The Promise of Overcoming
God wants us to understand that there is a promise of overcoming
that He has given to us that comes with a guarantee. He also wants
us to understand the qualities we must have while we are in the
process of overcoming the challenges of life.
John 16:33 NASB
“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.”
This is the promise of overcoming. Jesus is saying, “I have overcome
the world.” With that, He is implying that, in Him, we also overcome
the world.
1 John 5:4 NASB
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world …
Overcome: Nikáō — conquer; to carry off the victory, come off
victorious; implies “winning the battle”
What does it mean to overcome the world?
1 John 2:15-17 BSB
Do not love the world or anything 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, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—
is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away
along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God remains
forever.
Overcoming the world does not only mean that you overcome the
external challenges of life, but it also means that you overcome the
internal struggles with sin.
What does overcoming look like?
- Overcoming is a battle.
Think about Paul’s testimony in Romans 8 when he said …
Romans 8:35-37 NASB
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day
long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all
these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. - Overcoming is a seed.
1 Peter 1:23 BSB
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of
imperishable …
John 12:24 NLT
“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and
dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—
a plentiful harvest of new lives.”
Qualities an Overcomer Must Have:
- Have peace internally.
John 16:33 NASB
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have
peace …”
You only find peace when you place your faith in the promise maker.
Internal peace says, “Even if God does not do what we want Him to
do, we still do what He wills for us to do.” - Have courage externally.
Revelation 12:11 NASB
“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.” - Be focused eternally.
Hebrews 12:1-13 NLT
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of
witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us
down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with
endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our
eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding
its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s
throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then
you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet
given your lives in your struggle against sin. And have you forgotten
the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up
when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he
punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine
discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.
Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If
God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that
you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we
respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit
even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live
forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing
the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us,
so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable
while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a
peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak
knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are
weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
When you have peace internally, courage externally, and you’re
focused eternally, it produces faith exponentially!
1 John 5:4 NASB
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the
victory that has overcome the world—our faith.