3 Steps to be an Overcomer!

Victory in Jesus

Illustration: Longhorns Basketball.

Everyone loves to win; everyone loves a victory!

As children of God we are overcomers, we are victors, and we are winners!

The problem is we don’t always feel victorious do we?

As individuals sometimes we feel more like losers than winners…

Depressed, Down, Discouraged, and Dismayed characterizes a lot of our lives.

We deal with heart aches that seem too much, we deal with discouragements that we never expected to encounter.

Often times the picture perfect idea we had in our mind doesn’t come to reality…

Even as the church we sure seem to be dealing with lots of defeat…

But despite our circumstances or our feelings we are proclaimed time and time again as winners.

We have been looking on Sunday nights at being an overcomer: Today I want to summarize where we have been and I want us to complete the idea of being an overcomer.

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:1–5)

You will notice the word “overcome” appears in the text before us.

The word here for overcomer means to conquer, it means to win, it means to defeat, it means to gain victory.

The word is used by our Lord Jesus Himself in John 16:33, “In this world you shall have tribulation, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

I have won out in conflict with the world. I have defeated the world. I have conquered the world.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

“We’re super-conquerors. We are the ultimate conquerors.”

We have through faith in Christ entered the condition of being unconquerable.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37–39)

There is nothing that can conquer us, not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword. We are super-conquerors. We are the unconquerable.

Kase why is this important, Some of us are walking around like losers when we are really winners!

Some of us are so caught up on the day to day plays of life that we are neglecting the fact that the victory has already been won!

STOP LIVING IN DEFEAT!

We are called to “overcome” the world.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.” (1 John 5:4)

Three times it says we overcome the world.

What does it mean to overcome the world?

It means that we are victorious over each and everything that tries to drag us away from spiritual victory!

We are victorious over sin, we are victorious over the attacks of satan, we are victorious over a life of defeat.

John Wesley: “Anything that cools my love for Christ is the world.”

Worldliness is an expression of the heart that does not include God.

Worldliness is independencefrom God. I want to live my life on my own terms.

It is the convenient use of God which is ultimately the exclusion of God.

There are far too many of us who have come up with a false religion that syncretizes Christianity and worldliness.

True Christianity cannot be merged or assimilated into the paganistic, greedy, self-worshiping worldly views around us because the two are polar opposites.

As Christian we understand 1 John 2:16”

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world and the world is passing away and all its lusts, but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”

And because we understand this we will strive with all of our might to be victorious over the world!

How do we overcome the world?

1. Overcomers Have: Faith

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” (1 John 5:1)

(noun) “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

(verb) “Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believesthat Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5)

So step one in being an overcomer is: FAITH

overcomers are those who believe in Jesus Christ as God, Messiah, Savior.

You may look at your life from time to time and you may see some failures…

You may say, “Well I don’t see the love I should see at this point, I don’t see the obedience I should see.”

Prior to all of the ‘works’ we have to ask ourselves the question: Do I believe?

But not only do I believe, but understand that what you believe is of the utmost importance!

Jesus is the Christ. He is the Messiah. He is the One who is the object of our faith.

John has made it very clear that what we believe matters:

“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22)

Everybody believes in God, but what exactly do you believe in Jesus?

“Well, you know, these people are going to get to heaven even though they have a different view.”

NO, they’re not going to get to heaven because Jesus is the one and only way to heaven.

There will be NO victory in your life apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

Money, Wealth, Relationships, and success will not lead you to a life of victory.

I know people who have lots of money and they have lots of things but they are living a life of misery.

It is only through the blood of Jesus Christ that we will find ultimate, sustaining, fulfilling victory!

It is antichristto deny that Jesus is the Christ.

Everyone wants to believe in God, but you better understand that Jesus is God in the flesh.

What you believe matters!

“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”(James 2:19)

The demons believe, and there is a fear… but it’s not a belief that leads to any type of change or repentance do you understand?

“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” (John 2:23–25)

In this context there is a belief, and it seems like this belief is in simply what Jesus can offer the people.

They want a ‘Santa Claus’ that will give them what they want, they do not want a “Lord.”

So what does the text say? It says that they believed but Jesus did not entrust himself to them.”

They believed but Jesus didn’t believe in their belief.

That’s an amazing verse to think about.

It is not just a mere intellectual knowledge but a full-heart acceptance of all that Jesus Christ is.

It is to believe that the man Jesus is God, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Savior, the Redeemer, the final sacrifice for sin and to commit one’s life to Him as sovereign Lord and Savior.

It is to recognize that there is no other Redeemer, there is no other Savior.

Anybody who believes this way belongs to God and will be victorious!

So step one in being an overcomer is: FAITH

What does the faith mean? Allow me to show you something.

(noun) “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

(verb) “Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believesthat Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5)

Here’s a problem I think we have in the church, far too many of us see our faith as a noun and we don’t see it as a verb.

When we talk about being saved what do we say? It’s usually a past experience.

The Bible talks about salvation in 3 ways: Past Tense, Present Tense, and Future Tense.

Past Tense “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Present Tense “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Future Tense“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 5:9)

Initially, at the point of regeneration, our sins are forgiven— entirely and completely. We have been delivered from sin's penalty. Through faith, we are reckoned to be righteous—as righteous as Christ is. This is Justification.

Then, there is sanctification—a process whereby we are being delivered from sin's power.

Ultimately, in heaven, we will be delivered from sin's presence. This is glorification.

This faith governs my behavior, and my decisions.

Overcomers are those who believe in Jesus Christ as God, Messiah, Savior.

You may look at your life from time to time and you may see some failures…

You may say, “Well I don’t see the love I should see at this point, I don’t see the obedience I should see.”

Prior to all of the ‘works’ we have to ask ourselves the question: Do I believe?

Saving faith then is the whole of my being embracing all of Christ.

Question number 1 for you this morning: WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

2. Overcomers Have: Love

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” (1 John 5:1)

Number two if we are going to be an overcomer we will be loving!

Number one we will be people of faith, and number two that faith will lead us to love!

There are two distinctions given in this verse when it comes to love: We will love the father, and we will also love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

How many of us here strive to be like the Lord?

Hopefully all of us have our eyes fixed on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith and we are striving hard to be a ‘little Christ.’

The book of 1 John says 2 things that God is do you remember what those are?

God is Light; God is Love.

The reality is that if we are going to be like Jesus then we must be people of LOVE!

If we are not known as a loving people than we have failed!

We must stand on the truth, this book is the authority for every decision in our life.

While we stand on the truth we must do so in love!

The Enemy of Love

“But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:11)

· Those who profess Christ and hate a brother are walking in darkness.

· Those who profess Christ and hate a brother are lost

· Those who profess Christ and hate a brother are blinded.

You cannot be of God and hate.

Hate is an indicator that you are not saved.

Our Spiritual life is not just the absence of sin; it is also the positive presence of love.

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (John 13:35)

“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.” (1 John 3:14)

People do not know that we have been saved because we come to the church. People do not know that we are saved because we give money in the offering. People do not know that we have been saved because we have a Jesus fish on the back of our car.

People know that we have been saved because of the way that we LOVE!

You’ll notice special attention is given to the “Children of God.”

Oftentimes we see verses talking about loving brothers and sisters in Christ.

This verse suggests the idea of families.

The love of Christians is seen not merely in a general love for all mankind, though they have that also, but rather in a particular love for the brethren.

This should be the most loving place in all of Longview!

Do we really care about our brothers and sisters in Christ that worship with us week after week?

If Christians really do love one another, then they will not spend so much time criticizing one another, as is often the case.

They will not neglect one another’s needs.

Instead, they will find themselves uniting together in a spiritual fellowship in which the Lord is worshiped and they themselves are mutually encouraged in the Christian life.

This should be an environment that is filled with love!

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

Love is an action word, when is the last time that you did something to show someone that you love them.

You see this is the opposite of selfishness, if we want to experience victory: we must have faith and we must be loving.

Question # 2: Do you love like Jesus?

3. Overcomers Are: Obedient

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:2–3)

Now remember there are 2 aspects of love: Loving others, and Loving God.

“How do we love God?” What does it look like to love God?

The verses before us make it clear that the way that we love God is through obedience to his commandments.

If we love God then we will be obedient as his children.

The way to demonstrate that you love God is to obey Him.

In obedience we seek: His honor and His glory, to show Him respect and worship, to reverence Him.

““If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.”” (John 14:21)

So you say you’re an overcomer. You say you’re a Christian.

“You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” (Deuteronomy 13:4)

Now if you’re a true Christian, if you’re an overcomer, that’s what you do.

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

“And Samuel said, “Has the Lordas great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)

This is not legalism that I’m talking about, and it is not a work based salvation.

What kind of obedience are we talking about here?

We are not talking about an obedience to earn right standing with God, but it is obedience that overflowsfrom a right standing with God.

Obedience that is not burdensome, you see that is the key.

All over today there are religions that are based on some type of contract.

You do “this” to please the gods and then you will hopefully be rewarded.

There is a burden but that burden will hopefully have a benefit on the other side.

But for us as followers of Christ this is not a legal kind of obedience that’s pressed upon us and we cave in and grit our teeth and do it against our will.

We aren’t talking about the kind of obedience that is compulsory and dreaded.

We are talking about a joyful obedience.

Oh my friends if we could understand this it would change the culture and the environment of serving Jesus.

How many church goers do their work out of burden and obligation.

Some of us got up this morning and we said this:

· It’s Sunday, that means I better get up and go to church…

· The offering plate will be passed, I guess I have to write my check…

· The teacher will call me if I miss so I guess I need to go to my Lifegroup…

There are some in here this morning and the reason that you are here is entirely out of obligation and you feel so burdened in your walk with the Lord.

There are a thousand places that you would rather be right now, but you are here because you have to keep your end of the contract.

If that is your life, then listen to me you will never live in victory!

But there are some who have been looking forwardto this time!

Looking forward to worshipping the Lord and to studying from his Word.

What a difference it makes!

Illustration: Marriage!

We make following God look so boring.

I want to see a church of people who are excited to be here!

Illustration: Baseball Games

Now I’m not even talking about an outward excitement necessarily because I get that we are all different in our mannerisms and temperate.

Some of you get in the choir and you clap and you sway back and forth and that’s awesome, but there are some of us who can’t sway on rhythm to save our lives and that’s just not us.

Haha. I’m talking about an inner desire to follow the Lord.

Following Christ is not a burden because we trust Him and we know that his plan is better than our own plan.

We also know that God gives us everything that we need to be a faithful follower to him!

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” (2 Peter 1:3)

John’s statement recalls that of Jesus in Matt 11:30, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

How do you view your spiritual life this morning

Well somebody hurt my feelings…

Well I don’t agree with a decision the church made…

That has nothing to do with the way that you follow and serve the Lord!

It’s time to grow up and serve Jesus!

“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,” (Romans 6:17)

What a great statement.

You became obedient from the heart; We’re talking about a heart obedience.

“shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;” (1 Peter 5:2)

That’s the kind of obedience the Lord wants from His shepherds and everybody else.

Do it because you want to do it, not because you’re forced to do it.

Think about this those of you who are faithful in your tithing and financially supporting of the church…

What is your attitude when you give?

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Disobedience to God is wrong. But so is external, unwilling, partial, inconsistent and grudging obedience.

“In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.” (Psalm 119:14)

“I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” (Psalm 119:16)

“Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24)

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97)

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)

Why is it so delightful to do it?

Because His Law is a reflection of Him, because to obey His Law pleases Him and we love Him and seek to please Him.

He never gives us laws that obeyed are not for our benefit and because we function in a relationship with God that is not a relationship of fear but a relationship of love.

I want you to ask yourself 3 questions this morning that come directly from the text before us:

3 Questions to answer to see if you are an Overcomer:

1. Am I a person of Faith?

2. Am I loving to those around me?

3. Do I obey the Lord Joyfully?