Those Who Had Conquered

Scripture: And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. Revelation 15:2

Observation: Before the 7 final judgments fall, John sees a large group in heaven standing by a sea of glass. These are the ones who conquered the beast. Satan may have conquered them through death, but they have conquered him by life after death, through the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony (Rev. 12:11). They get the last laugh because they get to see Satan’s ultimate and permanent defeat.

Application: Why does it say they had conquered instead of the more religiously correct, “Christ conquered through them?” Is there some power or victory we get to have? I know that whatever the victory was, it was not achieved through their own willpower or discipline, but by the blood of the lamb and the words of their testimony. How can I rely on these two things so I can also be a conqueror in my life?

Prayer: God, you have been speaking to me this last month about overcoming. This is not a language I feel comfortable using. But open me up to your word, especially verses like Revelation 15:2. Help me to receive all you want me to know and learn about conquering and victory over darkness in my life and others.

His Time Is Short--Yet Still He Fights

Scripture: Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 12:17

Observation: Revelation 12 pulls back the curtain on a conflict that has raged from before creation between Christ and Satan. Satan rebelled against God but was defeated and cast out so that there was no longer any place for him in heaven. But he lost more than that. He lost his power to accuse believers because when he accuses, we overcome him with the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. So, having lost his battle to overthrow Christ, and having lost his power to successfully accuse Christ’s followers, he furiously makes war on believers—those who obey God and believe Christ. He does this because his time is short. This war, while real, is the desperate act of a losing man.

Application:

1. Satan’s war against me is real.
2. He will lose this war, for we will overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.
3. My only defense against Satan is not tough words or ignoring him, but holding fast to Jesus.

Prayer: God, this war is real and rages even now, though I cannot see it. Give me perception to see Satan’s hand at work. Thank you for reminding me today to retreat behind the blood of the lamb, and of my need to hold to the testimony of Jesus. I proclaim you as the overcomer in my life. Thanks for fighting in my place.

We Have Overcome

Scripture: Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. I John 4:4

Observation: We have overcome. The bible also tells us we will overcome, we are commanded to overcome, and we will be rewarded if we overcome.

Application: There are 2 boys in our neighborhood that are the terrors of our street. No one knows where the parents are—rumors fly about jail, drugs, who knows what. These kids are on a course of destruction and defeat.
My first thought was protecting my kids from them. Overcoming meant that I could pray and these kids would be defeated. But these two boys are not the ones in the world we are to overcome. The real enemy is Satan, who has a hold of their lives and desires to steal, kill, and destroy them. Maybe overcoming does not mean defeating them, but proclaiming that God desires to prevail in their situation, to redirect the trajectory of their life? Can we love on and reach out to and share with these boys in the name of Jesus? Can we pray and seek God to overcome the one in them who has been defeated by God. Can we be overcomers in these boys’ lives?

Prayer: God, help me believe I am an overcomer. That the one in me is greater than the one in the world and I can stand strong and proclaim victory over the evil of the world. That I would overcome evil with good. These boys desperately need someone to overcome in their lives—that person is you who is greater than the one who is in the world. Show me how I can love them and overcome with them.