7 Promises for those who Overcome

#4. Authority over Nations and a Star!

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations – that one “will rule them with an iron sceptre and will dash them to pieces like pottery” – just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Rev 2:26-28 There is no doubt that we live in difficult times. War, disease and a society that has turned its back on the things of God. The further people go from God the more they will try to find comfort and solace in other ways. Here the church of Thyatira has been starting to walk away from Jesus and finds itself indulging itself in carnal practices and false teaching. However, Jesus does not give up on the church without first coming and offering a way out. He calls them to remain faithful to Jesus and in doing so overcome the difficulties they are facing. Jesus’ exhortations are not just a criticism but also a correction and an encouragement to be faithful to him. Remember that Jesus wants his Church (His body) to succeed. Remember Jesus wants YOU to succeed in life AND he wants to help you succeed. What does Jesus do to help those who are trying to walk his ways and overcome? At the end of this small letter to a small struggling church, we see two things promised to us:

1. Authority over the Nations. Often we may feel that governments, nations and systems can rule and control our lives. Jesus, in his temptation in the desert, was shown all the kingdoms of the earth and offered all their authority and glory (Luke 4:5-6). Yet he refused them because he knew the greater authority. In Revelation 2 Jesus quotes from Psalm 2, which is a Messianic Psalm: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery. Jesus, in choosing to quote this psalm here we see that this promise ties into the authority that comes for those that are in Christ Jesus and see the source of true authority is in Him (Matt28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.) As he has all authority he then delegates his authority to us upon the earth (see Matt10:1, Mark 6:7, Luke 9:1). So not only is this a promise for ‘the end’ but it is also a promise that the spiritual forces will bow the knee to Christ in you.

2. The Morning Star. What could this be? We see its meaning when we go through Revelation and get to Rev 22:12-13 ‘Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. The promise is Jesus Christ himself. If we are true to the end then we will possess Christ, never to lose him. What is more, to the church which is a faithful gospel-lamp in the dark world that surrounds us, Jesus promises himself to be our source of light and comfort.

The key to overcoming is to hide in Christ. His light dispels darkness wherever it goes. This week, may you walk as a child of light in this dark world. Knowing that in Christ you have all you need to overcome.

Blessings

Fraser