Overcome

[B-A-C]

The Bible talks about those who have overcome. Those who will overcome. Also those who can be overcome.

First there is Jesus, who obviously has overcome.

John 16:33; "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
Rev 5:5; and one of the elders *said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."

Then there are Christians who have overcome. 1st John talks about different levels of Christians maturity. It mentions little children, young men, and fathers. It isn't speaking of physical
age here, it is speaking of your level of Christian maturity. But no matter what you level is, you can overcome Satan. Read 1st John chapter 2. Notice how many times it mentions
children, young men and fathers. This is a good way to find out which level you are at.

1Jn 2:13; I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
1Jn 2:14; I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
1Jn 4:4; You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; (evil deceving spirits) because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

I especially like the last verse. Even little children can overcome, but only if Christ is in us. (greater is He who is in you... )

1Jn 5:4; For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

It is by faith that we overcome. However some fall away from the faith, that is another subject.

We are warned not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good.

Rom 12:21; Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2Peter chapter 2 talks about false prophets and deceptive teachers, who are trying to teach us about the grace of God, yet they themselves are overcome by evil.

2Pet 2:19; promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
2Pet 2:20; For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

Even Christians who have escaped the world through the knowledge of Jesus can still be overcome if they aren't careful.

It seems that sometimes God lets His people be overcome, example in Revelation we have the two witnesses, that will eventually be overcome by the beast.

Rev 11:7; When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.

We also have the saints that are still on the Earth during the tribulation and reign of the beast, they will also be overcome.

Rev 13:7; It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.

Now of course eventually Satan and the beast will be overcome by Jesus.

Rev 17:14; "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

In the meantime, we can overcome Satan by our testimony.

Rev 12:11; "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Notice in the verse above, we may have to lose our lives in order to overcome Satan.

... to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

Now of course Jesus has done His part. He has overcome the world, but we as individuals also have to overcome. The church has to overcome.
If we look at the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

Rev 2:7; 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'
Rev 2:11; 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'
Rev 2:17; 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'
Rev 2:26; 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
Rev 3:5; 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Rev 3:12; 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
Rev 3:21; 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Jesus is speaking here... He says if we overcome, we will get rewards.... to eat of the tree of life, not be hurt by the second death, eat hidden manna and get a new name, be given authority over the nations,
clothed in white robes, and our names will not be erased from the book of life, be a pillar in the temple of God, sit on the throne with Jesus.

... but if we don't overcome, we won't receive these things.

 

[B-A-C]

1 Jn 5:4; says our faith is how we overcome the world. But simply saying you have faith isn't always enough, sometimes you have to prove your faith. Sometimes it will be tested.

1Pet 1:6; In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
1Pet 1:7; so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pet 1:8; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
1Pet 1:9; obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Are you an overcomer?

 

[Dave M]

Are you an overcomer?

we in America have it fairly easy to be over comers, compared to many of our brothers in other countries that have out law the gospel,,, recently in Canada 2 pastors have been thrown in Jail for preaching against homosexuality.

, how about practicing our faith if we knew it was against the law and we would could go to Jail if caught, I pray and I hope that if the time comes I will consider it a Joy to go to Jail for Christ, or a Joy to Die for the Gospel,,,,,easy to say on a forum while I sit in my cozy house, but how will it be when the time of testing comes,,,,,,,, time to be praying now for that type of faith !!

I pray for great faith and endurance and stamina to be a over comer when it gets really hard and they come against us,,,,,,,,, any suggestions on how to prepare for this????

this is one reason I think we will go through the tribulation, all through the bible we are warned to endure to the end, we see that trouble times can purify and make us stronger in faith.

there are a number of churches I think I read 20% that were not going to be able to re-open ,,,now I cant help but wonder are they over comers,, compared to churches wear the leaders say under no circumstances will they shut down again are seeing great increase in there attendance.

 

[B-A-C]

any suggestions on how to prepare for this????

This a subject of a Bible study this morning. I'll let you know in a couple of hours.

 

[Dave M]

This a subject of a Bible study this morning. I'll let you know in a couple of hours.

well after giving it some thought, it seems to me first and foremost we had better be living for Christ now with everything we got, because if we are not living for him now with everything we certainly wont go to jail for him or die for him when the time comes. matter of fact if the mark comes I think it says GOd is going to send delisions to some people so they wont even know the difference, I would imagine those people are people not living for CHrist now.

So we had better be testing ourself and our faith !!!

 

[Dave M]

preparing to have enough faith to die for, well one verse comes to mind after a couple days of thought

Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

 

[Sosthenes]

The other interpretation is that those who endure to the end might see Jesus and become saved from His message. They overcome by the word and His testimony.

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings Dave,

I pray for great faith and endurance and stamina to be a over comer when it gets really hard and they come against us,,,,,,,,, any suggestions on how to prepare for this????

may i put forward a couple of things?

First and really the only need we have is to trust in the LORD.
The second is able to be incorporated into the first, that being that we can look at the testimony of those who have been before us in trials that you talk of.

I remember reading a book by Richard Wurmbrand some years ago called Tortured For Christ and i do recommend that you, being an avid reader, might be encouraged in reading it. I know that for me i was quite determined that whatever they brought on, bring it on, because I have Jesus on my side as well as the hope on the inside, and that it was and is and ever will be by His Grace that I was then able to enter in to the place prepared for me by Him, through His giving His life that i may.

I also read a book put out by DCTalk and Voice Of The Martyrs (formerly, Christian Mission to the Communist World) called Jesus Freaks.

Get to that place of being loved by the lover of your soul. He is our safety and our Defense. He counted it all joy.... the cross, and i think you know why. Let His wonderful love totally fill you to overflowing, like the cup of Psalm 23
We seek some form of security when we already have it ... which should read, we seek some form of security when we already have Him, which should read, we seek some form of security when He already holds us securely in His Hand.

Know that you are precious and any drop of blood that you might shed is precious to Him.
We really have to remember that we are not of this world once in Christ, and that all is passing.... but a moment. None like the idea of severe pain but it can be our weakness to think too much about that with fear. If it happens, let the LORD sustain you then. Until then, keep the faith and press on, to the glory and praise of Him Who is your Redeemer and Stronghold, your ever present help in times of trouble.

The Apostle wrote that he was persuaded..... I will let you look up to see the rest.


Bless you ....><>

you might like this song.... it is a bit loud, but so is much else!

 

[Dave M]

Greetings Dave,



may i put forward a couple of things?

First and really the only need we have is to trust in the LORD.
The second is able to be incorporated into the first, that being that we can look at the testimony of those who have been before us in trials that you talk of.

I remember reading a book by Richard Wurmbrand some years ago called Tortured For Christ and i do recommend that you, being an avid reader, might be encouraged in reading it. I know that for me i was quite determined that whatever they brought on, bring it on, because I have Jesus on my side as well as the hope on the inside, and that it was and is and ever will be by His Grace that I was then able to enter in to the place prepared for me by Him, through His giving His life that i may.

I also read a book put out by DCTalk and Voice Of The Martyrs (formerly, Christian Mission to the Communist World) called Jesus Freaks.

Get to that place of being loved by the lover of your soul. He is our safety and our Defense. He counted it all joy.... the cross, and i think you know why. Let His wonderful love totally fill you to overflowing, like the cup of Psalm 23
We seek some form of security when we already have it ... which should read, we seek some form of security when we already have Him, which should read, we seek some form of security when He already holds us securely in His Hand.

Know that you are precious and any drop of blood that you might shed is precious to Him.
We really have to remember that we are not of this world once in Christ, and that all is passing.... but a moment. None like the idea of severe pain but it can be our weakness to think too much about that with fear. If it happens, let the LORD sustain you then. Until then, keep the faith and press on, to the glory and praise of Him Who is your Redeemer and Stronghold, your ever present help in times of trouble.

The Apostle wrote that he was persuaded..... I will let you look up to see the rest.


Bless you ....><>

you might like this song.... it is a bit loud, but so is much else!

just ordered the book Tortured for Christ I have been needing a good book to read lately

Awesome encouraging post Brother @Br. Bear thank you !!!!!!!

 

[Br. Bear]

Awesome encouraging post Brother @@Br. Bear thank you !!!!!!!

if you only knew how immensely encouraging your reply was/is, Dave..... thank you Brother


Bless you ....><>