In 1st Samuel 11 & 12, we’ve seen numerous references to fear. Unhealthy, ungodly fear, as well as godly fear of the Lord. We Christians can learn much from this.
On the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus had his last supper with his disciples, and he said to them: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1)
A few verses later, in John 14:27, he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Or consider his words in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The word overcome here is the Greek word nikao, which has a noun form nike. Same spelling as the shoe brand Nike. Why? Nike is a Greek word that means “victory or overcome or conquer.”
We see this very word and concept very clearly in 1st Corinthians 15:57. 1st Corinthians 15 is one of the resurrection chapters in the Bible. There are quite a few others. John 12 is when Jesus raises Lazarus to new life, and Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life.” Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20, are each chapters about Jesus’ resurrection. But in 1st Corinthians 15, Paul talks about the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection. And he concludes with this statement in verse 57, “thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”
Victory! Nike!
And then there is what Paul says in Romans 8. Let me read a few verses of this powerful passage. In Romans 8:31-39.
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Did you hear that phrase in verse 37? “We are more than conquerors”. Paul is using the word nike there. But he says, “more than”. In the Greek you add the word “hyper” to a word to make it “more than.” So here in Romans 8:37 Paul is using the word Hyper Nike. We are more than overcomers, we are super victors, extra conquerors. Why? How?
Through him who loved us! No matter what is out there making us fear, we are not alone. Jesus loves us. And Paul says that there is nothing in this world that can separate us from his love. He loves you. He Loves you. Therefore you are Hyper Nikes, you are overcomers.
In 1st Samuel 11 & 12, the people were scared, feeling trapped. Saul, filled with the Spirit, led them to victory, giving the credit to God. Then Samuel, in his retirement speech, reminds the people to fear God, faithfully trusting in him by doing the things that line up with his heart and his ways.
Let’s be like that! Overcomers. Not in our own strength, but by faithfully reaching out to God, walking in step with the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, so the Fruit of the Spirit is flowing from our lives, no matter the turmoil in the world we are walking through.
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