OVERCOMERS
1 John 5:5–13, ps. 147–Mark 1:6–11
1. “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God”. (1 John 5:5). If we want to overcome the world, then we should believe in God. That is, we should depend on God and obey his commandments.
2. Jesus says, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). No doubt, there are frustrating pleasures and tribulations in life, but Jesus exhorts us not to lose heart so that we can prevail. By endurance, you shall win your lives (Luke 21:19; Heb. 10:35).
3. John says, “I write unto you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.” Young men refers to those who are developing their relationship with Jesus (1 John 2:13). This means we will overcome spiritual foes if we progress in our walk with Jesus.
4. In Rev 12:11, the Bible says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” They overcame the accuser, the devil, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of God. Of old, they overcame Pharaoh by the blood. We, too, can be overcome by the blood and the word. That is, by knowledge and sacrifice.
5. In addition, Rev. 12:11 says, “They did not love their lives in the face of death.” Which means that through martyrdom we can equally overcome the world. Overcomers are confident believers, not weaklings. Even if it means death, overcomers don’t deny their God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan. 3:16–28).
6. Lastly, there is a reward in the world to come that awaits overcomers. Jesus declared, “I will grant to him who overcomes to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).
Let us pray.
Father, keep us and sanctify us so that we may overcome every evil, sin, and eternal damnation. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
