Hyper Nike

The Greek word, hupernikao, translates into hyper nike. It shows up only one time in the entire New Testament. Romans 8:37, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

More than conquerors = hyper nike.

Hyper means more than normal.
Hyper active = more active than normal.
Hyper sensitive = more sensitive than normal.
Hyper sonic = traveling at a speed greater than or equal to five times the speed of sound.
Hyper tension = higher than normal blood pressure.
Hyper ventilate = breathing more rapidly than normal.

Hyper nike = more nike than normal.

So what is nike?

Today we have a sporting goods company called Nike. But “more sporting goods company than normal” doesn't make much sense. In New Testament times, Nike was well-known as the winged goddess of victory. Now we are getting somewhere.

Hyper Nike = more victory than normal! A super victory! God expects me to be super victorious! Another way to read Romans 8:37 is “No, in all things we are super victorious through him who loved us.”

What is super victory?

First, I am told that in all things God works for my good. If I am called by God, then God will glorify me. (Romans 8:28-30). The good things God does for me bring glory to Him and to me.

Next, Paul asks, how I will respond to God doing good things for me. My response should be to say, “if God is for me, who can be against me?” (8:31) Who can be against me?

The Answer: No one!

Then Paul asks, in 8:32, “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?” Won't God give me everything I need? And won't He give it to me graciously and gladly? Of course He will!

God is for me! God will give me every resource I need!

That being the case, I am asked to consider these questions:

“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?” (8:33)

Answer: it doesn't matter, because God is with me. He is on my side.

“Who is he that condemns?” (8:34)

Answer: it doesn't matter because God is with me. He is on my side.

The final question in verse 35 asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

Answer: No one, because God is with me.

I have not experienced famine or nakedness or sword. Rarely have I been persecuted or in danger. And never on a consistent basis. That leaves trouble and hardship. I have had some difficulties, but I would not call them real hardships. My dictionary says a hardship is “a thing hard to bear, as poverty, pain, etc.” Maybe some things in my life have be hardship, but I don't really see it that way. I can't think of anything all that “hard to bear.” Especially when I consider the hard things my friends and family members have had to bear. Unexpected death of a loved one. Cancer. Loss of a job.

I have experience some trouble. My dictionary says trouble is “to cause difficulty or inconvenience.” I am bound to be inconvenienced because I have expectations. When people or circumstances fail to meet my expectations, I believe I am inconvenienced. Things don't seem to be going “my way.”

The great thing is that whether I suffer trouble or hardships. Whether I suffer persecutions or dangers. Whether I suffer famine, nakedness or sword. If these things don't seem to be going “my way.” The great thing is . . .

they always go God's way! Even if I end up dying, that still goes God's way!

When I look at things from God's perspective. I can have super victory.

How to Hyper Nike.

1. I need to act like God is in control.

What I consider as the good and the bad, He considers only as good for me. He has my best interest in mind. He knows better than any one else what I need. God is Sovereign.

This is a fundamental principle of living as a practical disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. I need to understand this one. In my experience, most Christians never get it. They never live the super victorious life. They think of God as the big mean guy in the sky with a big stick waiting to “whack” them when they mess up. And when something happens in their life that they don't like, they think it is God “whacking” them. They are not sure why God is whacking them, but they are sure He is. They have a hard time believing what God is allowing to happen to them is for their own good.

I can increase my practical understanding of the Sovereignty of God by:

A. Reading my Bible early, often and for a long time. Reading in the Psalms is particularly helpful to me.

B. Memorizing verses on the Sovereignty of God. And reviewing them often. The passage in Romans 8:28-39 is a good one to memorize.

Also, Isaiah 43:13 “Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”

And, Daniel 2:20,21 “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”

C. Reviewing the life of Job as found in the book of Job. Satan wasn't allowed to touch Job with out God's permission (Job 1:12).

D. Reviewing the life of Joseph found in Genesis 37-50. At the end, in Genesis 50:20, Joseph told his brothers that they had “intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

At the end, Joseph was able to see God's sovereign plan for everything that had happened to him. I need to have that same trust in God's sovereign plan for my life, even if I DON'T see the end result. Even if I don't see the good. I have to trust that God knows. He sees the end. He knows what is best for me.

2. I need to act on the fact that God gives me the resources I need to be super victorious.

God gave me the Lord Jesus Christ to pay for my sins. If He is willing to give me the great gift of His own Son, everything else is minor in comparison. When Jesus left the earth. The Holy Spirit came. The Holy Spirit helps me become like Christ. When I see things as Jesus Christ does, I will be living super victorious.

Practical discipleship tips on growing in Christlikeness

3. I need to act on the fact “that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or 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.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Nothing can separate me from the love of God, but I can chose to ignore it. I have observed that unexpected events either drive me closer to God or further away. I need to chose to pursue God. He is pursuing me. I need to pursue Him as well......

Practical discipleship tips on pursuing God through Quiet Time.


Back to Maximizers page


Return to Practical-Discipleship.com