faith overcomes the world

1 Jn 5:1-5 

1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 

2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 

3  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 

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

5  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 

1 Jn 2:13-17

13  I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. 

14  I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

15   Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

16   For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 

17  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 

world (kosmos) - the system of life that operates apart from God; the values, desires, priorities, and mindset of fallen, sinful humanity, a culture driven by self-centered desire, pride, rebellion, and temporary things. The ruler of this world is Satan (1 Jn 5:19, Jn 12:31, Rev 12:9).

1 Jn 4:4 

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

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Rom 12:2 

12 And do not be conformed to this world, but be be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Cor 10:3-5

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 

4   For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 

5   casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (Truth), bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ 

Eph 6:10-18 

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 

11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

14  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

15  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

16  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 

17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; 

18  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

USING OUR FAITH

Mk 11:23-24 

23  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and 

does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

24  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 

faith – (pistis) noun – A Gift from God

believe– (pisteuo) verb – Using God’s Gift

Eph 2:8 

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith (pistis), and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God

Heb 11:1, 6

1 Now faith (pistis) is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

6   But without faith (pistis) it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe (pisteuo) that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Heb 12:2a

2a  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (pistis) 

OUR WORK IS TO BELIEVE IN JESUS

Jn 6:28-29 

28 Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" 

29  Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe (pisteuo) in Him whom He sent.

Jn 14:12-14 

12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes (pisteuo) in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 

13  And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 

14   If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.  

1 Jn 5:4

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

1 Jn 3:1

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 

1 Cor 1:9

9  God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Heb 3:1a 

1a Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly (above the sky) calling

2 Tim 1:9

9  who has saved us and called us with a holy (set apart for God) calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was

given to us in Christ Jesus before time began

Rom 8:28

28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

Eph 4:4 

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling

Eph 4:1

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called

1 Thes 2:12 

12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 

2 Pet 1:10a

10a Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure

1 Pet 2:5, 9

5  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

Phil 1:6 

6  that the sharing (koinonia) of your faith may become effective (energēs) by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

1 Jn 4:17-18

17  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

2 Tim 1:7

7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

Rom 8:15

15  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 

Jn 14:1-3 

1   Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 

2  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 

Jn 14:27 

27  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Rom 5:5

5  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

Rom 8:31-39 

31  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

32  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 

33  Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 

34  Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

36  As it is written: "for Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

38  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 

39   nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ps 34:4, 11 

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

11  Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.  

TO FEAR GOD IS TO LOVE GOD & 

TO LOVE GOD IS TO FEAR GOD

TO FEAR GOD IS: 

TO HONOR HIM 

TO REVERANCE HIM 

TO BE IN AWE OF HIM 

TO OBEY HIM 

TO LOVE HIM

Deut 10:12-13

12  And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD our God with all your heart and with all your soul

13   to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today 

Prov 1:7 

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

Prov 9:10 

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 

Prov 19:23 

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life

Prov 14:27  

27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life

Eccl 12:13 

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.

Heb 12:28-29

28   Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably  with reverence and godly fear. 

29   For our God isa consuming fire. 

Rev 14:7 

7 Fear God and give glory to Him (worship)

1 Jn 4:17-18

17  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

1 Jn 4:17

17  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

1 Jn 2:6

6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

JESUS ALWAYS PLEASED HIS FATHER

Jn 6:38

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 

Jn 8:29 

29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.

Jn 10:30

30 I and My Father are one.

Act 10:38 

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 

JESUS SENDS US OUT WITH HIS ANOINTING

Jn 14:16-18 

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 

17  the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 

18  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Jn 20:21 

21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

Act 1:8 

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 

Act 2:38 

38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.   

CHRIST SPIRITUALLY AND LITERALLY BECOMES OUR LIFE

Gal 2:20 

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Col 1:27 

27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Col 3:4 

4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.   

WE ARE BEING TRANSFORMED PROGRESSIVELY INTO JESUS IMAGE AND CHARACTER

Rom 8:29 

29 For whom He foreknew, and He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

2 Cor 3:18 

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  

Eph 3:17-19

17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 

18  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — 

19  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

Col 3:10-11 

10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 

11  where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 

Eph 4:15-16

15  but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — 

16  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love

Heb 4:15-16 

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

16  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  

THE SECRET TO OUR SUCCESS – GOD WORKS IN US

Eph 2:10

10 For  we are His workmanship,  created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

Phil 2:13

13 for  it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 

Heb 13:20-21

20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 

21  make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

FULLY PLEASING THE LORD

2 Cor 5:9

9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 

Col 1:10

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God 

1 Thes 4:1

1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God

1 Jn 4:17

17  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

1 Jn 2:6

6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Heb 10:23-25 (New King James Version)

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

24  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

25   not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,

as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Heb 10:23-25 (The Passion Translation)

23 So now we must cling tightly to the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises! 

24  Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. 

25  This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.

Philemon 1:4-6 

4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 

5  hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 

6  that the sharing (fellowship, communion, communication) of your faith may become effective (energes) by the acknowledgment of (recognizing, knowing) every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 

Gen 2:4-15 

4  This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 

5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 

6  but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. 

7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 

8  The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 

9  And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

10  Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 

11  The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 

12  And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 

13  The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 

14  The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 

15  Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 

A SECURE PLACE TO BEAR MUCH FRUIT 

garden (gan) fenced, hedged around, protected, defended

Eden (Ēdhen) pleasurable, prosperous, delightful, fruitful

MANKIND BEGAN IN THE GARDEN AND ENDS IN THE GARDEN

Rev 22:1-2 

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

2  In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

GOD’S CHILDREN BECOME THE GARDEN

Is 5:1-7 

1  Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a song of my Beloved regarding His (God’s) vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. 

2   He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; so He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. 

3  And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. 

4   What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? 

5  And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 

6   I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it." 

7  For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.

Is_51:3  

3 For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her  desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

Is_58:11  

11 The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Ez_34:29  

29 I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore.

Ez_36:35  

35 So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.'

Song_4:12-16  

12 A garden enclosed (protected) Is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

13   Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with pleasant fruits, Fragrant henna with spikenard, 

14  Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices— 

15  A fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And streams from Lebanon. 

16   Awake, O north wind (Holy Spirit), and come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.

Song 5:1  

1 I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones!

Song_6:2  

2 My beloved has gone to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed his flock in the gardens, And to gather lilies.

Jn 15:1-8

1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

2  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

3  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 

4  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 

5  I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

6  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 

8  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 

Gal 5:22-23

22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 

Ez 47:12 

12  Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.

Rev 22:1-2 

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

2   In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.