(part 3; part 1 and part 2 here – navigation forward and backward also at bottom of page)
The next morning, (Mon 1-20), I saw that Rick Renner’s Sparkling Gem for the day was entitled, Never Forget That You Are More Than a Conqueror! (full devo at link) In it Rick says, “How do you see yourself? As a champion who wins nearly every fight? Or as a loser who struggles along, never seeming to conquer a single problem? How you perceive yourself is very important….” He talks about how people with the latter perception exude negativity, inferiority, insecurity (defeat), but that the former group who see themselves as champions/overcomers, who win every fight, will exude CONFIDENCE.
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“In this verse (Rom 8:37), Paul declares that “…we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him that loved us.” I want to especially draw your attention to the phrase “more than conquerors.” It comes from the Greek word hupernikos, a compound of the words huper and nikos. By joining (these words), Paul is making one fabulous, jammed-packed, power-filled statement about you and me! The words “more than” are derived from the Greek word huper, which literally means over, above, and beyond. It depicts something that is way beyond measure. It carries the idea of superiority — something that is utmost, paramount, foremost, first-rate, first-class, and top-notch; greater, higher, and better than; superior to; preeminent, dominant, and incomparable; more than a match for; unsurpassed, unequaled, and unrivaled by any person or thing. … Paul uses this word huper to dramatize our victory.
This is what Paul meant to get across in Romans 8:37:
‘We are greater conquerors, superior conquerors, higher and better conquerors, utmost conquerors, paramount conquerors, top-notch conquerors, unsurpassed conquerors,
unequaled and unrivaled conquerors!!’
‘We are MORE THAN A MATCH for any foe!’ (remember that phrase)
…The word “conqueror” is from the Greek word nikos…(which) describes an overcomer; a conqueror, champion, victor, or master. It is the picture of an overwhelming, prevailing force. The word nikos alone wasn’t strong enough to make Paul’s point, so he joined the words huper and nikos together to make his point even stronger! When you put these two words together, they form the word hupernikos, which declares that in Jesus Christ, you are an overwhelming conqueror, a paramount victor, or an enormous overcomer. This word is so power-packed that one could interpret it as a phenomenal, walloping, conquering force!
That’s precisely who you are in Jesus Christ! So stop looking at yourself as a struggling loser. Regardless of your past experiences, you must begin to look at yourself through God’s eyes and in the light of Romans 8:37. … Resolve right now to see yourself the way the Word of God does — as a walloping and conquering force! You are MORE THAN A MATCH for any adversary or foe that would come against you today!
(Copyright © Rick Renner, Sparkling Gems from the Greek)
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That same morning, I turned on Joyce’s broadcast online. I was several weeks behind, so I had lots of broadcasts to choose from, yet the one I “just happened” to choose (thanks to the Holy Spirit) was FULL of confirmations of these very things. I will include just a few of the things Joyce said that were significant rhema to me in this message:
“Why does God sometimes leave us in the situations we’re in when He could just as easily deliver us out of them right now. Because the way we develop FAITH MUSCLES is by having to USE THEM! The more we use our faith the more of it we will have in our lives.” (Paul wanted to teach the believers that) no matter what their problems were, they were MORE THAN CONQUERORS in Christ and they could still have a good attitude and enjoy life. You’re misinformed if you think a relationship with God means you won’t have any problems. But God will DELIVER YOU from things and bring you through them VICTORIOUSLY! We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Christ – MORE THAN CONQUERORS! I’ve thought about what 
this phrase means and I believe it means that I ALREADY KNOW THAT I’M GOING TO WIN BEFORE THE BATTLE STARTS!!! Before I ever even know what the battle is, I already have CONFIDENCE in God that whatever comes my way that I can walk through it in victory through Christ. It may not be easy, but I can do it with holy ease – I can have an internal ease about it (by faith). When we have the right approach to things (the approach of faith based on God’s Word), we can stay at ease internally (no matter what our external circumstances because) THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU!” (There’s another confirmation of that word this week as well!) She also said – “Every trial that you have is an opportunity to practice” (a spiritual workout, an opportunity to RESIST the enemy and overcome him, that will make us STRONGER)!!
Then the JHM devo (from 1/20) that I mentioned in the Shield and Shepherd confirmation message the other day not only had the Ephesians 6 verse about the shield of faith, but also said:
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“There Is Only One Thing You Can Do With A Sword, And That’s FIGHT! The Bible says to ‘RESIST the devil, and he WILL FLEE from you’ (James 4:7). Paul instructed us to “FIGHT the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). Paul was a fighter. One of the last things he wrote to the church was ‘I have fought a good fight.’ (2 Timothy 4:7). Another place Paul says he did not fight ‘as one who beats the air’ (1 Corinthians 9:26). In other words, ‘I’m not throwing a series of wild punches hoping I hit the devil. If he gets close enough, it’s lights out.’ … Paul said he was not swinging wildly; HE WAS READY FOR COMBAT. He was CONFIDENT that through Jesus Christ he was MORE THAN A MATCH FOR THE POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES OF DARKNESS. You can have that kind of CONFIDENCE too…it is available for everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ! (Copyright © John Hagee Ministries)
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Besides the recurring themes of confidence, developing our faith muscles through the battles we encounter (the giants are our bread), having to fight and resist the devil, yet knowing we will win before the battle begins, and the Kingdom of God/Heaven within, I hope you also saw the precise confirmation of the phrase from Rick’s devo, “more than a match.” Though I believe it’s also significant that “more than a conqueror” occurred multiple times in the same day from different sources, I believe there’s additional significance in the fact that a less typical (unusual) way of stating that common phrase occurred twice in the same day from separate sources. Apart from confirmations of identical themes, these kinds of particular and precise word-for-word confirmations are always extra indicators to me that GOD IS SPEAKING!!
I just started hearing the theme music from “Rocky” playing in my spirit. LOL! I haven’t seen anything from those movies since I was a kid (when my brother Jeff was probably watching them and I saw bits and pieces). So just now I pulled that song up on youtube and as I listened, words jumped out to me that I’d never heard before (any die-hard Rocky fans please overlook my ignorance). Sure enough, the lyrics say:
“Getting STRONG now
won’t be long now
getting STRONG now”
The Lord makes me laugh by the secular movies He speaks to me through. I looked at the lyrics of Eye of the Tiger after that too and saw the message that we must NEVER GIVE UP; we must HAVE THE WILL TO SURVIVE, RISE UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF OUR RIVALS, (our enemies in the spiritual realm) AND FIGHT!!
I hope you’re hearing this anthem in the Spirit now too and are rising up in faith, knowing THE VICTORY IS ALREADY PROMISED TO YOU BEFORE THE BATTLE BEGINS as long as you accept this challenge to suit up in the full armor and to fight the good fight of faith with the truth of God’s Word. Remember that it doesn’t matter how big the giants ~ God said their protection has been CUT OFF, but that He is WITH US to cause us to inherit the land He promised. And because He is with us/IN US, we are WELL ABLE to possess it ~ MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him who loves us! Don’t look at the size of “the giants”; look at the size of our God and FIGHT with CONFIDENCE in Him and His promises!
I need to say “to be continued again,” b/c there’s still a bit more to go….. (part 4 here)
Blessings and Prayers, Laura
