Jesus said, “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 KJV.
Let us meditate on this most wonderful thought! He has overcome the world dear reader! Have Peace! No need to be worried or concerned for your past sins and mistakes, if you would turn to Him for help - for He has overcome the world. He already did this for you before you were born. He did this for you over 2000 years ago on Mount Calvary. He knew you would need help, and has already provided it for you. He can help you overcome your sin, deal with your mistakes and all of your problems. How do we know this? Because the Apostle John declared, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12 KJV. This is a most powerful promise to all who believe it and take it up. Take it up and get the joy of your salvation! Jesus declared, “I have overcome the world!” Oh what joy! Indescribable! Your success in this life and in the life to come - depends not on your strength or ability to be good – it depends on His mighty power to save you. If you will receive Him now, He will help you to become His son or daughter – He will help you to believe in Him.
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 NASB. Dear reader, are you in Christ? If you are there is no condemnation for you! If you are not yet fully in Christ, there is still time to be in Him – if you would have Him! Oh precious thought! Dear reader, if you would have this peace, receive Him and accept His help, then there will be no condemnation for you! Amen.
After Judas left Jesus and the other Disciples at the Last Supper, Jesus shared with them many precious truths that would help them have peace and help them fulfill their mission of mercy to the world - to tell others the wonderful story of Jesus and His Father’s love to save the world. He told them that He was the vine and that they were the branches and that without Him, they could do nothing. He promised them that He would send the Comforter or the Holy Spirit to guide them and teach them all truth. He told them about His mission to die on the cross for their sins and the sins of the world: ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ John 15:13-14 KJV. He told them that He chose and ordained them that they would bear much fruit for God and thus prove to be His disciples. “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” John 15:16 NASB. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” John 15:8 NASB. Jesus gave them the promise, “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7 KJV. Big promise to those who would be His servant! He told them that He was going back to His Father in Heaven. They were worried they would never see Him again, when He told them He was going to leave them, and this made them very sad. He told them that He was going back to prepare a place for them and that He would bring them back to be with Him in Heaven forever! He didn’t want them to be sad. He told them about the persecution and the tribulation that would come to them.
He then encouraged and comforted them with this most powerful promise - proclamation, ‘I have overcome the world!’
After all of the terrible things that Jesus had to endure at His sham trial, flogging, crucifixion, and death - and of all the mocking and betrayal He went through for all sinners, including you and I, Isaiah declared: “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” Isaiah 53:11 KJV. Yes, when Jesus looked down through time and saw His Disciples, all who would be saved, including you and I, He saw that it was worth it! – He loves everyone so much! All of the pain and suffering was worth it to Jesus when He saw all who would be saved! Dear reader, He saw that His death for your sins would give you the chance to be saved and be happy forever in Heaven - if you would have it! And His suffering, pain and death was worth it to Him, after He saw you in your need and that it would help save you, if you would accept it! Please take Him up on His offer of salvation while there is still time! He loves you and wants to save you!
He overcame the temptation to leave sinners to their fate for sinning against God. Oh, the mocking, the persecution, the torture and the slow, painful, humiliating death He overcame that He had to endure! But the author of Hebrews informs us: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 NASB. He was tried and tempted with every temptation that any one could ever be tempted with - to a much greater degree! - He was tempted in the wilderness to use His God-Power to help or save Himself. Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus overcame all temptations and all sin for you and I! Jesus proved that He loved His Father, because He loved not the world, but overcame it. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 KJV. Jesus kept His Father’s commandments and abided in His love, including His commandment that Jesus would die on the cross for the sin of the world. John 3:16; 15:10; 1:29.
* Please meditate on Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 26:47-75; 27:1-60, Mark 14:42-72; 15:1-39, Luke 22:47-71; 23:1-48 and John 18:1-40; 19:1-37 to get a full understanding of this.
* Read and reread John 13 – 17 about the last words that Jesus spoke to His Disciples before He was arrested and crucified (until you get it) – these are some of the most important and powerful words in the Bible. This will help you catch the full glimpse of what Jesus meant when He was telling His Disciples our theme of John 16:33.
When you understand the height and the depth of what Jesus meant when He said - “Have peace” - “I have overcome the world” - this will bring tears to your eyes and joy to your heart! And hope!
*Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her king! * By Issac Watts
To be a son of God is to be an overcomer as Jesus was an overcomer. To be like a son of God you must be like Jesus. To be like Jesus you must believe what He has declared. If you would throw yourself on His mercy and ask for His help, He will give you the power to be His son or daughter! If you believe on the power of His name, you will be given this power! Yes, we said it again! Believe it.
As Jesus overcame, the believer in Him will also overcome – by faith. If you believe what Jesus promised and trust in Him you will be given the victory - if you would want that. The Apostle John, who knew Jesus probably better than anyone else, declared, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5 KJV. Here John declares that the one who is born of God overcomes the world. Here John declares that the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God will overcome the world. Therefore, John teaches that the one who believes in Jesus will be an overcomer. Do you want this dear reader? Do you want to become born again? Do you want to overcome the world? Will you receive Him? If you do you will get all these infinite blessings for yourself and more!
Jesus overcame all of the abuse that the Devil and evil men could hurl at Him. Jesus was firm in His heart that He would keep all of His Father’s righteous commandments, including His commandment to die on the cross for the sins of the world. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Everything about Jesus’ life – what He said, and what He did was keeping His Father’s commandments: “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” John 12:49-50 KJV. Jesus kept His Father’s commandments and gave His life for the world, Oh wonderful act! Oh wonderful promise! Oh thoughts full of love and mercy from Jesus and His Father! John 15:10 NASB. Part of receiving Jesus is to believe in His love and power to save you.
If you are not born again - you will be unable to overcome the world. If you are not born again - you will be unable to get the victory. If you have not received Jesus - you will be unable to get the victory. If you are not born again, you have not received Jesus all-the-way. There are no half-way measures.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7 NASB.
What is the promise here to the one who overcomes? Eternal life – God will grant to him who overcomes the right to eat from the tree of life. – If you eat from this tree you will never die! Genesis 3:22-24.
Dear reader, it says above if you overcome, you will be given the right to eat from the Tree of Life. Is that what you want? Do you wish to have eternal life and live forever?
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11 KJV.
The Apostle John declares above that they overcame by the blood of the Lamb. Oh reader, do not miss this point! Jesus declared – ‘Have peace, I have overcome the world.’ It is only through Jesus’ blood that you can overcome the world. Dear reader, do you have an ear to hear? Then believe what the Holy Spirit has said to the churches: that the one who overcomes will have the right to the Tree of Life. To have the right to the Tree of Life, you must receive Jesus all-the-way and become born again from above, else you have no way of overcoming and thus no right to the Tree of Life. Nothing else will avail but the blood of Jesus. It is only by Jesus, dear reader, that you can have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and live forever; only through Him that you can have and know peace.
Through Jesus’ blood you can overcome. -Through Jesus’ blood you can get the right to eat from the Tree of Life!
Jesus declared, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 KJV. But take courage, Jesus has overcome the world! No reason to worry or fear, if you will just take His victory and make it your own, by faith. “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” Galatians 5:5 KJV. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.” Hebrews 11:1-2 KJV. See Genesis 15:3, 6 and Romans 4:3.
Because Jesus overcame, you can have the power to overcome too.
If you receive Jesus, you will become born again from above, and become an overcomer.
Then you will be given the right to eat from the tree of life.
Let’s recount some of Jesus’ precious promises and encouragements - that you might know His love for you and His desire to help you overcome the world: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3 KJV. You have no right to be there in Heaven because of your sins. But fear not! Jesus has prepared a way for you by His death, resurrection and by His pleading to His Father in Heaven for you, the High Priest of your confession. “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;” Hebrews 3:1 NASB. “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15 KJV. This is the only way that any of us can make it there – through Jesus the High Priest of our confession. Jesus must prepare a place for you there - by His ministry to His Father on your behalf, whenever you sin and confess it (1 John 1:9) or need His help. He and His Father must grant you mercy, if you would have hope.
In this world you have sorrow and tribulation, but you will eventually see Jesus if you receive Him: “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” John 16:22 KJV. If you receive Jesus, no one will be able to take your joy from you! Then at His Second Coming, when He comes back to save you (just like He said He would), no one will be able to take your joy from you! “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isaiah 25:9 KJV. He has come back to save us, just like He promised us He would! If you don’t live until His Second Coming that’s ok, because He is the Resurrection and the Life. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26 NASB. Dear reader, do you believe this?
In Jesus’ High Priestly prayer to His Father, when He was with His Disciples, just before He was crucified - He prayed for those who belonged to Him, which includes you dear reader if you belong to Him:
“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine [the Father] they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” John 17:6-9 KJV.
Note: Even though Jesus made this prayer for His 11 Disciples (after Judas left) it applies to you too, if you are Jesus’ modern-day disciple and believe in Jesus through the word of others who preached the Gospel to you: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” John 17:20 KJV. That is you and I if we believe in Jesus through their word or through the words of others who received it from someone who received it from Jesus’ Disciples. – No matter how many generations back.
The point of all of this is that we have such a High Priest in Heaven, who is praying to the Father on our behalf - to help us be faithful and be overcomers.
Dear reader, Jesus has prayed for you to His Father, if you would be His! Just believe it. If you receive Jesus, you can be sure that God gave you to Him. If you receive Jesus, He will help you to keep God’s word. Just like Jesus prayed for Peter, He prays for you too: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 NASB. Yes, Jesus has prayed to His Father for you - that your faith may not fail, though you be sifted like wheat by Satan, wicked people, trials and tribulations.
When you receive Jesus, you will love Him with all your heart, believe in Him and become born from above and overcome the world. Through your faith in Him, He gives you the power and strength you need to overcome the world. When you read and re-read John 16:33 your heart will blaze with love and devotion to Him, and will treasure up His most wonderful promise – “I have overcome the world!” Jesus already gained the victory for you – just accept it. He got the victory you could not get – He won the race you could not win. -All the sins that beset you – He overcame for you. Because He overcame – you can too! Just believe it! Just treasure up His promise – “I have overcome the world.”
No more worry, no more guilt, no more fear of failure. Overcome the world through His blood and get the victory! Oh, beautiful promise! Oh, wonderful thought! Praise God! There is hope for you! Therefore, there is no condemnation for you, if you are in Christ and receive Him. You don’t have to worry anymore whether you are good enough to make it! He has done it all for you! He has provided for your salvation and victory! Just believe it and claim it!
May the grace of God be with you dear reader. Amen.
By John Foll, written between 1/27/2024 and 3/23/2024, 3/30/2024, 4/6/2024.
© Copyright 2024 John Foll
Originally posted 2024-04-13 13:37:45.
“But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 NASB. This text is so true. This is looking at the truth in a different way. We need to contemplate what this means, it is so important! Those who are walking in the light as God is the light will not be thinking that they do not need to be too concerned about their behavior or whether they are free from all enslavement and entanglement with the sins and things of this world. Many surround themselves with preachers and others who believe that they do not need to be concerned very much about their behavior or entanglement with sin and the things of this world, and little mention is made of the sinner’s need of walking in the Light of God, to repent and have a change made in them. And others think that they believe in ‘the truth’ while they are not walking in the Light and have not His abiding presence in their heart. It is every Christian’s privilege to choose to walk in the Light as God is the Light, whether they will listen to His sweet Spirit when He whispers to their heart or not.
Conclusion of the wonderful passages and promises showing God’s great kindness and mercy towards His created beings whom He loves: Yes! These bear repeating, with descriptions added where needed to […]
Sin will not Rise a Second Time: Evidence that sin and sinners will not rise up a second time after their destruction: (We are giving this to you from several […]
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:12-19 KJV.
So what is the cure for unbelief? Faith. Faith is the opposite of doubt or unbelief. Unbelief in what? Unbelief in the promises of God. The children of Israel had been given a promise by God that He would give them the land of Canaan and help them to possess it, if they would follow His lead. Caleb and Joshua told the children of Israel that they were well able to enter the Promised Land, that God would open the way for them and give it to them. But the 10 other unfaithful spies lied to the children of Israel about this, saying many discouraging things to them, so that they did not believe the promise of the Lord.
God will reward every sinner according to the fruit of their doings: The prophet Jeremiah gives a message from God saying, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the […]
Please believe exactly what we are telling you: Jesus wants to forgive you, cleanse you of all unrighteousness and give you the most precious gift – the full outpouring of […]
The righteousness of God is revealed to faith. Rom. 1:17. Faith is complete dependence upon the word of God, expecting that word to do what the word itself says. Is there, then, righteousness spoken by the word of God, so that people can depend completely upon that word, that the word shall accomplish what the word says? There is. Indeed, that is the very object of the gift of Christ.
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal […]
But to as many as received Him - gave He power to become the sons of God! "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become […]
