To Him That Overcometh

The Apostle Paul said, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. . .For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (Romans 7:19-25). No matter how good the intentions we may have, at some point in our lives we all end up saying things we don’t want to say, and doing things we don’t want to do. Likewise, the things we want to say and do, we don’t. At times, it seems like all we do is fail; forever struggling to overcome the flesh. Yet, the Lord Himself speaks to our weaknesses in the Book of Revelation, saying. . .

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” - Revelation 2:7
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” - Revelation 2:11
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” - Revelation 2:17
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.” - Revelation 2:26
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” - Revelation 3:5
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” - Revelation 3:12
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” - Revelation 3:21
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” - Revelation 21:7

What is “Flesh”?

The physical body is flesh from the very moment of its conception, but that is not to say that everything that is “flesh” is HUMAN! Thus, it must be man’s SUBSTANCE that constitutes his flesh, though his BEING is much more than mere substance! Obviously, there is more than one kind of flesh, so what makes a man human is not the fact that he is flesh (only). . .but, he is human because he takes on a particular shape (mass) and is endowed with an intellect and a certain set of emotions and capacities. While it is true that all human flesh came from the same creative hand of God, the quality and characteristics DIFFER. For example: “Know ye not that he which is joined unto an harlot is ONE FLESH?” (1 Corinthians 6:16). The “flesh” is synonomous with the “carnal mind”. So then, the question becomes: how does one overcome the negative characteristics of the carnal mind?

In Ephesians 2:2, Satan is described as “the prince of the power of the air, the SPIRIT that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” The Amplified Bible says, “At one time. . .you (all) were following the course and fashion of the world. . .following the prince of the power of the air. You were obedient to him and were under his control, the demon spirit that still constantly works (Greek energeo, meaning: energizes) in the sons of disobedience. . .for we are not wrestling with flesh and blood — contending only with physical opponents — but against despotisms, against the powers, against the master spirits who rule this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (spiritual) sphere” (Ephesians 2:2,6-12).

Satan is a spirit. And, if I may be so bold, I would go as far as to say that this spirit is in fact the fallen spirit of man. What this means is that we were born with the power of this FALSE GOD within us! This comes as a revelation to us when we see that the Holy Spirit lives and moves and is energized in those who have been “begotten of God” and “born of the Spirit”. To quote Ray Prizing, “Lucifer didn't [merely] fall, he was thrust into the negative realm to become the loyal opposition. He was part of the glory of Christ - the covering cherub, therefore he will be restored. Jesus prayed, "Restore to Me the glory I had before". The spirit of man was once in UNION with Christ before the fall and it is Christ’s desire is to be restored to that UNION which is the glory He had before the world was.

You see, there is a SPIRIT within us that is born of God. . .that which has been renewed and raised up within us in the image of God. But, just as the Holy Spirit is working in (energizing) the children of God, there is also an opposite spirit working within (energizing) the children of disobedience. The apostle John said, “Ye are of God, little children. . .because greater is HE that is IN YOU, than HE that is IN THE WORLD.” (1 John 4:4). Then, two verses later, John clearly identifies these two spirits which are in the people of God and the people of the world: “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” Paul adds to this testimony: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

The Means of Success

The word “overcometh” is Strong’s Concordance index number G3528 (νικάω / nikaō), meaning: to subdue, conquer, prevail, get [obtain] the victory, to carry off the victory. It is used of Christ’s victory over all His foes, and of Christians that hold fast their faith - even unto death against the power of their foes, or when one is arraigned or goes to law to win the case; to maintain one's cause.

The root word for G3528, is G3529 (νίκη / nikē. . .yes, like the shoe!), meaning: MEANS OF SUCCESS.

The word “overcometh” appears 11 times in 10 verses of the Bible (KJV, verify here). Interestingly enough, the root word G3529 appears only ONE TIME in the scriptures. . .which just so happens to be the verse where the first occurrence of word “overcometh” appears, as well as the one in which it appears twice!

“For whatsoever is BORN OF GOD overcometh [G3528] the world: and THIS is the victory [G3529] that overcometh [G3528] the world, even our faith.” - John 5:4

And what about this “faith”? The answer to this question is found in the last of the 10 verses mentioned here:

“Who is he that OVERCOMETH the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” - 1 John 5:5

Do you see it? This belieivng that Jesus is the Son of God is the same as being born of God - which is the very essence of our faith. Jesus alone is the MEANS by which the enemy is subdued. HE is the source of the subduing, the prevailing, the getting of the victory! All we need to do is believe. . .to have faith that He will accomplish what He says He will!

“The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” - Psalm 110:1

For us, these “enemies” are not people, but the little things we say and do that stem from the carnal mind. . .the “little foxes” that spoil the vine. Did you know that in most wine making processes, whole grape clusters are crushed and pressed, leaving behind the outer flesh along with its seeds and stems. This leftover combination of flesh, seeds, and stems is called pomace. Pomace is commonly used in animal feed, or as pigment in food coloring and cosmetics; or can even be utilized in composts. But, in the case of red wines, the flesh and seeds are crushed into a mixutre called “tannin” which is added to the extracted grape juice - a process which gives red wine the structure and complexity it needs to age. This wine must go through a long period of fermentation and aging before it can be enjoyed. The longer it ages, the stronger and more suitable it is for use. This process reminds me of the Psalmist’s lament. . .

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.”

Though we stumble through this realm of sin and death, we take comfort in knowing that, “. . .He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). This "uttermost" salvation cannot be understood apart from our High Priest who has secured it and who now ministers it to us from that higher realm of incorruptibility where He is seated upon His Throne in Heaven! And just where is this Heaven but in the midst of His people - New Jerusalem! You see, when the Son of Man walked the earth, He had no place to lay His head because His Body - the Church - had not yet been formed, nor perfected.

“And I saw a new heaven [mind of Christ] and a new earth [Body of Christ]: for the first heaven [mind of Adam] and the first earth [body of Adam] were passed away; and there was no more sea [separation from God]. And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” - Revelation 21:1-3

Oh dear pilgrim, on this journey through the desolation of our human experience, aren’t you glad that He who sitteth upon the Throne of your heart ever LIVETHS to make intercession for you?! Oh wonder of wonders!

Whatsoever is born of God subdues the world:

and it is this; being born of God, which is the means of success

wherefore we obtain victory over the world, even our belief that Jesus is the Son of God!

“To him that has the means of success. . .”

The articles on this website are made available at no cost. God’s way is, “. . .Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8). As members of Christ’s Body, we do not have anything to sell, nor do we rely on donations. We trust God to lay it upon the hearts of those He chooses to provide the means for publishing these studies. God bless!