Your Faith Makes You An Overcomer

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ---1 John 5:4

There is a difference between believing in someone and something and having faith in someone or something. “What?” You may ask. The difference is when you believe, it is all mental. It is kept within your mind or your heart. When you have faith, then you can easily act or do something. Let’s say a child is at the swimming pool with his dad. In his mind, he believes that his dad will catch him when he jumps into the pool. Now the dad is in the water with arms outstretched and the child still believes. He could stand on the edge of the pool and believe all day, but will not exercise his faith. But when he pushes off and flies through the air into the arms of his daddy, that is the true expression of faith. His action indicates faith that his dad will catch him.

Now we can apply that to our thoughts toward God. We can believe that He is our Defender, our Healer, and our Provider all day but we will not see any evidence until we step out and take that plunge into His arms. Scriptures tells us, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) “How do we take the plunge into the arms of an unseen God?” you may ask.

The first step toward faith is to know your God. You know Him by reading about Him in the Bible and seeing how faithful He was in those days. You could pick up books written by and about modern day men and women who have had God prove Himself to them through their own battles and situations. By doing that, you know that God has a history and that He is still alive today and very interested in seeing you through to your victory.

The next step is to express verbally back to God what He has said about you. If we just stay in the book of 1 John, we can speak back to God what the Word says. For example: You can say, “If I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleans me from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Then tell the Lord where you know you missed the mark and sinned. Then you can meditate on then speak to the Lord this from 1 John 2:20, “I have an anointing from the Holy One, and I know all things.” You know things because the Greater One is in you, the Holy Spirit. He has come to teach, counsel and convict of sin. Let Him rule in your life.

Then acknowledge that there is an enemy that has been deceiving you and wants to destroy you. Read 1 John 3:8, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.” We must run from the devil when he sets traps, enticements and lures to ensnare us to keep us from the destiny that God has designed for us. Jesus has destroyed his works so his biggest tool is deception.

Speak this verse in the first person, 1 John 4:4: “I am of God and have overcome them (the antichrist) because He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.” Then got to 1 John 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” So, you have been speaking your confession which is expressing your faith in a God that will fight for you, defend you, protect and provide for you.

Lastly, although you may not see immediate results such as a miraculous healing or instant job, go ahead and thank God for hearing your prayer. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14) We will know His will when we know His Word and His heart. Pray that you will increase in knowledge through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and you will see your victory.

Confession: My victory rests in the knowledge of God, my expressing His Word back to Him and thanking Him even before I see the evidence of my victory.