Monday, July 18, 2011

What Does it Mean to Overcome?


He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21

www.bibletourwithjoline.com
www.bibletouravecjoline.blogspot.com
www.bibletourwithjoline.blogspot.com

What is it we need to overcome?

When we got saved, we overcame the devil. But the spirit of the world, constantly, tries to influence us to deny Christ, and that is why we sin. The goal of the devil is to get us to sin and by doing that we are denying Christ(Job 1:11). It is possible for a believer to resist sins. We do that a lot but not consistently or easily. We have to do better than that, and we can with the help of the Holy Spirit. Revelation 3:5 clearly explains why we must strive to overcome: He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels. It is not a secret that the devil's plan is to progressively bring us to the place where we will, deliberately and willingly, deny Christ. Holding to the testimony of the cross, in spite of all opposition, is what it means to overcome.


Why do we sin? Why do some of us fall for the same old tricks? We may not realize it or think of it as often as we should but there is indeed a spiritual war going on. We must win each battle. We already have what it takes (the blood of Jesus). We also have the guidance of the Holy Spirit; that is why the Bible urges us to fight the good fight of faith by taking the armor of God. Jesus does not have a throne for all of us to sit on. I am thinking that it is more a figure of speech meaning that those who fight the good fight of faith and overcome the devil will be in a position of dominion/power with Him just like He is with the Father (and that my friend is a wonderful promise!).

Is there a sin in your life that is becoming a stronghold? Are the trials/tribulations of your life becoming so difficult that you no longer have the strength to pray or to fight the devil? Think of the big picture. God's plan since the creation is for His people to be in perfect oneness (union) with Him, but the fall of man complicated the situation. Thankfully and gloriously the blood of Jesus reconciled us with our creator (and nothing can ever separate us from God anymore), Praise the Lord! Jesus won at Calvary. The devil has no power. He cannot have strongholds in your life. You can fight him successfully through the blood of Christ. Repent, take on the full Armor of God, and rebuke the devil and you shall overcome (the devil) and be with your savior from now on to eternity.

Praise the Lord!