Today's Bible Reading
Overcomer
Revelation 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
There are many times we find ourselves living in defeat as a Christian. We strive to move forward only to find ourselves falling backward. In our daily spiritual battles we find that we are overcome rather than being an overcomer. We long for victory in our struggles.
We are not unlike any other Christian. We all struggle with the enemy of our souls, Satan. In our text we are told that this great red seven headed ten horned dragon was in fact, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. (Rev 12:9) He has been the enemy of all the saints. He is the accuser of all the brethren. He sets out to accuse them day and night before our God. (Rev 12:10). Our defeat is his desire. His ambition is to create doubt, despair and disillusionment among every disciple of Christ. This is the opponent that every believer encounters every day. If we are not careful we will be seduced by Satan’s deceptions.
We cannot fight him with conventional methods and means. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Our fight is spiritual, so we must use spiritual resources to ward off his advances. Our text describes the essentials necessary to defend against the devil’s accusations.
We are told that these who had conquered him did it by utilizing three resources at their disposal. They overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. The blood of the Lamb, is speaking of the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. Scripture tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Sin remains where no blood is applied. In Jewish rituals in the temple the blood of slain animals would be sprinkled as a covering over various items and the priest to declare them purified and cleansed. So it is with those who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. His followers are covered with His blood and declared clean and pure before God. Thus because of the blood of the Lamb, any and all accusation of wrongdoing brought by Satan in the courts of heaven are immediately dismissed and we are declared righteous in Christ. The covering of the blood enables us to overcome Satan.
We are told that they also conquered by the word of their testimony. Every believer has a testimony. Every Christian can tell their story of their journey to faith, but this is much more than that. The testimony described here is not just your confession of faith, but a continual confession of how God is constantly working in your life. It is a recitation of all that God has done and is doing in your life. Satan can’t argue with your testimony, what has happened to you. So when he brings accusations of your failures and fallings, it is your confession of God’s dealings with you and doings through you that counteracts his charges. Your confession enables you to be an overcomer.
But one more element is included in our arsenal to defeat Satan’s assault. We are told for they loved not their lives even unto death. Faith with feet makes us an overcomer. A passive faith is unproductive. Here we see disciples that are willing to die for what they believe. They do not let the cost of discipleship cancel their faith. Their fight for their faith was unto death. Their love for Jesus determined the direction and dealings in their life. They were not willing to give up their commitment to Christ. They were in it regardless. They were unshakable and unstoppable. Their constant and courageous commitment to Christ enabled them to overcome. These three things: the covering of the blood of Jesus, the confessions of our faith, and our constant commitment to Christ made them and makes us overcomers.
Today be the overcomer that doesn’t get overcome. Trust in your covering from Christ, your confession of Christ and your commitment to Christ to lead you to dispel the deception and arrest the accusations that Satan hurls against you. Ask the Lord to help you be the one who defeats Satan, rather than the one who is defeated by Him.
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