We can quote scriptures all day long to each other about being “more than a conqueror” but unless one knows HOW to be such a thing, what good is it.  What is one to more than conquer?  Who is one to conquer?  In what arena is this referring?  Paul wrote this verse in Romans 8.  It was the same Paul who described just some of his ordeals in 2 Corinthians11; why did he not “more than conquer” all those things that made him suffer?

Strong Christians write their personal battles on this site all the time.  They have been taught the Bible and can quote it with the rest of us.  Yet, they are still facing life and death situations which in their minds many times have no clear cut solutions.  Are we to blame them as being a bad Christian because they are not “more than conquering” their personal enemies?  Much of conservative Christianity does just that.

We all fight battles everyday of our lives.  These battles may be in our minds with doubts, fears, anger or bitterness; or they may be physical battles with sickness and disease.  The battles may be with a sour relationship with one’s spouse or parents or children or boss or pastor or neighbor.  The battles may be with the pressure of lack of money to pay bills or the temptation to go after the big bucks through gambling or unethical jobs.  The battles we all face rip us up and tear us apart many times for we are human.

Jesus Christ is our Savior.  He paid the price for all our sin so that we can be reconciled to God and receive the gift of eternal life.  He gave His life to win for us freedom from the penalty of sin which is death.  He now lives in us as the “hope of glory” and has given us the promise that “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.”  Yes, these are wonderful promises to know, but applying them in everyday life is certainly far more difficult than simply memorizing the verse.

John wrote these amazing verses in his first epistle.  In 1 John 5:4,5 it says:

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.

Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

The Greek word for victory is “nike” which means conquest or victory.  The word for overcome is “nikeo” which is the verb form of “nike”.  This word is used 6 times in 1 John and another 12 times in Revelation.  Obviously this is a concept related to the end times. 

Notice what this victory is in reference to.  It is not speaking here in 1 John 5 in reference to the devil, antichrists (as in 1 John 4:4) or other spiritual enemies.  It says the victory is over the world.  And what allows us to receive this victory?  Our faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Please look at the following two verses closely in 1 John 2:13 and 14:

“I write to you fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.  I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one.  I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.  I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you.  And you have overcome the wicked one.”

It is truly very significant that in both verses that which is said about “fathers” is that they have known Him who is from the beginning; “In the beginning, God…”  Isn’t it interesting that in reference to “young men” the statement concerning overcoming the wicked one is put in the past tense?  How have they been able to overcome the wicked one?  Because they are strong and the word of God abides in them. 

It is the strong young men who are to serve in the Lord’s army on the front lines complete with the assurance they have the victory over the wicked one.  The older “fathers” are to simply rest in their experiential knowledge of all God and Jesus are, can do and have done.  The little children know only that the Father God loves them. 

Time and space do not allow me to go into the spiritual significance of these verses other than to say they provide the basic structure for these current hours as far as responsibilities.  Fathers (older believers, both age and maturity) are the commanding officers and elders; the young men who are strong and able to handle the stress and strain of hand to hand combat are the ones who are to be out there daily reaching out to the lost and fighting the enemy at every turn.  The little children are to bask in the Father’s love and concern themselves with love and prayer and compassion.

The verses we saw in chapter 5 were for all believers.  Unlike chapter two, the victory is not over the wicked one but over the world.  There is a huge difference.  What is the world?  1 John 2:16, 17 says:

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Through our faith in Jesus Christ being the Son of God, we have victory over the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.  As far as everything else, we need the young men to rise up and be the great warriors who take on the wicked one, for they have been given the promise of victory.

We can win the battles in our minds, bodies, finances and relationships if we manifest our faith in Jesus Christ.  But, if we veer off course and allow the pollution of this world to corrupt our minds, bodies, finances and relationships; we are in for difficult times for sure.  It is of vital importance in these last times that we put on the truth of God’s Word and allow His pure light to bathe our hearts and minds and give us the rock solid faith upon which we can STAND and see the victory God has promised us.