daily bible readings

The early church was not the well oiled, trouble free, close-to-perfect church that we often romanticize it into being. By the time John comes to write his epistles and gospel, the church has many false teachers in it. Some are teaching that the resurrection in Christ had already occurred. Others were teaching that the body is immaterial and you could live as you please and still claim Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Still others felt the need to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints, for certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” Jude 3–4.

John, like every good pastor and elder, was concerned for the spiritual well being and safety of his spiritual children. He knew that some from among them were anti-Christ and had left the fellowship, possibly believing that they had a greater truth to behold.

John writes to the believers to encourage them to remain faithful and to be true to Christ. He is concerned that they overcome all obstacles and false teachings. And so, he writes, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.

John knows what Jesus expressly taught in John 1:12–13, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” True believers are not from the world but are born of God, born from above.

True believers do not have the spirit of the world in them. Nor do they live by the spirit of man in them. They are filled with God’s Spirit and live in accord with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit tabernacling in believers is greater than the evil one who rules the world.  It is this presence of God in believers that allows Christians to overcome the world.

What a wonderful truth to behold and appropriate into our lives. The one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. As such, we can live victoriously in Christ Jesus. We can overcome all false teachings. We can overcome temptations. We can overcome “the cravings of sinful man, the lusts of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does” (1 John 2:16) because of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

But, why then, do some believers live constantly in defeat? Why do some believers constantly return to their former sins and live as enemies of the cross? Why do some believers not know and experience the victory of Jesus in their lives?

There are several possible options. Perhaps they are not genuine Christians. It’s possible that they haven’t been born again by the power of God and have not received the Holy Spirit. They may be in the church because that’s what they’ve always done or because it’s filled with such lovely, genuine people. If this is you, the remedy is simple. Repent and believe in Jesus! Invite Him into your life as your Lord and Saviour. 

It’s also possible that some believes are quenching the Spirit or putting out the Spirit’s fire. By indulging in sin and by living wantonly, they silence the Spirit and deaden their conscience towards Him. Again, if this is you, the solution is relatively simple. God is calling you to repent and to follow Him!

Finally, it’s possible that such Christians do not know or have never been taught properly the promises and power of God. They may wrongly think that they have no option but to keep sinning. Such believers need to grow in knowledge of God and need to claim the promises of God into their lives. 

If you are a Christian, the one living in you is greater than the one living in the world. That means that you are an overcomer. God is stronger than any opposition and any temptation you will ever face. This means you are an overcomer. You are an overcomer. You are not a miserable sinner who has no option but to sin. You are an overcomer. Live in the victory of Christ.

Prayer: 

Adoration:

• Adore the Lord God Almighty, El Shaddai, for He is all powerful and completely sovereign.
• Adore our Saviour that no human organisation, no government, no army and no spiritual being can overcome Him or defeat Him.

Confession:

• Take time to confess your sins to the Lord and to ask for His forgiveness.

Thanks:

• Thank you Lord and Saviour that the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
• Thank God that you have the power of God in you.

Supplication:

• Pray for the people in your congregation who are, or might be, struggling with sin. Pray for victory as they come to realise the strength of Christ in them.
• Pray that the Spirit would be powerfully at work in your local congregation.