By redemption, Jesus Christ has triumphed over the devil and he has given the believer this same victory over the devil and his works.
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
COLOSSIANS 2:14-15
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated into the kingdom of his dear Son.
COLOSSIANS 1:12-13
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 JOHN 4:4
These three scriptures tell a story of what Christ has done for us and who He has made us to be. First, He has triumphed over principalities and power and made an open show of them. This has brought us out from the domain of the power of darkness and into the kingdom of God. The result of this is evident in 1 John 4: We have authority and have overcome principalities and powers, and all that originates from satan.
To fully harness and walk in the victory that Christ has given you over the devil, you must do the following:
- Catch the revelation of your victory and authority in Christ
The Dominion Centre is currently located in Sasa, Ibadan, Nigeria. This town happens to be the first place the church ever held a crusade. As we went on outreaches towards the crusade, a man walked up to some of us and said he was the chief herbalist in town, and right in front of them, he turned a leaf into a ring.
They were unmoved however and by the manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit, they ministered to him and he knelt down to receive Christ! Not only did he attend the crusade, he brought the other herbalists in town along with him to receive God’s power.
We were able to minister to him without fear because we were conscious of Christ and the victory He has given us. Christ gave us this victory over the devil by making an open show of him, that is, openly defeating, humiliating and ridiculing him by his death, burial and resurrection. Now, he has brought us into the same place of authority and victory over the devil (Ephesians 1:19-23).
The authority we have over satan works everywhere – on earth, over visible and invisible forces whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers (Colossians 1:16-17). In exercising our authority also, we are not merely defending ourselves from the attack of the devil. We are on the offense and have the authority to spoil the works of darkness everywhere that we encounter it and Jesus has assured us that we will prevail.
…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
MATTHEW 16:18
We walk in the authority Jesus has given us, and all forces in heaven and on earth respond to that authority. This is why the book of Philippians says of the name of Jesus, that:
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11
To catch this revelation of our victory and authority in Christ, we must consciously meditate and pray with the understanding of the authority we have in the name of Jesus. We must keep thinking about and acknowledging scriptures like those above that speak about our authority in Christ. We must also rise up to challenge negative orchestrations of the devil with this authority in mind. This should be done regardless of our feelings or emotions (.i.e. whether we feel the authority or not) with a strong knowing that God is committed to fulfilling His words in our lives.
- Resist the devil
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you
JAMES 4:7
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1 PETER 5:8-9
The Bible does not promise us that the devil will not come near us. What we are promised is that we have authority to resist the devil and that he will flee from us if we resist him this way.
Therefore, we must take every opportunity to resist the attempted workings of the devil in our businesses, careers, health, finances, marriages, families, academics and every area of life. Whenever the events of your life are consistently contrary to the promises of God, you must rise up and resist the devil steadfastly. Command him to take his hands off that area of your life and begin to speak the word of God fervently.
If it is in the area of your business, you can say “devil, take your hands off my business. Take your hands off my jobs! Take your hands off my finances in the name of Jesus!”. If the situation does not change immediately, keep insisting in prayers, taking authority and declaring your victory. Never give the devil a space to work, resist him fervently and rise to take your deliverance.
When you do these actively, you will begin to experience the ceaseless victories that Christ paid for you to have.
This week stay conscious of the authority and victory you have over the devil because of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Resist the devil in every area of life and be rest assured that he will flee from you. As you do this, you will consistently triumph over all the works of the satan.
First John 5:1-5 depicts the victorious life. The Bible uses many terms to describe those who have entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. For instance, we are called Christians. We are also called the children of God (John 1:12), children of light (Eph. 5:8), children of the day (1 Thess. 5:5), and children of obedience (1 Pet. 1:14). But there is another title in the New Testament that may be as exciting as any other, and it is the title overcomers. That is the title John uses in 1 John 5:4: "Whatever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
LESSON
I. THE DEFINITION OF AN OVERCOMER
A. The Salvation of Overcomers
Verse 4 tells us that Christians are overcomers. Only those who have been born of God are the only true overcomers.
1. An overcomer defined
The Greek word translated "overcomer" literally means "victor." The verb form is nikao, and the noun form is nike. The verb means "to conquer," "to have victory," or "to have superiority". It sometimes means "to defeat."
The Greeks believed that real victory could be achieved only by the gods, and not by men. Only the gods were conquerors and unconquerable. The Greek goddess of victory was named Nike. The United States even used that name for one of its aerial missiles.
2. An overcomer demonstrated
A form of the word nikao is used by our Lord in John 16:33where He said, "I have overcome the world." It is a word of victory. Jesus, in effect, said, "I have conquered Satan's system." One of the truths about a Christian is that he is in Christ. The Christian is in an indivisible union with Christ Himself and as a result, is a partaker of His divine nature. A Christian partakes of everything that Christ is and has, including His inheritance, righteousness, death, life, and Spirit. Since Christ is a victor, Christians partake of His victory. The believer then, is a victor. Those who have been born of God are true overcomers.
B. The Spoils of an Overcomer
1. Satan
a) Satan's appearance of victory
One of the things Christians have overcome is Satan. We are victors over Satan. It may seem like Satan has victory now, but ultimately he won't.
(1) Revelation 6:2
Revelation 6:2says, "And I saw and, behold, a white horse; and he [the Antichrist] who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." A form of nikao, is used here. He went forth as a victor to gain a victory. Satan will have the initial victory. He will cause some devastating things in the early part of the tribulation, as all of humanity succumbs to him.
(2) Revelation 13:7
Revelation 13:7says, "It was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Satan will make war with the saints and seem to overcome them. Satan appears to be the victor.
b) Christian's assurance of victory
But that isn't the whole story. Ultimately the book of Revelation says the saints are going to triumph over Satan.
(1) Revelation 12:11
Revelation 12:11says, "They overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." The saints ultimately will gain the victory.
(2) Revelation 15:2
Revelation 15:2says, "I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." That is a picture of the victorious saints,in heaven, having conquered Satan and his false trinity.
(3) Revelation 21:7
Revelation 21:7says, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."
(4) Romans 16:20
Romans 16:20says, "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." Satan has been defeated at the cross. The ultimate battle has already been won. Positionally, he is already defeated; but practically-- as we learn the Word of God--we need to exercise that victory on a day-to-day basis.
2. Death
Immediately upon receiving salvation, the Christian overcomes death. First Corinthians 15:54-57says, "When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." The believer conquerors death.
3. The World
The third thing a Christian conquers is the world. First John 5:4says, "Whatever is born of God overcometh the world." The believer is a victor over the invisible, spiritual system of evil that operates in the world to capture men's souls for hell. When someone is saved, he is removed out of the clutches of Satan and hell, and reserved for heaven. The believer has conquered the system in Christ. If you look carefully at the phrase "whatever is born of God" in verse 4, you will find it is in the present tense, which means that the Christian is continually having victory over the world. It is a habit of life for the saint to conquer the world's system.
What does it mean to be a victor? For one thing, it is foolish to lose when we have the power to overcome. Positionally, we have conquered Satan, death, and the world. But from a practical standpoint, we need to claim and exercise that victory on a day-to- day basis. Christians are overcomers. Everyone else in the world is defeated.
II. THE DESCRIPTION OF AN OVERCOMER
First John 5:1-5 gives us a list of three characteristics that are common to all overcomers:
A. Faith in Jesus Christ (vv. 1a, 4)
"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God .... For whatever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
Overcomers are people born of God--people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. When you place your faith in Christ, you are born of God and become a victor.
1. A trust that is total
Many have wondered what John meant when he said, "Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1). Some have thought John meant that Christ was a something that God spawned or created. But that isn't the idea. The Greek text is saying that Jesus has been begotten out of God, not created by Him. Jesus is the Anointed One who came out of the very essence of God. He is God, having invaded the world and taken on human form.
We are overcomers by the act of believing, which results in our new birth. All that is required to be an overcomer is to believe that Jesus is the Anointed One who has come from God. The Greek phrase combines both the present and perfect tense: "Whoever is believing that Jesus is the Anointed One, has been born of God." That tells us that faith is a result, not the cause of the new birth. If you have been truly born again, you will continue to believe. Some people think all that is required in salvation is a moment of faith. But true Christians have faith from the point of salvation onward. Jesus said in John 8:31, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." Sons of God will manifest that they have been begotten of God by continuing to believe in God's eternal, only begotten Son.
2. A faith that is fundamental
First John 5:1states that a person who is born of God believes that Jesus is the Christ. He must believe that Jesus the man is God incarnate--the Messiah, King, Savior, Redeemer, and the center and focus of revelation. The Cerinthian gnostics, whom John was dealing with, denied that Jesus was the Christ. John said their claims were worthless unless they believed that Jesus is God in human flesh. The Greek word translated "belief" is not referring merely to intellectual attainment or mental acquiescence, but a wholehearted acceptance of everything that is implied in the claims of Christ. You need to believe that Jesus is God and that He died for our sins, committing your whole life to Him in sacrifice and serving Him as Lord. That characterizes people who are born of God and are overcomers.
First John 5:4further defines the concept of faith: "Whatever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." "Believe" and "faith" are two English words for the Greek words pistas, and pisteuo. The essential ingredient in the life of the overcomer is his faith. The Christian's victory is based on the reality that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be.
First John 5:5says, "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" John is emphasizing the need to believe in Christ because he has already mentioned that phrase many times in the epistle of First John and three times in this passage as well. He is saying in verse 5 that the basic characteristic of an overcomer is that he believes in Jesus Christ. A believer is one whose faith overcomes the world.
The Struggle for Solutions
There are many people in this world who struggle to find solutions for the plagues and problems of this life that can't be solved. But Jesus says, "I offer you a life that is victorious over Satan and all his forces, including death and the plagues of the system that corrupts this world. All I ask is that you believe I am God in the flesh who died for your sin and rose again for your justification." If you place your faith in Christ, you are born into a new victorious life. I don't want to be victimized by Satan, who goes around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). I don't want to be victimized by death and sent to hell. And I don't want to be victimized by the evil world's system, which tries to take the earth from Christ. If there is victory to be had, I want it. Jesus said you can be a super- conqueror if you believe in Him and are born again. Overcomers are characterized by faith.
B. Love for Jesus Christ (vv. 1b, 5)
"And everyone that loveth him that begot loveth him also that is begotten of him.... Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God?"
It is characteristic of overcomers not only to love God, but also to love all who are begotten of God. A true believer confesses Christ and loves his brothers.
1. Objects of love
First John 5:2says, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments." The new birth brings us not only into a relationship with the eternal Son, but into a relationship with the children of the Father as well. In First John 5:2, John gives a self-evident, universal principle that he has given in many other places (1 John 2:5, 10-11; 3:10; 4:7-8, 12, 21): If you love God, you will love your brothers. Everyone who loves the parent will also love the child. Salvation is not only being in love with God but being in love with God's children as well. If I am born of God, then I will love all who are born of God, for God also dwells in them.
2. Characteristics of love
Love is not a sentiment; it is a sacrificial act. For example, 1 Peter 4:8 says, "Love covers a multitude of sins" (NASB). If I love someone, I will have a desire to rebuke their sin, cover it, and forgive it. True love doesn't manifest itself by publicizing evil. Love is very practical. That kind of love is characteristic of all who are overcomers because they love their brothers.
John says the reverse in 1 John 5:2: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments." In verse 1 John says that we know we love God because we love our Christian brothers. In verse 2 he says we love them because we love God. Some will say he is reasoning in a circle, and that's exactly right. You can't love the brothers without loving God, and you can't love God without loving the brothers. One proves the other. John is saying it is characteristic of overcomers to love one another.
C. Obedience to Jesus Christ (vv. 2-3)
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not burdensome."
1. Internal obedience
Faith, love, and obedience are all woven together. John ties obedience to love in verse 2: "We love God, and keep his commandments." He ties love to obedience in verse 3: "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." And he ties faith to love in verse 1: "Everyone that loveth him that begot loveth him also that is begotten of him." All three are inextricable. Love, faith, and obedience to God's Word are all characteristic of the believer. But the genuine proof of love is obedience.
God wants obedience that is internally, not externally motivated. God wants us to obey out of love, not fear (1 John 4:18). In Romans 6:17-18Paul said, "God be thanked, that whereas ye were the servants of sin, ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you. Being, then, made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Paul was saying Roman Christians had obeyed from the heart. God doesn't want superficial, external obedience, but obedience that is motivated from the heart.
2.Total obedience
In addition to internal obedience, God wants total obedience. Partial obedience does not satisfy God at all. Some people think God is satisfied when they do a few things right and a few things wrong. But He is not going to settle for two out of three. He wants total obedience. Some people say they believe all the Bible except the part that says wives are to submit to their husbands, but that's not acceptable. In Joshua 22:2-4, Joshua said to the Israelites, "Ye have kept all that Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you. Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord your God. And now the Lord your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them." God kept His promise as their obedience was total and motivated by the heart.
3. Constant obedience
The third kind of obedience that God wants is constant obedience: "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12). God desires constant obedience; we're not to be obedient only when we feel like it.
4. Cheerful obedience
The final kind of obedience that God wants is at the heart of what real obedience is: cheerful obedience. Some of you may be wondering how you could possibly obey as God wants you to. But you can.
Paul wrote "Every man [is to give] according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver." We are commanded to give cheerfully.
This verse tells us to "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say Rejoice." Disobedience is a sin, but externally motivated, partial, inconsistent, grudging obedience is also wrong. God wants a loving, total, constant, and joyous response of obedience. He can ask for that because His commandments are not grievious or burdensome (1 John 5:3). Jesus' commandment's are not grievious for three reasons: one, if you mess up, He forgives you; two, He never asks you to do something without giving you the power to do it; and three, we keep His commandments not out of fear, but out of love. That doesn't mean they aren't ever difficult, just that they aren't impossible.
III. THE DELIGHTS OF AN OVERCOMER
John describes the fantastic delights of the overcomer. There is one problem: He didn't describe them in 1 John. They are in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 2and 3 there are seven letters to seven first century churches. At the end of every letter is a promise to the overcomer. Those promises were given to the true believers in those particular churches, but they also apply to every believer throughout the ages.
A. The Tree of Life (Rev. 2:7)
The first delight of an overcomer is the gift of the tree of life. Revelation 2:7says, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." There was a tree in the Garden of Eden called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When Adam and Eve ate of that tree, they became sinners. But there was another tree in the Garden called the tree of life. God took Adam and Eve out of the Garden because He didn't want them to eat from the tree of life. He didn't want sinners to have eternal life because that would have brought sin into His eternal dwelling place. He put an angel with a flaming sword to guard the Garden so they couldn't get back in and eat from the tree of life.
But did you know that God transplanted that tree out of the Garden and into heaven? Revelation 22:2 says, "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve kinds of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for healing of the nations." Now that's a big tree, if it is on both sides of one river! It has twelve kinds of fruit. Did you ever see a tree like that? Not without a lot of string on it! It yields its fruit every month. Its leaves serve as therapy for the nations. The word "healing" doesn't refer to the healing of disease; it refers to providing health. We won't be hungry or thirsty in heaven, but we will eat and drink for pure enjoyment. Revelation 2:7 says, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." That means the overcomer is promised heaven. The first delight for overcomers is the eternal enjoyment of God's presence in His paradise.
B. Eternal Life (Rev.2:11)
The second thing promised to the overcomer is eternal life. Revelation 2:ll says, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." There are two deaths mentioned in the Bible: the first is physical death and the second is spiritual death. Spiritual death results in eternal death. The overcomer will not be harmed by the second death. Everyone will die physically, for verse 10 says, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life," but the believer will never die spiritually. That's exciting! The man who is not an overcomer dies only to die again. The overcomer dies to live forever. What a promise!
C. The Bread of Life (Rev. 2:17)
The third delight of an overcomer is the hidden manna of God and a white stone from God. Revelation 2:17 says, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in that stone a new name written, which no man knoweth except he that receiveth it." The overcomer receives two things:
1. Hidden manna
The first is hidden manna. And that manna is Jesus. It is nothing more or less than feasting on the presence of Jesus Christ. People often ask what heaven will be like. I always say, "Heaven is where Jesus is." That's enough for me-- feasting on His presence, for Jesus is the hidden manna and the Bread of Life. Oh, what a rich banquet, just to spend forever in His presence!
2. A White stone
God will not only give us manna, but a white stone as well. In the Greek text, the white stone refers to a diamond. There is debate about what that might mean. But I have one thought.
In the Old Testament, the priest had on his breastplate a bright stone called the urim. When people wanted to know God's will, He revealed it in that stone. The white stone might refer to the absolute and ultimate knowledge of God's will. What more could we ask for than to have all of God's revelation and knowledge given to us in glory?.
Have you ever thought about what heaven is like? It might seem so impersonal with only righteous people around. Will we feel like a lot of celestial cattle being herded around? No! God is going to give each of us a crystal in which a new name will be written known only by the person who receives it. My stone will say one thing; yours will say something else. Whatever else will go on in heaven, God and I will have our own thing going! The same will be true of you. We will all be individuals in glory. What will your new name be? How could I tell you? No one will know but you and God!
We are going to have a personal relationship with God forever. We're going to be in the presence of the hidden manna--Jesus Christ. We're going to be eating of the tree of life and lapping up the water from the crystal river flowing from His throne. We'll never be touched by the second death. What terrific promises!
I have my white stone!!!! 😇👸🏼❤️🔥
D. The power of life (Rev. 2:26-28)
Revelation 2:26-28 says, "He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations; And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers, even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star."
1. Powerover the nations
What is meant by the phrase, "power over the nations"? In Psalm 2:8-9 God said He will give power over the nations to the Messiah. Revelation 2:27says that as Jesus receives power over the nations, He will give it to us. We will rule with Christ in His millennial kingdom.
You might think that His rule will be harsh since He will rule with a big rod. The Greek word for "rule" is poimanei, and is translated "shepherd." It is a shepherd's rod, not a billy club.
There will be discipline in the kingdom. Where evil and sin dwell, judgement will be enforced. But there will also be caring, nourishing, and tenderness in this Shepherd's rod. That is what the phrase "power over the nations" refers to. Could you ever dream of being seated together with Christ on His throne? You may say, "Who me? I'm not even the foreman on my job!" But remember, our ruling in the kingdom is by pure grace.
2. The morning star
Revelation 2:28says, "I will give him the morning star." We own the morning star. Revelation 22:16says, "I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." Who is the morning star? Jesus. You know who's going to be mine in heaven? Jesus. He is given to overcomers. In 2 Peter 1:19, Peter says, "And the day star [will] arise in your hearts." In a sense, the morning star is already shining in us, but some day He will belong to us in the fullness of His presence. We will rule the nations and possess the Lord of the nations for our very own.
E. The book of life (Rev. 3:5)
Revelation 3:5 gives us the fifth delight of an overcomer: "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." Here are two more features for an overcomer.
1. Clothed in white raiment
White raiment refers to righteousness, purity, holiness, and glory. We're going to be clothed in white, and that's Christ's color. When He comes out of heaven riding on a white horse, wearing a white robe, we will be with him on white horses and dressed in white robes. Because of His own righteousness, He clothes us in His own holiness, purity, and righteousness.
2. Confessed before God
John further states, "And I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels" (Rev. 3:5). Many people are confused by that phrase. They say, "Does that mean that you could get your name blotted out of the book of life?" No! the text says, "I will not blot his name out of the book of life" (emphasis added). We are secure in Christ.
In John's day, kings in every area had a registry. All the people's names were put into that registry. When anyone committed a criminal act, his name was removed from the registry. Our Lord is saying "The world may cross you off its lists, kings may remove your name for the crime of Christianity, but I will never blot your name out of My book." That doesn't mean you can't be sure; it means you can be sure. You are secure in Him. It doesn't imply that God takes names out; it emphasizes that He keeps them in! Aren't you glad that your salvation is guaranteed? He says, "I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels." When I get to heaven, Jesus is going to say, "Father, angels, here is John MacArthur." Wow!
F. The name of life (Rev. 3:12)
Revelation 3:12 says, "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write on him my new name."
1. The "pillar in the temple of my God"
What does it mean to be a pillar in God's temple? In John's day, important people were honored by placing a pillar inscribed with their name in the local temple. Great temples to certain gods became monuments of perpetual honor to famous citizens, because they would begin to mark those pillars with the names of these citizens. As overcomers you and I have pillars in the celestial hall of fame. In fact, we are pillars! We are eternally honored in God's celestial hall of fame.
The verse continues by saying, "And He shall go no more out." Historically, this letter was written to the church at Philadelphia, which was located near a volcano field. They were constantly being subjected to earthquakes. Whenever an earthquake would occur, the people would flee from the city because it was often destroyed. The Lord was saying to this group of believers, "I'm going to make you pillars, and you're never going to have to flee. You're never going to have to fear. In heaven there is no fear, No pillar has ever collapsed there. You're secure."
2. The "name of my God"
In addition, Jesus is going to write on us "the name of my God," which is the mark of possession. Then He is going to write "the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God." That is the mark of citizenship. Then He will write "my new name," which is the mark of love. We belong to God, to heaven, and to Jesus. We are going to have their names written on us. We'll be pillars, never shaken, never fearful, never having to run. That's exciting!
G. The throne of life (Rev. 3:21)
The seventh delight of an overcomer is in Revelation 3:21: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." The supreme thing is to be in heaven seated on the throne of God.
Can you imagine what would have happened if you had been living in the days of the Caesars, and sat on Caesar's throne and said, "This is terrific Caesar!" You would have lost your head! We will be co-reigning with Jesus, sitting in His throne, and He will be sitting in the Father's throne. We are all going to be in the same place.
Do you have a picture of what it means to be an overcomer, and to someday enjoy the delights of being an overcomer forever? I praise God I am an overcomer!
We Have an Adversary
But a sinful nature is not the only factor. We also have a spiritual adversary, an opponent. The Bible calls him Satan or the devil. In our world it is considered okay to believe in heaven and even angels. But if you believe in an actual Satan or the existence of hell, people scoff.
Jesus did not scoff. As you study his teachings, you find that he said more about Satan than anyone else in the Bible.
You are not the only person who has struggles with temptation. So did Jesus. Before he began his earthly ministry, Jesus went on a long retreat into the mountains to pray and prepare himself. There, Satan tempted him three times, attacking him at the point of his physical needs, his pride, and his calling to serve God (Luke 4:1-13).
Satan and his demons -- the Bible reveals them as fallen angels (Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:9) -- are your opponents and seek to tempt you and neutralize your influence. It's not like, "The devil made you do it." Demons don't have the power to grab you away from God (John 10:28), but they do try to deceive you and turn you to the wrong path.
The Holy Spirit's Power Is Greater
Fortunately for us, God has not left us powerless against Satan. When we put our faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, something miraculous happens. The Holy Spirit, Christ's Spirit, comes to live within us. Jesus said:
"Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'" (John 3:6-7)
Before we were Christians, we were merely human. But the new birth that Jesus talks about is the Holy Spirit making us alive spiritually.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." (1 John 3:9)
Because God's Spirit is now living within us, sin is confronted, and we are given power to overcome it.
What Can We Do to Stop Sinning?
You are probably finding that sins aren't very glamorous. Rather they are demoralizing and degrading. How can you escape them? Let me outline a series of strategies that will help you, though I'm not listing them in any particular order.
Strategy 1. Trust in God
First of all, you must realize that God is with you to help you! He will never leave you. He is your Strength. He is your Help. The Bible reminds us:
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
You are on the winning side. You have aligned yourself with Christ, who was victorious over sin and even death. Trust in him to help you.
Strategy 2. Be Humble
Second, be humble. As long as you are proud and think you can fight sins in your own strength, you will fail. When you think that you are so strong that sin cannot touch you, you set yourself up for a fall. We are strong only in the Lord, not in ourselves.
Strategy 3. Resist
Third, resist the temptation. God is building your character. Every time you say "No" to a temptation, it will be that much easier to say "No" the next time you are tempted. You are developing a healthy habit of saying "No" to temptation and "Yes" to God. Resist!
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)
Don't flirt with a sin, trying to enjoy it without getting hurt by it. That is stupid. Resist the temptation and move on.
Strategy 4. Flee
The fourth strategy may seem almost contradictory to the third. Flee!
"Flee from sexual immorality." (1 Corinthians 6:18)
"Flee the evil desires of youth...." (2 Timothy 2:22)
How can you resist when you are fleeing, running away?
There is a time to stand your ground and resist temptation. There is also a time to get as far away as you can from sources of temptation and, if possible, from the people who try to lead you astray.
If you struggle with lust, for example, stay away from situations and pornography that enflame your lust. If you struggle with alcohol abuse or drug addiction, stay away from situations where you will be tempted and from people who are indulging in these vices. When you identify "triggers" or strong temptations that tend to lead you into sin, carefully avoid them.
Strategy 5. Embrace Truth
We human beings do what we believe in our heart of hearts to be true. If we really believe that true happiness lies in accumulating money, then we will be tempted to cheat, to steal, even to bend the truth to get money. If we reallybelieve the ultimate source of happiness is having another human being love us or desire us sexually, then we find ourselves attracted to the wrong man or woman, and are subject to all kinds of compromise and weakness. The truths we hold most dear guide our lives.
When we make Jesus Christ our ultimate authority and begin to follow his teachings, the beliefs that previously motivated us are exposed as falsehoods. Jesus said:
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
This is why Scripture reading is so important. Gradually, we begin to align each aspect of our lives with truth, which weakens the temptation.
Scripture is helpful in times of temptation. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, he quoted Scripture to resist the temptation, saying: "It is written..." (Luke 4:1-13).
In Lesson 2 we talked about the importance of having a quiet time each day when you read the Bible and pray. I also encourage you to use this time to memorize the memory verse for each lesson. This will help you to internalize the truth contained in the verse so it will strengthen you. The Psalmist said:
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalms 119:11)
Strategy 6. Pray
Of course, prayer is of great help in temptation, since it connects us directly with God by faith. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray for help when we are weak: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (or "from the evil one", Matthew 6:13). In the Garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion, Jesus struggled with temptation by means of prayer. He told the disciples who were nearby:
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Matthew 26:41)
Prayer strengthens us, so we must "watch" (that is, stay awake and alert) and pray. When we focus on the sin and the temptation, sin has our attention. When we turn to God in prayer then God has our focus and attention, weakening the temptation.
Strategy 7. Love God and Embrace His Love for You
The seventh strategy is to embrace God's love.When you believe that God loves you greatly, sin becomes the disappointing of the one you love, rather than the breaking of some impersonal rule or law. Love is the unique glory of Christianity. God loves you, even though you have sinned. Love is more powerful than temptation.
What If You Do Fall to Temptation?
But what if you do sin? What if you fall to temptation? The Apostle John wrote:
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2)
Even when we sin after becoming Christians, there is forgiveness for us. Thank God! Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for all my sins and yours -- past, present, and future.
Repentance, Confession, and Forgiveness
Here is what to do. The Apostle John tells us:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
I can't begin to tell you how much this promise has meant to me. I memorized it as a young Christian and have said it over and over again when I became aware that I had sinned. You should memorize it, too.
Let me explain three concepts:
1. Repentance is sorrow for your sin and the willingness to turn away from it. This is not sorrow for getting "caught," but sorrow that you have disappointed the Father you love.
2. Confession, which follows repentance, is telling God (or another Christian) that you have sinned. This is not simplistic. There is great power in saying directly and aloud (1) that you have sinned and (2) the exact nature of your sin -- without making any excuse.
Confession moves what was done in the darkness into the light where it can be healed.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
Many Christians have discovered the value of having a close Christian friend or accountability partner with whom they can be honest and to whom they can confess their sins (James 5:16). Confession is a declaration of truth and therefore powerful. Confession helps restore and strengthen you.
3. Receiving Forgiveness. Third, you must receive forgiveness. Believe that God does indeed forgive you! Remember:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
This promise has two parts: (1) forgiveness -- that God will forgive us our sins and not hold them against us any longer, and (2) cleansing -- that God will purify us or cleanse us from our sins, so we don't have to feel dirty any longer. We are washed! (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). We are clean before God again.
Sometimes you may still feel dirty and degraded. That is Satan trying to trick you and drag you down. Resist it and take hold of God's promise for you that he "will forgive us and purify us." God forgives you!
Temptation Is Not Sin
Realize that temptation is not the same as sin. Sometimes being tempted makes us feel dirty, but temptation is not sin. Jesus was severely tempted, but that does not mean he was contaminated with the sin. When asked about temptation, Reformation leader Martin Luther is reputed to have said:
"You can't help it if a bird flies over your head,
But you can stop it from building a nest in your hair."
There Is No End to God's Forgiveness
When I was younger in the faith, I used to despair when I found myself committing the same sin time after time. I'm not worthy to be forgiven, I'd tell myself. (Which is true.) God will give up on me. (Which is not true!)
One on occasion, St. Peter came to Jesus in extreme frustration.
"'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?'
Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'" (Matthew 18:21-22)
God has no limit to the number of times he will forgive your sins.
Is It Worth the Struggle?
It really is worth the struggle. As we walk with Jesus on this journey, we will experience the joy of his presence, the health and rightness of his Way, and the blessings that come through walking with God himself.
As you walk with the Lord, you willbecome stronger. Gradually, you will be able to resist temptation to sins that used to overpower you. Don't give up! Jesus tells his disciples:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Prayer
Lord, sometimes temptation seems so strong. Thank you for teaching us how to resist temptation and more and more be free from sin so we can walk with you in joy. Forgive us where we have failed you. We know you do -- and that is what keeps us going. Thank you for your love for us. Thank you that you believe in us -- in spite of ourselves. In your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Memory Verse
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9,
In the passage about the gift of the white stone, we find the essence of religion. What the mystic[1] meaning may be must be taken differently by different minds. I think the writer of Revelation sees in its whiteness, purity, and in its substance, indestructibility; but I care chiefly to regard the stone as the form whereby the name is represented as passing from God to man. The giving of the white stone with the new name is the communication of what God thinks about the man to the man. It is the divine judgment. The true name is one which expresses the character, the nature, the meaning of the person who bears it. It is the man’s own symbol, the sign which belongs to him and to no one else. Who can give a man this, his own name? God alone. To whom is this name given? To him that overcometh. When is it given? When he has overcome. Why does God wait till then? Just as repentance comes because God pardons, yet the man becomes aware of the pardon only in the repentance, so it is only when the man has become his name that God gives him the stone with the name upon it, for then first can he understand what his name signifies. God’s name for a man must then be the expression in a mystical word—a word of that language which all who have overcome understand—of his own idea of the man, that being whom he had in his thought when he began to make the child. To tell the name is to seal the success—to say, “In thee also I am well pleased.”
[1] I use the word mysticism as representing a mode of embodying truth, common, in various degrees, to almost all, if not all, the writers of the New Testament. A mystical mind perceives that the highest expression of which the truth admits lies in the symbolism of nature, and the human customs that result from human necessities, and so prosecutes thought about truth by dealing with the symbols themselves after logical forms. This is the highest mode of conveying the deepest truth, and the Lord himself often employed it.
Commentary
by Jolyn Canty
Manna, the white stone, a new name: George MacDonald explains these three beautiful symbols of God’s fatherly love and care for us.
Manna: Manna provided life in a barren wilderness, and Jesus compared Himself to manna and the true bread from Heaven when he fed the multitude: “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” John 6:1-14.
The White Stone: The white stone has been compared to several ancient symbols. The Romans had the custom of awarding white stones to the victors of athletic games. In Greece, a white stone or Token of Privilege, known as a tessera, was given at Olympic games to the victor, allowing him entrance to the special awards banquet. There was also the Token of Innocence, or Pebble of Acquittal: in ancient Greece, jury members would cast a white stone to signify an acquittal, and a black stone to signify guilt.
Another example of the white stone is the Jewish high priest’s breastplate, which contained twelve stones. Each stone bore the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved upon it. As the high priest ministered in the temple, he bore the names of God’s people into God’s presence. Concordantly, the believer’s name written on the white stone may also reference our standing in God’s presence. However, most Bible scholars believe that the white stone is connected to the Stone Tablets of the Law given to Moses. Jesus is the New Law given to man, the Law that transcends the Old Law. When the overcomer honors God’s law, Christ will honor the overcomer for knowing and doing God’s will. Accordingly, we who overcome will celebrate at the banquet table with Him in heaven.
The New Name: Throughout Scripture, names convey and represent the character of the bearer. There is an ancient Jewish saying which states: “With each child, the world begins anew.” Judaism places great importance on the naming of each child. The name of a person is closely related to their essence. Parents also choose a name which connects their children to previous generations. The name chosen is their statement of hope for whom their child will become.
The new name represents the Holy Spirit’s work of conforming us to the holiness of Christ (Romans 8:29, Col. 3:10). The new name is the name of adoption: we are now His. He writes our new name on a white stone, an indestructible object that conveys its permanence, and by its color, purity.
George MacDonald emphasizes whiteness, purity, substance, indestructibility, repentance, overcoming, and receiving our true name given by God alone. God wants to tell us our new name when we have been conformed to the likeness of his Son, and when that name is descriptive of who we are in Christ.
Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
A white stone had various uses in antiquity: a token of admission, a voting piece, a symbol of victory, a Christian amulet, or something used in an initiation into the service of Asclepius. White stones were also the writing surface for official edicts. One such relevant decree was issued in 9 b.c.by Paulus Fabius Maximus, the governor of Asia. This edict, confirmed by the provincial league, decreed that Augustus’s birthday should be made an official holiday in Asia as well as to mark the beginning of the municipal new year. It was inscribed in Latin and Greek on a white stone and set up in the imperial cult temple in Pergamum. The decree was apparently distributed throughout the province because copies have been found in five Asian cities. This was the best white stone that the province could give to its citizens; Jesus has an alternative stone to give to his overcomers.
[Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, NewTestament – Hebrews to Revelation]
God gave Adam dominion over His creation. Adam had the honour of naming the created creatures that were brought before him – Genesis 2:19-20 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field …
It is interesting the Lord in Genesis 2:21-24 gave Adam his help meet – Eve.
Genesis 2:21-24 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This isnow bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
The church is the bride of Christ. She shall be so blessed with the company of her heavenly bridegroom – our Lord Jesus Christ. When the overcomer meets his Lord, he will be given a new name. Indeed, the glorious bride meeting his bridegroom. He names his bride as Adam did call the “Woman” for she was taken out of Man. We have been bought with a great price even the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross. The nail prints that bought us gave our Lord the pleasure to bless His bride. Amen.
Promises to the Overcomer
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son." Rev. 21:7.
What is it to overcome?
To vanquish, to conquer, to be victorious. - Webster.
What must be overcome to realize the promises to the overcomer?
"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil." Rom. 12:21. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world." 1 John 5:4.
What is meant by overcoming the world?
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." 1 John 3:9.
What, then, must we exercise in order to claim the promise of inheriting all things?
"But godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." 1 Tim. 4:8.
Who alone can overcome?
"Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:5.
By what means are we enabled to overcome?
"This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4. "And they overcame him [Satan, the originator and disseminator of sin, verse 9] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." Rev. 12:11.
Who gives us strength to overcome? and through whom is it bestowed?
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:57. "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Rom. 8:37.
What is one important purpose of the promises given in the Bible?
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4.
What is one of the greatest promises given to the overcomer?
"And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life." 1 John 2:25.
Name some of the precious things promised to the overcomer.
(1) He shall eat of the tree of life. Rev. 2:7.
(2) He "shall not be hurt of the second death." Rev. 2:11.
(3) He shall eat of the hidden manna, and receive a white stone, and "in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." Rev. 2:17.
(4) He shall have power over the nations. Rev. 2:26.
(5) He shall be clothed in white raiment; and his name shall not be blotted out of the book of life, but shall be confessed before the Father and the angels. Rev. 3:5.
(6) He shall be a pillar in the temple of God forever, and Christ will write upon him God's name, and the name of the New Jerusalem, and his own new name. Rev. 3:12.
(7) He shall sit with Christ on His throne. Rev. 3:21.
(8) He "shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." James 1:12.
Have any of those who in the past have sought to receive the promises, as yet come into their possession?
"And these all [those enumerated in Heb. 11] , having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise." Heb. 11:39.
When will these precious promises be realized?
"Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry." Heb. 10:36, 37.
What manner of persons ought we to be, as we see the time approaching when the promises are to be realized?
"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless." 2 Peter 3:14.
What will be the condition of those who realize the promises?
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen." Revelation 7:9-12
victory.
And I will give him a white stone and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it
The importance of this stone is that Jesus writes our names on it. This indicates God’s acceptance of us and thus assurance of eternity and the blessings that come with eternity. A secret name is a name of intimacy. We receive full fellowship with the Lord when we overcome sin.
Principle:
God blesses spiritual victors with special fellowship.
Application:
Those who stand against sexual immorality will get the blessing of Jesus, the Lord. Those who resist sin, God blesses with special intimacy.
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