"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2:6 (see also 1:19-22).

As Christians, we have a position of victory. This victory is not something we earn, or even grow into. It is our inheritance, simply because we have aligned our lives with the source of victory: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ cannot be defeated

"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings..." Revelation 17:14 (see also John 16:33; Colossians 2:5; Romans 8:31; 16:20).

We are in Christ

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ..." 2 Corinthians 2:14 (see also 2 Samuel 22:29-36).

These two facts establish us in a position from which we can operate as overcomers in life.

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" 1 John 4:4.

Victory of the Cross

"And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" Col.2:15.

When Jesus died on the Cross, He declared: "It is finished!" (John 19:30). The victory of the Cross on our behalf was absolute. It is this victory, not our own, which is the starting point of our lives as overcomers. We are not working toward victory, but from victory! (1 Corinthians 15:55-57; 1:23-24).

"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne" Revelation 3:21.

The Bible says that when Jesus ascended, He "sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (Heb.1:3; Acts 2:34; Rom.8:34). The Bible says that we too were raised in Christ (Eph.2:6). We are now seated in Christ at the right hand of God.

In Scripture, God's right hand represents His power and salvation (Psalm 20:6; 44:3; 60:5; 98:1; 118:15-16). We are now seated at God's right hand. This means that we no longer have to struggle with our problems on our own. We must now learn to handle our problems and difficulties from the perspective of God's Throne.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God" Colossians 3:1 (read verses 2-4).

Two Vital Ingredients

"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised" Heb.6:12.

The secret to being an overcomer lies in two words: faith and perseverance. They are not opposites, but are in fact complimentary. Only when both faith and perseverance are at work in our lives will we experience the full victory God has for us.

"Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring" 2 Thessalonians 1:4.

Faith

"...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" 1 John 5:4.

Many people think that they only have victory when their difficulty is over - that when their problem is solved, only then they are overcomers. But John tells us that our faith itself is the victory! That means our victory is operating...

• In the midst of trouble (John 16:33).
• In the midst of trials (1 Peter 1:6-7).
• In the midst of persecution (2 Cor.12:9-10; 2 Thess.1:4).

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship 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 8:35-37 (see also Acts 16:16-34)

Perseverance

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete..." James 1:2-4.

Perseverance in the midst of difficulty is the other side of the coin. All the great heroes of faith displayed great perseverance. Theirs was an enduring faith (see Rom.4:18-21; Heb.11). This endurance does a three-part work in our lives:

• Perseverance strengthens character (Romans 5:1-4; Psalm 105:16-19; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 3:5).
• Perseverance brings maturity (James 1:2-8).
• Perseverance produces glory (James 1:12; 5:7-11; Hebrews 10:35-36).

Victory Outworked

"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me - I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me, [that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]" Philippians 4:13 (Amp).

No matter how great the problem we face, God's victory is even greater (2 Cor.12:9-10; Luke 1:37; Jeremiah 32:17,27). Even when we experience failure in our life, God is greater than our failure. When we accept responsibility for our failure and repent before God, the Lord defends our cause (Rom.8:31-34; 1 John 3:19-20). Even our worst failure does not ultimately hinder God's plan (Hebrews 6:16-19; Philippians 1:6; 2:13).

• God works in all things for our good (Rom.8:28-29).
• God reveals His glory in our weakness (2 Cor.12:7-10)
• God uses our failure to minister to others (2 Cor.1:3-4).

Through Christ we are "more than conquerors" because even seeming defeat can be turned around by God into victory!