You are welcome to the continuation of the series I started few days ago.Let’s study another key word in our text today: “Overcome”

“Whatsoever is born of God overcomes/nikaō/ the world…”-1John 5:4a

OVERCOME:The Greek word for ‘overcome’ as used in the New Testament is nikao which means to subdue,to conquer,to get the victory.However,in the Old Testament the Hebrew word for it is gûd which means to invade with troops or to attack.

For example, Jacob in Gen 49 was on his death bed making declarations about each tribe and the prophecy below was given concerning the tribe of Gad which was a tribe known for war.

Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last”-Gen 49:19

Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels.(NIV)

Gad, a troop shall troop upon him; But he shall troop upon their heel.” (JPS Tanakh 1917)

Let’s read how the Bible describes the men of Gad:

Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.”-1 Chronicles 12:8

The tribe of Gad was the tribe that used to lead military campaigns among the tribes of Israel therefore they were the ones more prone to attacks.

Jacob’s prophecy about Gad meant the tribe would be subjected to attacks by the Amorites ,Moabites etc whenever the Israelites got to the other side of Jordan but that in the end they would overcome.Therefore,Jacob encouraged them not to despair when their enemies seem to be victorious…Gad will laugh last!

Does this look like the encouragement Christ gave to His disciples? Yes!

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”-John 16:33

Those born of God are like the tribe of Gad and due to the fact that they are in the frontline of battle against the world they are prone to attacks from the world.The world sometimes may seem to be getting upper hand but the born of God will overcome it at last.

I love the way Apostle Paul puts it:

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”-2Cor 4:8-10

Different darts of the enemy fly night and day against the born of God in forms of tribulations, distress, persecutions,famines, nakedness,sin and its temptations etc.But those born of God are not despaired because they are more than conquerors. How?

First:They know that they will laugh last if they endure till the end.They know that they may be foiled in the battle but not in the campaign!They know sin will tempt them but they also know that rewards await them if they overcome evil with good. Halleluyah.

Second:God is for those born of Him.

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”-Romans 8:31

The born of God are more than conquerors because they have higher intelligence information at their disposal therefore they are not moved by the shenanigans of the world.They already know the scoreline:They won the world.Halleluyah

As I round off,let every born of God know that even though collectively as children of God we have overcome the world in Christ there is still an ongoing battle/contest against the world and each child of God must make sure he/she overcomes personally:

He that overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be to him God, and he shall be to me son.”-Rev 21:7

He who is overcoming shall inherit all things, and I will be to him — a God, and he shall be to me — the son(Young Literal translation)

Are you overcoming the world personally?

And the one overcoming and keeping My works until the end, I will give to him authority over the nations”-Rev 2:26

“To the person who conquers and continues to do what I’ve commanded to the end, I will give authority over the nations.” (ISV)

Go and nikao your world!!! But which world are you supposed to overcome(nikao)?

Let’s meet here next Wednesday for the answers…