Conquered Or Unconquerable?

“CONQUERED OR UNCONQUERABLE?"

1 JOHN 5:1-5

INTRO: Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which

strengtheneth me." The words of that verse should be an inspiration to

every Christian; knowing that through Christ I can be unconquerable!"

When the apostle Paul penned those words he was in a dark, dank

prison in Rome, prisoner of the Emperor Nero. Yet, despite his

circumstances, he could still write those blessed words, "I can do ALL

THINGS through Christ which strengtheneth me." Paul was

unconquerable!

What about you tonight? You have two choices you can make: either

to be conquered or unconquerable. The choice you make will

adversely affect not only you, but others as well. So choose wisely!

When Life throws you its worst how do you respond?

The Story is told of the Hymn-writer Eugene L. Clark. His most famous

song, "Nothing Is Impossible," rose to be the anthem of his Life.

Although his fingers once flew across the piano keyboard, he became

the victim of crippling arthritis. And eyes that once could seemingly

read whole music scores at a single glance, were now totally blind.

But Eugene Clark, former director and organist for the broadcast

"Back To The Bible" never learned the meaning of the word "Quit!" It

finally became impossible for Clark to continue playing the organ or

piano, but when bed-ridden, never to get up again, he requested that

they bring to his bedside a dictating machine . With this marvelous

electric invention and his most valuable possession, a keen mind, he

continued to give to the world his beautiful musical offerings. His

Trust in the LORD became monumental. Great odds did not stifle

Eugene Clark's ability and desire to serve Christ and be a Blessing to

millions around the world. The words to his song are:

I read in the Bible the promise of God

That nothing for Him is too hard.

Impossible things He has promised to do

If we faithfully Trust in His WORD.

Nothing is impossible when you put your trust in God,

Nothing is impossible when you're trusting in His WORD,

Harken to the Voice of God to thee:

"Is there anything too hard for Me?"

Then put your Trust in God alone

And rest upon His WORD;

For everything, 0 Everything,

Yes, Everything is Possible-With God. (1)

Someone has aptly pointed out, "Your outcome in life doesn't depend

on your income, but on how you overcome!" Are you an overcomer or

just overcome? A conqueror or conquered? John gives three ways for

us to be "unconquerable!" WE ARE UNCONQUERABLE:

(1) BYBEING BORN AGAIN

1 JOHN 5:4a—“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world..."

A. A NEW BIRTH. I want you to note the words—“born of God”. The phrase

means “begotten of God”. It implies not an earthly birth but a heavenly

birth—a birth from above. Jesus told Nicodemus, "Verily, Verily, I say unto

thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."(John

3:3). To be born anew is to undergo such a radical change that it is…a new

birth; it is to have something happen to the soul which can only be

described as being born all over again; and the whole process is not a

human achievement, because it comes from the grace and power of God.

Reserved Worldwide).

B. A NEEDED BLESSING. Being born again assures us victory at the end of

this life, but not only then, but all through life! We read in 1 John 4:4—“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.” The word "overcome" used there is

translated from a Greek word which means "mightest prevail". How do we

“overcome the world” and the Wicked One? Revelation 12:11 tells us how

we overcome—“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. “

Friends, the victory is already ours! God has already given it to us through

His Son Christ Jesus! We must only claim in by faith! 1 Corinthians

15:57tells us—“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through

our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 8:37—"In ALL...things we are MORE THAN

CONQUERS through Him that loved us." Without the new birth our lives

would end in defeat. Without the new birth we would be conquered not

unconquerable. So how do we overcome? :

By His Shed Blood (Rev. 12:11).
By His Spirit (lsaiah 59:19).
By His Sacred Word (Psalm 119:11,105).

We are UNCONQUERABLE, BY BEING BORN AGAIN and secondly,

(2) BY HAVING BELIEVING FAITH

1 JOHN 5:4b-5—"And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even

OUR FAITH. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that

believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

A. A WALK OF FAITH. According to 2 Corinthians 5:7, we are to "walk by

faith, not by sight". The Bible is replete with exhortations for God people to

walk by faith and not by sight—for God’s people to trust in the Lord and not

in themselves. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the

LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all

thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Faith is believing

God is in control in all circumstances without doubting! For NOTHING is

impossible with God! (Mark 9:29; 11:22-24).

B. A WALK OF FUTILITY. Instead of walking by faith many believers today

walk in futility. As a result their:

THEIR POWER IS LIMITED.
THEIR PRAYERS ARE LIMITED.
THEIR POTENTIAL IS LIMITED.

The work of God is limited greatly by our unbelief! The Bible tells us in

Hebrews 11:6—“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that

cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that

diligently seek him.” Mark 6:4-6says—“But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

We are UNCONQUERABLE, BY BEING BORN AGAIN and BY HAVING BELIEVING FAITH and lastly,

(3) BY KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS

1 JOHN 5:2-3—"By this we know that we love the children of God, when

we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of

God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are

not grievous. "

A. THE PRIORITY AND EXCELLENCE OF LOVE. Friends, Love is the

GREATESTCOMMANDMENT! In Luke 10:25-28 we read—“And, behold, a

certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to

inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how

readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with

all thy heart,and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy

mind; andthy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast

answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” This commandment is found in

Deu_6:5. It is the “first” and greatest of all; first, not in “order of time,” but

of “importance; greatest” in dignity, in excellence, in extent, and duration. It

is the fountain of all others. All beings are to be loved according to their

excellence. As God is the most excellent and glorious of all beings, he is to

be loved supremely. If he is loved aright, then our affections will be directed

toward all created objects in a right manner.(Albert Barnes. Albert Barnes’ Notes on The

gives us the excellence of love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. The word

“excellence” means “superiority”. (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. Volume 1, A-M.

p. 221). The Bible says—“ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth

all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but

whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they

shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.’

B. THE PROPER EXPRESSION OF LOVE. Love is not expressed in words

but in action—deeds and truth. 1 John 3:18-19 tells us—“My little

children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts

before him.” If we truly love, we will keep His commandments! Our Lord

said in John 14:15—“ If ye love me, keep my commandments.” In v21 of

that same chapter Jesus said—“ He that hath my commandments, and

keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of

my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” And again

in v23—“ If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love

him, and we will come unto him, and make ourabode with him.” 1 John

2:3says—“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his

commandments.”

Fine words will never take the place of fine deeds; and no amount of talk of

Christian love will take the place of a kindly action to a man in need,

involving some self-sacrifice, for in that action the principle of the Cross is

CLOSING: The BIBLE exhorts us in 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about

seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world."

Satan desires to "conquer" the child of God, but by Faith and by

showing Christ's Love and by keeping His commandments, we can

be "unconquerable!"

Are you "unconquerable?" You can have sweet VICTORY with

Christ!

NOTES: 1. Lindsay Terry. Stories Behind Popular Songs and Hymns. Pp. 168-

170.

PREPARED BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING.