Monday, February 20, 2017

Overcome The World

Our Savior has overcome and he promises that we will too.

 
John 16:29-33 Then His disciples said, "At last You are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that You know everything, and there's no need to question You. From this we believe that You came from God."

31 Jesus asked, "Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming--indeed it's here now--when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving Me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with Me.

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

The fact that you have the technology to see this blog post and choose to read it or click away to something else says that you probably have a very comfortable life. The odds are that you probably live in a culture that offers you a comfortable lifestyle, beautiful stuff at your side, and instant everything that requires little effort.

But there are some of you that have had a miserable existence, I am not talking about people that have first world country problems, these people have nothing easy or comfortable about their life. People that you loved and trusted have let you down, friendless, beat up and unloved, you find yourself all alone and hopeless.

That is the kind of people that Jesus had around him during his stay on earth, his people were beat-up and tired, they had been raided by foreign governments and their own religious leaders didn't have anything to offer.

Jesus Was A Man Of Sorrows

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.
Imagine living here after being in heaven for all of eternity past, imagine starting life over as a child, a child that is fully God but also fully man. You get cold, feel pain and you require sleep just like everybody else yet you are also God.

Imagine leaving the perfection of the best place ever to come to a broken world so that you can go head to head with your worst enemy. What would it be like to know that you were here for the sake of dying for people that don't like you and for friends that would turn their back and run. (John 13:37-38)

Jesus gave up a lot to come and be "God with us" but he didn't show any sorrow about what he lost by leaving heaven. The main source of his sorrow was for the condition of man and the fact that they rejected the only hope that could ever help.


Jesus Had The Best Friend

I am not alone because the Father is with Me.
The disciples’ faith was strengthened by Jesus’ words but it wouldn't be enough to pass the test that was coming. In a few hours they would scatter in fear but Jesus said that he had a close friend that was better than his earthly friends that he could count on.

Jesus had confidence in God and he was dedicated to God's plan. At his time of death he was able to say, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

Jesus Best Friend Can Be Mine

I have overcome the world.
The victory that Jesus had over Satan makes it possible for me to become friends with God. Jesus worst enemy is also mine but thankfully Jesus closest friend can also be mine as well. I can have a close intimate relationship with God through my faith in Jesus as my substitute for the punishment that I deserved.

Since Jesus overcame I know that I will overcome, I can rise above this evil world and I can live without the horror of death, I can have the same confidence that Jesus had that death is not the end.
We can be encouraged by five aspects of God’s love and grace:
1. There is always hope in Christ for future spiritual growth. (John 16:25)
2. Be encouraged by your privilege in prayer. (John 16:26)
3. Be encouraged by the Father’s special love and grace. (John 16:27)
4. Be encouraged by God’s sovereign plan of salvation. (John 16:28)
5. Be encouraged that ultimately your peace is in Christ, not in your performance. (John 16:29-33)

Jesus Disciples Overcome

Every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
God is still governing this world, don't let the daily battle get you down and cause you too much grief, there aren't any term limits on God's reign. He is in charge of the circumstances around us and he always will be. What we see as chaos isn't a surprise or a source of concern to him.

This is not my home, and I will never feel perfectly at peace and perfectly comfortable here but I must continue to the the good works that he has planned or me to do until the day I die and overcome this world just as Jesus did.
RELATED ARTICLES