Team Jesus

Christianity is a team sport, and Jesus, as the Head of the Team, always wins. Apart from Jesus, there is no victory. “And they overcame him [the adversary, the devil] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11 KJV). “Enoch walked with God” (Genesis 5:24) because he was not a solo performer. Paul encouraged others to be followers of him “even as I also am of Christ” (1Corinthians 11:1). If others fall away from Jesus, then they forgot or never truly learned that victory is only in Jesus. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 15:57). Satan hates us, though he may succeed in martyring some of us, he can never defeat Team Jesus. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1John 5:4). Father, help us to keep our eyes on Jesus for without Him, we have no victory. Cause us to think, act, and pray like we truly believe it. Return quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Overcoming the World

Nikaō or overcoming is nearly exclusively used in the NT by John. Saints conquering the world is God’s expectation of us. Whenever we find difficulty with victory, we need the Holy Spirit to grant us a more perfect understanding of our victory. For example, sin is primarily an action, not simply a condition, since overcoming sin involves a better comprehension of what sin is. Remember, even Lucifer had to sin before he became a sinner. Sin is the act of transgressing God’s law or the “transgression of the law” (1John 3:4 KJV), which is more than a condition of “lawlessness” (3:4 NIV, NET). Beginning with that understanding, the Saints no longer need to let the enemy overcome them with accusations that they are inherently evil and unworthy to receive the crown of victory. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God” (1John 5:4-5 KJV). Jesus seven times addressed the Seven Churches of Revelation with the challenge and promise of overcoming (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). Overcoming means more than getting to the finish line of a race, but defeating the enemy and coming away victorious. Overcoming gravity is not just a safe landing but ascending to the heights. Christians need to see the rainbow as not just surviving the Flood but going on to build the Kingdom of God. We overcome through confidence in Christ. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place” (2Corinthians 2:14). FATHER, we can conquer all things through Christ. Cause us to understand how to overcome the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, that the adversary would not have mastery over us. Cause our understanding of Jesus to be the source of our ability to overcome. Magnify Your name through our victory. In Jesus’ name, we pray . Amen.