The Overcomer

Rev 12:11 NKJV - "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”

I love this verse found in Revelation chapter 12.  Satan, the accuser of the brethren has been cast down and salvation and the Kingdom of God have come down as well as the power of Christ.  How wonderful that is and what an attitude of praise comes to our spirit when we understand the victory we have in Jesus.  There are two aspects of this verse that really stand out and speak to me.

One is the “blood of the Lamb.”  It is only by the blood of Christ that we can be overcomers.  True overcomers have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and we are forgiven and washed by the blood that was shed for us on the Cross.  It is the greatest victory and the most wonderous truth that we have been forgiven of all that we have ever done and all that we will do in falling short of God’s perfect standard.  The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and takes our sin away.  It does not just cover our sin like the Old Testament sacrifices, which merely provided more proximity with God Almighty, but it removes our sin and allows us to have communion and oneness and fellowship with God Almighty.  In Christ we overcome, are washed, set free, made holy, and even are being conformed into His glorious image.

The second aspect is our responsibility in being redeemed and being an overcomer.  Did you note we overcame by the “blood of the Lamb and by the word of (our) testimony”?  Now that we have been forgiven, now that we are recipients of His grace and redemption, there is a responsibility to experience Him in a beautiful relationship and share that experience with others.  You and I can be an overcomer in the arena of sharing our faith by simply sharing our testimony.  We simply need to share with others what God has done for us through His Son Jesus.  The blind man in John chapter 9 shared his testimony with the Pharisees who were asking him about being healed.  The man, who was now looking at the Pharisees for the first time in his life and perhaps marveling at the ability to see their mouths and faces move when speaking, simply told them that he was once blind and now he sees because of what Jesus did.  He then gives them an opportunity to become a disciple of Jesus as well.

How simple it is to be an overcomer!  We should not be nervous when sharing with others, but bold as a lion in letting others know what Jesus has done for us.  It starts with considering what Jesus has done for you.  Has He saved and forgiven you?  Has He brought healing to your body or restored a relationship that was once broken and damaged?  Perhaps He has answered a prayer or given you hope or even peace when everything in your world was collapsing.

In being obedient to the Great Commission of sharing the Good News of Jesus with others, we can move forward in strength because we are redeemed and we can share our testimony.  Not only are people reluctant to argue with you about your personal experience and relationship with Jesus, they actually want to know how your faith works out practically in your life.

I encourage you to evaluate what Jesus has done in your life and then pray for the opportunity to share that with others.  You will be both amazed and blessed in being obedient to Jesus and giving others the invitation of following Jesus as well.

PD