Overcome! | Pastor Jerry Lawson | Daystar Church

So many times, life throws challenges at us that feel overwhelming—whether it’s the daily grind of frustrations or the deep pain of loss, sickness, or betrayal. The question that often rises in our hearts is, “Will I get through this?” But there’s a better question to ask: “Who am I in the middle of this?” Our identity in Christ is not defined by our circumstances, but by what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. In Romans 8, Paul writes to believers facing persecution and poverty, not with empty optimism, but with the reality that in all these things, we are “more than conquerors” through Christ who loves us.

This isn’t just a positive mindset—it’s a new identity. God’s love is unshakeable, proven by the cross. If God did not spare His own Son for us, how could He possibly abandon us now? Our failures and struggles don’t disqualify us from His love; He knew us fully and still chose to redeem us. The first step to overcoming is to trust the One who fights for us, knowing that His commitment to us is unwavering.

But it doesn’t stop there. We are called to live from the power within us—the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us. Paul uses a unique word, “hupernikeo,” meaning “beyond victory.” God’s plan isn’t just for us to survive our battles, but to be transformed by them, coming out stronger and more Christlike than before. The power of God in us is able to demolish strongholds—those patterns, addictions, and lies that have held us captive for generations.

A crucial part of walking in victory is refusing the lie of victimhood. The world may define us by what’s been done to us or by our failures, but God calls us more than conquerors. Our suffering is not our identity; it’s the context in which God’s power is revealed and our character is shaped for eternal purposes. The cross itself is proof that God can turn the world’s worst evil into the greatest victory.

To live in this truth, we must take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. The world bombards us with lies—about ourselves, about God, about our future. We must confront these lies with the truth of God’s Word, training our minds to reject the world’s narrative and embrace our true identity in Christ. This is not a one-time event, but a daily journey of intercepting, confronting, and replacing lies with God’s eternal truth. In Christ, we are chosen, favored, empowered, and more than conquerors.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. True victory begins with trusting the One who fights for you. God’s commitment to you is proven by the cross—He gave His own Son for you, knowing every failure and weakness you would ever have. If He did not withhold Jesus, He will not withhold anything you truly need. Let this truth settle in your heart: God is for you, and nothing can stand against you. [05:22]
• 2. Living as “more than a conqueror” means embracing the resurrection power within you. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now dwells in you, not just to forgive, but to empower and transform. This power is able to demolish strongholds—those generational patterns, addictions, and lies that seem unbreakable. You are not just surviving; you are being changed into someone new through the battles you face. [10:21]
• 3. Refuse to let victimhood define your identity. The world may teach us to see ourselves through the lens of what’s been done to us or our past mistakes, but God calls us to something higher. Every attack, every hardship, is an opportunity for God to shape you more into the image of Christ. Your scars are not marks of defeat, but evidence of God’s transforming power at work in you. [16:56]
• 4. The Christian mind is not passive, but actively takes every thought captive to Christ. The world and the enemy bombard us with lies—about our worth, our future, and God’s love. We must intercept these thoughts, confront them, and force them to bow to the truth of God’s Word. This requires knowing Scripture deeply and using it as a weapon against every lie that seeks to enslave us. [23:46]
• 5. Your journey to overcoming is a daily process of replacing lies with truth. It’s not about flipping a switch and never struggling again, but about taking each thought captive, one at a time. As you draw closer to God, you’ll sense His favor and love more deeply, realizing you are His beloved child. Don’t run from Him in your weakness—run to Him, and let Him transform your battles into testimonies of His grace. [32:06]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:28] - Facing Overwhelming Problems
• [01:05] - The Context of Romans 8
• [01:43] - More Than Conquerors: Identity, Not Optimism
• [02:51] - Three Ways to Walk in Authority
• [03:52] - If God Is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?
• [05:22] - The Cross: Proof of God’s Commitment
• [07:06] - Living from the Power Within
• [08:07] - Hupernikeo: Beyond Victory
• [09:49] - The Spirit That Raised Christ Lives in You
• [11:24] - Demolishing Strongholds
• [13:47] - Overcoming Outside the Church Walls
• [15:18] - Refusing the Lie of Victimhood
• [18:39] - The Cross Turns Suffering Into Victory
• [19:13] - Taking Every Thought Captive
• [23:46] - Training Your Mind with God’s Word
• [27:37] - The Journey of Overcoming
• [32:06] - Embracing God’s Favor and Identity
• [34:20] - Prayer for Overcoming
• [35:41] - Prayer for Forgiveness and Salvation

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: “More Than Conquerors”**

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### Bible Reading

**Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)**
> 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

**2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV)**
> 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

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### Observation Questions

1. In Romans 8:31-32, what argument does Paul use to assure believers of God’s commitment to them? How does the cross serve as proof? ([05:22])
2. According to the sermon, what does the phrase “more than conquerors” (hupernikeo) mean, and how is it different from just being a conqueror? ([08:07])
3. What are “strongholds” as described in 2 Corinthians 10:4, and what examples did the sermon give of strongholds in our lives? ([11:24])
4. What does Paul say we should do with our thoughts in 2 Corinthians 10:5, and how did the sermon illustrate this with practical examples? ([19:13])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says our identity is not defined by our circumstances but by what Jesus did for us. Why is this distinction important for someone going through suffering or failure? ([02:15])
2. The pastor described “hupernikeo” as being transformed by our battles, not just surviving them. What does it look like for a Christian to be changed by hardship rather than just making it through? ([09:49])
3. The world often encourages us to see ourselves as victims of our past or what’s been done to us. How does the gospel challenge this mindset, and what does it mean to “refuse the lie of victimhood”? ([15:18])
4. The sermon emphasized taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ. Why is this an ongoing, daily process rather than a one-time event? ([23:46])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “If God did not spare His own Son for us, how could He possibly abandon us now?” When you face doubts about God’s love or faithfulness, what specific truth from Romans 8 can you remind yourself of? ([05:22])
2. Think about a “stronghold” in your life—maybe a pattern, addiction, or lie you’ve believed for years. What would it look like to trust the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit to begin demolishing that stronghold? ([11:24])
3. The pastor shared about refusing to let victimhood define us. Is there a place in your life where you’ve let your past or someone else’s actions shape your identity? What would it look like to let God’s truth reshape that identity? ([16:56])
4. The sermon gave practical examples of taking thoughts captive—like comparing yourself to others on social media or believing you’re unworthy. What is one recurring negative thought you struggle with, and what specific Scripture could you use to confront it? ([24:23])
5. The pastor said, “Your journey to overcoming is a daily process of replacing lies with truth.” What is one step you can take this week to be more intentional about intercepting and replacing lies with God’s Word? ([32:06])
6. When you feel weak or like you’ve failed, do you tend to run from God or to Him? What would it look like for you to run to God in your weakness, as David did in Psalm 51? ([33:48])
7. The sermon mentioned that the closer you get to God, the more you sense His favor and love. What is one practical way you can draw closer to God this week, especially in the middle of a struggle? ([32:06])

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**Closing Prayer Suggestion:**
Invite the group to pray, asking God to help them see themselves as more than conquerors, to trust His love, and to take every thought captive to Christ. Encourage sharing specific areas where they want to experience God’s victory and transformation.