Did you know, you are living in the “more”. Let’s explain what that means. In Romans 8:35-39, the Apostle Paul proclaims and declares, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Who can separate us from the love of God? Paul said that he and those accompanying him faced death all day long, but that they were more than conquerors - in all those things through Him who loves us. Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. What are you facing right now? What do you need in your life? Jesus won the title of “More than A Conqueror” for us. The Greek word for ‘more than a conqueror” is “hupernikao”. “Huper” translates to “hyper”, excessive or super. It is surpassing victory. This is what Jesus won for you. It’s already won! It’s over the top - hyper. When Jesus ascended on high, He led captivity captive. In Roman days, conquering kings would lead the caged conquered king in a parade through the mocking and rowdy public, humiliated and defeated. This is what Jesus did to the devil. He won victory below the earth and paraded the devil, humiliated, beaten, and utterly defeated through the heavens. Jesus took back the keys of hell and death.
This is good news for you today, whatever you are facing. Jesus took us from bondage to freedom, from sickness to healing, brokenness to wholeness, from weakness to strength, from poor to rich. Jesus called us to live as “more than a conqueror”. Living in this place means to take on the responsibility of a conqueror. The story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda in John 5 mentions that the pool supposedly provided healing when stirred. There was a man there for 38 years waiting to get into the pool when it was activated. When Jesus approached, He asked the man, “Do you want to be made whole and well?” Why did He ask this question? It’s kind of like asking “Is there water in the ocean?” Jesus asked this because if the man was whole and well, he would have responsibility. When we are whole and well, we must be at the business of fulfilling God’s purpose in our life. We are saved and called by God’s purpose and grace, to His good purpose (2 Timothy 1:9-11). You are more than a conqueror. Take on responsibility and move forward in your purpose.
The devil would love to hinder you, but there is nothing stopping you. Look at the demoniac in Luke 8. He was a possessed man, living among the tombs, running naked, breaking chains, and haunting people. What happened to him when he got healed and set free? He had no more reason to live among the tombs and stay naked. When Jesus set him free, he was a conqueror and he wanted to be with Jesus. But, Jesus taught him and sent him out and he went his way, more than a conqueror. He returned to the city and proclaimed what had happened and what Jesus had done. He took on the responsibility of living as more than a conqueror. Many just want to be with Jesus. But now you’re more than a conqueror. You can stand out and stand up in your God-given purpose with Jesus.
You also embrace the mantle of a conqueror. You will face challenges in life. It’s not enough to conquer. At each challenge, you are more than a conqueror. In Joshua 1, God told Joshua that he would possess every place he set the soles of his feet. But, right after that in vs 6, Joshua was instructed to be strong and of good courage, again and again! Three times!! The last time God told him to be strong and very courageous. Why? If he was going to possess everywhere he put the soles of his feet, why did he need to be strong and of good courage and be told this three times? It was because he had battles to fight before he could set his feet on the land for possession. Each time you face a challenge, you are more than a conqueror. It’s who you are. Joshua had to win a few battles. Kings had to be defeated. So many kings! He had to conquer 31! You will face battles to possess what God has for you, but you are more than a conqueror. You’ve got this promise for each battle. That’s why we have the Holy Spirit. I am more than a conqueror. It’s who I am and it’s who you are.
Lastly, being more than a conqueror means possessing the land. What does possessing the land look like? Joshua, for the battle of Jericho, was given three instructions.
- Do not take things set apart for destruction. Stay away from things bound for destruction, or you’ll bring trouble in the camp.
- Give God what is His. God had set aside the silver, gold, bronze and iron for His own service.
- For yourselves, keep the treasure of the city besides what is set aside for me. God commanded blessing for them.
Do not touch the destructive things. Put God first and honor Him first. Finally, you will make your way prosperous and you will have good success. You will be blessed as God has commanded. When God commands blessing, you know blessing is on its way.
You are more than a conqueror. Live in the more!
