I am sure you are troubled by the condition of our nation. Our moral free-fall continues with political corruption, media dishonesty, and lawlessness rampant across the country.
Furthermore, the relentless advance of Marxist secularism threatens to push the country even deeper into ungodliness and chaos. We ought to be concerned, but more importantly we need to come to grips with the expectation of our Lord as we live in this hour.
The Lord Jesus expects his church to be overcomers. As you know, the church is comprised of a people called out of the world. Spiritually speaking believers are not of the world. Thus, while the world embraces a growing defiance of God, we cannot go with them. It is in this sense we must overcome the world. Said another way, we must not bow down to the pressure of the world and abandon faithfulness to Christ and his word.
Of course, current cultural challenges to the will of God are nothing new. Each past generation of believers faced their own temptations to accommodate the world. However, this is our hour, and we must not succumb to the current challenges no matter how intense the conflict appears to us. Rather, we must maintain obedience and loyalty to Christ.
Let me hasten to make another important point. As we stand for Christ it does not necessarily follow that a Christian consensus will govern society. Whether we are in the majority or not, and whether we have influence in government or not, we must overcome the spirit of the world which invites us to compromise the gospel and to capitulate to moral confusion.
Our victory is not necessarily obtaining the upper hand in government, or society at large. In fact, the victory our Savior speaks of in today’s text does not look like victory at all in the natural. The world seems to prevail, but alas at the end of the day our Lord has a people who are faithful to him even unto death itself!
I pray the Lord will open our eyes to this high calling in Christ Jesus. We are called to reject the spirit of the world and remain faithful to Christ regardless of the cost.
Consider the following ways in which we overcome the spirit of the world.
First, we confess Christ without compromise. We reject the idolatry of our time that seeks to make our Lord just another insignificant choice on an ever growing a la carte of generic spirituality.
Next, while the world mocks the teaching of Holy Scripture, we reject the invitation to join them. We will continue to honor the authority of Holy Scripture despite the compromisers and blasphemers who rail against the holy word of God.
Next, we will continue to lift the holy standards of morality that glorify God and lead us into a life of greater prosperity and peace. Furthermore, we will continue to teach our children the faith once for all delivered to the saints despite the world’s resistance and despite a growing intolerance for the freedom to do so.
In a word, we will not succumb to the spirit of the world. Rather, we will overcome the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. We will overcome with faithful obedience to Christ. And we will do so regardless of how the world treats us. This is what it means to be an overcomer!
As we read the various verses below my intent is to show that Christ clearly indicates we are in a conflict with a world system that opposes Christianity. Consequently, the Lord Jesus identifies true believers as those who overcome and refuse to deny his name.
I think true believers across our land need this message today. We are not to be discouraged by the current spiritual condition of our nation. Alarmed, yes. Discouraged, no! If our mission is to “save America,” then we would be very discouraged. However, if our priority is to be an overcomer and remain faithful to Christ, then let us take heart and live out a truly spirit-filled life that overcomes the spirit of this world.
In so doing, perhaps it will please the Lord to preserve our nation in freedom. However, like the three Hebrew children of old, whether our culture repents and turns from its sin and idolatry we need to serve notice on this world that we will not bow to their false gods, nor will we ever deny the exclusive salvation found only in the name of Jesus.
Text: Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:24-28; 3:4-5; 3:9-12; 3:20-21.
We come first to Revelation 2:7 which says,
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
Do you realize a decision to follow Christ means one must overcome the love of the world in his own heart? This is very real at the point of decision. This battle manifests especially in adults who did not yield to Christ in their early years. I assure you of this: you either have a growing love for Christ, or you have a growing love of this world. Those who do not receive Christ in their youth naturally develop a deep love of this world.
In fact, this is the stronghold that keeps many from a personal relationship with the Lord. Those in this spiritual condition must overcome the power the world holds on their heart. With that said, remember no lost man saves himself. Rather, the goodness of God through the power of the gospel leads us to salvation.
Yet, at the point of decision a break with the world occurs. The heart of a repentant man turns to Christ. Christ becomes his treasure, not the world! The surrendered heart of one who trusts Christ overcomes the wicked one (1 John 2:13). Indeed, Satan offers the world with its temporal pleasures and power, but whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4).
Look again at the promise of Jesus to the overcomer who breaks with the world:
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.” This is another promise of eternal life. The destiny of those who break with the world and choose Christ is heaven where the tree of life is in eternal bloom. Amen!
Now we come to Revelation 2:11 in which Jesus says:
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
Do you understand the meaning of the second death? As you may recall, the second death speaks of eternal separation from the Father in a place of eternal retribution for sin. Those who overcome shall not be touched by the second death.
As you engage these words, please keep the usage of the word overcome in its proper context. Our Lord is speaking. He, of course, is the Savior and he knows his work on the cross is the only means of salvation. It is our faith in Christ that saves us, but in these seven instances in which Jesus speaks of overcoming, the practical reality of a break with the world is in view.
Remember this: it is Jesus OR the world; it is NOT both. In one sense, the call to salvation is a call to get up and leave your Egypt and choose Christ over the world. The example of Moses in Hebrews chapter eleven illustrates this vital point:
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” (Heb. 11:24-26).
Indeed, he that overcomes the spirit of the world chooses Christ. Such are born of God, their faith in Christ thus overcoming the world’s invitation to travel the broad road that leads to destruction. Thank God, he that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death!
Now we come to our Lord’s next statement in Revelation 2:17 which says:
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
Our Lord’s words in this verse speak about the personal relationship believers possess with Christ. Remember this: Christianity is a personal relationship to Christ. Christianity is NOT a system of works by which we attempt to please God and gain acceptance with him. Rather, in Christ God provided for our salvation. Thus, one must trust in Christ alone for acceptance in the sight of God.
Trusting in Christ is polar opposite of a world lying in spiritual darkness. Receiving the Spirit of Christ immediately puts one at odds with the spirit of the world. This reality plays out in the experience of a believer in more than one way. However, Jesus promises to give “of the hidden manna” to those who overcome.
In the gospel of John our Lord makes a statement that sheds light on the meaning of hidden manna. Jesus says, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode (home) with him.”
The close, personal fellowship with the Father as we feed upon Christ is hidden
manna to a world which knows nothing of our intimacy with the Lord. Those who confess Christ have overcome the world and are feasting on manna from above!
Besides the promise of hidden manna now, the Lord promises to give his redeemed a new name. This new name unique to each of his people is a prize that promises to be a special joy in eternity to come. This new name will communicate something personal to his redeemed. Without doubt, this name will rejoice the heart of believers as it reveals our Lord’s personal love for each of us. In heaven we will not be a number in a crowd. The Lord will know his sheep by name, a new name that helps fit us for eternal glory with Christ.
Now look at Revelation 2:25-29 which says:
“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”
The message to the church at Thyatira of which these verses are a part, bring to light another very real issue for the overcoming church. We must overcome an apostate church which is very much a part of this world. The apostate church embraces unbelief, thus committing spiritual fornication with the world.
The pressure on the authentic church to give up the truth of God’s word is unrelenting today. Much of that pressure comes from apostates within the visible church. However, Jesus says to “hold fast till I come.” In other words, Jesus is saying, “Do not succumb to the spirit of the world, rather maintain your stand for the truth of my word.” Such loyalty and obedience to Christ overcomes the spirit of error, or the spirit of antichrist, and remains faithful to the cause of Christ.
This word from our Lord goes beyond the point of initial conversion in which the new believer makes a break with the world. Rather it speaks to persevering and thus continually overcoming the spirit of the world in the spiritual battle for truth.
Note the promise of Jesus that believers who overcome the invitation of the spirit of the world to compromise the truth will exercise delegated authority over the nations. We will reign alongside Christ to put down all rule and authority.
You should resolve now to overcome any drift into the world. Believers are not called to get along with a lost world by accommodating unbelief, be it in the world or in the apostate church. Rather we are empowered by the Spirit of Christ living within us to stand against the darkness by proclaiming the truth.
Now look with me at chapter three, verses 4 and 5 which say:
“Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
Here we see the very clear connection between overcoming and a genuine salvation experience. Again, I must emphasize that our Lord has not changed the plan of salvation as he speaks to the visible church in Revelation chapters two and three. Far from it. Our Lord is the Savior and all who trust him for salvation possess eternal life just as he promised (Cf. John 3:16-18; 5:24; 10:27-28).
However, everything that flies under the banner of Christianity is not authentic. The tares have been sown amongst the wheat. Unregenerate practitioners of nominal Christianity abound. Furthermore, rank unbelief (apostasy) has proliferated through-out much of the visible church.
While the situation may look quite bleak, like Sardis of old there remains a few who have not defiled their garments. This language speaks of faithfulness to Christ. Such faithful believers demonstrate the work of the Spirit in their hearts. Authentic believers are born of the Spirit and subsequently follow the Holy Spirit into a life of practical righteousness (Romans 6:13).
Empowered by new life in Christ, those born of the Spirit overcome the spirit of the world. They refuse to travel the broad road that leads to destruction. The break with the spirit of the world manifests in faithfulness to Christ. In this context such believers are worthy to walk with the Lord Jesus dressed in white! Indeed, those who overcome (that is, they live out the reality of genuine faith in Christ) shall be clothed in white raiment and their names shall never be blotted out of the book of life!
Now look with me at chapter three verses eleven and twelve:
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”
It seems to me our Lord is emphatically driving home the whole point of his messages to the churches in this statement to the church at Philadelphia. Again, he says to “hold fast.” Stand your ground. Do not lose the reward I am planning for your faithfulness. Overcome!!
My friends, we must not disappoint our Lord. His expectation is that we overcome the invitation of this world to compromise the truth. While authentic believers certainly do overcome the spirit of the world, there is nonetheless the possibility of losing one’s crown for disappointing compromise.
I could site a number of specific examples in which otherwise faithful believers succumb to compromise in order to avoid conflict with the world. Be careful my friend. You must one day stand before your Lord. Shall you be ashamed at his coming? Shall you suffer loss of reward when you stand before your Savior? Shall you experience his displeasure over your compromise with the spirit of the world?
The apostle Paul makes a statement that sheds light on this potential problem in the lives of genuine believers. He says in the book of Galatians:
“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.”
How often are we tempted to go along with the spirit of the world lest we suffer persecution? We certainly need to rebuke any attempt on the part of the spirit of this world to dilute the gospel of Christ or to dilute the authority of God’s word regardless of persecution. As well, we must not avoid conversations about right and wrong just to escape persecution (Cf. Matthew 5:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:12).
Now notice how our Lord exalts the overcomer. He promises to make him a pillar in the temple of my God, to write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, and to write upon him a new name given by Jesus himself. Wow!
Do you get the point that our Lord values the overcomer? Determine now to stand for Christ and to live out the will of God before a watching world. Those who do so not only belong to the Lord but will be honored by him on that great day when we all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
Finally, we come to our Lord’s word to the church of Laodicea. Let’s look at verses 20-21:
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Please note the words, “Even as I also overcame.” May I ask you a few questions: When Jesus was here, did he lead a political campaign and get his candidate elected? No. So, I guess he failed. Did Jesus lead a public campaign to push back the hideous practices of the Roman government of his day? No. So, I guess he failed. After three years of public ministry had Jesus pushed back all the immorality and false spirituality of his day with great revival flooding the nation of Israel? No. So, I guess he failed. I trust you see the point.
So, just how did he overcome? My friends, he overcame the spirit of this world by doing his Father’s will. In fact, he had to rebuke his own disciples who thought the cross was a picture of defeat. When Peter rebuked the Lord saying it was not appropriate for him to even think about dying, Jesus immediately said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan: thou art an offense unto me; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
My friends, like our Savior we must overcome the spirit of a world that has no interest in doing the will of God. And when we focus on personal obedience and loyalty to the Lord, we are victorious even if we are persecuted unto death.
The Laodicean church rebuked by Jesus in Revelation 3:14-22 very much savored the things that be of men, and not the things that be of God. They sank down into a non-confrontational attitude toward the world. The deceitfulness of riches choked them, and they became unfruitful. Beware of riches! Once a church or individual tastes a greater measure of prosperity it is very easy to adopt the spirit of the world.
For one thing, standing for Christ becomes more difficult for fear of losing those riches. Furthermore, a greater measure of prosperity tends to foster the pursuit of acceptance with the world. We desire the world acknowledge our place alongside them. Instead of the natural confrontation with the world that occurs as we remain faithful to the gospel of Christ and the will of God, the church begins to settle down into complacency and compromise.
Once infected with the spirit of the world a church or individual can no longer see things clearly. They think of themselves as being rich and in need of nothing, but alas as Jesus says they are wretched, miserable, blind, naked, and poor!
Unfortunately, this describes much of the visible church in America today. We think we are doing well even though we have lost the fire of obedience to Christ. Too many simply do not want to be out of step with the world. Living for Christ in the view of these modern day Laodiceans simply costs too much.
Perhaps those overtaken by the spirit of the world can yet escape the snare of the enemy and repent. Perhaps some of these professed believers are authentic and can experience a new day of obedience as they come out of the world and shake off conformity to the world. Certainly, the Lord Jesus is calling his own to be overcomers.
However, many who think of themselves as Christians lack the new birth and need to be awakened to their true condition before the Lord. Except they overcome the spirit of the world they are destined to die in their miserable, wretched, blind, poor, and naked state.
Seven times in Revelation chapters two and three the Lord Jesus speaks of overcoming the spirit of the world. This is his resounding message to the churches. Within the visible church there resides a people who are overcomers. They love the Lord Jesus and refuse to deny his name. They refuse conformity to the world and are not afraid to suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness. They possess an undivided loyalty to the Lord Jesus and reject the spirit of the world that lures them into unfaithfulness to Christ.
In conclusion hear our Lord again: TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH! TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH! HEAR THE WORDS OF THE SON OF GOD AND MARCH ON! BE AN OVERCOMER!!
Furthermore, the relentless advance of Marxist secularism threatens to push the country even deeper into ungodliness and chaos. We ought to be concerned, but more importantly we need to come to grips with the expectation of our Lord as we live in this hour.
The Lord Jesus expects his church to be overcomers. As you know, the church is comprised of a people called out of the world. Spiritually speaking believers are not of the world. Thus, while the world embraces a growing defiance of God, we cannot go with them. It is in this sense we must overcome the world. Said another way, we must not bow down to the pressure of the world and abandon faithfulness to Christ and his word.
Of course, current cultural challenges to the will of God are nothing new. Each past generation of believers faced their own temptations to accommodate the world. However, this is our hour, and we must not succumb to the current challenges no matter how intense the conflict appears to us. Rather, we must maintain obedience and loyalty to Christ.
Let me hasten to make another important point. As we stand for Christ it does not necessarily follow that a Christian consensus will govern society. Whether we are in the majority or not, and whether we have influence in government or not, we must overcome the spirit of the world which invites us to compromise the gospel and to capitulate to moral confusion.
Our victory is not necessarily obtaining the upper hand in government, or society at large. In fact, the victory our Savior speaks of in today’s text does not look like victory at all in the natural. The world seems to prevail, but alas at the end of the day our Lord has a people who are faithful to him even unto death itself!
I pray the Lord will open our eyes to this high calling in Christ Jesus. We are called to reject the spirit of the world and remain faithful to Christ regardless of the cost.
Consider the following ways in which we overcome the spirit of the world.
First, we confess Christ without compromise. We reject the idolatry of our time that seeks to make our Lord just another insignificant choice on an ever growing a la carte of generic spirituality.
Next, while the world mocks the teaching of Holy Scripture, we reject the invitation to join them. We will continue to honor the authority of Holy Scripture despite the compromisers and blasphemers who rail against the holy word of God.
Next, we will continue to lift the holy standards of morality that glorify God and lead us into a life of greater prosperity and peace. Furthermore, we will continue to teach our children the faith once for all delivered to the saints despite the world’s resistance and despite a growing intolerance for the freedom to do so.
In a word, we will not succumb to the spirit of the world. Rather, we will overcome the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. We will overcome with faithful obedience to Christ. And we will do so regardless of how the world treats us. This is what it means to be an overcomer!
As we read the various verses below my intent is to show that Christ clearly indicates we are in a conflict with a world system that opposes Christianity. Consequently, the Lord Jesus identifies true believers as those who overcome and refuse to deny his name.
I think true believers across our land need this message today. We are not to be discouraged by the current spiritual condition of our nation. Alarmed, yes. Discouraged, no! If our mission is to “save America,” then we would be very discouraged. However, if our priority is to be an overcomer and remain faithful to Christ, then let us take heart and live out a truly spirit-filled life that overcomes the spirit of this world.
In so doing, perhaps it will please the Lord to preserve our nation in freedom. However, like the three Hebrew children of old, whether our culture repents and turns from its sin and idolatry we need to serve notice on this world that we will not bow to their false gods, nor will we ever deny the exclusive salvation found only in the name of Jesus.
Text: Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:24-28; 3:4-5; 3:9-12; 3:20-21.
We come first to Revelation 2:7 which says,
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
Do you realize a decision to follow Christ means one must overcome the love of the world in his own heart? This is very real at the point of decision. This battle manifests especially in adults who did not yield to Christ in their early years. I assure you of this: you either have a growing love for Christ, or you have a growing love of this world. Those who do not receive Christ in their youth naturally develop a deep love of this world.
In fact, this is the stronghold that keeps many from a personal relationship with the Lord. Those in this spiritual condition must overcome the power the world holds on their heart. With that said, remember no lost man saves himself. Rather, the goodness of God through the power of the gospel leads us to salvation.
Yet, at the point of decision a break with the world occurs. The heart of a repentant man turns to Christ. Christ becomes his treasure, not the world! The surrendered heart of one who trusts Christ overcomes the wicked one (1 John 2:13). Indeed, Satan offers the world with its temporal pleasures and power, but whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4).
Look again at the promise of Jesus to the overcomer who breaks with the world:
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.” This is another promise of eternal life. The destiny of those who break with the world and choose Christ is heaven where the tree of life is in eternal bloom. Amen!
Now we come to Revelation 2:11 in which Jesus says:
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
Do you understand the meaning of the second death? As you may recall, the second death speaks of eternal separation from the Father in a place of eternal retribution for sin. Those who overcome shall not be touched by the second death.
As you engage these words, please keep the usage of the word overcome in its proper context. Our Lord is speaking. He, of course, is the Savior and he knows his work on the cross is the only means of salvation. It is our faith in Christ that saves us, but in these seven instances in which Jesus speaks of overcoming, the practical reality of a break with the world is in view.
Remember this: it is Jesus OR the world; it is NOT both. In one sense, the call to salvation is a call to get up and leave your Egypt and choose Christ over the world. The example of Moses in Hebrews chapter eleven illustrates this vital point:
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” (Heb. 11:24-26).
Indeed, he that overcomes the spirit of the world chooses Christ. Such are born of God, their faith in Christ thus overcoming the world’s invitation to travel the broad road that leads to destruction. Thank God, he that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death!
Now we come to our Lord’s next statement in Revelation 2:17 which says:
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
Our Lord’s words in this verse speak about the personal relationship believers possess with Christ. Remember this: Christianity is a personal relationship to Christ. Christianity is NOT a system of works by which we attempt to please God and gain acceptance with him. Rather, in Christ God provided for our salvation. Thus, one must trust in Christ alone for acceptance in the sight of God.
Trusting in Christ is polar opposite of a world lying in spiritual darkness. Receiving the Spirit of Christ immediately puts one at odds with the spirit of the world. This reality plays out in the experience of a believer in more than one way. However, Jesus promises to give “of the hidden manna” to those who overcome.
In the gospel of John our Lord makes a statement that sheds light on the meaning of hidden manna. Jesus says, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode (home) with him.”
The close, personal fellowship with the Father as we feed upon Christ is hidden
manna to a world which knows nothing of our intimacy with the Lord. Those who confess Christ have overcome the world and are feasting on manna from above!
Besides the promise of hidden manna now, the Lord promises to give his redeemed a new name. This new name unique to each of his people is a prize that promises to be a special joy in eternity to come. This new name will communicate something personal to his redeemed. Without doubt, this name will rejoice the heart of believers as it reveals our Lord’s personal love for each of us. In heaven we will not be a number in a crowd. The Lord will know his sheep by name, a new name that helps fit us for eternal glory with Christ.
Now look at Revelation 2:25-29 which says:
“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”
The message to the church at Thyatira of which these verses are a part, bring to light another very real issue for the overcoming church. We must overcome an apostate church which is very much a part of this world. The apostate church embraces unbelief, thus committing spiritual fornication with the world.
The pressure on the authentic church to give up the truth of God’s word is unrelenting today. Much of that pressure comes from apostates within the visible church. However, Jesus says to “hold fast till I come.” In other words, Jesus is saying, “Do not succumb to the spirit of the world, rather maintain your stand for the truth of my word.” Such loyalty and obedience to Christ overcomes the spirit of error, or the spirit of antichrist, and remains faithful to the cause of Christ.
This word from our Lord goes beyond the point of initial conversion in which the new believer makes a break with the world. Rather it speaks to persevering and thus continually overcoming the spirit of the world in the spiritual battle for truth.
Note the promise of Jesus that believers who overcome the invitation of the spirit of the world to compromise the truth will exercise delegated authority over the nations. We will reign alongside Christ to put down all rule and authority.
You should resolve now to overcome any drift into the world. Believers are not called to get along with a lost world by accommodating unbelief, be it in the world or in the apostate church. Rather we are empowered by the Spirit of Christ living within us to stand against the darkness by proclaiming the truth.
Now look with me at chapter three, verses 4 and 5 which say:
“Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
Here we see the very clear connection between overcoming and a genuine salvation experience. Again, I must emphasize that our Lord has not changed the plan of salvation as he speaks to the visible church in Revelation chapters two and three. Far from it. Our Lord is the Savior and all who trust him for salvation possess eternal life just as he promised (Cf. John 3:16-18; 5:24; 10:27-28).
However, everything that flies under the banner of Christianity is not authentic. The tares have been sown amongst the wheat. Unregenerate practitioners of nominal Christianity abound. Furthermore, rank unbelief (apostasy) has proliferated through-out much of the visible church.
While the situation may look quite bleak, like Sardis of old there remains a few who have not defiled their garments. This language speaks of faithfulness to Christ. Such faithful believers demonstrate the work of the Spirit in their hearts. Authentic believers are born of the Spirit and subsequently follow the Holy Spirit into a life of practical righteousness (Romans 6:13).
Empowered by new life in Christ, those born of the Spirit overcome the spirit of the world. They refuse to travel the broad road that leads to destruction. The break with the spirit of the world manifests in faithfulness to Christ. In this context such believers are worthy to walk with the Lord Jesus dressed in white! Indeed, those who overcome (that is, they live out the reality of genuine faith in Christ) shall be clothed in white raiment and their names shall never be blotted out of the book of life!
Now look with me at chapter three verses eleven and twelve:
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”
It seems to me our Lord is emphatically driving home the whole point of his messages to the churches in this statement to the church at Philadelphia. Again, he says to “hold fast.” Stand your ground. Do not lose the reward I am planning for your faithfulness. Overcome!!
My friends, we must not disappoint our Lord. His expectation is that we overcome the invitation of this world to compromise the truth. While authentic believers certainly do overcome the spirit of the world, there is nonetheless the possibility of losing one’s crown for disappointing compromise.
I could site a number of specific examples in which otherwise faithful believers succumb to compromise in order to avoid conflict with the world. Be careful my friend. You must one day stand before your Lord. Shall you be ashamed at his coming? Shall you suffer loss of reward when you stand before your Savior? Shall you experience his displeasure over your compromise with the spirit of the world?
The apostle Paul makes a statement that sheds light on this potential problem in the lives of genuine believers. He says in the book of Galatians:
“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.”
How often are we tempted to go along with the spirit of the world lest we suffer persecution? We certainly need to rebuke any attempt on the part of the spirit of this world to dilute the gospel of Christ or to dilute the authority of God’s word regardless of persecution. As well, we must not avoid conversations about right and wrong just to escape persecution (Cf. Matthew 5:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:12).
Now notice how our Lord exalts the overcomer. He promises to make him a pillar in the temple of my God, to write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, and to write upon him a new name given by Jesus himself. Wow!
Do you get the point that our Lord values the overcomer? Determine now to stand for Christ and to live out the will of God before a watching world. Those who do so not only belong to the Lord but will be honored by him on that great day when we all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
Finally, we come to our Lord’s word to the church of Laodicea. Let’s look at verses 20-21:
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Please note the words, “Even as I also overcame.” May I ask you a few questions: When Jesus was here, did he lead a political campaign and get his candidate elected? No. So, I guess he failed. Did Jesus lead a public campaign to push back the hideous practices of the Roman government of his day? No. So, I guess he failed. After three years of public ministry had Jesus pushed back all the immorality and false spirituality of his day with great revival flooding the nation of Israel? No. So, I guess he failed. I trust you see the point.
So, just how did he overcome? My friends, he overcame the spirit of this world by doing his Father’s will. In fact, he had to rebuke his own disciples who thought the cross was a picture of defeat. When Peter rebuked the Lord saying it was not appropriate for him to even think about dying, Jesus immediately said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan: thou art an offense unto me; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
My friends, like our Savior we must overcome the spirit of a world that has no interest in doing the will of God. And when we focus on personal obedience and loyalty to the Lord, we are victorious even if we are persecuted unto death.
The Laodicean church rebuked by Jesus in Revelation 3:14-22 very much savored the things that be of men, and not the things that be of God. They sank down into a non-confrontational attitude toward the world. The deceitfulness of riches choked them, and they became unfruitful. Beware of riches! Once a church or individual tastes a greater measure of prosperity it is very easy to adopt the spirit of the world.
For one thing, standing for Christ becomes more difficult for fear of losing those riches. Furthermore, a greater measure of prosperity tends to foster the pursuit of acceptance with the world. We desire the world acknowledge our place alongside them. Instead of the natural confrontation with the world that occurs as we remain faithful to the gospel of Christ and the will of God, the church begins to settle down into complacency and compromise.
Once infected with the spirit of the world a church or individual can no longer see things clearly. They think of themselves as being rich and in need of nothing, but alas as Jesus says they are wretched, miserable, blind, naked, and poor!
Unfortunately, this describes much of the visible church in America today. We think we are doing well even though we have lost the fire of obedience to Christ. Too many simply do not want to be out of step with the world. Living for Christ in the view of these modern day Laodiceans simply costs too much.
Perhaps those overtaken by the spirit of the world can yet escape the snare of the enemy and repent. Perhaps some of these professed believers are authentic and can experience a new day of obedience as they come out of the world and shake off conformity to the world. Certainly, the Lord Jesus is calling his own to be overcomers.
However, many who think of themselves as Christians lack the new birth and need to be awakened to their true condition before the Lord. Except they overcome the spirit of the world they are destined to die in their miserable, wretched, blind, poor, and naked state.
Seven times in Revelation chapters two and three the Lord Jesus speaks of overcoming the spirit of the world. This is his resounding message to the churches. Within the visible church there resides a people who are overcomers. They love the Lord Jesus and refuse to deny his name. They refuse conformity to the world and are not afraid to suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness. They possess an undivided loyalty to the Lord Jesus and reject the spirit of the world that lures them into unfaithfulness to Christ.
In conclusion hear our Lord again: TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH! TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH! HEAR THE WORDS OF THE SON OF GOD AND MARCH ON! BE AN OVERCOMER!!