The focus for this brick will be on the word “overcome”. Note what 1 John 5:4-5 says…
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
The words overcome, conquer, and victory all stem from the Greek word “nike”. Yes, like the shoe company. Got Questions says this:
The verb implies a battle. The Bible teaches Christians to recognize that the world is a battleground, not a playground. God does not leave us defenseless. Ephesians 6:11–17 describes the armor of the Lord available to all believers. Scattered throughout this narrative is the admonition to “stand firm.” Sometimes all it takes to overcome temptation is to stand firm and refuse be dragged into it. James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” An overcomer is one who resists sin no matter what lures Satan uses.
Believers in the truest sense are overcomers. So what are some of the other marks of an overcomer.
- Overcomers can have peace in the midst of trouble because Jesus our King has overcomes the world. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
- Overcomers can stand firm against the enemy and his minions because Jesus our King dwells within us. “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
- Overcomers can anticipate a great reward because Jesus our King says “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Revelation 3:21)
- Overcomers are undergirded through the troubles of this world because of the great great love of Jesus our King. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35-37)
1 Corinthians 15:57 succinctly says it this way: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
May this brick encourage you today to overcome whatever is keeping you from walking in the victory that belongs to those who call Jesus King.