The Overcoming Life

1 John 4:4, 18; 5:4

First John Series

INTRODUCTION:

No born losers in God’s Family

1. Believers are equipped to win
2. Divine resources are ours for every battle
3. There really is victory in Jesus.

Facing three powerful enemies

1. Spiritual adversaries
2. Recurring anxieties
3. The world’s allurements

We Can Overcome

I. OVERCOMING OUR ADVERSARIES (4:4)

A. Spiritual adversaries are always active (vv. 1-3)

1. Speaking through false prophets (v. 1)

2. The spirit of antichrist (v. 3)

B. Our adversaries are deceptive and powerful

1. “The wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11)

2. “Principalities and powers” (Eph. 6:12)

3. The rulers of the darkness of this world (Eph. 6:12)

C. Why we can overcome these powerful adversaries.

1. The One in us is greater

2. The Holy Spirit is the one in us (John 14:16-17)

3. The believer’s body is God’s temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

D. Expect to overcome.

II. OVERCOMING OUR ANXIETIES (4:18)

A. “There is no fear in love”

1. Responding to God’s love brings faith

2. Faith and fear are opposites

B. “Perfect love casteth out fear”

1. Knowing we care loved makes us unafraid.

2. This perfect love brought Jesus to the cross.

3. Saving love is also keeping love

C. Fear brings torment.

D. God’s perfect love brings tranquility

1. Stop being tormented by fear

2. We overcome fear by resting in His perfect love.

III. OVERCOMING OUR ALLUREMENTS (5:4)

A. We are born again through faith in Christ (v. 1)

B. New birth equips us to overcome

C. The world holds many allurements (2:16)

1. The lust of the flesh

2. The lust of the eyes

3. The pride of life

D. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

CONCLUSION:

Rewards for overcomes:

Rev. 2:11

Rev. 2:17

Rev. 2:26

Rev. 3:5

Rev. 3:12

Rev. 3:21

A call to commitment for those who long to overcome.