Overcoming The Adversary

Bill Somers

Mount Gilead Ohio USA

April 22, 2007

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11

I had a dream this week which illustrated overcoming the adversary. Here is the background.

I have been attending a Messianic congregation for the last month or so, and enjoying the fellowship, the worship and the moving of the spirit  there. For the past couple weeks the Rabbi has been preaching on the phrase Fear Not. I found that this exact phrase appears in the King James translation some 63 times! It’s not surprising to me that we should be on this topic, as I expect there will shortly come to pass a great deal of fearful events.

In Hebrew, the word used is Strongs H3372 ירא yaw-ray'.

Strongs definition is this: A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten: - affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing). (be had in) reverence (-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).

The Hebrew spelling of the word  is Yod, Resh, Aleph. These have to do with the hand, the head and great strength or the number one. The hand and the head speak of physical sensations. Combine that with great strength and you have fear as great physical sensations, or powerful perceptions.  Then to say fear not, would mean do not yield or give in to powerful perceptions that come through the senses. Or do not allow sensory perception to be number one in your thinking. Paraphrasing this again, it can mean do not walk in the flesh!

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8

So we are not to fear what ever may be happening around us in this world!

Then came the news of the 32 people murdered at Virginia Tech. And that led to the dream.

The Dream

In the dream I somehow found myself in the same type situation as had occurred at Virginia Tech. I was in a group of people who were going to be shot, one at a time. I was struck very forcefully with the realization that there was no way out and this was the end. I was shortly going to die. [I really had other plans.] I recall thinking that there were many things that I was never going to get to do. But these were not so important anymore. So I just composed my self, and prayed to Jesus, Lord, I’m coming to be with you. Then I felt a peace settle in my heart, and everything was ok. There was no fear!

That’s all I remember of the dream. [This all came back to my memory about an hour after waking Thursday morning and that’s how I am able to share it with you.]

Rev 12:11 given in several translations.

(ALT)  "And they defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life to the point of death.

(CEV)  Our people defeated Satan because of the blood of the Lamb and the message of God. They were willing to give up their lives.

(ESV)  And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

(HNV) They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death.

(ISV)  They conquered him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life even in the face of death.

(KJV)  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15