I was listening to Overcome by Jon Egan and the Desperation Band. The following verse is a bridge that’s sung over and over in the song. As I was worshiping, the words of this verse really came alive and began to speak to me.
Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
So how do we overcome?
1. The blood of the Lamb
This is the fulfillment of the law of God that breaks satan’s legal right and claim to us. “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. ” (Heb 9:22, NKJV) When we’ve been washed in the blood of the Lamb, we are forever the possession of God himself. There is much that could be said here, but that’s another post.
2. The word of their testimony
This is where we can break the power of sin the enemy holds over us. This is where the rubber meets the road.
Proverbs 18: 20-21 (NKJV)
20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
What we claim – what we speak – is what will fill our stomachs. Interesting picture as the stomach is essentially where digestion of our physical food begins after we eat. So it goes with the words we speak. When we speak words, we listen, we hear, we believe – we digest – those words. “You are what you eat,” directly applies here!
It’s time to begin confessing the words of life. Even if it’s not evident yet, speak it. “I was a hypocrite, but God has helped me overcome.” or “I was an angry man; but God has helped me overcome.” Speak what God has or is making you.
The word of your testimony is what breaks the power of sin in your life, but only if you’ve been bought by the blood of the Lamb.
1. Are you legally God’s? This is critical and the first thing. Without #1, you can’t do #2.
2. What is God helping you overcome in your life? Speak it OUT LOUD! verbalize it! Hear yourself say it audibly!