WE
OVERCOME AS HE OVERCAME
November 25, 2008
MF Blume
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.
Jesus told us that we can overcome as He overcame.
- If He says that those who
overcome as He did will sit on the throne, then that must mean it is
possible to overcome as He did.
- This breaks apart a very
common and mistaken belief that many Christians have.
- It kills the idea that we
cannot be expected to live like Jesus, let alone overcome, since He is
God manifest in flesh.
- But that false idea is
unaware of these verses:
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye
might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Why would Christ's victory of overcoming the world help us to have good
cheer if we are in the world and shall have tribulation?
- It is because we can overcome
like He did!
- He is actually telling us
that it is possible for US to overcome the world in our tribulations
SINCE HE DID!
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Jesus was born of God.
- He overcame.
- And John told us anyone who
is born of God overcomes the world!
- That includes us!
The Bible teaches some strong points about the HUMANITY Of Jesus.
Hebrews 5:4-10 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he
that is called of God, as was Aaron. (5) So also Christ
glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto
him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. (6) As
he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedec. (7) Who in the days of his flesh,
when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and
tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in
that he feared; (8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered; (9) And being
made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them
that obey him; (10) Called of God an high priest after the
order of Melchisedec.
He refers to Jesus while speaking of MEN being called or not called.
- He put Jesus in the same
bracket as a MAN.
- Jesus did not GLORIFY HIMSELF
to be high priest.
- People would think since He
is God incarnate, that He glorified HIMSELF to be a high priest.
- But, no, as a man like you
and I, Jesus HAD TO BE CALLED.
- He offered up prayers.
- Made strong crying and tears
and was heard BECAUSE HE FEARED.
- And he prayed to HIM WHO
COULD RESCUE HIM FROM DEATH.
- He LEARNED OBEDIENCE.
- HE WAS MADE PERFECT.
- HE BECAME author of salvation.
- CALLED OF GOD.
All of these things show us the limitations of HIS HUMANITY.
Philippians 2:7-8 But made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of
men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:7-8 ASV but emptied himself, taking the form
of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; (8) and
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient
even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:7-8 GNB Instead of this, of his own free will he
gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a
human being and appeared in human likeness. (8) He was
humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death--- his
death on the cross.
THE CROSS
People are starting to truly realize that there is more to the
Christian life than getting saved from hell and staying saved to be
able to go to Heaven.
- It's about time, after 2,000
years!
- Lots of great preaching is
occurring where truths about DOING SOMETHING IN THIS WORLD FOR GOD are
being emphasized.
- Something SPIRITUAL, too,
although all the outward things we do for God is required.
Preaching the cross needs to be done in a way that shows us WHY we can
conquer the devil and sin and the world now after we are saved.
- It has to go beyond just
telling us it freed us from hell and made us ready for heaven.
- We have to OCCUPY.
- There is the IN BETWEEN saved
from hell and entering into heaven that the devil is enjoys to see us
miss and overlook.
- When I preach the cross, it
is to show WHY we can conquer the devil NOW.
If we just rejoice over the cross taking us out of hell, we are not
helping the need for the Kingdom to be preached.
- The Kingdom is about DOING
THE NOW work.
- It is the truth about what is
IN BETWEEN being saved from hell and going up in the rapture.
People are the kind of creatures that THINK.
- If we are going to claim the
fact that we have power to overcome the world and the devil and sin,
then we need to be able to understand WHY we can do those things.
- If we are not convinced we
can do them it is because we have not been shown WHY we are able to do
things.
- We think of overcoming sin
and the devil and the world and immediately act like the Israelites at
Kadesh Barnea -- we cannot do that, there's giants and well walled
cities there!
That is the reason the bible teaches us WHY we are able to overcome, so
that we can have CONFIDENCE to be able to do it.
If I look at a car that costs $75,000.00, and you stand there and tell
me I can buy that car, I am not going to believe you unless you show me
WHY you claim that I can buy it.
- You have to show me that if I
do not have $75,000 to spare in my bank account, that you have PROOF
that you have the money and have PROOF you will give it to me to buy it.
- When we have the PROOF, and
learn WHY we can do something, then we will act on that information
because we are convinced we are able to accomplish it.
- So the bible is full of
stories and teachings to provide you with the PROOF showing you WHY you
can overcome!