Romans 8:37 says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

In scripture, God never tells us that we should be defeated or possess a victim mentality. Instead, God’s Word says we are “more than conquerors”. In fact, we are champions! It does not mean we will never fall or ever face troubles and trials, but at the end, we are overcomers! We are more than conquerors because Jesus is more than a conqueror, and whatever He defeats we defeat as His bride and being one with Him. 1 John 5:4-5 says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” Your faith in Jesus is the ultimate evidence of a champion since you are equipped with the mind of Christ!

In the Book of Revelation to the seven churches of Asia Minor, Jesus addresses to John this letter concerning each church of what they are facing and the rewards that they would receive if they overcome:

1) To the church of Ephesus, if they overcome by returning back to their first love, they would eat of the tree of life in the middle of the paradise of God, which would be heaven (Revelation 2:7). 

2) To the church of Smyrna, if they overcome by remaining faithful in the midst of persecution, they would receive a crown of life and will not be harmed by the second death (Revelation 2:11). 

3) To the church of Pergamos, if they overcome by no longer tolerating the doctrines of Balaam, which comes from the seat of Satan in the city and instructs people to eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual sins, they would eat of the hidden manna of heaven and be given a white stone with a new name engraved in it (Revelation 2:17). 

4) To the church of Thyatira, if they overcome by no longer tolerating the spirit of Jezebel in their church, they would be given authority over the nations of the earth, ruling them with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:26-27). 

5) To the church of Sardis, if they overcome by waking up out of their slumber, watching and strengthening what remains, they would be clothed in white and their names would not be erased out of the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5). 

6) To the church of Philadelphia, if they overcome by enduring through persecution in holding fast to God’s Word, refusing to lose their crown and deny the name of Jesus, those of the synagogue of Satan would come and fall before their feet, and they would become a pillar in the temple of my God, always remaining in God’s presence. Jesus will write upon him the name of God, the name of the city of God, which is new Jerusalem, and His new name (Revelation 3:9-12). 

7) To the church of Laodicea, if they overcome their lukewarm condition by recognizing and repenting of their arrogant state and opening the door to fellowship with the real Messiah, they will sit with God in His throne, even as Jesus also overcame and is seated with the  Father in His throne (Revelation 3:21). 

The only two churches that were not rebuked were the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, and they suffered persecution from the outside as a result of their faithfulness to God. However, the other churches were rebuked for what was going on on the inside. In other words, nothing from the outside can ever destroy the church. It is an implosion from within and what we allow to happen on the inside that determines that church’s future, whether it will be a split and defeat or if they would overcome. Repentance is the ultimate key to overcoming. It is about Jesus “preaching down” people, but He gives them hope that if they choose to follow after Him with a total heart of surrender, then promises are waiting for them. Let this give you hope that regardless of where you stand spiritually, you too can overcome and become a champion!