OVERCOMERS (Part 1): WHO ARE THEY?
Text: I John 5:4-5, Rev. 2-3
Introduction:
A recent article in the San Antonio Express News spoke about the amazing phenomenon of designer tennis shoes which has taken the younger generation by storm. The new status symbol is the special name-brand high-top athletic shoe which often costs about $150 and has certain designs and colors incorporated into it which makes it more desirable for those who might pay such a highprice for it. One of these popular brands has chosen the name "Nike" to represent its shoe and sports clothing lines. This word has an interesting history. "Nike" comes from the Greek word "Nike" which means literally, "Victory", or "He Conquers", or "He overcomes". This is a strong word of victory which implies that the victor wiped out his opponent. The company which selected this word knew of the strength of its meaning. This same word or derivatives of it appear often in the pages of the Bible. Especially in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. The words "he that overcomes" have their origin in the Greek word "Nike". Since the Bible speaks often about Overcomers we ought to pay attention to who these overcomers are and how we can recognize them.
1. Who are the Overcomers?"
The apostle John spoke about overcomers in his gospel, his letters, and his apocalyptic writings. In these he identifies who the overcomers are.
A. They are led by the overcomer of the world:
Jesus referred to himself as an overcomer in John 16:33 when he spoke to his disciples, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." We discover, then, that Jesus is the chief overcomer and that the other overcomers follow his example and receive their power from him.
In I John 4:4 John tells us, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Christ gives the power to overcome to anyone in whom he dwells. This means that any Christian has the power to overcome. John confirms this in I John 5:5 when he writes, "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God?"
We know that Jesus Christ has overcome the world and has given that same ability to everyone who belongs to him. We are like our master. He has overcome, and we have the power to overcome because of Him.
B. They are Born of God and have a victorious faith:
John reveals another aspect of the overcomers in I John 5:4 when he writes, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Those who are born again are overcomers. God plants his seed in them which is His Holy Spirit. The result is that they are given the resident power of God’s presence and nature. He gives everything they need to live godly lives and overcome Satan (II Peter 1:3-4).
If that is the case, and all "born again" Christians have the power to overcome, why are so many Christian’s failures when it comes to overcoming sin in their lives? There are several possible reasons:
1. Some simply don’t know the power which is available to them.
2. Others mistake self effort and will-power for Christ’s power. (The result of that is temporary victory and eventual defeat.)
3. Others have fallen into a sin trap which will keep then in continual defeat until they are released.
We are warned in Romans 12:21 to not allow ourselves to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with Good. The problem here is worse than just committing sins. The person described here is in bondage. He is a slave to sin. In II Peter 2:19-20 the subject at hand is false teachers who deceive Christians. Peter warns, " They promise them freedom, while they themselves are the slaves of depravity - for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and again are entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were in the beginning."
This teaches us that the overcoming is more than just a nice option for the Christian. This is how we share in Christ’s nature. We are overcomers because Jesus is the overcomer. Those who are born of God overcome because it is their nature to do so. Naturally, we are not perfect at it, and we do not start outproficient as overcomers. In fact, one of the aspects of our growth as Christians is the development of the ability to overcome sin.
When John wrote his letter of First John he addressed Chris-tians of different maturity levels and revealed that each level was known by a certain set of identifiable characteristics. Notice his admonitions to Fathers, young men, and little children in I John 2:13-14:
I write unto you fathers, because you have known Him that is
from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.I have written to you, Fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."
Verse 14 says that the young men, those who have developed a certain level of maturity (not babies but also not yet spiritual fathers) are characterized as being strong, abiding in the word of God, and having already overcome the wicked one.
People have asked me before, "Why would a good God allow us to live in a world so full of sin, with a nature that makes it so easy to give in to temptation?" Let me tell you, God did not do it so you would live a life of continual defeat. His plan was for you to experience overcoming victory through Christ. Each time you are tempted, you face the possibility of depressing defeat, or exhilarating victory. Ultimately, you will determine, with each temptation, which side
gets the gold. But God allows it so that you may taste the
overcoming power of Christ for yourself.
It is exciting, after experiencing years of defeat in some area of spiritual warfare, to finally taste victory over some habitual sin in your life. You see, God doesn’t want to keep you home from the war, he wants you to win! Temptation is not just an opportunity to fail; it is an opportunity to overcome. In fact, in Romans 8:37, Paul uses an interesting form of "nike" to describe the condition of the overcoming Christian, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." He took the simple word for overcomer (nike)and added a prefix (huper) from which we get the word "hyper". He took a strong word and made it stronger. We are hyper—overcomers, super victors through Christ.
Have you ever experienced this kind of victory in your life? Well, let me tell you, this is your birthright. Conquering is what Christians do. You’ve got it coming. If you haven’t tasted victory over sin and Satan yet it is probably because you either haven’t matured enough yet (which means you aren’t yet grounded in the Bible), or you have bought into a Satanic lie and have been held captive by something you can overcome.
C. They, "keep my works unto the end" (Rev. 2:26)
Another important characteristic of the overcomer is life¬long perseverance. He is faithful unto death according to Reve¬lation 2:26 which says, "To him who, overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations..." Back up a few verses to Rev. 2:10-b which says, Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."
The overcomer is, by nature, a person who has staying power. He receives that kind of endurance from Christ. That is what causes him to be able to keep on when others around him are giving up and quitting.
Illustration:
J. H. Crowell went to work on a sailing vessel at the age of 16. He was the only Christian among a crew of 12. Before leaving home, he had promised his mother he would continue his devotions and pray three times a day. When the other sailors discovered his piety, they taunted him and poured buckets of water upon his head, but they could not put out the fire in his soul! As time passed the intensity of the persecution increased. One day they bound him to the mast and beat him with 39 stripes, but still he prayed. Finally they tied a rope around his waist and threw him overboard. Realizing he might drown, he asked God to forgive his tormentors, and pleaded with them to send his body home to
his mother. "Tell her I was faithful and died for Jesus!" he said. When they thought he was dead, they pulled him back on deck, but to their surprise he regained consciousness. Conviction from the Holy Spirit came upon some of the sailors, and two of them were gloriously saved. Later the captain and several others were also converted. This unusual experience highlights the wonderful power of faithfulness which characterizes the overcomers.
There is a day to come when the armies of Satan will have a final battle against Jesus Christ. We know that He will win that battle, but I want you to notice who he will take with him into that final battle. Revelation 17:14 says, "They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of Lord’s and King of Kings, and with him will be his called, chosen, and faithful followers."
What a wonderful and powerful description of a Christian, "called, chosen, and faithful." These are the ones who will overcome with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in that final battle against evil. We fight that battle daily now while we live in the flesh and we will fight with Christ against evil in the final battle as more than conquerors.
WE have already seen that the overcomers are those who:
1. follow the great overcomer of the world, Jesus Christ.
2. Are born of God and have a victorious faith.
3. Are faithful unto death which means lifelong staying power.
4. Will conquer with Christ in the final battle.
We have one final question to address today:
2. How do they overcome?
The answer to that question is found in Revelation 12:11 which says, "They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
Two aspects of overcoming power become evident from this text. The first points to Christ himself, and the second points to the life of the overcomer.
A. The Blood of the Lamb:
The blood of the Lamb has the power to overcome sin. When
Jesus died on the cross allowing his blood to be shed, he overcame. Satan once and for all. This was the fatal wound to the serpent’s head which was foretold in Genesis 3:15. Because of that willing sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the fangs of Satan have been pulled forever. He may accuse the redeemed concerning their sins all he wants, but he is powerless to condemn them. The blood of Christ overcame sin and Satan forever.
Pointing to the blood of Christ shows that the power to
overcome rests ultimately with Christ. There is no overcoming
power apart from Him. Remember his words in John 15:5, "Apart
from me you can do nothing." Therefore, the power to overcome
begins and ends with Christ himself. He is the overcomer, and
because we are in him we are also overcomers. Apart from him we
are nothing.
B. by the word of their testimony:
This second aspect of the overcomers might be harder to understand except that John took the time to explain what he meant by adding the phrase "they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death." That is an explanation of what "the word of their testimony" means. It shows the ultimate extent of that testimony. It is another way of saying "faithful unto death." Some might assume from this that vs. 11 speaks about martyrs only. It is certainly speaking about those who are willing to be martyrs if it becomes necessary. But it is basically an attitude of lifelong loyalty to Christ which would go so far as martyrdom if the master called for it. This is the ultimate act of overcoming Satan. Anyone who is willing to die for Christ if necessary can certainly live for him in daily victory. Few of us will ever face martyrdom for Christ, but all of us are called to
remain faithful as long as our lives last. Wm. Barclay said in his commentary, "For us this is not necessarily a matter of dying for the faith, but of setting loyalty to Jesus Christ before the comfortable way."
Conclusion:
By Christ’s blood and by our unswerving loyalty which lasts through thick and thin we are enabled to overcome the evil one. We are therefore called to consider the power which has been made available to us. We need not wallow, stuck in sin and self, as if we had no resources at our disposal. Jesus Christ is Victor! He has overcome the world, and because of that we are more than overcomers through him. Ultimately we will fight and win on his side in the final battle between the Lamb and the Beast. We also receive wonderful rewards for being overcomers. We will hear about them in the next message. But for now, we must recover our birthright as victors. Our faith in Christ is our victory which overcomes the world. Do you believe it? Then live it!
