Prisoner to Prime Minister

How to be an Overcomer! – 1 John 4:4-6

Intro:  Today I will sharing from one of my favourite and most quoted verses.  There is so much truth in this passage this morning.  My prayer is that I will be able share its truths properly in a simple but effective manner.

You dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

     This scripture is a pivotal scripture and has many applications.  There are four truths

      Will look at here. 

1.  The first is that the readers are of God. Anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as

     Their Lord and Saviour is of God.  As children of God we have inheritance,

     Promises and assurance.

a.  Mt 5:9, says that children of God have peacemaking ability.

b.  In Luke 20:36, Jesus calls us the children of the resurrection.

c.  1 John 3:20 reminds us that the children of God do what is right and love one

    Another.

2.  The second truth is that child of God or the devil, have to masters either God or the

     Devil.   Those of God; however have the great advantage of having the Holy Spirit

      Living inside them.

3.  The third truth is that we are overcomes.  Rev 2 & 3 reveal the rewards of the

     Over comer.  But first, what are the characteristics of an overcome?

a. An overcomer refuses to quit, is faithful, obedient, courageous, willing to take

    Direction, counsel and guidance, listen to orders, humble, when knock down gets up

    And trusts in God.

b. There is a sevenfold reward that is given to the over comer.

1.  The privilege of eating from the tree of life.  Rev 2:7

2.  A new name.  Rev 2:17

3.  Authority.  Rev 2:26

4.  Robes of Righteousness.  Rev 2:35

5.  A memorial pillar   Rev 3:2

6.  Enthronement.  Rev 3:21

7.  An eternal inheritance.  Rev 21:7

4.  The fourth truth of this verse is that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the

     World.  You have the power, victory, ability, to defeat the world, the flesh and the

     Devil.  You have God Himself as a resident in you heart and life.  You win church

     In every battle when you remember this.  When you pray, share God’s truth, exercise

     Your authority and put on the armour of God.  This shows the limitations of satan.

    

They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world and the world listens to them. 

1.  John talks candidly and honestly about false spirits and teachers.  They are of the

     World.  Their info, reasoning processes, thoughts, attitudes, priorities, philosophy

     And words are from the world.

2.  They speak from the viewpoint of the world.  Their logic, point of view is from man’s

     Ideas and concepts.  North America has over 350 cults who based their beliefs on the

     Bible. 

3.  They world will listen to them.  All world religions have moral truth to them.  They

      Also appeal to mankind because everyone of them allows men to work their way to

      Heaven. Christianity is different because it is clear that Jesus Christ is the only way to

     God and that accepted of His provision is the only condition for heaven.  Man cannot

     work his way to heaven or merit acceptance through some sacrifice or great work. 

     You must accept Jesus and received it by faith. 

We are from God and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.  This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

1.  John says that those who are of God listen to the truth of God’s word.  They are

     Anxious to learn and receive it.  The characteristics of those who listen are

     receptivity, desire to learn, teach ability, childlike faith, humility and willingness. 

2.  Those who are not of God refuse to listen to men and woman of God talking about

      The Bible, Jesus Christ and Christianity.  With John it is black and white.  As the

      Last of the apostles, as one of the three pillars of the church named by Paul.  John saw

      It as his duty and responsibility to keep the church of the second century on track. 

3.   This John says is how you tell the difference between the Spirit of truth and the

      Spirit of falsehood. 

So in summary this is how we test the spirit and false teachers.

1.  If  the spirit or teacher must acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh.  Jesus is the

     Perfect balance of humanity and deity.

2.  That Jesus came from God.  That He is the Son of God.  God with a face.  The

      Logos.

3.  Those that are false spirits or teachers speak from the viewpoint of the world and

      The World listens and accepts them. 

4.  Those of the truth listen and hear Godly teaching.

5.  Simple, honest, forthright, truthful.  So church now you know.