We Have Overcome

Alba 9-1-2024

WE HAVE OVERCOME

I John 4:4-6

"We Shall Overcome" is a gospel song that is associated heavily with the U.S. civil rights movement. Wikipedia has an article that says the origins of the song are unclear. It was thought to have descended from "I'll Overcome Some Day," a hymn by Charles Albert Tindley.

The article says that the modern version of the song was first said to have been sung by tobacco workers led by Lucille Simmons during the 1945–1946 Charleston Cigar Factory strike in Charleston, South Carolina. This seems appropriate since tomorrow is Labor Day, a day to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers.

But I'm more interested in the hymn. Again Wikipedia says, "I'll Overcome Some Day" was a hymn or gospel music composition by Charles Albert Tindley of Philadelphia that was first published in 1901. A black minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Tindley was the author of approximately 50 gospel hymns, of which "We'll Understand It By and By" and "Stand By Me" are among the best known. The published text bore the citation, "Ye shall overcome if ye faint not", derived from Galatians 6:9 that says: "And let us not be weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

This hymn has some good words. Let me share them with you.

1. This world is one great battlefield, With forces all arrayed;

If in my heart I do not yield I’ll overcome some day.

I’ll overcome some day, I’ll overcome some day;

If in my heart I do not yield I’ll overcome some day.

2. Both seen and unseen powers join To drive my soul astray,

But with God's Word a sword of mine, I’ll overcome some day. I’ll overcome some day, I’ll overcome some day; But with God's Word a sword of mine, I’ll overcome some day.

3. A thousand snares are set for me, And mountains in my way; If Jesus will my leader be, I’ll overcome some day.

I’ll overcome some day, I’ll overcome some day;

If Jesus will my leader be, I’ll overcome some day.

4. I fail so often when I try My Savior to obey; It pains my heart and then I cry, Lord, make me strong some day. Lord, make me strong some day, Lord, make me strong some day;

It pains my heart and then I cry, Lord, make me strong some day.

5. My mind is not to do the wrong, But walk the narrow way;

I’m praying as I journey on, To overcome some day.

To overcome some day, To overcome some day;

I’m praying as I journey on, To overcome some day.

6. Tho' many a time no signs appear, Of answer when I pray;

My Jesus says I need not fear, He’ll make it plain some day.

I’ll be like Him some day, I’ll be like Him some day;

My Jesus says I need not fear, I’ll be like Him some day.

Tindley wrote, “I'll overcome some day”. Pete Seeger and Joan Baez sang, “We shall overcome”. And the apostle John wrote, “You... have overcome”. I like them all. But I am drawn most to the words in scripture that says the overcoming has already happened. Here's what we find in I John 4:4-6.

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

Notice, the power to overcome does not come from ourselves. It says that we overcome...

1. Because He is Greater (vs. 4)

We can overcome, because Jesus has already overcome sin, death and hell! And this victory is absolutely sure for anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ with obedient faith. Because Jesus won victory for every believer when He died on the cross for our sins and by rising from the grave. He is now our risen Lord, our Champion and King. And we have victory in Jesus.

When it says “greater is He who is in you”, this is talking about the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ in us. God’s Word tells us it is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead that dwells in us.

It's in Romans 8:11. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Acts Chapter two tells us that when we repent of our sins and are baptized into Christ, receiving His forgiveness, we then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. So we can say with confidence, greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. We are assured of victory over the spirit of antichrist because the Holy Spirit within us is greater.