Power To Overcome

Power to Overcome

Text: 1 John 5:4-5

“For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Introduction:

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, I bring you greetings in the matchless, miracle-working, death-defying name of Jesus Christ!

We’ve been learning how to walk in resurrection power...

We’ve been learning how to live the risen life...

But today—oh today—God wants you to know you have Power to Overcome! But my brothers and sisters before we go on let us first breakdown the meaning of the word overcome. According to Webster’s dictionary overcome means, to get the better of, to gain the superiority. The word 'overcome' comes from the Greek word nikao. This is very close to the Christian name Nicholas which can mean 'victory of the people' of which the Greek equivalent is Nikolaos. According to Strong's concordance nikao means to conquer, to overcome, to prevail, to get the victory.

My brothers and sisters there are three Greek words, when translated in the bible mean overcome. Katavallo (overpower, vanquish, quell, debilitate, overwhelm), Epaytaysheo (prevail, overbear, overpower, predominate, preponderate), and Katanikao (bowl over, checkmate, overmaster). In a biblical sense that means “to win a victory,” “to stand victorious over an enemy.” Which is to keep the faith in Jesus our Lord and Savior, to continue being a faithful follower and doer of God’s word, and to overcome the world, the devil, and the flesh by the power of the Holy Ghost.

The enemy would love for you to believe that you’re too weak, too wounded, too weary. But the devil is a liar and the father of lies! Because according to 1 John 5:4-5, “For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]. 5 Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Victory is not a prize for the perfect.

Victory is not reserved for spiritual “superstars.”

Victory is your birthright in Christ!

When a child is born into a royal family, they don’t have to earn their royal identity. They simply receive it by birth. In the same way, if you’ve been born again, you are already heir to victory. Today, we’re not talking about barely surviving. We’re talking about overcoming!

So, with the help of the Holy Spirit and the real preacher Jesus Christ I would like to point out a few things reveal in this text to help us understand that we have the “Power to Overcome” and the first is this.

Victory is Our Birthright

Now, before we can overcome, we need to know who we are. Identity comes before victory. Because if you don’t know what belongs to you, you’ll never walk in it.

The Bible says, “Whatever is born of God...”

That means if you’re born again, victory is already written into your spiritual DNA!

It’s not about your feelings; it’s about your identity.

John 16:33 reminds us, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

Jesus didn’t say trouble might come. He said it will. But right after that warning, He gave us a promise: “I have overcome the world.” Victory is not for some distant future—it’s for right now.

Ephesians 2:6 also tell us, “And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus,”

My brothers and sisters not only are we born of God, but we are seated with Jesus in victory. That’s not just our future position that is our present position right here, right now.

Romans 8:37 boldly declares, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us].” “More than conquerors” means you’re not scraping by; You’re living in overflowing victory.

But here’s a question: Are you living like a victim—or standing as a victor? Too often, believers live under defeat, forgetting who they are. Imagine a lion living like a house cat—hiding, afraid, caged by lies.

My brothers and sisters, you’re not called to live caged in fear or defeat. You’re called to reign in life through Christ.

It’s time to stop begging for victory.

It’s time to start believing for it.

Victory is not achieved by striving harder.

It’s received by standing in your God-given identity.

Faith Unlocks the Power

But now you might be wondering, “If victory is my birthright, why does it sometimes feel so out of reach. My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends the answer is simple: Faith is the key that unlocks the Power.

Let’s revisit 1 John 5:4: “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

It’s not about how strong you are—it’s about how strong your faith is! When life hits hard, your strength runs out. But your faith connects you to God’s limitless power. My brothers and sisters, faith takes what is true in heaven and pulls it into your life here on earth.

Hebrews 11:1 presents us with the perfect definition, “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].”

Mark 11:24 reveals another powerful promise, “For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.”

In other words, it’s not about striving, it’s about believing. My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friend if we want to thrive, we’ve got to believe!

Faith is not wishful thinking. It’s confidence in God’s character, even when life hurts.

Faith stood with David before Goliath.

Faith pressed through the crowd with the woman touching Jesus’ hem.

Faith stepped out of the boat with Peter.

Faith believes God even when life hurts.

Faith stands when fear says sit down.

Faith speaks life when the world speaks death.

Remember:

Fear magnifies the problem.

Faith magnifies the promise.

When faith is activated, heaven responds.

Chains break. Doors open. Mountains move.

Faith isn’t ignoring reality. Faith is standing on a greater realty God’s Word.

You already have victory in Christ. Faith brings that victory into your daily experience.

So, here’s the challenge: Will you believe God’s Word over the enemy’s lies?

Jesus is Our Overcoming Power

Now, my Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, you could very well be saying. Pastor, “I want to believe, but I feel so weak.” Let me give you the in on some good news: You’re not overcoming by your own power. You overcome through Jesus!

Let’s look at 1 John 5:5: “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

You don’t overcome through grit. You overcome through grace.

The world says: “Be strong, tough it out.” But the Gospel says: “Lean on Jesus—He’s already overcome.”

Jesus didn’t defeat sin, death, and the grave to keep the victory to Himself.

He shares His victory with every believer.

His victory is your victory.

His resurrection is your resurrection.

His power is your power.

That’s why Philippians 4:13 declares: “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

Not through your hustle.

Not through self-help tips.

But through Christ.

When you’re weary, remember:

Jesus didn’t stay in the grave.

He rose up with all power.

And that same power lives in you!

When battles come—spiritual, emotional, physical—

Don’t fight in your strength.

Tap into the overcoming power of Jesus Christ.

Through Him, you’re not just surviving—you’re thriving.

Colossians 2:15 lets us know, “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.

My brothers and sisters Jesus didn’t just win in private. He defeated every power of darkness in public.

That triumph in not just His, it’s ours. You don’t have to fight for victory. You fight from victory!

Through Jesus, you’re not trying to overcome, you’re simply walking in what He already won.

Conclusion: Walk Like You’re an Overcomer!

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends. It’s time to walk like who you really are—an overcomer!

You are not under—you’re above.

You are not defeated—you’re delivered.

You are not falling apart—you’re held together by the power of God!

It’s time to rise up and overcome:

Overcome the fear that tries to hold you down.

Overcome the doubt that whispers you can’t.

Overcome the attack that came to destroy you.

Overcome the lies that say you’ll never make it.

Why?

Because the resurrection power of Jesus lives inside you!

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, you are born of God—

And whatever is born of God overcomes the world!

Don’t you dare walk around like a victim when you’ve been crowned a victor in Christ.

Don’t you settle for less when God has called you to walk in His best.

Don’t you bow to the battle when the victory is already yours.

Don’t you live beneath your calling when God has seated you in heavenly places.

You are not trying to win—you are walking in the victory already won by Jesus.

So, open your mouth, lift your head, square your shoulders, and declare it loud: “I am an overcomer!” Now go live like it!