SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                1006

“More Than Conquerors”

 What then shall we say to these things? 

If God is for us, who can be against us? … 

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? …. 

Who is to condemn? …

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

 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:31-37)

Paul, in this portion of his letter to the Romans hits us with rapid fire questions and concludes with the statement that we are more than conquerors through Jesus. To conquer is to be victorious over an enemy or an opponent. It also means to overcome a problem, weakness, or a challenging objective. So how can you be more than a conqueror? What takes it up a notch?

I recall a time in my management career where I was called before a tribunal to determine my fitness to lead a team of engineers whose organization I had recently been appointed to manage. The LGBTQ community raised the issue because of my Christian faith. In prayer before the meeting the Lord reminded me not to be anxious. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12)

I vividly remember having a peace and calmness that was surreal throughout the proceedings. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

I answered all their questions to their satisfaction and my assignment was approved. In this situation I was more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote in our reference Scripture, we are more than conquerors because Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. …Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us… (Romans 8:34)

You can be more than a conqueror through Christ. Through Him you can conquer a sin habit or an addiction: smoking, alcohol, drugs, and more; Through His Holy Spirit you can overcome and conquer depression and physical illness. And yes, you can even conquer death gaining eternal life through Jesus Christ who died for your sins and is resurrected to prepare a place for you. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Through Christ you can be more than a conqueror over all the trials and issues this world will throw at you. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

May you be more than a conqueror in your day to day walk of faith through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.