This morning in my daily readings, I came to Revelation 2-3. I was struck by all that was promised to him who “overcomes.” Revelation tells us over and over again “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” followed or preceded by these promises.
- “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).
- “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death” (Revelation 2:11).
- “To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name on it, known only to him who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).
- “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations” (Revelation 2:27) and “I will also give him the morning star” (Revelation 2:28).
- “He who overcomes will be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before the Father and His angels” (Revelation 3:5).
- “Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name” Revelation 3:12.
- “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21).
I began to pray that we would overcome, and I looked up the definition. What does it mean to ‘overcome?’ According to dictionary.com when the word ‘overcome’ is used with an object, it has four possible meanings:
1. to get the better of in a struggle or conflict; conquer; defeat: to overcome the enemy.
2. to prevail over (opposition, a debility, temptations, etc.); surmount: to overcome one’s weaknesses.
3. to overpower or overwhelm in body or mind, as does liquor, a drug, exertion, or emotion: I was overcome with grief.
4. Archaic . to overspread or overrun.
But, when used without an object, the word ‘overcome’ means “to gain the victory; win; conquer.”
As I continued my day, I was helping the kids bake cookies to take in to preschool, and the song “Overcome” by the “Desperation Band” came on the radio (I added it below for you to listen to). As it played in the background, I really didn’t think much about it until the lyrics hit me “We will overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony!”
I realized that I shouldn’t take my readings this morning lightly. When I had another minute, I started doing research on what the Bible says about how to overcome. Revelation 12:10-11 says:
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
11 They overcame him
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.“
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
11 They overcame him
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.“
We overcome by the blood the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. We can’t love our lives more than our God!
Luke 10:18-19 is where Jesus tells us “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Again we see that it is Jesus who gives us the ability to overcome. Likewise, 1 John 4:4 says “You dear children are from God and have overcome them (evil spirits) because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
1 John 5:3-5 says “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Zechariah 9:14-16 talks about God’s people overcoming because the Lord Almighty will save them. 1 John 2:12-14 tells us about young men overcoming with the Word of God in them.
We can overcome – not because of our own worthiness but because of the blood of the Lamb. But, we must believe in Jesus, we must have His Word in us, and we must give testimony and acknowledge His power and presence in our lives.
What are you trying to overcome? Are you living your life to be an overcomer? As Revelation tells us, overcoming will be worth all the discipline and hardship we endure in this life.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word and Your promises. We believe they are true, and we believe in Jesus and the blood of the Lamb. Thank You for His sacrifice and the way to overcome that You’ve made for us. Please help us continue in the truth and make us OVERCOMERS! Help us overcome by the blood of the lamb. Hide Your Word in our hearts that we can overcome temptation and live our lives for Your ultimate glory. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!
VALGOOD 