Overcomer- part 1 on earth / in time
The 1st four texts concerning OVERCOMING are by 3 different authors (Doctor Luke, the Apostle Paul, and the Apostle Peter). Each speak of our walk in time and on the earth. We will deal with those today.
1-“But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and OVERCOME him, HE takes from him all his armor wherein he trusts, and divide his spoils” (Luke 11:22).
The context here is the Pharisees just said JESUS cast out demons by the power of Beelzabub/ the devil. So, JESUS is declaring the reason that HE/ JESUS OVERCAME the devil and cast out demons is because HE is stronger and had disarmed the devil.
2-“GOD forbid: yea, let GOD be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That THOU might be justified in THY sayings, and might OVERCOME when thou art judged” (Romans 3:4).
GOD will always OVERCOME when someone says HE is unfair for GOD is true and only speaks truth.
3-“Be not OVERCOME of evil, but OVERCOME evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
I dare say that each of us at one time or another have allowed evil to OVERCOME us. For instance, we have allowed evil thoughts (whispered to us by the enemy) to cause us to fear. Right now many Christians are afraid because of COVID19, though we are commanded by our LORD JESUS two times in the same chapter not to be troubles/afraid: “Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in GOD, believe also in ME” (John 14:1) and “Peace I leave with you, MY peace I give unto you: not as the world gives give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
That word LET presupposes an outside force stirring us up. Instead of allowing the lies of the enemy to OVERCOME and cause us to sin in one way or another, we need to OVERCOME those lies of the enemy by quoting a Bible truth aloud back to those thoughts. Like: “It is written I am not to be afraid for I believe in JESUS.”
4-“While they (false prophets/teachers) promise them liberty, they (the false prophets/teachers) themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is OVERCOME of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST, they are again entangled therein, and OVERCOME, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning” (2 Peter 2:19-20).
Matthew explains graphically what is being spoken of in 2 Peter 2: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, I will return into my house (that man) from whence I came out; and when he is come, he finds it EMPTY swept (clean), and garnished (put in order). Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation” Matthew 12:43-45.
Notice the man is swept (clean), and garnished (put in order) but he is EMPTY. So, although this man has come to the head knowledge of our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST and has cleaned up his act he is EMPTY. Therefore he cannot be saved for the moment we believe in JESUS CHRIST and call on the name of the LORD we are filled and sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD (Ephesians 1:13-14) and GOD the FATHER delivers us from the power of darkness (demons) and translates us into the kingdom of GOD’s precious SON JESUS CHRIST (Colossians 1:12-13). But the guy spoken of here is EMPTY– he does not have the HOLY SPIRIT… he may have head knowledge our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST, but he has not called on the name of the LORD and been saved from the power of darkness nor translated into the Kingdom of JESUS..
Unfortunately, many in churches today are just like him. They come to church, they listen to the pastor and try to clean up their act but have not come into a saving personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST by crying out to HIM to be saved.
On earth there is much to overcome but what matters is do we belong to CHRIST JESUS who has OVERCOME the world?( John 16:33).
Have you called upon the name of the LORD and been saved? (Romans 10:13).
Hugs
Sharon
Ps Tomorrow in part 2, we will look at all the rest of the texts on overcoming which are all written by the Apostle John in 3 separate books. When the Apostle John speaks of OVERCOMING he speaks not of time but of eternity.
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