Video link: YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER
YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER – English service
Romans 8:37 “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” I want to remind you that God didn’t bring religion into this world. Even when Jesus was on Earth, He didn’t say that we would be called Christians. He said we will be made disciples of Jesus. After some time, they were called The Way, and then later in Antioch they were called Christians. Probably the people who called them Christians were not believers. They just watched them and identified them with Christ. What we know is that Jesus is Christ or Messiah, and we are His disciples. Today we have many nominal Christians who are doing nothing in the Kingdom of God. They are just religious people. Mind you that religious people are not going to Heaven. Heaven is for those who believe in Jesus and know who they are in Christ.
Why are we overcomers?
1 Cor 15:57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We cannot overcome alone. We can do nothing without Jesus Christ. It is only Jesus who strengthens us. That’s why even when He was teaching His disciples how to pray, He said in the last part, Help us that the devil will not overcome us. We have Jesus who overcame death, the devil, and the world. So He is really sufficient for each one of us to be made overcomers. I want to assure you that because of what Jesus did on the cross for us, we should not continue living in failure. Despite the challenges you're facing or the problems in your life, confess that you are an overcomer. Believe in your heart and confess through your mouth that Jesus has given you power to overcome whatever challenge you are facing right now.
1 John 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.” If you believe in Jesus and confess that He is Lord of lords and King of kings, you become an overcomer. You will not only overcome the devil, but also the world. Remember that we have three enemies – the devil, the flesh, and the world. Some problems you are facing are not coming directly from the devil himself but from the world or your flesh. You have the enemy you are walking with every day – your flesh. The devil may come and leave, but your flesh is always with you. The world is polluted in such a way that it can destroy your destiny and your life. So, the victory we have is our faith in Jesus. When you believe that God created you in His own image, and your masterpiece, you will overcome whatever comes your way.
How do we fight in spiritual warfare?
Ephesians 6:12 ‘For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” The Bible is telling us that we are not fighting like humans or people from this world. We are fighting like people from another world or realm. We are not fighting against people but spirits behind those people. People fighting against you are not your enemies, but they are the instruments of the devil. I wish God could reveal to you about principalities, powers, and rulers in your area. They are hindering your prayers and preventing you from receiving tangible results of your prayers. They are committed to making sure you don’t receive your promises from God. The devil can use anyone, such as your husband, wife, neighbour, or even your boss. So don’t waste your time fighting against people but fight against the darkness.
Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” There is a war going on within you. That is why you want to do the right thing, but you find yourself doing the wrong thing. But if you allow Jesus to control your life and become your Lord or your everything, you will overcome. No human being can overcome the devil, unless Jesus helps him/her. Do you know why? The devil is older than anybody and knows Heaven better than anybody else. Jesus, who overcame death and satan and was given all authority in Heaven, on Earth, and in Hell, is the only one that can help you overcome.
2 Cor 10:3-6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” Apostle Paul used analogies to help people understand his messages well. For example, he compared Roman soldiers to Christian warfare and weapons, the body to the church, and now the physical strongholds to spiritual strongholds. There was a time supplies could not reach Rome from Palestine. So, a senate gave General Pompey a 3-year assignment to solve that problem. The General only spent three months after discovering that there were pirates in between who took goods and hid in strongholds. So the solution was to pull down strongholds, arrest captives, and kill those who refused to surrender.
So as Christians we need mighty weapons in God to pull down strongholds. We also need to cast down arguments like I’m nothing, I can do nothing, I’m coming from a poor family etc. These arguments hinder you from reaching your destiny and Canaan. You need to be optimistic about your life. The devil tends to read your mind. If he knows that you see yourself as a failure, he will make sure it becomes a reality by accusing you before the Lord. Learn to confess that God brought you into this world for a purpose. Punish everything contrary to the will of God in your life.
Some people ask why the world is still suffering while we have Jesus who overcame death. If I want to give you a gift, it will not automatically be yours until you stretch your hand to take it.
Say, Lord, I need you; I want to accept you as my personal Saviour. Then and only then will He save you. Accept the provision He has offered; then it will be yours.
God wants you to amend your ways and accept Him as your personal Savior.
Dr. Lawi Mshana, +255712924234, Tanzania
