The Key to Being an Overcomer

by Tony Evans

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? – 1 John 5:4-5

Our study today is about independence. I call it spiritual independence. If you have named the name of Christ as your only God and Savior, you have declared independence from the rule of sin and Satan over your life. You have been set free. As Colossians 1:13 tells us, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” Even though you have been legally set free from the reign of sin in your life, Satan does not want you to be experientially set free. See, it’s one thing to have a status of freedom; it’s another thing entirely to experience it. Our focus over the next few weeks will be on walking you into the full realization and experience of spiritual freedom. Jesus Christ, through the apostle John, wrote a message to the seven churches of Asia Minor where He addresses this concept in multiple ways. Throughout the book of Revelation, the number seven comes up regularly. We read there are:

• Seven churches (1:4, 11, 20)

• Seven golden lampstands (1:12-13, 20; 2:1)

• Seven stars (1:16, 20; 2:1; 3:1)

• Seven spirits (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6)

• Seven lamps (4:5)

• Seven seals (5:1, 5)

• Seven horns (5:6)

These are just a few of the mentions of seven in Revelation. There are many more. The number seven in the Bible is the number of completeness and fullness. When the number seven is used, it often means things have reached their full expression. It is also the number often used to signify perfection. When we see Jesus writing to these seven churches, we can infer that He wants them to be complete, fulfilled and not lacking. Therefore, He gives them a series of messages cumulatively arriving at the number seven as though to say if you overcome in these seven areas, you will have overcome completely and perfectly.

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

Colossians 1:13.

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

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