JOHN 16:33

In our recently concluded Ladies Enrichment Weekend, the theme was “We are Overcomers and Conquerors.” What a blessing it was for us to be powerfully reminded of who we are again in Christ Jesus. It was an amazing weekend as it seems as if the theme resonated with the many hundreds of sisters who excitedly gathered to worship Jesus and to encourage each other to positively stand against all odds.

The truth is, if the enemy can get us to deny and disavow who we are, he will indeed score many victories against us and repeatedly wreak much havoc in our lives. The saints must know who they are and must constantly resist any effort to make them see themselves as less than who they really are. Who we are has already been decreed and unalterably declared by our commander-in-chief Himself. May we always keep in mind that in Christ the enemy’s claims have all been rendered null and void. All the enemy’s charges against us have been vetoed. If only we can truly see ourselves as whom He has announced and pronounced us to be.

In John 16:33 some of these incontrovertible truths are reinforced. The passage culminates with these awe-inspiring words – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Despite all the cataclysmic confusion prophesied to transpire upon the earth, Jesus speaks about an unsurpassable, overwhelming peace that shall characterize the real followers of Jesus. Our response to inevitable tribulations is not distress and despair but according to the words of Jesus we maintain cheerfulness and keep in mind that He has overcome the world!

We are not losers and victims! We are overcomers and conquerors! We perennially live on victory side. We even shout through trials and temptations! We can never forget that when Jesus died, three days later He got up just like He said (John 2:19). He walked through death. He came through victoriously! Sometimes we are tempted to forget that we are the people of the resurrection! Not even death! Not even death can stop us! Much less sickness! Much less troubles, trials, temptations and afflictions! We go down but we come up! We sink but we also rise! We falter but we triumph! We fall down but we get up! We weep but we also sing! We never forget joy comes in the morning.

The thought keeps coming back to me that we are the people who stand in cemeteries and sing “No grave shall hold my body down!” We unashamedly join the apostle Paul and jeer “O death, where is thy sting, O grave where is thy victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55). I keep reminding myself and you, this church is not a funeral society. We take marching bands to the cemetery! We so triumph! We bring tambourines to church. We celebrate Sunday after Sunday and all during the week – Jesus is risen! We constantly reaffirm that Satan is the loser! We got up singing today. We run through troops and leap over walls (Psalm 18:29). We don’t back down! We fight and win! We are no longer bound! We are overcomers and more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). How the devil must hate Sundays! We come back every Sunday to celebrate victory!