Steve Shackleton – I thought your post today (7/10) on the subject of ‘overcomers’ was great!  Steve Coerper’s posts on the subject dovetail nicely with yours.  My recent posts on ‘the bride of Christ’ also speak to the tremendous importance of being an ‘overcomer’.  I’d like to refer to a statement on the subject – made by Dr. Bill Hamon in his book ‘The Day of the Saints’ – pgs. 347/349.  This is a pretty good summary of both your thoughts.

 

‘SAINTS AS WARRIORS AND OVERCOMERS;

 

        “The victorious Saints in the Saints Movement will definitely be warriors and overcomers.  Seven times the Book of Revelation says that the overcomers are the only ones who will get the rewards it describes and who are privileged to rule and reign with Jesus Christ.  The three major things that the Saints must overcome are the world, the flesh and the devil.  Those who participate in the Saints Movement will have been delivered from all worldliness, having crucified the flesh, and will be living a sanctified and holy life.  This puts them in a position to have the power to fight the good fight of faith and overcome the devil.

 

        Too many present-day Christians are so bound up in worldliness, materialism, and fleshly activities that they are unable to be free and to cast our demons and destroy the works of the devil.  “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”  We have the DNA of the “Mighty Man of War” within us.  Mature sons of God are devil destroyers.       

 

        The Saints will be warriors with great compassion for mankind, but no mercy for the devil or the works of darkness.  They will be overcoming warriors who love righteousness but hate all kinds of evil.  They will be soul savers and devil destroyers.  Those who lack either of these aspects of Christ are unbalanced Saints.”

 

        While you may agree, or disagree, with Bill Hamon’s description of an ‘over comer’, it seem quite clear that being an ‘over comer’ is something more than receiving the gift of Salvation which is not based on our efforts.  Being an over comer requires that we DO something: overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.  While this work cannot be done apart from divine intervention in our lives, we must be co-laborers with Christ and His Spirit in order to become ‘an over comer’.

 

        The tremendous benefits of being ‘an over comer’ can be found in Revelation – chapters 2 & 3.

 

                “He who overcomes shall thus be clothed 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 His angels” (Revelation 3: 5).

 

        “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  He who overcomes will not  be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2: 11).

 

        “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna and I will give him a white stone which no one knows but he who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).

 

        “He 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 upon 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.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3: 12, 13).

 

        “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3: 21).

 

        “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2: 7).

 

        “He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son” (Revelation 21:7).

 

        This next verse is powerful in that three important concepts are combined into just a few words.  Here the Bible links being an over comer...to keeping His works...thereby entitling one to rule and reign with Christ in His (coming) kingdom.  This verse definitely states that being an over comer requires something from the believer.  I admire the spectacular ‘word efficiency’ in this verse!

 

        “He that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations” (Revelation 2:26).

 

        Sounds like being an over comer is a very important thing!  You would think that such an important subject would be a common topic in our churches, and maybe it is, but in my 33 years as a Christian, I have never heard a comprehensive message on the importance of becoming an ‘over comer’.

 

        Bless you guys.  Tyler Cole

 

         

 

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