“…In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us…;” “…To him that overcometh…” Romans 8:37, Revelations 3:21
Dear Ones:
The call of God to the believer, in the context in which we are called, is to BE a conqueror, an over-comer. Why is this aspect of the life of a disciple so very important? It is basically because of one thing: resistance. The nature of that resistance is primarily spiritual, although there is much in the physical world which must be overcome to be what we should be. Specifically, not discounting the reality of the presence and power of sin and its effects, as a matter of resistance, we need to see that there are spiritual “forces” that oppose the believer in his faith and obedience to God. We use the term “forces” to speak of very real pressures exerted by “principalities and power.” (Col. 2:10) Our hope and resource in the confrontation with that which we are to resist, and overcome, in the spiritual realm, is found in one Person, Christ. Why? As He has dealt perfectly with the law of sin, its operating principle in the life, and the consequence of judgement and death, so has He “…spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, TRIUMPHING over them in it.” (Col. 2:15) In other words, Christ has OVERCOME all of our enemies, and wonder of wonders, He IS in us by His Spirit. The very Spirit of the Over-comer dwells in the heart. “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 Jn. 4:4)
The question now becomes, HOW do we overcome? And HOW do we live, “reigning in life,” knowing the reality of being a conqueror? The answer lies, first of all, in understanding what has been done by Christ’s work. We must see and understand how He has dealt with our enemies of sin, self, the world, and the devil, and to what extent. We then need to see how this blessed, and complete work, applies to us, and how it is to be lived by. And lastly, there must be the appropriation of the “blessing” of the work, that very essence and nature of God in Christ by the Spirit. It was Theodore Monod, a Godly French pastor, who wrote: “All in Christ, by the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God, all else is nothing.” Here we have summarized the essence of our subject, and the basis for living the reality of this overcoming, victorious, conquering life.
In conclusion, let us consider the practical application of this LIFE, and its appropriation. The first thing we need to do is to make the truth our very own. If we would know God, it will always be according to the truth revealed in His word, and in the life of Christ. It was by the revealed word of God to Samuel that the vision of God was restored to Israel. It was by Josiah finding the scroll in the temple that spiritual revival in the nation would occur. It would be by the translation of the Bible from latin into English and French, that the Reformation would occur in Europe, changing the world. In essence, it is by grasping the fact, and pursuing seriously the truth, in the Word of God, that the blessing of God can and will come.
Secondly, there must be the dealing with Christ who has declared Himself to be the TRUTH, or rather, Him dealing with us. What do we mean by this? Christ came as a man to walk upon this earth. He ascended into heaven in order to send the Holy Spirit to men on this earth, so that, by this “mystery,” the union of God and man in Christ, there might be the experience of the power of the resurrection, and the constraint to live by the love of God. Called upon to be filled, led by, helped, taught, and strengthened by this Spirit of wisdom in the knowledge of Christ, all in Christ becomes available to the disciple of Christ. If he or she will truly be committed to Him, to BELIEVE in the revelation of Christ’s work and person, then He will respond in granting the over-coming life.
Dear Father, Christ died to live in us by the Spirit, being our Conqueror, and the One who has provided all for us to overcome our enemies of sin, Satan, the world, and self. Give us an ever-increasing vision of the worth and power of the truth in the Gospel, enabling us to receive from Thee Thy power and strength by the Spirit. Then, we shall KNOW this victorious life to which we have been called, in communion with Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad