The term "over-mastered" refers to being dominated or controlled by a force, emotion, or influence that surpasses one's ability to resist or manage. In a biblical context, this concept often relates to the struggle between the flesh and the spirit, sin and righteousness, or human weakness and divine strength.

Biblical Context

The Bible frequently addresses the theme of being over-mastered by sin or worldly desires. In Romans 6:12-14, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers not to let sin reign in their mortal bodies, indicating that sin can over-master an individual if not resisted: "Therefore do not let sin control your mortal body so that you obey its desires. Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace" .

Human Weakness and Divine Strength

The struggle against being over-mastered by sin is a recurring theme in Scripture. In Galatians 5:16-17, Paul advises believers to "walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want" . This passage highlights the internal conflict and the need for divine assistance to overcome the overpowering nature of sinful desires.

Examples in Scripture

1. Cain and Abel: In Genesis 4:7, God warns Cain about the danger of being over-mastered by sin: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it" . This illustrates the personal responsibility to resist sin's dominance.

2. David and Bathsheba: King David's sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) serves as a poignant example of being over-mastered by lust and desire, leading to a series of grievous sins. Despite his status as a man after God's own heart, David's failure to control his desires resulted in significant personal and national consequences.

3. Peter's Denial: In the New Testament, Peter's denial of Christ (Matthew 26:69-75) demonstrates how fear and pressure can over-master even the most devoted followers. Despite his earlier declarations of loyalty, Peter succumbed to fear, highlighting human frailty.

Spiritual Warfare

The concept of being over-mastered is also relevant in the context of spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12 reminds believers that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" . This passage underscores the need for spiritual vigilance and the armor of God to resist being over-mastered by evil forces.

Victory through Christ

Ultimately, the Bible assures believers that victory over being over-mastered by sin and worldly influences is possible through Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul provides encouragement: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it" . This promise of divine support offers hope and strength to those who seek to overcome the forces that threaten to over-master them.

His Place in History
... other man could have been less expected to sink himself in another; but, from the
moment when he came into contact with Christ, he was so overmastered with His ...
//christianbookshelf.org/stalker/the life of st paul/chapter i his place in.htm

Death in Life
... the man's eye will kindle, and his face redden, and his lip tremble, and he will
show that he is not master of himself: but that he is over-mastered by his ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xvii death in life.htm

Causes of Corruption Chiefly Intentional.
... 2. 1. When we speak of Assimilation, we do not mean that a writer while engaged
in transcribing one Gospel was so completely beguiled and overmastered by his ...
/.../chapter viii causes of corruption.htm

Confutation of the Other Charges Brought against the Christians.
... believed that we should live only the present life, then we might be suspected of
sinning, through being enslaved to flesh and blood, or overmastered by gain ...
/.../athenagoras/a plea for the christians/chapter xxxi confutation of the other.htm

The Sower Cont.
... excluding growths, the word in such hearts, though neither left upon a hard surface
nor forbidden by rock to strike deep into the earth, is overmastered by an ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 4 3-9 14-20 the sower 2.htm

The Men of Gadara
... the much debated incident of the swine had greatly helped to reassure this afflicted
soul; the demons were palpably gone, visibly enough they were overmastered ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 5 14-20 the men of.htm

The Arrest
... realized what was being done. But at every step the intrigue is overmastered
by the clear insight of Jesus. As He foretold the time ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 14 43-52 the arrest.htm

Of the Fact that the God of the Jews, after the Subjugation of ...
... deities who, if they could have wielded any influence whatever in that matter, would
rather have protected their own people from being over-mastered by the ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xii of the fact that.htm

Human Offspring, Even Previous to Birth, under Condemnation at the ...
... nature to the blush, yet the embrace is not after all a sin in itself, when reason
applies the concupiscence to a good end, and is not overmastered to evil. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 43 xxxviii human offspring even.htm

But Possibly one who Has Given his Attention to the Course of the ...
... and fashion of a man, on the lowly level of our nature, and in accordance with that
likeness raising the expectation that he could be overmastered by death, he ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xxiv but possibly one.htm

Overmastered (1 Occurrence)
...Overmastered (1 Occurrence). 1 Thessalonians 4:5 that you be not overmastered by
lustful cravings, like the Gentiles who have no knowledge of God; (WEY). ...
/o/overmastered.htm - 6k

Over-mastered (1 Occurrence)
Over-mastered. Overmastered, Over-mastered. Overmasters . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (WEY). Overmastered, Over-mastered. Overmasters . Reference Bible.
/o/over-mastered.htm - 6k

Violence (98 Occurrences)
... Acts 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang on two of them, over-mastered
them both, and treated them with such violence, that they fled from the ...
/v/violence.htm - 38k

Overly (1 Occurrence)

/o/overly.htm - 6k

Overmasters (1 Occurrence)

/o/overmasters.htm - 6k

Lustful (10 Occurrences)
... (WEB). 1 Thessalonians 4:5 that you be not overmastered by lustful cravings,
like the Gentiles who have no knowledge of God; (WEY NAS). ...
/l/lustful.htm - 9k

Treated (69 Occurrences)
... Acts 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang on two of them, over-mastered
them both, and treated them with such violence, that they fled from the ...
/t/treated.htm - 26k

Mastered (3 Occurrences)
... Acts 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang on two of them, over-mastered
them both, and treated them with such violence, that they fled from the ...
/m/mastered.htm - 7k

Cravings (17 Occurrences)
... (WEY NIV). 1 Thessalonians 4:5 that you be not overmastered by lustful cravings,
like the Gentiles who have no knowledge of God; (WEY). ...
/c/cravings.htm - 11k

Sprang (23 Occurrences)
... Acts 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang on two of them, over-mastered
them both, and treated them with such violence, that they fled from the ...
/s/sprang.htm - 13k

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