!I am convinced that many believers today expect their lives to be a perpetual picnic after they are Born-Again. However, if that is what they think, then their understanding of scripture might be a bit skewed. While I believe in the power and grace of God and I fully expect to overcome every challenge, I also know that I cannot be an over-comer if I don't have anything to come over.
God has placed too many militant terms in His Word for us to think that we are supposed to walk through life without opposition.
Once again, while I am fully convinced that IN CHRIST I will win every battle, I am not foolish enough to believe that I will never be involved in any. We have a real enemy and he will not passively sit by as we seek to fulfill God's assignment for our lives.
Let's look at the life of Paul as an example. Now, I know that this is an extreme example because Paul was assigned to minister the Gospel message to the Gentiles at a time when the political and religious climate dictated that Christians could be put to death for believing in Christ Jesus as Lord. But nonetheless Paul was fully committed to his assignment and he had to deal with all sorts of opposition to fulfill it. When looking back on what he had been through Paul said,
"I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked" (2nd Cor 11:23-27).
That does not sound like a perpetual picnic at all. Don't misunderstand me, I am not glorying suffering so that you can go out and look for it, but I am making it clear that you will have to face opposition if you are going to accomplish anything significant in the Kingdom of God. The key is to never give up!
Paul held on to the end. In his last letter he said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2nd Tim 4:7). He knew what his assignment was and he also knew that it had been completed. Paul did not live much longer after writing this letter. In this same letter he said the following to his spiritual son Timothy: "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus... Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus."
What was Paul doing? He was helping Timothy get mentally and spiritually prepared for the challenges he would face on the road to fulfilling his own life's assignment. Paul was not alone in this mindset. James said, "Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end" (5:10,11).
So what does this mean to you? It means that you will face challenges, but you must NEVER quit! The only way you can truly lose is if you quit. If you refuse to cast away your confidence (Heb 10:35) then God will refuse to allow the enemy to overtake you. Things may get 'hairy' from time to time, but renew your Warrior Spirit, keep believing, keep trusting, and keep moving forward by faith!
Before you know it you will find yourself the victor!
Father, I know that I have a part in what You desire to do in my life. I declare, by faith, that I will fulfill that part. I refuse to allow opposition or challenges to cause me to quit. I am not a quitter, I am a fighter and I have a Warrior Spirit burning inside of me. I am determined to die empty - to get out of me (before I die) all the things You have placed in me. I know that the devil and his demons will not sit idly by as I seek to fulfill my life's assignment, but when they come up against me, I believe that by Your grace I will come out on top. I am not in this fight alone. You are on me, in me, with me, and for me. You are on my side and You are more than the entire world against me! In Jesus' name. Amen!
God has placed too many militant terms in His Word for us to think that we are supposed to walk through life without opposition.
Once again, while I am fully convinced that IN CHRIST I will win every battle, I am not foolish enough to believe that I will never be involved in any. We have a real enemy and he will not passively sit by as we seek to fulfill God's assignment for our lives.
Let's look at the life of Paul as an example. Now, I know that this is an extreme example because Paul was assigned to minister the Gospel message to the Gentiles at a time when the political and religious climate dictated that Christians could be put to death for believing in Christ Jesus as Lord. But nonetheless Paul was fully committed to his assignment and he had to deal with all sorts of opposition to fulfill it. When looking back on what he had been through Paul said,
"I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked" (2nd Cor 11:23-27).
That does not sound like a perpetual picnic at all. Don't misunderstand me, I am not glorying suffering so that you can go out and look for it, but I am making it clear that you will have to face opposition if you are going to accomplish anything significant in the Kingdom of God. The key is to never give up!
Paul held on to the end. In his last letter he said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2nd Tim 4:7). He knew what his assignment was and he also knew that it had been completed. Paul did not live much longer after writing this letter. In this same letter he said the following to his spiritual son Timothy: "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus... Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus."
What was Paul doing? He was helping Timothy get mentally and spiritually prepared for the challenges he would face on the road to fulfilling his own life's assignment. Paul was not alone in this mindset. James said, "Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end" (5:10,11).
So what does this mean to you? It means that you will face challenges, but you must NEVER quit! The only way you can truly lose is if you quit. If you refuse to cast away your confidence (Heb 10:35) then God will refuse to allow the enemy to overtake you. Things may get 'hairy' from time to time, but renew your Warrior Spirit, keep believing, keep trusting, and keep moving forward by faith!
Before you know it you will find yourself the victor!
Father, I know that I have a part in what You desire to do in my life. I declare, by faith, that I will fulfill that part. I refuse to allow opposition or challenges to cause me to quit. I am not a quitter, I am a fighter and I have a Warrior Spirit burning inside of me. I am determined to die empty - to get out of me (before I die) all the things You have placed in me. I know that the devil and his demons will not sit idly by as I seek to fulfill my life's assignment, but when they come up against me, I believe that by Your grace I will come out on top. I am not in this fight alone. You are on me, in me, with me, and for me. You are on my side and You are more than the entire world against me! In Jesus' name. Amen!
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