OVERCOME

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good – Romans 12:21

Let’s keep our focus on Victory, Triumph, and Overcoming. Let’s ponder on the word OVERCOME: “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 (Jh.16:33). Our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the world; therefore we who believe in Him can cheer up, even in the face of the world’s tribulations. We have an invaluable Ally and Mentor in overcoming the world! Romans 8:37 says: “Yet in all these things we are more than conqueror through Him who loved us.” Here, the Greek word for “conqueror” [hypernikao] means: “to be more than a conqueror, to gain surpassing victory.” The root word – nikao – is more consistently translated as “overcome.” This infers that to be a Conqueror is to be an Overcomer! Moreover, to overcome means to prevail. In Jesus name, by the Power of the Most High, no demonic power shall ever prevail over you!

Let’s highlight a few pertinent points about Overcoming:

To overcome is to come out on top; to consistently have confidence in the God who gives Victory. David, standing before the giant Goliath, did not for a moment doubt God’s ability to give him the Victory (1Samuel 17). His confidence was not in the arm of flesh or in Saul’s armor. His bold declarations reflected an unbreakable faith: “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1Sam.17:32). David already knew the end from the beginning! He was not fighting the battle in his own strength, but knew in his heart and declared with his mouth that God would give him the victory. As you engage in the good fight of faith, you’ve got to know that God will protect you and He has surely given you the victory: “They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you” (Jer.1:19a).

To overcome is to know that no weapon of the enemy formed against you will prosper: “no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn…” (Isa.54:17a). In Christ, you have all you need to overcome every trick or trap of the enemy; you are equipped in Him to prevail over every wile of the devil. Our Lord and Master reassures: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and OVER all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Lk.10:19). Nothing – no devil, demon or worker of wickedness – is permitted to hurt or harm you. In Christ, you are divinely defended and supernaturally secured from every assault of Satan.

To overcome is to master the flesh, prevail over the world, and conquer the devil through Christ’s Indwelling Life. It is to be renewed in your mind, and strengthened in your spirit. Overcoming is essentially spiritual. Romans 12:21 says: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” You cannot accomplish this in the strength of self or power of the flesh. Rather, God’s inner resource becomes your outward strength: “You are of God, little children, and have OVERCOME them, because He who is IN you is greater than he who is in the world” (1Jh.4:4). Your inner resources become your outward resourcefulness. Holy Spirit is your Chief Inner Resource: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses…” (Rom.8:26a).

No loving Father ever wants His children to lose. Our Father-God wants us to win by light in all battles of life: “Now thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in EVERY PLACE” (2Cor.2:14). But overcoming is not just relevant in Time; it is even more pertinent beyond time. Eternity belongs to the Overcomers. Heaven is the Overcomers’ ultimate Home: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev.3:21). Never quit. You will Win. You will Overcome!