April 27

AN OVERCOMER THRU CHRIST

Text: I John 5:4-5

The Bible has a lot to say about being an overcomer. The term overcomer is especially prominent in the book of Revelation,
where Jesus encourages His people to remain steadfast through trials. I John 5:4–5 says, “For whatever is born of God
overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world,
but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Overcomer is synonymous to the word winner.

Degree Holder/Graduate – overcome bachelor’s degree, finished studies

Mother – overcome pregnancy and labor

Champion athlete – overcome training and won games, won over opponent.

Overcomers are followers of Christ who successfully resist the power and temptation of the world’s system. An overcomer is not
sinless, but holds fast to faith in Christ until the end. He does not turn away when times get difficult or become an apostate.
Overcoming requires complete dependence upon God for direction, purpose, fulfillment, and strength to follow His plan for our
lives

Key points: turning point or transition of Christians when faced with hard situations/trials

1. Struggle into Strength (II Corinthians 12:9)

 Suffering is a part of everyone’s life. Like you, I’ve had my fair share.   While my spirit wants to be
more like Jesus, my flesh wants nothing to do with this painful process because it’s taxing and
doesn’t feel good.
 Every human being faces struggles, loss, injustices, financial uncertainty, difficult relationships,
and the messiness of life. But, as Christ-followers, we have the Holy Spirit teaching us, guiding
us, and comforting us. Sometimes that comfort comes straight from God’s Word, other times the
Lord will intervene on our behalf by utilizing His family, the body of Christ, to minister to us.
 Walang problemang binibigay ang Panginoon na hindi natin kayang lampasan.
 Hanggang saan natin kayang dumepende sa Panginoon, gaanong extent ng hirap ang kaya nating
harapin habang patuloy na nagtitiwala sa kanyang magagawa.
2. Pain into Purpose (James 1:2-4)
 Pain on some level will always be ever-present in your life, but you don’t need to walk through life struggling
to find a purpose behind your pain. One of the reasons Christians look to Scripture for guidance and wisdom
is because truth never changes and human nature never changes, so God’s Word written thousands of years
ago still applies to us today. In the first century, James started his letter to the early Christians with a
reminder about five ways your pain has a purpose, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever
you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let
perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”  (James 1:2-4,
NIV). From these eternal words, here are six ways your pain has a purpose.
 If you wanted to see how much weight you could bench press at the gym, the only way to find that out would
be to continue to put on more and more weight until you discovered your threshold, your limit.
 Kagaya po ng patotoo ni Sis. Irrish kahapon tungkol sa kanilang karanasan nung nagkasakit po si Mama
Irene
 Pain teaches you what pleasure never could.
3. Mess into Message (Jeremiah 17:14)
 God writes our stories. It is not themed adventure, action nor drama. It is the greatest love story ever told.
 In Chapter 1, was Joshua.  He was born an Israelite.  He was a worshiper of the one true God.  He was an
assistant to Moses and was commissioned to be the one who would lead God’s people into the Promised
Land.
 In Chapter 2, was Rahab.  She was born a gentile.  She worshipped pagan gods and sold her body for
money BUT…through her faith in God…she became engrafted into the family of God!
 Joshua and Rahab had very different backgrounds.
 We all have very different backgrounds.
 Some of us were born into Christian homes and others of us were not. None of us had any control over who
our parents would be or how we would be raised. All of us have been dealt different hands but what God
requires of us all is the same –
 Faith.
 We all are sinners, saved by nothing more than God’s grace alone.  And we all have different struggles and
different messes we have made over our lifetime.

Our breakdowns were breakthroughs. We are an overcomer thru Christ.