As This teaching is extracted from the book 'Eagles Fly High!' it does not have a background component to its specific presentation.

You may read the complete book, downloadable at

http://www.wwj.org.nz/eaglepts.php

to fully grasp the context within which it was written.

HEALTH WARNING!
These thoughts may burn out some long held prejudices and inspire new life goals. Please persist with the treatment, seeking full immersion in the Word, until new understanding is fully assimilated.

The treatment may take some time and requires effort to be effective.

Success is assured if the Maker’s instructions are followed.

Around 2-3 years ago (written over 12 years ago now making it 15 years ago - then, but a lot more now) the Lord drew my attention to the endings of the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation, chapters 2 & 3. Each letter ends in a similar way, "to him who overcomes," with a promise following.

Upon first discovering these, I shared them with the "Home Group" we have attended for many years. It was an interesting study, but no more. It wasn’t until late this afternoon (8 October 1999), just in time to get into trouble with the wife for not setting the table in time for tea, that the Lord showed me what they really meant!

But it shows His empathy too, in that He had started preparing me, several years ago, for this day. And what did He show me? That the promises He made to these 7 churches were to be fulfilled by the overcoming people of His Tabernacle Church.

These promises make just so much more sense, now that the blinkers have been removed from my eyes.

How I have resisted that word over the years! It was even hard to type it today, although I did manage it without making a mistake! Entrenched prejudices don’t disappear that easily, do they?

The word, (without the "r"), is used in a positive way, almost exclusively by the Apostle John in the books of 1 John and Revelation. The Greek root of the word is "nikao", which is usually translated as "overcome/s" but sometimes interpreted as "conquer/or", verpower/s, prevailed, triumphed or victorious. So an Overcomer then is one who overcomes, who prevails, who triumphs. But over what? Let’s look at Revelation 15:2.

And who are these victorious ones? My Study Bible, written by far more learned people than I, tells me, "the saints victory over the devil in 12:11."

Amazing how things tie in! An Overcomer then, is one who has attained maturity in Jesus Christ
by working out the 3 stages of Revelation 12:11 in their life.

But what about 1 John 5:5, you may ask – if you are a real bible expert.

"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God"

So we only need to believe to overcome? No! Read on a bit! The next three verses
in fact. (v6-8)

Yes, Jesus is the vital first step, but the Spirit and the Father need to be added in too to get "the 3 that testify." An "overcomer" then, needs all three "S" experiences in God – Salvation, Spirit, and Submission to the will of the Father. It is so dangerous, taking a verse out of context!

To overcome something or someone! The real interesting question is who or what. Now the answer to this one is simple – it must be because I know it without even having to look it up! Back to Revelation 12.

(v9) "The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. (v12) They overcame him (i.e. Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."

The Overcomer’s job then is to defeat Satan! This is achieved by being completely sold out (dedicated) to Jesus. Easily said, not so easily done! For we have to overcome, to put aside, the desires of the remnant of that old human nature that still lurks within each of us.

This ultimate battle by the "fully fledged overcomers" is still in the future for the
church as a whole. For we are unable as yet, to fully eliminate those last vestiges of our human nature. For no one is perfect – except my teenage kids, of course! But the pattern is set. And the degree to which we submit, will reflect the measure of God’s power that we are able to harness, to defeat Satan in our living today.

Unlike a worldly battle where might is right, the spiritual battle is won through submission,
ultimate submission bringing ultimate victory.

Hence the high place accorded to martyrs – literal submission unto death. The world cannot understand how death can mean victory, but it can and does, for that is the example that Jesus set! The more we submit, the more we are given. Not the 100% attained by the martyrs, but in varying degrees, some greater, e.g. John Wesley, some lesser – me as of yet, but I am trying! (very trying some might say!)

Kathy has just come downstairs to my office and seen this heading on my computer. "How can you talk about overcomers rewards when you haven’t even believed in overcomers before?" Our spouse knows us!

For the Lord has changed me! Particularly so because another of my idiosyncrasies, (or prejudices!) is against those who are motivated to action primarily by the promise of reward. In my life, the enjoyment and challenge of a task has always been of utmost importance.

If rewards follow – great – if they don’t, I have had a lot of fun trying anyway! These attitudes have got me into trouble at times, as I have taken excessive risks in the pursuit of my dreams. Am doing so again here too! Some people never learn!

It is probably why the Lord can use me though. Because I am prepared to step out, (apply faith) in what He tells me to do. I have learned now though, to be as sure as I can, that it is the Lord speaking before moving out! That is why ‘Eagles Fly High!’ includes ‘David’s Musings’, for they often contain the important, faith building, physical confirmations of the spiritual leading the Lord gives me. I need them too, to take these risks! But back to the point! Rewards are not a great motivator to me. I am including them here because the Lord wants me too. That is why He has revealed them to me. Certainly, not to be ignored because of any personal prejudice or motivation. For He knows more than I do! Of that I am sure!

I do realise that you may well be different to me and be motivated by rewards. That is great too. For it is just as well we are all different!

A world full of David clones wouldn’t be too good for getting the dishes washed (getting better) or the ironing done (will never learn)!

And from what I have found out so far, these promised rewards look pretty good to me too!

So let’s investigate together, shall we.

We will look at the first 2 of the 7 churches, those in Ephesus and Smyrna to see what rewards were promised to the overcomers there.

It is interesting to read today what one has written 14-15 years ago. I can see how far I have come now! For we are always a 'work in progress.'

The truths though, that the Lord revealed at that time, are still relevant to today and will continue into eternity!

Watchtower in the Vineyard

This was also called a watchman's booth, which was a small sheltered tower in the midst of a vineyard. They were very important during harvest time, where the whole family would often reside. The watchtower was a symbol of protection from enemies and thieves and rising above them.