Helping Others Overcome by the Word of Our Testimony
I. HOW DO WE OVERCOME? THREE ACTIVITIES
A. The call to overcome is a theme in Revelation (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 12:11; 15:2; 21:7).
10 The accuser (Greek: diabolos or Devil) of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night…11 And they
overcame him (Devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the
death. (Rev. 12:10-11)
B. Blood of the Lamb: Our basis of victory is the fact of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. Jesus gained victory over
Satan on the cross and paid our debt, removing his “legal right” to torment and accuse us. We must enforce Jesus’ victory
in our life by using our authority against Satan.
17 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new….
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
(2 Cor. 5:17-21)
C. Did not love their lives to death: We set our heart to obey Jesus’ will regardless of what it costs. We pursue
100-fold obedience to love God with a spirit of abandonment to Him.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me… (Jn. 14:21)
D. Word of their testimony: Our testimony (confession of faith) is what we believe about who Jesus is, what He did
on the cross, who we are in Him, and what we believe God thinks about others. We enforce Jesus’ victory in our life and
in others by our confession that refuses Satan’s lies.
6 I pray that…your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's
sake. (Philemon 6, NAS)
E. Faith does not come by asking, but by “hearing” the Word. The way our heart “hears” the best and most is when
the Word comes from our own lips and the lips of those closest to us.
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom. 10:17)
F. Our words can release life or death. They are powerful in causing faith or fear to grow in others. Simply by
speaking, we can help people come into agreement with God’s truth about them.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue… (Prov. 18:21)
G. If our words agree with Satan’s accusations, then we give room to his power. The Devil accuses the truth about
them. Many have “faith” in the Devil’s lying words. The war of words determines who has dominion in our heart. Whose
words are allowed to take root in our heart or their heart?
H. Jesus resisted Satan by speaking God’s word (Mt. 4:4-10.) The power of the Word to change others is also in our
mouth. We decree or “prophesy” Jesus’ word to others.
I. Encouragement: Speaking our confession about others to impart truth and expose lies in them
II. EMBRACING A LIFESTYLE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
A. Encouragement puts courage in the hearts of others. Part of the ability for them to overcome is in our lips. We
start with our family and with those we are most familiar.
13 But encourage one another daily…that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. (Heb. 3:13, NIV)
B. It is our sacred responsibility to encourage those God sets us with. One way we consider one another is by asking
the Lord for insight into how He feels towards them (family, friends, etc.). It is not enough to think it, we must speak the
obvious, knowing the Devil obscures it.
24 Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves…
but exhorting (encouraging, NIV, NAS) one another… (Heb 10:24-25)
C. We can set our heart to live as a son of encouragement to change the lives of those around us.
36 Joses…was named Barnabas by the apostles…translated Son of Encouragement… (Acts 4:36)
III. ESTABLISHING A CULTURE OF HONOR
A. The Body of Christ is to exemplify the strongest culture of honor. God’s love is comprehended most as we connect
together. Part of our inheritance is in the hands of others. Our love grows for others as we tell them of their virtue,
greatness and destiny, especially in their weakness.
18 May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know
(experience) the love of Christ which passes knowledge… (Eph. 3:18-19)
B. Out of honor comes blessing. We must teach and demonstrate a culture of honor in our sphere of responsibility
(spiritual and natural families and workplace, etc.). We can gain many things from other ministries and movements who
have part of what we lack simply by blessing them.
10 In honor giving preference to one another…14 Bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice…16 Be of
the same mind toward one another…Do not be wise in your own opinion…18 As much as depends on you, live peaceably
with all men… (Rom. 12:10-18)
C. In honor giving preference (v. 10) is translated: “out do one another in showing honor.” We bless the part of their
life and ministry that is good without pointing out what they lack.
D. We honor and bless diversity in our culture as well as people and ministries with a different focus. We bless our
enemies, thus how much more do we bless other ministries or believers who are different from us. We do presume to
understand God’s specific ministry assignment to them.
4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. (Rom. 14:4)
E. We must see from God’s perspective. Ask Jesus about other ministries, “Who are they to You?”
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ...12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one
another anymore… (Rom. 14:10-13)