Edited from the writings of
Seeley Kinne
There is to be a practical application of the principles of overcoming, in our daily life experience. Wrought out by the working of the power God, overcoming begins with the recreation of our character.
Man, in his natural state, has within him a variety of ups and downs, extremes, and weaknesses of character. For those who are redeemed, and have fully committed their lives to the Lord, these tendencies must be dealt with. Only then can we abide in the anointing and power of God, and become a vessel sanctified and meet for Divine use.
These character variations occur in every part of the human makeup. No faculty of man seems so warped from its proper action, as is his will, especially in its proper attitude toward God. This has been one of Satan’s master strokes. The basis of this satanic attack is to make it appear that the Lord’s requirements are unreasonable, and that He is a tyrant.
Any fair minded person can be satisfied through a candid examination of the facts of individual and national history that God is truly benevolent, and has the welfare of man at heart. Rather, Satan himself is the awful tyrant and enemy of all good.
At the very heart of the Divine method of producing “overcomers” is the cross. To the unenlightened, the cross may seem cruel, but to those who are the called, it is the wisdom and power of God.
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives to the death.” Revelation 12:11
“By the blood of the Lamb” means that we are to rely on no merit of our own, but only in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus totally overcame Satan in our behalf, our triumph is complete. This puts us in an attitude before the accuser that leaves him nothing to charge against.
There are two planes, or realms in which the redeemed may live. The first is the carnal, flesh realm. The second is the heavenly, Spirit realm. Since we were born into the natural earth plane, our tendencies are toward that plane. A great transformation is necessary if we are to live and operate on the Spirit plane. The name of this process is “crucifixion.”
This crucifixion is a death and burial process, as described in Romans, chapter 6, which is the destruction of sin. There is also to be a facing of the cross of Christ in our daily walk. Herein is the “process” by which the Lord recreates our character, which frees us from the natural realm, and lifts us into the Spirit realm. In these processes, He frees us from our strengths and weaknesses, the spots and blemishes of our nature, and gives us a heavenly character.
If we desire to become an “overcomer,” becoming a part of the Bride of Christ, we must enter the school of the Holy Spirit and come under His teachings, dealings, and control. Here, under the light of the Holy Spirit, we will face ourselves in thorough examination. No one can see in any other way his faults and earthward tendencies. With fan, refiner’s fire, fuller’s soap, chastening, these are the Lord’s methods in dealing with these.
“But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appears? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver….” Malachi 3:2-3
“Whose fan is in His hand, and he will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12
“…My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:5-6
There is need of these crucifying processes in each of our lives. When we see our need, we should earnestly present ourselves to the Lord, to be entered as being His disciple, in “The School of Christ,” of which the Holy Spirit is Principal and Teacher.
If we are careful to listen, the Holy Spirit will show us how to apply the cross to all carnal tendencies, going deeper and deeper, until one after another, they are eliminated. At first it will be painful and hard to bear, but if we persevere, we will begin to glory in the cross.
All our carnal attitudes and ways will be transformed into the attitudes of Jesus Christ, and we will experience the great joy and delight of living untrammeled in the Spirit realm. Our liberty and attainment will be boundless, as all barriers are swept away.
Then, along with the Apostle Paul, we will be able to testify:
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20