Born to Overcome

A Sermon
Delivered on Wednesday Evening, July 2^nd 2025, by
Evangelist PAUL ACQUAH,
Live on MZ Radio London, London UK.

Life has a way of throwing challenges our way. There are moments of joy, but also seasons of struggle, uncertainty, and deep pain. We all face battles – some are visible to the world, while others are buried deep within. In those difficult times, we often find ourselves asking: How do I get through this? How can I truly overcome? The good news is that no matter what we face, God has already declared us victorious in Christ. Our status as overcomers isn’t based on our strength or achievements, but on what Jesus has already accomplished for us. So, take heart. Even when the battle feels fierce, the outcome is certain – because in Christ, we are more than conquerors. In today’s message titled “Born to Overcome,”Evangelist Paul Acquah invites us to walk boldly in the victory that is already ours in Christ. Let’s join in!

God has given you something to help you to be an overcomer. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you ^[f]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus ended his teaching in John 14,15 and 16   by saying in this world you’re going to have some difficulties but L don’t want you to respond to these difficulties the way a person who doesn’t know me responds because I’ve given you something that helps you to be an overcomer.  Jesus said in this world you’ll have tribulation but be of good cheer because I’ve overcome the world.  You may say what has this got to do with me. If Jesus has overcome the world, what about me? Let me refer you to 1John chapter five and verses 4 and 5.  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—^[a]our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God”? So, He has given us faith to overcome.  The NIV says it this way: This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus is the one who has overcome the world, and believers can also overcome through their faith in Him. This text of scripture enables us to understand that Jesus’ victory over the world equips believers to live an overcoming life and experience victory in their own lives.  Jesus, in his life, death, and resurrection, overcame the world’s challenges, and its systems.  “Who is it that overcomes the world ” refers to anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This belief is foundational to overcoming the world and its challenges, and it is what is born of God, according to 1 John 5:4-5. Jesus himself stated that he has overcome the world, and this victory is available to those who believe in him. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you ^[f]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 

God asked a question, he says Who is it that overcomes the world? And then he gives us the answer, Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  So we’re hearing Jesus saying that he has overcome the world so we can be of good cheer.  But then he tells us I made provision for you to be a world overcomer.  The key to understanding those two verses is the last part of verse 4 where he says, “and this is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith”. 

Through faith in Jesus, believers can access the victory that He has already secured. Everyone born of God overcomes the world, and this victory is achieved through faith. In other words, you  must believe that you are what he says you are. You can say it out loud to yourself because it’s good for you to hear, because faith comes by hearing then hearing by the word of God. So, you can say this with me, “I’m an overcomer because I’m a believer”. We need to focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, rather than getting bogged down by the difficulties of the world. This focus enables us to walk in victory. We need to apply this victory in everyday life. Believers are not meant to just survive but to thrive, subdue, conquer, and prevail over life’s challenges. You may ask, why is it that everyone born of God overcomes the world? This is because there’s a transformative power of spiritual rebirth.  Being “born of God” refers to a spiritual regeneration that occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. What in the world are we supposed to overcome?  It’s the victory over worldly values and systems that are contrary to God’s will. When you wake up in the morning to when you go to sleep at night, the world is trying to conform you and to get you to believe the way it believes, see things the way it sees, respond to it with its own response mechanisms. 

The world wants you to go with the flow. It’s like unwritten rules and expectations about how people should behave, think, and feel within a specific group or culture. They guide behaviour, providing a sense of what is considered acceptable, appropriate, and normal. These norms are maintained through social approval and disapproval.  The worldly system of doing things often conflicts with what the Bible teaches. The world’s beliefs and expectations are designed to influence behaviour in various situations. Worldly norms dictate what is considered typical, appropriate, and expected within society, shaping how people interact and behave.  Adherence to norms often leads to social acceptance and rewards, while violations can result in social disapproval, sanctions, or even exclusion. Overcoming the world implies a victory over these pressures and temptations. This is important in these times because the word of God says that we can either be transformed by the renewing of our mind to align with the word of God or we can be conformed to the way this world thinks. So Romans 12:2 says that “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.  This victory is not through human effort but through divine empowerment. It says in Philippians 4:13 that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And this is the victory that has overcome the world: The term “victory” here is significant, as it denotes a decisive conquest which conveys a sense of triumph and success. This victory is not a future event but a present reality for believers. Anyone living a godly life faces persecution and opposition, so the phrase ‘anyone born of God overcomes the world’ highlights the importance of this assurance. The victory is not merely personal but communal, as the Christian community find strength in their shared faith. The Bible says in Romans 8:37, that believers are “more than conquerors” through Christ. The victory is comprehensive, affecting all aspects of life and enabling believers to live in accordance with God’s will despite external challenges. Faith is the central element in this victory. It is not faith in yourself, but faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Saviour. This faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).  The faith that overcomes the world is active and living, characterised by trust, obedience, and perseverance. 

Hebrews 11 provides examples of individuals whose faith enabled them to overcome significant challenges. Living by faith is a radical departure from the widespread worldly, religious and philosophical systems. It requires a commitment to a new way of life, often at great personal cost. This faith is not static but dynamic, growing through trials and sustained by the Holy Spirit.  So, the bible talks about the testing of faith producing perseverance. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3). It’s the world that hinders obedience to God’s commandments and makes them seem grievous. But everywhere God’s children live in obedience, they conquer the world by means of faith. The victory has already been won and completed: “the victory that has overcome the world is this – our faith“