Word of the Week - Overcomer
"In all these things we are more than conquerors (Overcomers) through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37
We live in a fallen and broken world - It is very challenging for us to understand the concept of living in the victory as an “Overcomer” especially when we are experiencing the pain and brokenness of the tribulations of life. Many Christians, especially in America, believe that if we are walking in the grace of the Holy Spirit that we will be blessed and everything will go well with us. That we will have a life where everything works in our relationships, vocations, health etc. This is what I thought as a new believer when I began my journey of faith 20 years ago, but this is simply not what God’s Word says and it is not true. In fact it is almost to the contrary, if you study the gospel it is a love story of pain, sacrifice and tribulation even unto death. This concept is not too popular but it is where we find the abundant life Christ talked about. No matter your faith or belief, the reality is that we live in a broken world that is cursed with evil, pain and disease and thus we all will face trials and tribulations in our lives, some of us more than others. This reality is noted throughout the New Testament and is highlighted by the analogy “of us all having our own cross to carry” as followers of Christ.
Victory in Christ - The real questions is how we deal with the trials and tribulations of life. As believers, if we truly understand and receive this truth, we can have victory over any situation no matter the circumstance, because we know the final outcome. We are on the winning team no matter what the scoreboard of life says, because of what Jesus did for us on the Cross. So why does God allow us to suffer the pain and trials of life while on earth? It is simple, trials are the only way that we can be tested and refined into the image of Christ. “He uses all things for good” Romans 8:28 So as Overcomers we can relate with the great Apostle Paul and “rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” Romans 5:3-5.
Victory begins in the spiritual realm – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 6:12 We must understand that we have an enemy of our soul that is at work in the spiritual realm. We win and overcome by focusing on the battle in the spirit (heavenlies) through tactics of the spirit not of the flesh. “The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 This is how we Overcome!!!
Next week I plan to share some truths and tactics on spiritual warfare to sharpen our spiritual battle skills so we can live in victory as overcomers in Christ Jesus no matter what circumstances we face here on earth in this temporary journey through life.
Have a great week as an Overcomer in Christ!!!!!
-Duane