Overcomers

      The truth of the extended nature of the tribulation that Jesus taught means that the Church has always lived in tribulation. We don’t have to fear a future great tribulation because we’re already in it. We’ve always have been in it. And yet we’re still here! How is this possible? Jesus told us. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
       Are you born of God? Then you have nothing to fear. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5).
         And that’s not all. Because our sins are forgiven and because we know Him, we have overcome the wicked one. Satan can’t touch us unless we allow him access. All he can do is go about as a roaring lion trying to intimidate us with his foul mouth: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Notice it says may devour, not shall devour. So don’t let him. Do what Jesus did with Satan. Speak the Word of God and Satan will flee.
        How is it that we have overcome the wicked? “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them [evil spiritual forces], because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).  The greater one in us is God’s Spirit in our spirit. It is the Spirit who shows us what needs to be said and done in each situation we encounter. The Bible calls this the rhema Word of God; it is a “now” word based on God’s written Word (logos).
         Romans 12:21 summarizes our stance of faith in these times: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
       The Chronos Lesson: Since we are looking at our position as overcomers, I’ll jump ahead a bit to look at what Jesus taught about being overcomers in Revelation. The book opens with a vision of Jesus in the midst of His Body, as symbolized by the seven lampstands. In chapters 2 and 3, Jesus instructs John to write personalized instructions to seven churches in Asia Minor. As with everything else in our New Testament, what applies to the churches then applies to the churches now.
         Jesus points out some good things and some not so good things going on in the churches. We should expect this because churches are comprised of imperfect people, all of whom are on various stages of their walk with Christ. Jesus doesn’t ignore the negative issues; He offers the antidote, a revelation of Himself that they need to see and put into practice.
         Jesus also issues a promise to the overcomers. Consider this: are you forgiven in Christ? Yes, so you have overcome the power of sin in your life. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). It’s the law! This means that every single promise found in these letters applies to every believer in the Age to Come and into eternity and beyond!

• We shall eat from the Tree of Life.
• We shall not be hurt by the second death (eternal life in damnation).
• We shall eat of the hidden manna.
• We shall receive a white stone with a new, personalized name for each of us.
• We shall be given power over the nations.
• We have been given the Morning Star, which is Jesus Christ.
• We shall be clothed in white garments of righteousness.
• Our name shall not be blotted out from the Book of Life.
• Jesus shall confess our name before the Father and the angels.
• We shall be made a pillar in the Temple of God and shall go out no more.
• He shall write the name of God, the name of the City (New Jerusalem), and Jesus’ new name on us.
• He shall grant unto us to sit with Jesus on the throne.

 
       “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5). We are kept by the power of God! Amen!