the overcoming the world are greater than any temporary rewards that the world has to offer us! Listen to the promise Jesus gave to those who overcomes in the Revelation...
“To him who overcomes I will give permission to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (Rev 2:7).
“To him who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Rev 2:11).
“To him who overcomes I will give hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except he who receives it” (Rev 2:17).
“To him who overcomes and keeps my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations…even as I myself have received authority from My Father.” (Rev 2:26)
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in garments of white, I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Rev 3:5).
“He who overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My own new name” (Rev 3:12).
“To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev 3:21).
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