The following is an article I wrote a year ago. Writing this article released something in me as I wrote it and became a foundation of much of what is in my heart today. I am reproducing it here because I feel that it's message is vital and foundational in this hour.
"...in me you have peace.
In the world you shall have tribulation;
but be of good cheer,
I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
The words of Jesus quoted above highlight two entirely different realities. “...in me you have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation..." The contrast is striking and reveals the reason why many tonight are rejoicing, while so many others find themselves in the grip of despair and fear. It all comes down to focus.
This is not to say that a disciple of Jesus should deny that he or she is experiencing difficulties? This is a fact of life and Jesus does not shy away from it. He, without apology, states that in this world Christians will experience trouble, but in the same breath commands His disciples to "be of good cheer."
How is this to be done? Is it possible to be of good cheer even when we are experiencing tribulation or life threatening circumstances? For the believer in Jesus, absolutely, by not becoming obsessed with our troubles, nor finding our identity in them. Rather, we must be focused upon the greater reality created by the impact of the life of Christ. We are to be of good cheer because Christ has overcome the world and our own personal victory is wrapped up in His. The second truth trumps the ugly reality. The perfect storm may be raging around us but God has called His people into the eye of the storm, the place of total peace as we focus upon Him who has overcome the world.
But what does it mean that Christ has overcome the world? The Greek word nikao, translated "overcome," means to prevail over, to conquer to vanquish or to be the victor. The sporting equipment corporation giant, Nike, gets its name from this Greek word. Nike means victory. Nikao is the verb form of the same word and it means that there has been a conflict that produced a clear winner.
So what does this word mean in the mouth of Jesus? When Jesus stated that He had overcome the world, He was speaking of the world's systems rooted in rebellion and unrighteousness and death. Jesus has simply stated that He has engaged in warfare against the system that rules this earth and defeated it. He has not been caught up in it, compromised by it, or been taken captive to its rule. Rather, He has taken the high ground, gotten an upper hand, taken dominion of the conflict and changed the core nature of everything.
He has rendered the world’s systems obsolete and replaced them with another reality, the
How did He do this? In a word, it was through submission. He was “born of woman, born under the law that He might redeem those who were under the law...." Galatians 4:4, 5. He refused to bend to the pressures of this world, submitting to God, to the law, and to His mother and father. When the prophetic voice of John the Baptist was heard in the wilderness, Jesus submitted to it and was baptized. The Spirit of God came upon Him and compelled Him into the desert for His final crucial test before launching into His ministry. Again He submitted and there He encountered Satan, the prince of this world. He resisted his temptations and scorned his offer of partnership. Instead, He bound Himself to His Father's will, established through obedience the Father's word, sealed His obedience with His own blood at the cross, and died, still loving, still caring, still forgiving, still trusting, still raising the standard of true righteousness to the very end.
And when He announced that he was finished, it truly was finished and the earth shook, and to the old order was delivered a death blow. Therein He released a power that shook and continues to shake everything that can be shaken and bending the kingdoms of this world to Himself.
"The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ
and he shall reign forever and ever." Revelation 11:15
In other words, Christ has tapped the root of the global rebellion through a life of submission, broken into its nerve center, hacked into its mainframe computer and released a virus of judgment that shall not relent nor be aborted until the world system is utterly incapacitated. The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 1:17 Christ has defeated at the root level everything opposed to God, everything opposed to His will, and everything opposed to His design. It is finished!
He has overcome the world. Christ has had his day in court. The verdict has been rendered in favor of Jesus. His blood has been sprinkled on the heavenly alter and been accepted. His witness is vindicated in the courts of heaven and His decisions are being enforced. There is no more argument. There is no rebuttal. There can be no overturning of the court's decision. Therefore let all the house of
He has overcome the world. He has changed the guiding principles upon which the earth is established. He has written a new constitution. His life has established a new order and a new law, the law of liberty, and that new law has become the new center of gravity for the nations, whether they realize it or not. Jesus Christ has raised a standard and it has become the plumb line for the nations and the gravitational pull of His moral excellence shall cause every tribe, tongue and people to align with Him.
"Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end." Isaiah 9:7
Therefore, since the victory of Jesus has become the new ultimate reality and released the
Inevitably the old gets jealous. Is there trouble in this world for the Christian? Absolutely and the reason is that this world is desperately trying to hold onto a life that is doomed to come to nothing. We who are followers of the new order, the new creation, not only testify to Jesus’ resurrection, power and relevance in this life, but we are also part of that trumpet sound signaling to the world that its days are numbered. We live in this world but we do not participate in its dying nature. We are a testimony to its defeat because we are alive in Christ and with increasing measure the laws governing this age do not affect us. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2
Christ does not deny the reality of conflict. He simply states that the decisive blow has already been delivered and that His people must reflect that irrevocable change. He insists that His followers align themselves with His victory- Be of good cheer... for our cheerfulness is part of His victory. Our hope is a sign of His conquest.
How does one know that he or she is starting to grow up into the maturity of Christ? Answer: When our emotions no longer align with outward circumstances but with the inner witness of the Spirit of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The scriptures prophetically state about Jesus, "He will not fail nor become discouraged till he has established justice in the earth." Isaiah 42:4. Outwardly things can look very bad. Inwardly our Spirit man is telling us that God has everything under control and that the Kingdom is abounding, expanding, immeasurably, irresistibly, abundantly. When the voice of circumstances is in conflict with the testimony of the Spirit, our soul must align itself with the Spirit.
The mature in Christ have taken their stand with the Lord! "Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
Let us all join this company of overcomers. Let us rejoice this day in Christ the Lord...
For He has overcome the world!
Wow dad, this is really encouraging! It is so easy to become discouraged, even in the instance of the missionaries in Haiti, but Christ has overcome there too. Thank you for posting it.
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