Living as an Overcomer: Eternal Motivation for Earthly Success

In this fiery guide, pastor Evans (Kingdom Focus) mines scripture for wisdom on “overcoming what used to hold you back or defeat you.” To do so he turns to the book of Revelation, in which Jesus sends messages of spiritual guidance (transcribed by John the apostle) to seven churches in Asia Minor. From these epistles, Evans draws insight into the “spiritual independence” needed to surmount adversity. Analyzing Jesus’s message to Ephesus discussing how to cultivate a genuine rather than performative relationship with God, Evans writes, “Duty is never to replace devotion if we want to be an overcomer.” Just as Jesus promised members of the Philadelphia church in present-day Turkey that their spiritual devotion would be rewarded (“I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan” to “bow down... and make them know that I have loved you”), readers should be assured, according to Evans, that “when you keep God’s Word, even though you may have little power... God will move things so that even your enemies are beneath your feet.” While Evans’s analogies can feel contrived (he compares how a “special meal” is given to first-class passengers on a flight to how God will offer providence specifically to “those who serve Him faithfully”), his trademark charisma and potent insights (“Whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith”) shine through. This inspires. (Jan.)