overcome the world.
HE has overcome; HE is not going to overcome, HE has!!!!! HE did it at the cross where HE spoiled principalities and powers and made a pubic spectacle of their failure and defeat.
The cross is your victory because you were in HIM overcoming the world. That victory therefore is not only personal to CHRIST but communal to al who believe in HIM and HIS sacrificial death on the cross. Meaning, when HE overcame, you overcame with HIM.
That is why HE encourages us to be of good cheer; HIS victory is as much HIS as it is indeed our victory.
The early church believed this inspite of severe tests; they believed on account of the MASTER’s verdict that inspite trials and tribulations, yet these were inferior to the victory HE had wrought for them.
The apostle John, taking note of this hilariously acclaimed:
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Watch this now; the believer in CHRIST cannot be defeated.
That is impossible. He may thin he is because he does not know better; others may think he is because they do not know better; he whole world may conclude on their failure because the world does not know better. But the truth of the matter is that the believer is living in victory. He doesn’t need victory; he has victory!!!
Like John, this is what motivated the apostle Paul to also pompously declare his own victory together with that of all saints as I quoted him in the epilogue text of this chapter. That maverick apostle that had been tried in all manner of ways, had learnt the faith of CHRIST well enough to conclude for his eternal benefit and that of all saints that in the midst of all things, regardless of all things, evil or good, yet we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS in HIM.
It doesn’t matter the opposition, or the challenge, whatever the adversary; do not consider defeat even in the slightest sense. Defeat is not your portion whether in court, or in sickness, or in a political contest, or in a business dealing, in whatever that pertains to your life; refuse defeat. That is not your testimony and nor is it your destiny.
You are a winner all the way; whether in high water or burning fire; get that mindset. Put on the mind of CHRIST and think
according to HIS victorious work on the cross.
That is how I see you. I see you wining everywhere and in everything because I see you in CHRIST. I refuse to see you according to the circumstances of life. Not at all; I don’t see you in circumstances but in CHRIST. The vision I have of you in CHRIST is richer than the one I have of you in your circumstances. Matter of fact, when I see you through the cross of CHRIST, I am blinded to your circumstances regardless their weight.
So you may tell me that you have cancer and that cancer has defeated s many people; then I will ell you that you have the cross and it defeated cancer too. You may be a business man and you may ell me that you are in this strong competition with your rival who has beaten everyone in that business; and I will tell you that I see you on the cross and I know that therein you have victory over every adversary. I refuse the evidence of temporary trials and choose to focus my eyes on the things that are sure and eternal (2Corinthians 4:18).
That cross of CHRIST, its victory, is more sure than the defeat you may be incurring today in any dimension. It is greater than
all sickness, all dangers, all trials, greater than anything you could ever face.
And just in case you are launching your business; let me give you serious info. Before you put it on the street, put it on the cross. If you are a brother and you are proposing for marriage; before you take your proposal to the sister and then to the pastor, first take it to the cross. May be you are a politician and you are seeking electoral office; before you take your claim to the people, first take it to the cross.
Your victory is on the cross. Your marriage is not well because your spouse said ‘I do’. That is a limited victory. You want a
great marriage; first identify it with CHRIST’s ‘IT IS FNISHED’. That confession beats any ‘I do’. I have seen ‘I do’s’ changing to something else but I know for a certain that ‘IT S FINISHED’ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It can never fail.
So what are you fighting now? Whatever it is take it to ‘IT IS FINISHED’; sort it there. Yes, there where the victory is at. Before the doctor report causes any panic, take that sickness to ‘IT IS FINISHED’ and begin to rejoice.
Matter of fact, I feel like a victory shout right now; shout with me, ‘IT IS FINISHED!!!!!!’ It is OVER, DONE WITH, completely and also defeated. And you are the victor. Yes, in this world you have the victory, even forever more.