Christ Has Overcome the World
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
As Christians, we have a dual existence. We are in Christ and we are in this world. On the one hand, we have the peace and joy of the Lord. On the other hand, we experience the hostility of the world. That’s because the world system is the enemy of God. Our enemy Satan controls the world. The world rejected Jesus’ message and ministry. Nevertheless, Jesus won the victory over the world, for He has overcome the world.
One of Jesus’ most repeated statements of encouragement is “Be of good cheer.” It means “Cheer up!” The Lord warned us that trouble will come. So, when trouble shows up do not succumb to your fears. Instead of going around telling people about your troubles be of good cheer. You are in Christ, and Christ has overcome the world. That means you have also overcome the world.
Although safely hidden away in Christ, you are still in the world. The world will persecute and abuse you. It hates you, and it wants to overcome you. The world wants to conform you to its system. It does not want you to be different. But be of good cheer! You have overcome the world. The Bible says, “Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).
Jesus Has Overcome Sin
When the people heard that Jesus was in Capernaum, the whole town came out to listen to Him preach. In Matthew 9, the Bible says four men brought their paralytic friend to Jesus for healing. But they could not get near Him because of so many people. So, they broke through the roof of the house where He was preaching to let down the bed on which their friend was lying. Remarkably, Jesus would forgive the man’s sins since he came for healing. But Jesus knew this man’s sickness resulted from sin, and he needed to know that God had forgiven him.
Unforgiven sin could be stopping you from receiving your healing or breaking that addiction. If you need healing or you are trying to overcome an addiction or break a bad habit, ask God to help you. Instead of dwelling on that bad habit or your addiction, be of good cheer. Go to God and tell Him about your problem. Don’t be ashamed to tell Him that you messed up.
When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he hid from God. He said he hid because he was afraid. When we sin, we do the same thing that Adam did: we hide from God. The reason we hide is that sin makes us feel unworthy to approach God. Sin makes us afraid of God. But be of good cheer! Christ has overcome the world. By faith in Christ, know that your sins are forgiven.
Cheer Up! Death is Defeated
A ruler of the synagogue named Jairus came to Jesus asking Him to heal his twelve-year-old daughter. While Jesus went on the way to heal Jairus’ daughter, He was interrupted by a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years. The woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed immediately of her sickness. Jesus told the woman that her faith had made her well and Jairus heard Him. While Jesus was still speaking, one of Jairus’ servants came and told him his daughter had died. But when Jesus heard it, He said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”
When they arrived at the house everyone was gathered around wailing and crying for Jairus’ daughter. Jesus told the people to stop crying, for the girl was not dead, but sleeping. But they began to laugh at Him. Jesus went in and put everyone out of the house except Peter, James, John, and the girl’s father and mother. He took the girl by the hand and commanded her to arise. And immediately her spirit returned and she sat up (Luke 8:49-56; Mark 9:18-25).
When you encounter a situation that seems impossible, don’t be afraid; only believe, and everything will turn out fine.
Father God, my prayer today is that I will walk in victory. I pray that You surround me with Your peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding, I pray that You guard my heart and mind against the evil one. I am confident that no weapon formed against me will prosper. Although the world may come against me and trouble may surround me, I thank You that no harm will come upon me, for I have overcome the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.