VICTORY OVER THE WORLD

 

VICTORY OVER THE WORLD

Text – 1 Jn 4:4; Jn 16:33; Eph 1:19-23 & Phil 2:9-11

 

Introduction:

Realizing the daunting nature of the challenges that His disciples and indeed, the believers will face in life, Jesus passionately prayed for them and us “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. those whom  You gave Me I have kept and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves, I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” Jn 17:12-17.

 

Who then is the world? What then is the world? The inhabitants (people) of the world are the world. The world is the kingdoms and the glory of the world – Mt 4:4-9. The world and its system are diametrically opposed to the system and expectations of believers. They are essentially opposed to the believers’ lifestyle.

 

The World:

The world is the field – Mt 13:38

He was in the world – Place & space of planet

God so loved the world – people Jn 1:10; Jn 3:16

He sent His unto the world – Jn 3:17

World cannot hate you – Jn 7:7

You are of this world – Jn 8:23

Overcome the world – system – Jn 16:33

Be conformed to this world – system

Love this present world – money, riches etc 2 Tim, 4:10

Do not love the world – money, riches etc

World is passing away – The space & the people

Also He made the world – Heb 1:2

 

As long as believers live in the world, they will be going against the flow of the present world system. They will experience pressures, adversity, problems, opportunities to sin, temptations, and struggles. But in all these things, the believer can be an overcomer because Christ has overcome the world. Since Christ has overcome the world and the  lives inside us through the power of the Holy Spirit, therefore, to the degree that we draw on His strength, we can overcome.

 

Sometimes, it seems as if we are swimming against the tide of life. In fact, we really are, we are going against the flow of this world system, along with values and beliefs. Yet if we really understand in our hearts that God is for us, we can experience great encouragement. If God be for us, who can be against us? That means that even if it seems like the whole world is against us, if God is on our side, then we have the strength to come out unwounded and winners.

 

The Bible says that “we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ – meaning that we have won more than ordinary victory. Christians are not to be defeated, not to fail, not to be anxious, confused, dismayed and under the dominion of darkness.

 

Certainly, we have challenges and difficulties, but in all these things we are to be overcomers and victorious in life. We are people who have been energized by God’s dynamic power and who face life with a courageous attitude.

 

There is no circumstance in life, no demonic power or person, and even our own sin and failures that can bow us down. The reality is that we should be strong, secure and bold.  

 

In Matthew 4 our Lord Jesus was tempted after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. Note that this was after a marathon fasting. Sometimes, we think because we have had a wonderful spiritual exercise and experience, the devil will let go. This does not usually or easily happen. Spiritual exercise does not mean that temptations will not come. The devil showed Jesus the luxury, the glory and the glamour of the world kingdoms to lure Him into bowing down for him. But the Master Jesus, by the power of the word defeated him. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”. Jas 4:7. By the power of the word, Jesus defeated the devil.

 

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 Jn 4:4. We are assured by the word of God that we have overcome the world. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith” 1 Jn 5:4.

 

No Christian can out grow temptations. But Christians can overcome temptations. The pull or force of riches and wealth of the world could be powerful and intimidating. “No temptation has over taken you…” 1 Cor 10:13. We are living in a very dangerous time. A time when we are bombarded with many harassments and confrontations from the devil, who on daily basis, raises his ugly head through his principalities with oppositions and persecutions of various degrees and in different dimensions.

 

Cast Down But Unconquered:

Every believer has a time of casting down, but we must remain unconquered. For Apostle Paul, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live one always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh”. 2 Cor 4:7-11.

 

The world is witnessing a very perilous time. The attendant challenges and associated problems are becoming more and more overwhelming. No wonder Jesus has prepared and assured us of His victory over the world when He told us: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”. Jn 16:33. And much more now, our victory is sure by His resurrection! Alleluyah! The power of His Resurrection is alive in us to the end that the world cannot overcome us.

 

What again is Paul’s Testimony?

“But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we went bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.” 1 Thess 2:2. Becoming bold against the opposition of the world through the gospel.

 

7 – Things to Note:

v The word – Gives you boldness and confidence, integrity of the word.

v Your Faith

v His name – Jesus – At His name all knees must bow.

v His Blood – The Peak of sacrifice is the Blood – which is the life of the flesh.

v The Holy Spirit

v Wisdom of God (God) in Joseph

v Righteousness – Jn 4:30