Jesus has Overcome for You

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."

Jesus is uniquely invested in the success and thriving of His Church. In the Book of Revelation, we see Jesus speak to 7 different churches in the area of Asia Minor – these were churches that Paul planted in modern-day Turkey.

We often see these ‘letters’ as letters of correction and rebuke but, in effect, they are love letters from Jesus the Living Head of the Church. In these letters, Jesus is wanting His Churches to succeed and be all they are called to be in Him. He points out where they have lost their way in the hope that they will return to the ways of the LORD.

Within these letters, there is a repeated theme of encouragement and promise that we can take to ourselves and appropriate as part of the Body of Christ. Jesus reveals that while we are in a spiritual battle, there is the promise of much blessing for “those who overcome”.

The Greek word for ‘overcome’ is ‘nikáō’ which can be translated as ‘to carry off the victory, or to come off victorious’. Jesus uses this word in 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." It seems the key is that if we are to be an overcomer we have to realise that the only way is to stay in Jesus and let him do the overcoming in us, through his power that works so powerfully in those who believe.

The apostle John has understood this concept from Jesus and writes in his letter about the way we are to overcome. (1John 2:13-14) I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. […] because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. He recognises that it is Christ in us that does the work if we allow him to: (1 John 4:4) You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

John goes on to see that the key is allowing the life-giving commands of God to shape our lives: (1John 5:4-5) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Therefore we come full circle from Jesus’ teaching to John that Jesus is the one who has overcome the world.

God created us with the express ability to be able to rule over sin: Genesis 4:7 - sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’ God's entire plan is that we should live a life where we hate and resist sin, and instead say yes to Him. Therefore we can experience the ability to ‘overcome’. Remember how I said that when we say ‘no’ to something (sin or temptation) we need to have a greater YES. That YES is Christ in us the hope of glory (Colossians 1:24-29). This is how overcoming works. I am not saying it is easy, but I am saying is it completely possible.

Over the next 7 weeks, I will be looking in detail at the promises that Jesus has for ‘those who overcome’. They are amazing and they are for you. In the meantime, surrender to Christ in you. He is forever enough, always enough, more than enough.

Have a blessed and power-filled week.

Blessings

Fraser