A Conqueror and An Overcomer!
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (I John 5:4).
Victory in the Blood of Jesus!
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death’” (Revelation 12:10-11).
“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (I John 3:8).
The provision to overcome the devil has already been made possible by the obedience and the completion of Jesus’ mission on earth. Jesus came to the earth to destroy the dominion of Satan from seducing people and Jesus accomplished it by shedding His blood on the cross of Calvary and yielding His life as a ransom. By His blood we overcome the devil for the devil fears nothing more than the blood of Jesus!
We also overcome the devil by the word of our testimony. Here are the testimonies of an overcomer from the messages of Jesus to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation.
Keeping Our First Love and Faith!
“Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:4-5).
Love binds us and keeps us with God. Love is the single most important nutrient to our soul that makes us live and not die. Faith works with love. When we lose faith and love, we wither in the vine, no matter how zealous we are in doing the work. This was the deficit of the Church at Ephesus, and we are warned of it. The remedy is Recognition first (that we have fallen from our first love) and Repentance next.
Here is the overcomer’s reward: “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).
I strongly believe that God gives us a taste of the tree of life here on the earth because of keeping our first love and faith. Our life here on earth even before heaven will be marked by riches, honor, and abundant life: “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4).
Faithful in Tribulation!
“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)…Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:9-10).
The church at Smyrna suffered persecution and tribulation because of their faith. Their external appearance did not reflect how valuable their faith was in God’s sight. Some of us are in that place with continuous suffering, buffeting, and testing of our faith in God. Jesus encourages us to keep the faith as we draw strength from Him by identifying with those who do not have all the comforts and the prosperous outlook others have. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus who alone is the Originator and the Perfector of our faith.
The reward of the overcomer: “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11). Blessed are those who take part in the first resurrection who will not be hurt by the second death which is reserved for those who do not die in the Lord. The assurance of this reward guarantees salvation no matter how poor we may look in comparison to those who seem to have everything.
Overcoming False Doctrine!
“But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:14-16).
The church at Pergamos compromised their Christian faith to the doctrine of the Balaam who departed from the perfect will of God to yield to his permissive will and to seduce the people of Israel into sexual immorality. Sexual immorality and lust for power and money breed from a compromising walk with God in which the world and the things of the world dominate more than the purity and simplicity of Christ. Repentance brings us back to God.
The reward: “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone, a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).
The “Hidden Manna” is the hidden revelation kept exclusively for those who overcome. The white stone bearing the new name is God’s reward for them. A couple of examples in the Scriptures. Joseph overcame pain and sorrow and even the idols of Egypt to keep himself pure in the sight of God. God gave him the hidden manna, the gift of interpretation of Pharoah’s dreams. Pharoah called him by a new name: “And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah (Egyptian ‘God speaks,’ ‘God lives in you,’ ‘Revealer of secrets,’ and ‘Revealer of secret things’). And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So, Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:45).
Daniel was a captive in Babylon and yet chose not to defile himself with the King’s food offered to the idols first before it was served to the patrons. The name given to Daniel for his testimony was Belteshazzar: “…He gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar (‘Beltis’ was the name of Nebuchadnezzar’s god – ‘Beltis’ protect the King); to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego” (Daniel 1:7).
Overcoming the Spirit of Jezebel!
“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman (your wife) Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent” (Revelation 2:20-21).
The church at Thyatira was plagued with the tolerance of Jezebel. The word has a special meaning that implies “your wife Jezebel.” This is significant and it applies to every single believer that subjects themselves to the controlling and seducing spirit of Jezebel. The ‘Jezebel Spirit’ operates in an authority vacuum posing with a religious spirit and pretending to do all the things of God but to control, seduce, and corrupt those under her influence. The remedy is to recognize and take spiritual authority over that spirit from playing havoc in your home, office, and church.
The reward: “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star” (Revelation 2:26-28).
Ahab, a King of Israel lost his authority to Jezebel whereas Elijah, the overcomer, taught a lesson to Jezebel with his authority over his nation of Israel! The ‘Spirit of Elijah’ can overcome Jezebel by the ‘blood of Jesus.’
Overcoming Slow Death!
“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God” (Revelation 3:1-2).
The church at Sardis was slowly dying where many bad examples outnumbered a few that drew their strength from God. God’s message was very simple – ‘Remember how you have received and heard, hold fast, and repent.’ God also warned the church that He would come as a thief in the night, and they would not know. This tells us that many believers have lost their identity to the toxic relationships they are surrounded with, and as a result, their lives have become dull and insensitive to the timings of the Lord. They are like the blind following the blind. To those in this situation, the message is clear: “Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die.”
The overcomer’s reward: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Revelation 3:5).
Eternal security of salvation is guaranteed for the overcomer though the danger of names being blotted out of the Book of Life is mentioned. This proves that ‘once saved is not saved for eternity.’ Jesus mentions the names of the overcomers before the Father and the angels!
Strength to Be a Powerful Witness!
“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name…Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:8, 11).
The church in Philadelphia was great but lacked strength. The testimony of the believers identifying with this church is that they have kept the Word of God and the Words of Jesus and have not compromised their faith in the world. Jesus’ comforting words are, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”
The reward is a new name written in glory and with the identity that the overcomer is a pillar in the temple: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name” (Revelation 3:12). The strength of our leadership depends on us holding on to God and His Word and following the personal commands of Jesus. Joshua was a clear example of following God and serving Moses. He was chosen as a leader and a pillar after Moses!
Overcoming Lukewarmness!
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).
The deficit of the church of Laodicea was lukewarmness. Leaders who have received so much from God but stopped following God are in this group. Jesus’ words to them, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” My prayer for me and others called to leadership is that we will always be sensitive to listen to the words of God and His admonition through God’s messengers, obey, repent, and receive all that God has for us more than be happy with an installed system that throws us into complacency and arrogance. It is complacency and arrogance that throw us into lukewarmness. What God must give us is ALWAYS more than what we have. Humility recognizes it and receives all of what God offers.
The reward: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21). What a privilege and joy to share the throne with Jesus! The overcomer enjoys the presence of God even here on earth: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23).
Overcoming Sin as A Child of God!
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
Finally, Jesus warns us to be separate from the world of sins mentioned in the above verse.
The overcomer will inherit ALL things God has in store: “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:7).
We Overcome Satan by the Blood of Jesus!
We also Overcome the Devil by the Word of our Testimony Which is Defined by the Following:
· Keeping Our First Love and Increasing in Faith with Obedience!
· Being Faithful in Tribulations!
· Recognizing and Overcoming False Doctrines!
· Taking Authority Over the Spirit of Jezebel!
· Staying Away from Toxic Influence and Overcoming Slow Death!
· Exercising Power to Be a Strong Witness for Christ!
· Overcoming Lukewarmness by Yielding to the Voice of Correction!
· Putting Away Sin!
Prayer
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your matchless mercies and grace in saving me and setting me free. I thank You, Father, for You have given me everything I need – Your Son Jesus, Your Holy Spirit, Your Word, Your Power, Your Love, and Your Grace – to excel and walk in victory. Help me, Lord, to listen to You, Obey You, and follow You all the days of my life. I am victorious in Jesus by the sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. I am Your son by Your grace. I will live to reveal You to the world around me. I am Yours and Yours alone, my Lord. In the Most Precious and Wonderful Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen! Amen!!”
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John Jeyaseelan
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