Obstacles – they can surely get in the way some days.
An obstacle has been defined as “something that obstructs or hinders progress.” It’s the challenge which keeps you from moving forward in the day.
We want to be be able to overcome the obstacles that get in our way.
An overcomer is defined as “a person who prevails in spite of opposition, difficulties, weakness.”
Quickly my thoughts were reeled in by the Holy Spirit, “You want to overcome for the right reasons and with the right motives.â€
John, exiled to Patmos for preaching the word of God, knew when it was the Lord’s Day and worshiped God in the Spirit (Revelation 1:10, NASB). No complaining, no whining – just worship. Now this is a man who can teach us about overcoming!
God gives John a vision, which he records for us in the book of Revelation. Let’s look at these verses from the aspect of learning what God has to say about overcoming.
What does God give or do for the ones who overcome?
- Fruit. “To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God’ †(Revelation 2:7, NASB). In a time of entitlements and rights, we are getting the right to eat from the tree of life. But we must hear what God says and overcome.
- Protection. “The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11, NASB). If we hear what God says, accept Christ as our Savior, we have life eternal.
- A New Name. “To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it’†(Revelation 2:17, NASB). Can we even imagine? He is going to give us a name personally selected by Christ Himself. We can carry our white stones with us for all eternity!
- Authority. “The one who overcomes, and the one who keeps My deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are shattered, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star†(Revelation 2:26-28, NASB). Christ promises that those who are obedient will share authority with Him one day.
- Acknowledgement. “The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels†(Revelation 3:5,6 NASB). Overcomers have the assurance of being mentioned before the Father.
- Security. “The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name†(Revelation 3:12 NASB). We will be a pillar, a fixed support in the temple of God.
- Seating. “The one who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne†(Revelation 3:21 NASB). We will be positioned to sit with the Father.
As I read each of these promises made to the churches in Revelation, it became obvious that the Lord has much to say about being an overcomer. He has promised much to those who overcome.
“It is a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians – and I am one of them.” (Cyprian)
“For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5, NASB)
May we be one of them,
those called Christians,
and overcome the world.
“We have to tell the story so that we don’t forget how great God is and all the reasons we have to trust and obey.” In her post, “Forget”, Kym reminds us of the many reasons we have to trust, obey, and remember the goodness and faithfulness of our God. You can read her post HERE.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Photo by Guilherme Stecanella on Unsplash
Today I am joining …
Thankyou Joanne for an inspiring message.
Grateful you stopped and shared here, Heather! Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Thanks for pointing out all these rewards for being an overcomer, Joanne. I’m grateful we can always have hope–and help!–when we face obstacles so that we too can be an overcomer.
Yes! He is our Help and Hope!
I’ve read through the letters in Revelation many times, but I had never put the “overcomer” verses all together like that. It really makes an impact! May we always seek God’s grace to overcome.
No matter how familiar a passage may be, there is always new insight to be gleaned. Sometimes it is as simple as one word. Grateful you shared this week!
It dawns on me that not all my obstacles are insurmountable, and your words have inspired me to take his hand and be led forward.
I am grateful for God’s Word which brings the strength and hope we need! Praying for you, Michele!
Thank you, Joanne for this hope-filled post! We need these words in the world in which we live! Goes right along with my Word for 2022, Resilience!
I needed the reminder, Donna. I am so grateful God is our hope and stay!
I appreciate your thoughts and scriptures on overcoming, Joanne. This is good encouragement, “You want to overcome for the right reasons and with the right motives.â€
I want to be an overcomer! I love the verse that says we overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. (Revelation 12:11
Our testimony will be Jesus helped us!
I love that verse, Jerralea. It often reminds me of the importance of our testimony in this battle we wage.
I love the quote from Cyprian!
Thank you for sharing this message today.
Blessings, Jennifer
Joanne, I didn’t realize there were so many references to being an overcomer in Revelation 2 and 3. So encouraging to remember that God offers so many blessings to those who overcome. And also that we don’t have to try to be overcomers in our own power.
It’s amazing to realize the many blessings He gives to us as we overcome when He is the One who enables us to overcome. May we cling to Him all the more!
Hi Joanne, as I was reading your post I was thinking of what it is right now that I am trying to overcome and the word the Lord has given to me in this moment. “flint-faced” Flint-faced toward the attack to give in, flint-faced in the face of doubts and the desire to give up. Flint-faced! He gives us the ability to withstand and overcome!
Great post
God bless
Tracy
Tracy, what an amazing word! I had to look up the Scripture to read it as you brought it to mind: “For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed” (Isaiah 50:7, NASB). I appreciate you sharing! Praying for you to have all you need to overcome!
Lots to love about this post Ms. Joanne. I think, for me, it’s the promise of what awaits those of us who will overcome this world one day. I ask God’s guidance and direction each morning, but I also pray daily for His strength to endure one day more.
Amen, J.D. Each day we overcome as we depend on our God.
Leaning into the promises of God can certainly remove (or at least lessen) the obstacles the world places on our lives.
Let’s Have Coffee #32
Joanne, I enjoyed reading those promises. I like to pick up smooth stones and sea glass. I pictured holding my white stone.
“You want to overcome for the right reasons and with the right motives.â€
Oh, I like this, Joanne.
As I read your post, Joanne, I was reminded of how important it is to keep that eternal perspective.