Topic: More than Conquerors
Text: Romans 8:37
“Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.” (Amplified Version).

Introduction
LOVE: This word is the most powerful word there is. But it is also the most abused, misused, and misapplied ever! The children of God and the children of the devil talk about love. Every day, and everywhere, there is either a giving or receiving of love. The love in our text is unlike others. There are no two or three or more types of love. There is just “One Love” – others are but various shades of counterfeits and abuses masquerading as love. God is love (cf. 1 John 4:8). True love is self giving, not self-seeking. Consequently, as children of our heavenly Father, we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS and gain surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
Lessons for Reflection

First, the triune love of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit was the basis upon which Paul could declare confidently that both himself, and “all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints” (cf. Romans 1:7), were MORE THAN CONQUERORS. In every generation, Jesus never promised His followers a cozy, comfortable life. Jesus stressed this truth, thus: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you]” (John 16:33, Amplified). Like Paul and the saints of old, we too must rest confidently on the fact that in spite of the turmoil and tribulations amidst us, the LOVE of the triune God over us is the foundation of our continuous declaration: “WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS!”

Second, our pressing on against all odds in accomplishing the task and ministry the Lord has in mercy handed over to us, is not so that we will be loved of God, but because we are already loved by God. We are not striving to be more than conquerors so that God will love us eventually. NO! We are already loved and accepted in the Beloved. John writes, “For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4, Amplified). We are more than conquerors NOT chiefly because we work to earn that ascription, but because we are born of God, Who loved us and gave Himself for us. If we are truly born of the Spirit (cf. John 3:6), then our entire make up (our ‘DNA’) is affectionately summed up by the One Who Himself has overcome the world as “MORE THAN CONQUERORS!”

Third, we must never allow the present difficulties, challenges, lack, persecutions, rejection, opposition, famine, economic or financial crises, distresses, death or life, not even fear of the future, nor the pressures from within and without, have the final say. The God who controls the universe is fully aware of these things. This means that His expectation over us is to walk through them and emerge victoriously (rather than live in self denial of these situations). The God Who comforts us in all our troubles is Immanuel. The only echo; long, loud, and unceasing as the present battle rages is that spoken by Jesus, the Captain of our salvation: “YOU ARE MORE THAN CONQUEROR!”

Conclusion
Dearly beloved, let us avoid all distractions and set our hearts to completing the ministry we have received in the Lord (cf. Colossians 4:16). John Piper notes, “A conqueror defeats his enemy, but one who is more than a conqueror subjugates his enemy. A conqueror nullifies the purpose of his enemy; one who is more than a conqueror makes the enemy serve his own purposes. A conqueror strikes down his foe; one who is more than a conqueror makes his foe his slave.” The Church of Jesus Christ is marching on, subjugating the enemy of the Cross. Surely, the gates of Hades shall not prevail.

Prayers
1. Pray that the Lord will increase our faith to trust Him more in the face of diverse oppositions.
2. Let us thank the Triune God for showering on us such a unique love that enables us to daily walk in victory.

Daniel Bulus
Principal, Nigeria Evangelical Missionary Institute (NEMI),
Mista-Ali, Jos