“These things I have spoken to you that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
The Message Bible puts it this way. “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart, I’ve conquered the world.” John 16:33
In the original writings part of the scripture states, “in the world you have tribulation”. No mention of the word will, as in you will have tribulation. We all are in this world and that means we are in tribulation. Jesus encourages us to be of good cheer, better said, be courageous, full of courage. Because Jesus has overcome the world, we have the power to over the world, the flesh and the devil.
“For whatever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith”, 1 John 5:4. Overcometh means has overcome the world. It is our faith that gave us victory over the world because we believe that Jesus is the Son of God. “Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God”, 1 John 5:5.
We are overcomers!
“And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death”, Revelation 12:11 .
They overcame the accuser of the brethren, that old serpent the devil. They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ). The blood is powerful. It cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. When God sees the blood he sees his Son Jesus. Jesus has been made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30) God sees the righteousness of Christ Jesus and not the sinfulness of man.
They overcame the accuser of the brethren by the word of their testimony. Not simply saying how good God is, or what He has done, but how much of God’s word do you use to glorify Him. When you speak of the goodness of God, do you speak his Word? Jesus overcame the enemy by speaking the Word of God. If Jesus did it how much more do we need to speak the Word? How much of God’s word do you speak when faced with trials and temptations? Your word has no power! But the Word of God is very powerful.
They overcame that old serpent because they did not love their own lives even in the face of death. “He that finds his life shall lose it; and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it”, Matthew 10:39 . Our victory over the enemy comes from resisting self- gratification and seeking to please God. Romans 8:12-13 puts it this way, “…we are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, you shall live”. Keep in mind that the flesh is made up of the physical body, the mind, the emotions and the will. Life in the spirit means death to how I feel, death to what I want, death to what I think, death to what I can do. Get it?
Not I but Christ…..
Sister Rosita
