To Overcome Or Be Overcome

In the world we live in today, with deception running rampant, I think many people have been convinced that there is some gray area in christianity, a middle ground of sorts. They think they can live however they want and still claim to be a follower of Christ and reap his benefits. The truth is, if you are not overcoming, you are being overcome. If you are not following Jesus, then you are serving the enemy.

Scripture tells us that Jesus died, he was buried, and he rose again. Because he rose again, we have the power to overcome. Ephesians 2:4-6 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” When he got up, we got up. We can overcome because of him.

There are so many examples of overcoming in the Bible, but one that I find encouraging is the story of Caleb. In Numbers 13, Moses sends 12 spies into the promised land, and out of the 12, only two return with a good report: Caleb and Joshua. Caleb says let’s go and possess it, for we are well able to overcome. The negative spies said, “we are not able to overcome.” They said they were like grasshoppers compared to the giants in the land. Notice that they all went to the same place and saw the same thing, yet they have two totally opposite perspectives.

In Numbers 14, we see the majority of the people complain, and when Caleb and Joshua try to encourage the people to keep the faith, the people don’t want to hear it.

Everything is about perspective. If you want to be victorious, consider your perspective. Are you letting the giants in your life bring fear or doubt, or are you choosing to believe the report of the Lord?

In Numbers 14:28-30, we see God’s response to those who chose the wrong report. He said, “as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you.” How many of us would be happy if God said to us, just as you have spoken to me, I will do to you? Are you speaking victorious words/words of an overcomer, or are you speaking words that allow the giants in your life to overcome you? Think back to how you have been speaking the last few days, months, and years. Would you be happy if God said, I will do exactly what you have been saying?

The Power of life and death is in our tongues. We settle our destiny by the words we speak. All of the 12 spies settled their destiny. Caleb was an overcomer, and he was rewarded for it. five times it says Caleb wholly followed the Lord. Are you wholly following the Lord? He has made provision for you to be an overcomer.

The beautiful thing about the use of “Have overcome” in John 16:33 is that it is present perfect tense. Jesus could have said “I overcame the world,” which is past tense, but he said i “Have Overcome,” which means the victory didn’t just start in the past and end in the past, but it continues into the present. We don’t just get victory over the enemy in some situations and not others. We are continually victorious.