Sunday Morning Podcast August 9, 2015. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: REVELATIONS 12:7-11
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 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.
An overcoming life ..means victory over. In the battle to win our inheritance for heaven, it means we must defeat Satan, the enemy of our soul. Salvation, makes us heaven’s heir. Overcoming Satan and all his devices will win us the crown of faithfulness. We dare not stop short, falter, or let our guard down, because the enemy of our soul is also waiting …to overcome us. You are strong enough to conquer, if you “count it so.” Conquering. That’s what an overcomer does. Over every foe you face. Are you an overcomer? You must pick a side. Obviously it is better to pick Jesus’s side! Jesus desires all to be on His side, and win the victory. This is what makes one an overcomer. In a severe spiritual battle, no one feels good…for you are in a fight for “your life,” against all the powers of Satan! We may have many battle “scars,” even feel “whipped,” but victory will make it worth it all.
In Luke 8: 5-15 we read the parable of the sower, with seeds being planted in different types of ground. There are many different types of “ground” that make up the condition of people’s hearts. Stoniness, briars, shallow ground, and that which is good ground. If the heart ground is hard, full of briars or shallow, the gospel cannot bring forth fruit. When a seed is planted of the gospel, in hearts that have good ground, they will reap that gospel seed with joy. In the midst of all the heartache, sickness, and pain, joy will sustain one to be overcomers. Being an overcomer comes at a great cost. A cost to deny self, and be completely consecrated to the warfare against self and sin.
To serve God, or Satan, is a choice we make everyday. A choice which will make a difference in whether we are an overcomer or not, in the race against all sin to gain heaven. Those that overcome, are those that eat of the “tree of life,” (or of Christ’s Words). God provides it for all those who love Him. If you don’t eat of it, you will die spiritually. Have you been eating of Christ? Do you want to be on the winning side? The warfare will be overcome, by the 1) blood of the Lamb, 2) the word of your testimony, and 3) not loving your life unto death. In other words your mortal life must be less important than your immortal one. You will give up all, to overcome all, and win the victory. God will always supply us with all the power we need. He is faithful to all that would overcome. Don’t testify of Christ, or being a Christian, if sin is not overcome in your life.
Are you an overcomer? Are you on the winning side? You can be!