Becoming Overcomers
by Sandra Moats
Executive Director
New Hope For Adopted International Kids
We are living in the days of life storms upon earth. The
storms have increased and grown stronger. Many Christians in these
times are facing a storm or either walking in one. The storms are
not to be run from, but to rather learn victory in the midst. God is
calling forth end-time warriors. The key to victory is learning to
become an overcomer in the midst of the storm.
All Christians are called to become overcomers, but not all
respond in a positive way. As the storms rage many fall by the way
side. I heard a good sermon recently about voices that speak to us
within the storms. There are voices that speak to us in the storms.
I have thought about this principle quite a bit, looking back to
former storms that I have walked through. There are voices that the
enemy speaks to us to bring fear and terror, and then there is the
voice of the Lord that encourages us to stand firm in peace facing
the enemy.
I know in former storms I have experienced the voice of
pressure to run; yet the word of God tells us to stand firm. I have
heard the voice of fear of the unknown or losses. But the blood of
Jesus has wiped all fear from my life, for to live is Christ.
In Revelations we are given directions and promises on
walking as overcomers. In Chapters 2 and 3 we are directed how to
overcome, and encouraged by the rewards we will receive. Re
2:7,11,17,26, 3:5,12,21.
The call is going forth across our land right now for
Christians to arise and become overcomers within the storms of life.
As we walk through the book of Revelation until the rapture we are
going to need to stand firm in patience, maintaining our first love
for Jesus. Faced with evil we are called to love the person, yet
hate the evil. Re 2:6. We are called to maintain good works in the
midst of tribulation, betrayal, and poverty. Re 2:9 We are called to
walk in righteousness and faith, and stay away from idolatry, which
loves the things of this world more than Christ. Re 2:14. We are
called to renounce false teaching, fornication or adultery in the
church. Re 2:20-22. We are called to be watchful and steadfast in
righteousness. Re 3:2. We are called to keep His Word and not deny
His name. Re 3:8. We are called to shine like a bright light that
cannot be put out. Re 3:16.
Most people are drawn into the world and succumb to the
flesh. The true Christian is dead to sin. When the love for sin is
dead the devil attacks with fury. The believer must be ready to
fight. Satan is after every blessing God has provided for you.
There are three parts in our journey to becoming overcomers,
walking under the blood of the Lamb, sharing the word of our
testimony, and loving not our lives unto death. The Bible says, “And
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.” Re
12:11
In this day and age we are still engaged in this battle as
Christians. But in the shed blood of Jesus Christ we have the
victory! Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. Paul talks about dealing
with the powers of darkness in Ephesians 6:16. It tells us the blood
of Jesus quenches the fiery darts the enemy throws at us. Plead the
blood of Jesus over your life and the lives of your love ones. Jesus
died to preserve us from the evil of this world. Gal 1:4.We used to
sing a song called, “There is power in the blood.” The first verse
is “Would you be free for the burden of sin? There is power in the
blood, power in the blood. Would you over evil the victory win?
There is wonderful power in the blood.”
John Wesley when faced with the enemy said, “I, the chief of
sinner am; but Jesus died for me.” The blood of Jesus is our
victory. By the blood of the Lamb we’re cleansed from all sin and it
leaves no room for accusing from the devil. There is power in the
blood of Jesus, because He is alive!
A Christian Testimony is a witness as to how Jesus has
saved, healed and set a person free. Webster’s says one of the
meanings is a “Public expression of a religious experience.” Sharing
our testimony releases faith into others so they are open to walking
in areas they have not been aware of. It releases the dynamics of
God power to be released into those who are hearing the testimony.
There is power is the blood of Jesus and there is power to help us
become overcomers. It is released as we give our testimonies.
The words out of your mouth are your testimony to the life
of Jesus Christ inside of you. Jesus calls His people to testify to
what He has done in your life. It is amazing to watch lives touched
by a testimony. This is a powerful tool that has been given to help
us in the process of becoming an overcomer. We must use it!
As we walk with Jesus Christ our life takes on more of His
life. In the process we should come to the place that we love not
our lives even unto death. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of
the church.”
Pastor Li Dexian had preached only a few minutes when PSB
officers in China burst into his house. They dragged Pastor Li
outside and beat him and some of his congregation in front of his
home. He was then taken to the police station. There he was beaten
more until he vomited blood and then thrown unto the concrete floor
of the cell.
When he was released he resumed his ministry. They again
broke in while he was preaching and again beat him, this time with
rods. Pastor Li stated, “I will preach until I die.”
Missionary Ray Thorne said, “If we Christians don’t continue
to share the gospel and push the envelope, the envelope will close
in on us. If we maintain a “silent witness” there will be no
witness, and Christianity will die in America.”
The storms are upon Christians in America. The storms seem
to be increasing and are threatening our way of life as we have
known it. We must not run from the storm, but walk within it. As we
set our eyes upon Jesus we will learn victory in the midst of the
storm. And we will become overcomers.
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