Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 4:4

As I was reading this Scripture verse in 1 John, the word “overcome” stood out to me. John is writing to the saints to encourage them in the hard times that they faced and to let them know about the Power that they have to Prevail against false teachers and those who wanted to pervert the Truth of the Gospel with lies. Using one of my favorite study references, the Blue Letter Bible, I found the word for  “overcome” in the Greek language. It means to prevail!!!

Overcome

nikaō– to subdue (literally or figuratively):—conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.

The Amplified version of 1 John 4:4 gives us greater clarity:

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4 AMPC

So we see, (using our enlightened definition of the word “overcome”) that we have already defeated, subdued, conquered, gotten the victory over, and prevailed against the agents of the antichrist (Satan and his demons) because greater and mightier is He who lives in us than he who is in the world!!! 

Hallelujah!!! We have to just get that revelation deep down in our minds and our hearts so we can go boldly into all the earth preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, teaching those things concerning Christ, and destroying the works of the enemy!!!

We can and we will prevail when we know this Truth and when we walk it out! The knowledge of the Truth is what gives us the holy boldness to do the will of God. And what is the Truth? It’s the Word of God!!! The word “overcome is used in 1John 5 times and over 20 times in the New Testament. Let’s look at a few of these Scripture verses:

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

1 John 5:4

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Revelation 12:11

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.

These are powerful Truths that we need to know!!! How awesome that our faith is the victory that overcomes the world!!! But I especially like Romans 12:21 because it gives us a definitive way to overcome evil. (Maybe I will write about 1 John 5:4 at another time.)

Romans 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

If we take a deeper dive into this verse and the word “good” we will come to understand that the Greek word used (agathos) means a good nature or character. It refers to a life that is fertile soil for the things of God and a fruitful tree bearing the fruit of righteousness. It means a life “that is good ground and denotes a soul inclined to goodness, and accordingly eager to learn saving truth and ready to bear the fruits of a Christian life.” It also means those who are wise stewards of all the power and authority we have been given as James 3:17 says.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

And of course, we must also know that the Power to Prevail is only available to us as we walk in the Spirit. The Lord has said, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit.” Because after all, He is the Power that we have been given to Prevail! He is the Greater One that is in us!!!

Let’s be the consecrated vessels that He needs so He can use us to defeat the enemy and prevail in every area of our lives.

Repeat after me: “I will PREVAIL because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!!!”