Overcomers in Christ
1 John 4:4; 1 John5:4
1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have
overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater
than the one who is in the world.”• In the next chapter -
1 John 5:4 “…for everyone born of God overcomes the
world. This is the victory that has overcome the world,
even our faith.”
•God has given us the assurance of victory in Christ.
Our faith in Him will ensure victory, because the One who
is with us is greater than the one who is in the world.
We are overcomers in Christ. You are not becoming one,
you ARE one.
We can win over temptations and be victorious.
Rom. 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
All Christians are supposed to be overcomers.
1 John 4:4 Greater is He that is in me
than he that is in the world.
1 John 5:4 “…for everyone born of God overcomes the
world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
God has given us the assurance of victory in Christ.
Our faith in Him will ensure victory, because the One who
is with us is greater than the one who is in the world.
We are overcomers in Christ. You are not becoming one, you ARE one.
We can win over temptations and be victorious.
Rom. 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself
more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance
with the measure of faith God has given you.
4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have
the same function,
5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
A recent article in the San Antonio Express News spoke about the 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 high price 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.
As what I have said all Christians are supposed to be overcomers.
But unfortunately many Christians live a powerless Christian life because they have forgotten their
identity in Christ. We must not forget that we are the children of God.
l. Know who you are.
A. You are a Child of God.
John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power (right, privilege) to
become children of God, to those who believe on His name.
Galatians 3:26 - For ye are all the children
of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 4:6-7 " And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into
your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
A song entitled
“A Child Of A King”
My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m My Father’s own Son.
Illustration:
A pastor was invited to a dinner by a wealthy member. After the dinner he was toured to
his estate. The member kept on telling and pointing to all the properties that he
possessed. That’s mine, that’s mine. When he was over the pastor had his turn, saying that
the land beyond was his. They are all mine, because they are owned by my Father in heavens.
Romans 8:16-17a - The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
B. You are a Redeemed
Individual.
1 Ephesians 1:7 - In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.
To redeem means to buy back by paying a price. And sometimes the price is very high.
Illustration of a little boat twice owned.
There was a boy who made a sailboat with the help of his father.
When the sailboat was finished he brought it to the seashore to play with it, when suddenly he heard the siren of the fire trucks. There was a fire that broke out in the Town so he ran to see what was
happening there. After the fire he remembered that he left his boat in the sea. But when he returned the boat was no longer there. After few days he went to the town and found the boat in the store. He told the owner that the boat was his. The owner of the store said that he bought for it. Then suggested that if you want you could buy it for a price. Saved money until he bought it. After buying it, he said, “ You are mine twice, first I made you, 2nd I bought you.
We are God’s by virtue of creation and we are His by virtue of redemption.
Illustration:
Another story that took place during the Crusades is that of a knight, Sir John Pauncefote
who was captured by the Saracens and held for ransom. In order to emancipate him and redeem
him from death they would require the right hand of his lovely wife. As the historians tell us,
she eagerly granted her own right hand to buy back her beloved husband. High prices paid for
redemption. But Peter tells us of an even higher price, an infinitely higher price. Peter tells us that
we were redeemed with precious blood, the blood of Christ.
1 Peter 1:18-19 - "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or
gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Ex. I remember I went to the car open market and joined in a bidding in Sharjah. The price started with 500, then 1,000 and I said 1,500 until the price was jacked up to 6,000. So I was the highest bidder. I took the car not realizing that it was a (Katsara car) a car that emitted smoke.
It failed the registration test. I didn’t realize that bidders were friends. The car is worth what the highest bidder is willing to pay in the open market. People are "traded" in a spiritual and eternal market. We are not worth what think we are. We are worth what the highest bidder will pay. The highest bidder is God, and the price-tag is the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. God looked out across the eternal ages and said, "I'll take that one, even though the price is high!" Our worth is established
once and for all, and can never change or diminish. God has made the ultimate offer and paid the highest price.
Titus 2:14 - Jesus Christ..."gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
A song composed that we used to sing when we were small.
Redeemed
Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am. – Fanny Crosby
C. Because we are in Him.
You are an Overcomer – Because you are in Him. Our Father is an overcomer.
A. Romans 8:37 - Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him that loved us.
B. 1 Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom. 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure
of faith God has given you.
4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these
members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
God has never been totally defeated by the events of the past, nor will He be by the events
of the future.
1. Joseph was in the dungeon, but God released him. The Hebrews were in slavery, but God delivered them.
2. David was overwhelmed by the guilt of his sin, but God forgave him.
3. Daniel was in the lion's den, but God preserved him.
4. Jonah was in the belly of the fish, but God retrieved him.
5. Jesus was in the tomb, but God raised Him. No problem has been so great that God in His power has not overcome it.
And that is the promise that comes to each of us this morning. What He has done in the past, He will do again today. Through God's power, we can overcome.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
a. In Him we are Special/ Loved
About a hundred years ago in Dundee, Scotland, there lived a man who had fallen and broken his back at the age of fifteen. For forty years he lay in his bed and moved only with the most terrible pain.
But day after day God’s grace was with him and many people came to him for cheer and courage in Christian living. One day a visitor asked him, "Doesn’t Satan ever tempt you to doubt God?" "Oh,
yes," he answered, "he does try to tempt me. I lie here and see my old school friends strong and healthy and Satan whispers, "If God is so good, why does He keep you here all these years?" Sometimes
he asks me, "If God loved you, why did He permit your back to be broken?" "Wh "Ah," he said, "I take him to Calvary, show him Christ, and point to those deep wounds, and say, ’Doesn’t he love me?"
The fact is that when Jesus died on the cross, Satan met his defeat, the world was overcome and the victory is ours!
b. b. In Him We Are Strengthened
Col. 1:10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Billy Graham says it right:
“The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.”
c. In Him we are secured.
A man who was poor of learning was asked by his mentor during the conference just to display his ability in teaching . The mentor asked “ Do you have a soul Jock? “ The man said no, I don’t have a soul. The mentor was disappointed because after spending most of his time and effort Jock had not progressed in his spiritual life. Again he was asked, “ Do you have a soul Jock?” No , was the answer, then Jock interjected and said, “ I don’t have a soul. Once I had a soul he said, “ But I lost it and Jesus found it. Now my soul is in Christ.”
Rom. 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself
more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance
with the measure of faith God has given you.
4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have
the same function,
5 so in Christ we who are many form one
body, and each member belongs to all the others.
ll. Know What We Have
Rom. 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
A. Christian life started with grace.
Ephesians 2:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
–9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
* We were saved by grace.
* We must live and operate by grace.
People who operate by grace have proper valuation of self-
Do not think of himself more highly.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. C S Lewis.
IMPORTANT TRAITS TO REMEMBER IN USING OUR
SPIRITUAL GIFTS :
V. 3 THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMILITY.
A. TRUE HUMILITY HELPS US AVOID-MAGNIFYING OUR GIFTS.
1. THERE IS A TEMPTATION TO TAKE PRIDE IN OUR GIFTS, AND
TO COMPARE THEM W/ THE GIFTS OF OTHERS. WE MUST
RESIST THAT, AND HUMBLY USE YOUR GIFTS FOR HIS GLORY.
MAGNIFYING OUR GIFTS..
(WE FEEL VALUABLE, INDISPENSIBLE, DESERVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION, MY OPINION MATTERS MOST) THIS PERSON FEELS LIKE THEY DON’T NEED THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY.
1CO 12:21 THE EYE CANNOT SAY TO THE HAND, “I DON’T NEED YOU!”
AND THE HEAD CANNOT SAY TO THE FEET, “I DON’T NEED YOU!”
1CO 12:22 ON THE CONTRARY, THOSE PARTS OF THE BODY THAT SEEM
TO BE WEAKER ARE INDISPENSABLE,
1CO 12:23 AND THE PARTS THAT WE THINK ARE LESS HONORABLE WE
TREAT WITH SPECIAL HONOR. AND THE PARTS THAT ARE
UNPRESENTABLE ARE TREATED WITH SPECIAL MODESTY,
1CO 12:24 WHILE OUR PRESENTABLE PARTS NEED NO SPECIAL TREATMENT. BUT GOD HAS COMBINED THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY AND HAS GIVEN GREATER HONOR TO THE PARTS THAT LACKED IT,
1CO 12:25 SO THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DIVISION IN THE BODY, BUT THAT ITS PARTS SHOULD HAVE EQUAL CONCERN FOR EACH OTHER.
1CO 12:26 IF ONE PART SUFFERS, EVERY PART SUFFERS WITH IT; IF ONE PART IS HONORED, EVERY PART REJOICES WITH IT.
Ill.—sick, try to eat and drink…whole body participates in the effort: eyes see the food/feet carry you to it/hands reach out and take it/mouth chews the food/food hits stomach, which is to digest the food…
but if the stomach says, not today, I’m off. What do you think will happen? Don’t magnify your
gift…God will raise up someone else w/ the same gift, but w/out the pride. Listen! We need each other, don’t magnify your gift…
V. 3 THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMILITY.
B. TRUE HUMILITY HELPS US AVOID- MINIMIZING OUR GIFTS.
THIS PERSON CONSTANTLY BELITTLES HIMSELF, WHICH IS FALSEHUMILITY,
A FORM OF PRIDE! SOME PEOPLE DO THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE WAITING FOR
COMPLIMENTS: SINGER/PREACHER: SOME PEOPLE MINIMIZE THEIR GIFT TO GET OUT OF USING IT! SOME GENUINELY THINK THEY CANNOT BE USED. Don’t belittle yourself.
V. 3 THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMILITY.
A. TRUE HUMILITY HELPS US AVOID-MISPLACING OUR GIFTS.
THIS PERSON TRIES TO BE USED IN AN AREA IN WHICH THEY’RE NOT GIFTED. THEY WANT TO SING OR TEACH, AND FEEL THEY HAVE THE GIFT, BUT NO ONE HAS THE GIFT OF
LISTENING TO THEM! JEALOUSY IS THE ROOT CAUSE, MANY TIMES, AS PEOPLE WANT A MORE PUBLIC GIFT THAN THEY HAVE. IMPORTANT TRAIT TO REMEMBER IN USING OUR
SPIRITUAL GIFTS :
V. 3 THE IMPORTANCE OF SOBRIETY .
V3 the word “sober” means “sane”…the opposite of insane.
ILL.—MAN VISITED INSANE ASYLUM/100 INMATES
AND 1 GUARD/VISITOR ASKED GUARD, “AREN’T YOU
AFRAID THEY WILL GET TOGETHER AND OVERTAKE
YOU?”/NO/WHY NOT?
BECAUSE LUNATICS NEVER GET TOGETHER! WE are not lunatics so why don’t we unite for the glory of God. Discover your gifts and use it for the Lord.
lll. Use What You Have for God.
A. Gift of Mercy / Help.
ILLUSTRATION:
The Genessee River runs through Rochester, New York, between steep and
crooked banks. A man, who lived in Rochester, had just arrived by train from a long business trip.
He was anxious to get home to see his wife and children. He was hurrying along
the streets, with a bright vision of home on his mind, when he noticed on the bank
of the river a lot of excited people. "What's going on?" he shouted. Someone replied, "A boy is in the water, and apparently can't swim!" "Why doesn't someone save him?" he asked.
No one reacted, and in an instant, he threw down his briefcase, pulled off his coat,
and dove into the water. He grasped the boy in his arms, struggled with him to the shore, and as he wiped the water from his dripping face and brushed back the boy's hair, he exclaimed,
"My God, it's my son!"
B. Work cooperatively with Godly leaders and members of the body of Christ who can help complement your gifts, callings and abilities. Stop trying to conquer your difficulties all by yourself. Too many
Christians stumble and fall or get off on tangents because they refuse to work cooperatively with other members of the body of Christ. Paul wrote, "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you No, more more those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary." (I Cor. 9:21,22)
Application: Never overlook the importance of cooperative service with other members of the body of Christ who are mutually seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Trust the Lord to lead you to people with a like heart, like mind and with similar goals to make a significant contribution to the fulfillment of the great commission and the great commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C. Work Loyally
BE LOYAL TO GOD, a top Characteristic
1. Loyalty to God is a supreme quality and also the greatest commandment;
"You shall have no other gods before Me."
2. You can't serve sin and Satan, and also think you can serve God. Choose
whom you will serve. We can't play with the devil and God.
ILLUSTRATION
Loyalty is counted as very important, and corporations. Coca-Cola takes employee loyalty seriously. Company salesman Webston Rivelino, who works in Brazil, had spent the day calling on stores in the sweltering Amazon, and was parched. He stopped at a store that had neither Coke nor bottled water in stock, but they did have some ice-cold Pepsi. Rivelino bought a Pepsi and only took a swig, but was routinely fired for breaking his contract by drinking the competition's product in route" according to a company spokesman. How much more important is it that we be loyal to God?
Conclusion:
The commendation of the overcomers. After the Crimean War, a great celebration was held in London to honor the heroes wounded in battle. Queen Victoria was present to give out the medals. Some of the soldiers appeared with empty sleeves, some came on crutches, and some had bandaged foreheads. To each she gave the same sweet smile and the same high award. At last, a terribly maimed soldier was brought before the Queen on a litter. His arms and legs were gone. He had sacrificed even more than the rest. At the sight of him the Queen, with tears streaming down her cheeks, stepped forward and pinned a medal on his uniform. Then stooping down, she kissed his brow and said with great emotion, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Will you be able to hear the same commendation from the Lord when He comes. Will we hear His voice saying, “ Well done my good and faithful servant , you had been faithful in all things so I will make the as one of the governors of my Kingdom.”
