The promises we normally think of as being for Christians are addressed to "him who overcomes."

What does it mean "to overcome"? What is it we are to overcome? How do we overcome?

To overcome means to conquer an adversary, to conquer someone or something that is seeking to prevent the Christian from attaining his or her objective. The objective of the believer in Christ is to be in the moral image of Christ and to be resting in untroubled union with Christ in God.

It is God's will that everyone whom He has called to Himself be in the image of His Son and be at rest in His Person and will.

The believer in the Lord Jesus has three adversaries, three forces that strive constantly to prevent him from being in the moral image of Christ and from resting in God's will for his life.

The first enemy is the spirit of this present world. The values of the world often are in direct opposition to God's values. Whoever is drinking of the waters of the world will find himself having a difficult time walking in the steps of Jesus and resting in God's will. Let us come out of the world and spend time with God.

The first temptation of man has to do with finding survival and security in the world rather than in the Lord.

The second enemy is the sin that dwells in our flesh. Satan uses these weaknesses in us as entrances. When we are burning with lust or violence or covetousness we do not behave as Jesus behaves. We refuse the gently flowing waters of Shiloah. There are no green pastures in which to lie down, only the passions of the flesh that give us no rest.

The second temptation of man has to do with finding joy and worship in Satan and our flesh rather than in the Lord. Adam and Eve had a problem with this one.

The third adversary is our self-will. The only legitimate will in the universe is God's will, His Kingdom. We do not have to create our own heaven and earth. Our task is to find the plan of God for our life.

The third temptation has to do with jumping off the gable of the Temple. Are we to wait on God for success and achievement or are we to use the Scriptures to "step out in faith"?

How do we conquer the world, our flesh, and our self-will? By seeking God continually. By praying and obeying. By meditating each day in the Scriptures. By entering the Holy of Holies and receiving grace so we may be able to resist Satan and have fellowship with God.

God could have made things so we had nothing to overcome. But God is preparing rulers who will prevent future rebellions against His will. By the process of overcoming we develop character—the kind of character that will be necessary if we are to be royal priests during the ages to come.

You cannot overcome the three enemies of man by your own strength and wisdom. But you can overcome them through Christ Jesus. Remember that. You can through Christ be more than a conqueror no matter in what condition you find yourself.

Through His riches in glory you can overcome!