How to Live as an Overcomer & Rise Above Life's Difficulties
Today we revisit a message from 2019 that is still relevant, helpful and encouraging.
How can we live as overcomers while facing pressure, stress, and life’s difficulties? Here’s how to rise above the difficulties of this life and be an overcomer with Christ!
What is an overcomer? How can we live as overcomers? What does an overcomer look like?
It is so easy to focus on the physical and desire riches of this life, and ignore the true riches of eternity with Christ. We face pressures, temptations, possible slander and hatred towards Christian beliefs, not to mention the regular stress and issues of every day life. But Jesus said I know your afflictions and your poverty (yet you are rich). Spiritual compromise is always possible. But the one who overcomes is spiritually victorious and is the one who gains eternal life with Christ in glory.
Here’s how to rise above the difficulties of this life and be an overcomer with Christ!
Turn Spiritual Compromise Into Spiritual Victory
Some who claimed to be followers of God were anything but followers of God. The same is true today. These people give lip service to being a person of God, yet by their actions they are not. What about you? Are you living as someone who is spiritually victorious?
Jesus was telling the believers of Ephesus that if they responded to the warning and change how they were living; and if they would return to their first love that they we be overcomers and have the right to eat from the tree of life. So with that let’s read: Rev 2:7:
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7, NIV).
The word overcomer in the Greek means being victorious; prevailing; conquering; overcoming. In other words:
The one who overcomes—is spiritually victorious—is the one who gains eternal life with Christ in Glory.
If we are to be spiritual overcomers:
If we are to be spiritually victorious we need to have our spiritual eyes wide open and not be led astray by the world.
We need to be aware of our surroundings and trust the Lord in every situation.
We must walk in faith and not fear.
We must not believe the lie of the enemy.
We must not give in to the peer pressure, temptation, slander, or the idea that physical prosperity as being something we should desire; rather than true spiritual prosperity and victory.
Faith in Christ is the true reason every believer is rich.
With that, let’s look at the church in Smyrna:
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty — yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death” (Revelation 2:8-11)
It is clear from scripture, that the person who overcomes spiritually is rewarded and will enjoy eternal life with Christ.
It is so easy to focus on the physical and desire riches of this life, and ignore the true riches of eternity with Christ.
The believers were blessed spiritually, and this is what Jesus wanted them to focus on. Their true riches in Christ.
They had something that all the money in the world couldn’t buy.
They had Jesus in their hearts
They had the peace of God in their hearts
Their sins were forgiven, and they were bound for Glory.
Their acts of faithful obedience were like a sweet aroma to God almighty.
The believer needs to look at the situation they face with their spiritual eyes wide open and their hearts full of faith in Christ. Jesus said I know your afflictions and your poverty (yet you are rich). Other translations use the word tribulations (meaning pressures). Jesus knew what the people faced physically/ but spiritually they were rich.
Knowing what we know, how can we live as overcomers?
What does an overcomer look like? What is an overcomer?
In a sense we live in Smyrna:
Pressure; temptation; possible slander and hatred towards Christian attitudes and beliefs is beginning to arise. Standing for the Gospel is not always welcomed. Refusing to compromise spiritually, you might be considered a bigot or worst. Yet your life will be a sweet aroma unto the Lord. If we are going to be faithful believers and our lives be a sweet aroma to the Lord, we need to live as overcomers.
I believe an overcomer is:
Someone who stands for the gospel.
One who walk by faith.
Someone who knows he cannot do anything in his own strength.
Someone who in the face of opposition stands for Christ.
Remains faithful no matter the cost—someone who chooses Christ over what the world offers.
One who sees spiritual victory as more important than physical prosperity.
Victorious and is one who may experience suffering and even physical death but will not experience separation from Christ.
Ask the Lord to help you to live as an overcomer from this day forward.
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