We Are Overcomers!!!

" Everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."                                                                                                                          I John 5:4


     In the book of Revelation, Jesus addresses seven churches which represent believers on earth in the last days.  There are vast differences in these churches regarding purity of doctrine and the power of godliness.  Jesus makes it known to them that He knows everything about them and that He sees their challenges, their sins, and their victories.

     There are only two churches that Jesus did not instruct to repent- the Church in Smyrna and the Church in Philadelphia.  The Church in Smyrna was a persecuted church in extreme poverty. Despite the adverse physical conditions, they were rich spiritually. The Church in Philadelphia was a church that had perservered through many difficulties and yet remained true to God and His Word.

     To the Church in Philadelphia, Jesus gives an incredible promise: "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."  (Revelation 3:12).

     The truth for us, as believers, is that Christ wins and that Christians must also win.  John 16:33
tells us to "Take heart! I [Jesus] have overcome the world."   This passage in Revelation expounds that point by Jesus telling His followers that they also must overcome the world.

     There are blessings and rewards for those who overcome.  The rewards for perserverance are astounding!  The promises of Jesus to overcomers include: paradise, never to be hurt by the second death, to eat the hidden manna, they will be given a white stone with a secret new name on it, authority to rule the nations, to sit with Jesus on His throne, to be dressed in white and made a pillar in God's temple, and the privelege of enjoying God's presence forever and ever!

     It is our faith that propels us forward in the midst of adversity. In Chuck Colson's last book entitled,  The Faith, he makes an excellent point regarding believers who live in this generation.  He says that it will take faith in all three Persons of the Godhead to have the ability to overcome.

     This means we must be intimately acquainted with God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Within this tripartite being we find the keys to our victory. Every provision is available to us if we are willing to commit our time and hearts to truly seeking God and His purposes in our lives.

     Each Person in the Godhead has distinct characteristics and functionality. The overall vision of God the Father on which we need to meditate is that: God is holy; He is Almighty; He is Eternal ( He was, and is and forever will be); and He is the Creator of all things. Additionally, God is referred to in the Old Testament by many different names that also speak of His nature and characteristics. It is imperative that we ask God for a fresh revelation of who He is and what that means for our present circumstances.

     God appointed Jesus to be the Head of the Church. In Ephesians 1:18-22, Paul prays the following: "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His  right hand
in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be Head over everything for the church."

     Christ loves the Church- we are His top priority! It is by His blood that we are redeemed. It is His Word that continually cleanses us. Jesus is our intercessor and prays continually for us. Ultimately, it is Jesus who will present us to God as holy and blameless, as we will be clothed in His robes of righteousness.

     We are Jesus' bride and we have already been invited to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb! Revelation 19:6-8 describes this glorious event: "Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!' For the Wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear." ( Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints).

     Our response to Christ should be one of a cooperative heart to surrender to the sanctification process in our lives. Every trial, problem, challenge, and difficulty has been allowed in our lives with great purpose. When we speak of overcoming, it literally means that no matter what is happening in our lives, our lives are still pleasing to Him. Our top priority should be to always live a life that is pleasing in His sight.

     The Holy Spirit is probably the most overlooked Person in the Trinity, and yet He is essential to the body of Christ. Jesus sent us the Helper to assist us after He ascended into heaven. He is the One who has been given to us to empower us, equip us, and guide us.

     The prophet, Isaiah, describes the characteristics of the Holy Spirit for us: "The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Also, righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt about His waist."
(Isaiah 11: 2-5).

     Isaiah later tells us that when Satan  opposes the purposes of God in our lives, it will be the Holy Spirit that overcomes our opposition. "So shall they fear the Name of the Lord from the West, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19).

     The Holy Spirit is the Standard Bearer of God's army. The standard of the Holy Spirit will never be an institution, denomination, or a doctrine. It is a Person. Hebrews 12:13 tells us it is "Jesus Christ [who is] the same yesterday, and today, and forever."

     This is our moment in history to 'Rise and Shine". God will release His power to those who are humble. In God's economy, the way up is to bow down.  In order to stand firm, we must first kneel.  2 Timothy 2:11-12 tells us, "there is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him."

                                 WE ARE CREATED TO BE OVERCOMERS!!!!!!!!

"I looked, and there before me was a white horse!  Its' rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,
and he rode out as a conqueror bent on a conquest."                                            (Revelation 6:2)