Public Eye Group

The dictionary definition of an over comer is someone who gets better of in a struggle or conflict. We are talking about being over comers in Christ Jesus. An over comer is simply a Christian who live their as God intends, them to. It is not a life that is defeated. It is a life which demonstrates the preeminence of Jesus Christ over all things.

Revelation 12:11 describes who an over comer is, someone who defeats the devil (dragon). There are three components to an over coming, life style, the blood of the Lamb, the word of their Testimony, and “loving not” their lives. I would like to talk about three areas of conflicts that must be overcome, sin, self and Satan, all these three must be defeated in an over comers life. Everything we come a cross in our Christian walk , whether they be of spiritual, natural, or human origin, find their root in one of these three sources. An over comer must learn how to defeat each one. God has provided us with every weapon that we need to overcome each one of this three enemies. God has done this in order to demonstrate the preeminence of Christ, over all things, but he must have preeminence in us individually, on a personal level as his children. To do this we do not need a pulpit or a congregation, nor do we need travel too far outside of ourselves. We can begin right in our own backyard, right in our own home, and right in our own lives.

An overcoming life style is seen practically seen in our actions and in our words. When we open our mouths to speak, we are either speaking life or death, discerning people a round us can sense death, as over comers our presence should contribute to life. You have a set of people who appear, sound and act like over comers but are not, They have not passed through death yet, and you cannot be resurrected until you have died. They do not have the imprint of the Cross on what they are doing. They have never been broken. They may be naturally gifted at whatever they are doing for the Lord, but they have not yet died. Outwardly speaking they may appear to be doing some good, but the issue is not good versus bad, but life versus death.

So the first conflict a Christian experiences is between that which is godly and that which is sinful. So the first enemy is Sin. Without a relationship with the Lord cannot think twice a bout sinning or failing into sin. When we establish a relationship with the Lord the presence of Christ within us makes us uncomfortable when we sin. We cannot claim ignorance. When we come to Christ our first years are spent in purring a way sin, but there is a problem if after ten or twenty years you are still struggling or dealing with the same old sins. That is not to say we can achieve sinlessness, but it is to say that after a reasonable period of time we should not still be struggling with residue from our former life of sin. After all, bear in mind that sin is only one of three enemies for us to overcome. If we cannot overcome Sin, we cannot overcome Self and Satan. Hence we read the following in the book of I john 1:7 John . God’s Answer to the problem of sin is the Blood of Jesus
All Im saying here is that we need to preach against sin, It is a painful and shameful if we keep preaching the same message to the same people for many years, they have been in Christ for many years, they are in leadership, they even proudly tell you how long a go they got saved, and where they have served God in ministry and for how long but they have never grown up, in their Christian walk. They still need to be told and reminded that they cannot just continue to lie, cheat, steal, gossip, and sow discord among brethren no matter how many times they are instructed. Are you still struggling with alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual uncleanness, and the like after many years of confessing Christ?

We teach about confessing our sins and applying the blood of Jesus after we have sinned. The same blood is able to not only cleanse us from what we have done; but also to keep us from sinning further. We have failed to apply the same blood to keep us from sinning over and over again. Satan will rightfully accuse us that we are no different than anyone else, for we are full of unconfessed and unforsaken sins.

The second enemy to overcome is Self. In many respects this enemy is even more formidable than Sin, for the strength of Sin is Self. Indeed, if we are completely dead to self then Sin has no ground in us. It is only when we are alive to self that we are tempted by Sin. This enemy is difficult to recognize and acknowledge. We prefer to think of the enemy as being “out there”, but the reality is that the greatest enemy is staring back at us whenever we look into a mirror. Self is the enemy that fights others, proud, manipulates, controls others, condemns others; want everything for its sake. Rejects others, has no regard for other peoples opnions, etc.

We must understand that whatever comes from self is defiled. Paul says, “I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing (Romans 7:18a). You can serve God in your own strength, according to the flesh, by doing enough good deeds to outweigh your bad deeds. You must learn, that Sin is not the only thing which defiles, but that “good and proper thing” which proceeds from self also defiles. It is not so easy to identify the evil in self, because self can prompt us to do many seemingly good things, such as reading the Bible, praying, attending Church, paying tithes, and witnessing to the lost. But Paul proclaims that anything coming from “the flesh” is totally worthless. God’s answer to the problem of self is the Cross

The third enemy a Christian must overcome is Satan. The name “Satan” means “accuser”, so it stands to reason that in order to overcome the accuser we must have nothing in us which gives credence to the accusation. This is why it is so important that we understand the Blood and the Cross. If we have overcome Sin and Self then Satan has nothing to accuse us of.
Satan’s primary task is to accuse the brethren night and day before God (Revelation 12:10b). In doing so Satan wants to demonstrate the inconsistency between the Testimony of Jesus and the actual experience of the brethren. How do we overcome these accusations? God’s answer is the Throne. Our overcoming of Satan has to do with position. Since we are seated in the heaven lies with Christ, His overcoming is our overcoming. To bear the Testimony of Jesus is to live out of our heavenly position while maintaining an earthly existence. This means that there is no Kingdom but God’s, no Power but God’s, and any Glory but God’s. To stand fast in this Truth, in spite of all “evidence” to the contrary which Satan, men, or our circumstances may provide, is to bear the Testimony.

Till next week let us mature and be over comers in our thought life, emotions, and in responding to all things. Remember no one can make you sin.
For prayer & confidential counseling Call Ev: Isabella at 408-677-4996 or Visit us at http://www.vesselforhonor.org
Be blessed.

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