Category — Victory In Adversity

In Luke 2:19 we read that 4 men carrying a cronically ill man walked right into a dead end. They had done everything right. Their faith was right. Their commitment was right. Their determination was right. Their decision was right. They took the right step of faith.  They nailed their proverbial colours to the mast and put all their hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.  For all of this, however, they walked straight into a “could not” situation.

When you know you have done everything you are supposed to do and the way ahead is blocked what do you do?  Consider more closely the place these 4 men found themselves in. They had stirred their faith, were fired up for a miracle, had faced down the disapproving looks, ran the gauntlet of sarcastic comments and had not let anybody or anything disuade or distract them. Yet at the very last hurdle they literally cannot get near Christ. At this point many would have simply turned back murmuring that God works in mysterious ways trying desperately to make excuses for their Saviour. Others would have turned back angry at God and the Lord Jesus Christ for not making room for them or hearing their prayers. Still others would have blamed the crowd and over time transformed their faith into contempt for the church. But these 4 men realised that when the expected has let you down and the unexpected has left you dead in your tracks it’s time to get Pentecostal.

With a faith that simply would not let them stop these men remained totally convinced that Jesus Christ was all the answer their sick friend would ever need. No matter what obstacle had stubbornly got in their way giving up was not an option. No matter how far they had come, no matter how difficult the last few steps might be, no matter what they looked like with no obvious way forward and with many obstacles in the way they believed that Christ would not disappoint their faith. Its time to get Pentecosal and refuse to accept or allow failure, people, disappointment or second best to dictate the final outcome. If you haven’t met Christ in your situation yet look again for He is in there waiting for you (Mathew 7:7-12).

When these men tore the roof off dust and dirt filled the air, debri fell on those below, the crowd pulled back and swayed but Christ saw nothing but the faith in their hearts (v20).  Keep coming to Christ no matter what state your are in and He will not only accept you He will only see your faith, love and trust in Him. Friend, do not worry about being perfect just keep turning up, just refuse to give up and you will find Christ waiting on you and focused on you everytime.   

One last thought. The temptation for these men was to get angry at and fight with the crowd holding them back. Their refusal to get distracted or disallusioned by obstacles including people was determined by their total focus on Christ.  In Revelation 12:7-9 every angel that followed the devil into a fight they should never have got involved with lost their place in Heaven and condemned themsleves to eternal judgement.  Sometimes the greatest victory you will have is the fight that you refuse to get involved in. Selah!

QUOTE:  I did everything I knew to do and knew it wasn’t enough. Then I remembered that He did everything He knew to do and it was more than enough. See Romans 6:10-11; Romans 8: 31 & 37; Hebrews 13:6 (v5-6).

“The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord and He delighteth in his way” Psalm 37:23.

Correctly taken as a general encouragement that God has a plan for our lives a second and equally powerful meaning to this scripture is often overlooked. As each step is planned, ordered and set in place by a sovereign God they are not to be side stepped, skipped over or ignored. Each step is filled with obedience, faith, trust and servanthood essential to fulfilling a call of God.  Anyone who manages to get a head of themselves does not shorten the journey they lengthen it as each step takes into account some part of their personality, preparation and empowerment.

At this point it is important to define what a “step” actually is.  It is not a fleeting moment, emotion or circumstance.  A step is a clear and distinct action, responsibility or period in your life.  A good example is found in the season of David’s life when he watched a few sheep on some lonely hills. It was here that this king in waiting learned how to care, protect and be faithful when all the time looking neglected, vulnerable and sidelined.

Every believer and particularly those aspiring to leadership must realise that God deals in details. For when you are faithful in things that seem small and insignificant Christ promises that the commitment and faithfulness you demonstrate will guide and empower you in the great things planned for you (Luke 16:10).

You will never complete the call of God in your life unless your character can stand the test of time, men and the devil.  When David was accused of evil motives and willful neglect by Eliab (1st Samuel 17:28) he was able to stand firm. His conscience was clear, his integrity was intact and his testimony was untarnished. The “step” in David’s life in which he did a great job with an honest heart taking care of a few sheep in the middle of nowhere, was the reason that Eliab’s railing accusation couldn’t interfere with the next “step” in his life… killing a giant called Goliath.  One step really does follow on from the other.

Don’t despise the “step” you are in right now. Do everything that you can and do it to the best of your ability.  David learnt that each step you take is part of the same journey and as such they must not be ignored, neglected or left out.  Keep close to Christ for in Him your miracle is only a “step” away.  Don’t be discouraged or distracted for the Lord Jesus Christ is not just with you but is busy ordering events and circumstances around you. The Amplified Bible renders our text perfectly, “The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself wih his every step]”.

In Samuel 30: 11 – 15 God uses the most unexpected things and people to achieve the most wonderful deliverance – an Egyptian slave, a bout of sickness, an evil hearted Amalekite and a touch of kindness amidst great trouble and stress.  Many times in the life of a Christian it would be easier to believe God for a miracle if there were some obvious thing or person for Him to use. The truth of the matter is that if you are in a terrible situation with no light at the end of the proverbial tunnel then look again for Christ is all the Light you will ever need (Psalm 17:1;Psalm 78:14). 

To show David the next step in His plan of deliverance God uses the sick slave of an enemy. God even turns the cold hearted act of leaving a servant to die as the perfect way to bring David and the slave together.  So if you look across your circumstances and there seems to be very little or nothing that God can use look again.  Whatever and whoever surrounds you good or bad seen or unseen it is God’s for the taking and His for the using.

 The scripture tells us that God will make all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). The Bible also teaches that what people may intend for evil He can cause nothing but good to come out of it (Genesis 50:19 – 20).  These are not just thoughts of encouragement for the few they are promises for every believer.  Qualifying for Christ’s mighty hand to make everything work together perfectly does not involve a special call or standing in God’s eyes.  All you have to do is love your Saviour and know that you are already called by Him (Romans 8:28 – 29).  God has set His heart to save His people and that includes you (Psalm 20:6; Isaiah 40: 27 – 31).

Your week may not have been perfect but always trust God that He is.  The story of how David encounters the Egyptian slave who just happens to have all the information he needs is unusual for a reason.  It demonstrates our Saviour’s total control over every situation, personality, motive and facet of life.  Remember, God did not send an angel to guide David, or a prophet, or even a sign for the heavens. Rather He chose to use the evil heart of an enemy, a bout of sickness and an insignificant slave. Halleluiah, God really does know the end from the beginning (Revelation 22:13) and He really is in control of everything (Psalm 18:32 – 36).  Don’t look down your long dark tunnel in despair. Look again and you will find that the Lord Jesus Christ is right there backing you all the way and ahead of your enemy every step of the way (Psalm 37:23).  It might be a surprise as to how He will deliver you but have faith so that you are not surprised when He does (Psalm 31:22).  The secret to David’s success was that he kept moving forward convinced that God was preparing and leading the way.

In the midst of a desperate situation, isolated and broken hearted David manages to encourage, “…himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).  This was not self encouragement i.e. positive thinking, mental resilience, or drawing on past experience – all of which of course have their place. David, despite the horrific situation that he found himself in, decided to encourage himself in God. It is only possible to do this amidst overwhelming circumstances when a man decides that God is not his enemy but His greatest ally. That is, he chooses to love God, trust in God and seek after God not blame, accuse and forsake God.   

David decided not to let his loss steal the love of God in his heart.  David decided not to let the hurt caused by his friends turning against him dictate his actions.  David decided to put his own weakness to one side (often a very difficult thing to do) and put his future in the hands of an almighty God.  Several life changing truths were in operation: know what and who to ignore including your own emotions; know that God is NOT your enemy and make the decision to seek Him no matter how hard the blow or tough the loss; and simply do what you know to do until you know what to do next.   

Do exactly what God tells you even if it is a step-by-step process.  In 1st Samuel 30:8-9 whilst David gets a clear instruction to pursue he does not get a detailed description of where he should go never mind how he and his men are to have victory.  He went on the strength of God’s first command trusting that the rest would follow.    

You might complain that God hasn’t told you to do anything but in fact you couldn’t be further from the truth.  You have been told to pray, read the Bible, go to church, worship, love God and, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him [with the promise that] He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Doing what you know to do puts you on a collision course with God’s perfect purposes and plans.

Jesus is calling on all His children to PURSUE, find their real enemies, defeat them and take back all that has been stolen unharmed and in perfect condition (1 Samuel 30:18-19).  Decide today not to let your loss, hurt, isolation or weaknesses get between you and God and you will find that there is nothing that can get between you and your miracle (Matthew 7:7-12).  Your real enemy is to forget that the Lord Jesus Christ is your Friend, Comforter, Guide and Saviour (Psalm 103:2-5; Hebrews 13: 5-6).

 Must reads:  Psalm 55:12-17; Psalm 56:5-9; Psalm 57:4-7.

Samuel went to Jessie’s house even though he did not know who was to be selected as King and trusting God for protection against Saul (1^st Samuel 16:1-3).  To have some idea of how Samuel felt simply remember the last time God asked you to do something or speak to someone and you really were not sure how things were going to turn out.  Abraham, “…obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV).  Realising that he needed to move on Paul headed north to Bethynia but was duly informed by the Holy Ghost that this was not where he was supposed to be. He then proceeded to pass through Mysia province to the city of Troas and was promptly instructed to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:7-10). 

Samuel had to learn not to be discouraged or distracted when he did not know all the details.  Abraham was prepared to start his journey even though he did not have any idea where the final destination would be.  Paul kept going forward even though he didn’t know where to start.  Trusting and obeying God with what you know will make you grow into the answer you are looking for.  There is only one thing worse than not getting the right result and that is someone who is not ready to handle it.  If you are experiencing a delay then think again, for often God is actually laying the foundation in your heart and mind to receive the “good things” He has for you (Mathew 7:11). These are the good things that come to you through asking, seeking and knocking (Matthew 7:7-8).

We should all draw courage from the fact that these men of faith did not falter even though they didn’t understand everything all of the time.  They simply remained faithful to what they did know and acted on it.  Should you not understand everything put your trust in the God who does (Hebrews 12:2; Revelation 21:6).  Turn your frustration into faithfulness, uncertainty into confidence and impatience into earnest prayer (1 John 5:14-15). 

When you don’t know everything but are prepared to move on what you do then you truly are in prestigious company putting yourself on a collision course with God’s very best.  God will fill in the gaps as He did with Samuel, lead you perfectly through the wilderness as He did with Abraham and reveal His perfect plan as He did with Paul. 

When disappointment strikes deeply it is time to seek after the God and Saviour who is the only one in control of your life.  Even disappointment cannot halter or hinder the Sovereign hand of God from guiding and delivering His own.  In 1^st Samuel 29:8 reading to Ch. 30:6 God actually uses disappointment, rejection and complete disillusionment in David’s heart and circumstances to bring recovery, victory and blessing.  In the hands of God disappointment and rejection was used t0 get David back to where he should have been – Ziklag. Even his despair was transformed into a hunger to seek God for a victory no one would have predicted.   

 David is rejected in Ch. 29:8 declaring that most famous of phrases, “But what have I done [to deserve this]”. David is devastated at discovering his home destroyed and all the women and children taken captive (Ch. 30:1-4).  David is isolated and crushed when his own men turn on him and threaten to kill him (Ch. 30:6). On the other hand all of this placed him exactly where he needed to be so that he could to do exactly what needed to be done to get exactly the right result for everyone.  When disaster strikes the believer must literally, “Trust in the Lord with all [their] HEART and lean not unto [their] own understanding [and] in all [that is going on] acknowledge [His power and ability to perfectly deliver and direct]”. See Proverbs 3:5-6.

God actually used disappointment to get David thinking right (Ch. 30:6-8), to get David moving in the right direction (Ch. 30 9-10) and get David the right result for him, those dear to him and everyone that relied on him (Ch. 30 18-20). Not all things are good but God can literally make all things fall into place for good no matter what the original intention was (Romans 8:28). 

Putting your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ when you are experiencing disappointment automatically sets the stage for deliverance (Proverbs 3:25-26).  Put God in charge of tragedy and He will perfectly, beautifully and mightily lead you to triumph. There are two sides to every success story:

David cried, “But what have I done” (Ch. 29:8).

David “…wept until he had no more power to weep…” (Ch. 30:4).

David “…was greatly distressed…” (30:6).

However:

David “…encouraged himself in the Lord…” (Ch. 30:6).

David “…inquired at the Lord…” (Ch. 30:8).

David “…went [and] pursued…” (Ch. 30:10).

David “…smote…recovered…rescued…and took all…” (Ch30: 18-20).

David proved that disappointment may shout loud and long in your heart and mind but trust in the Lord and He will have the last say. As experienced by a multitude of Bible characters even as things quite literally kept going from bad to worse in David’s life God was actually bringing him closer to a great victory with every second that past. Pray, claim and believe that your steps are ordered (directed and established) by the Lord no matter who or what tries to dictate and take command (Proverbs 37:23).  The secret is not to get bitter but to get deeper (James 5:8).    

Study Acts 18: 7-18 and see how the Lord Jesus Christ imposes His sovereign hand when His promises to Paul (verses 9&10) seem to be completely contradicted by the sinister run of events (v.12-13) As indicated Paul’s enemies found to their cost that it is not who has the loudest say but who has the final say that counts (v. 18). I challenge the reader to study this passage and discover how not one of Christ’s promises are broken. Hallelujah! Deal with but do not dwell on disappointment. Trust in a Saviour who knows what you need before you ask (Matthew 6:8) and will answer your call for help while you are yet speaking (Isaiah 65:24; Daniel 9:23; Daniel 10:12).

Must reads: Psalm 55:12-17; Psalm 56:1-13; Psalm 59:6-9; Romans 8: 35-39 (v31); Matthew 7:7-12.

Every time something good happens to somebody else in terms of ministry or some significant blessing our human nature cries out for something sudden and wonderful to happen to us.  The truth is, however, there is always a story to be told and a well trodden path to be followed that leads to the “moment” of victory.  There is no such thing as “suddenly”.  Nothing just happens, appears or suddenly moves forward.  The difficulty is that most of us do not recognise that mighty and wonderful hand of God “…making all things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28) irrespective of whoever or whatever the issues are. 

It is time to stop wishing your life away waiting for something to happen and recognise that it has already started.  If you were a David always wanting to be a warrior for God what would your attitude have been when asked to watch a few sheep, play a harp, and practice with a sling shot when all you ever really wanted was to be a warrior with his own sword and battle to fight?  David’s chance came suddenly but his preparation was meticulous. Read: 1 Samuel chapter 16 &17. 

In Malachi 3:1 we read, “…the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple…”. Dear believer the Lord may appear in an instant first in grace and then in judgement but not out off a whim but as the result of meticulous divine planning and timing.  There is no such thing as suddenly.

In the gospel of Luke 2:13 the word declares that, “ …suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts”.  They may have appeared in an instant but they were part of a precisely planned crescendo designed by God Himself to celebrate the birth of His dear Son.  There are no last minute adjustments with God. There is no such thing as suddenly.

In the account of the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:2 we read that, “…suddenly there came a sound from Heaven like a rushing mighty wind”.  Was this not however the reason why Jesus came, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send Him unto you”, (John 16:7).  This was no surprise, this was not an afterthought it was the perfect plan of God unfolding without hic-up or hindrance.  There is nothing that happens suddenly and out of the blue in God’s Kingdom.

As Paul travelled to Damascus with murderous intent, there seemed to be none either willing or able to stop him, “…suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven…”, Acts 9:3.  Did Jesus panic feeling the need to intervene? Christ’s statement in v5 and Paul’s total surrender and submission in v6 tells a clear story.  It reveals a deep and drawn out process in which Paul had been convicted and challenged no matter how hard he tried to “kick” against the tug of the Holy Spirit.  There is no such thing as suddenly.

Wake up leader wake up believer for God is leading you to a “suddenly” in every issue of life and ministry.  Very young children draw one dimensionally.  There is no real sense of depth be it a character or a scene.  Big people with skill draw in 3 dimensions.  In fact the accomplished artist whether sketching or painting will draw in a manner that seems to lead nowhere to the inexperienced eye.  A line here a little shading in somewhere else and “suddenly” there is a face, a tree, a clear picture forming from apparently nothing.  Have you ever noticed how an artist gets a full 3 dimensional effect by simply shading one or two obscure parts of a picture?  The unskilled would try to create the same affect by drawing in all the wrong places and predictably get a less than satisfactory result.  Concerning your calling and indeed any other legitimate issue trust God that He actually knows what He is doing even if some things don’t seem to link together according to your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-8). Big people need to trust a big God to do a complete job even if they do not understand everything about His plans all of the time.

The title of this short study is taken from Psalm 56:12.  But to fully appreciate and apply it one must trace God’s revelations throughout the Psalm.

The negative, fearful and disturbing comments made by the psalmist in v 1 +2 are perfectly sandwiched between God’s “mercy” at the start of v1 and the “most High” at the end of v2. In short no matter what the Christian may go through, no matter what may seem to be swallowing you up the reality is you are surrounded by God’s mercy and majesty, love and power, grace and authority.  Your enemy will never have the foothold in your life that can defeat either God’s mercy or His majesty.  This is why in v3 the psalmist declares that what time he is afraid he will not lose his confidence in God.  What time he is afraid is referring to verses 1+ 2 i.e. swallowed up, fought against daily, oppressed and ganged up on.  No matter how much the problem may give the impression of being in control it is in fact surrounded by the God of mercy and the power and authority of the “most High”.

If you are in difficulty you have one of two perspectives open to you. The one that says there is no hope because people twist your words, think evil against you, join forces to oppose you and watch your every step just waiting for you to fall or trip up (v 5 +6).  The second perspective is the one that declares that God is watching over everything happening in your life, that He understands your tears (your emotions and how you really feel), that the detail of your hurt is meticulously recorded so that no answer is overlooked when you cry out to God, and that as soon as you do so your enemies are on the run because THEY KNOW that God is on your side,  (v 8-9).  Hallelujah!

Which of these two perspectives should you choose to believe?  The psalmist makes his choice by putting the word of God above his problem (v10), by putting all threats under God’s control (v11), and by praising God because he knows that the promises of mercy and the deliverance from the “most High” literally rest upon him at all times (v12).  The divine vows / promises that are ever present in your life include a God that is your healer, a very present help in trouble, a God that will never desert or abandon you, will guide you, instruct you, and perfect that which concerns you.

So whatever is knocking at your door it is time to declare like the psalmist, “When I cry unto Thee then shall my enemies turn back: this I KNOW: for God is for me…Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto Thee” (v 9 + 12).

The killer blow, the straw that broke the camels back, one problem too many! What happens when the worst happens?  What do you do when you really should not recover?   Proverbs 24:16 makes it very clear, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…”.  A brief analysis of this verse reveals powerful truths.  Seven in Bible numerics is the perfect number.  This seventh attack, sudden disaster or heartbreak is the “perfect blow” for it has within it all the ingredients to “KO” the believer.  Yet Jesus declares that even this will not be able to keep a righteous man or woman down.  Reading the whole verse we discover that the child of God will not only recover and rise again but that this victory will be in stark contrast to the misfortune that awaits those who do not trust in Him, “…but the wicked shall fall…”. 

Your worst nightmare is no match for your Saviour.  When you have no light in the middle of your darkest hour Jesus will be your light, “Rejoice not against me, O my enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me”, Micah 7:8.

When you are going through a hard time the secret is to keep going!  For Christ is your Light in the tunnel and not just at the end of it. 

When you have been hit by a body blow, when the wind has been knocked out of you, when your circumstances are sucking the life from you then declare with all your might that you, “…have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Don’t lose sight of the spiritual facts just because of the harsh reality of your situation – Peter and the disciples in Luke 5:5-6 learnt this lesson well, “Master, we have toiled [exhausted all our combined experience and done everything we know too do] all night [that is, we have fought through the darkest of hours] and have… NOTHING…nevertheless [we will believe and obey and] they enclosed a great multitude…”.  There is a powerful hidden truth in this passage.  Fishing at night should have yielded their best catch but it produced nothing.  By the time morning had come their decades of fishing experience told them that the opportunity had passed.  This was exactly the place where Christ wanted them.  Their obedience to His commands when all natural indications pointed to things having gone beyond the point of no return produced a result much better than they had hoped for.  When there is no point, no way out and no options left do not be conformed to this world and give up but be transformed and pray, trust and obey for your miracle is closer than you think (Romans 12:2).

The fear that comes with a sudden attack, problem or adverse circumstance can instantly make you feel crushed, exposed and vulnerable.  How did Jesus cope?  His own town folk grabbed Him in a sudden and murderous uproar and rushed him to a cliff’s edge to throw Him off head first (Luke 4:28 – 30).  Jesus miraculously passed through them and walked away free and safe.  He experienced their sudden anger, saw and felt the sense of imminent danger and was broken hearted at the hate in their eyes.   But Jesus was never under threat.  The mob couldn’t hurt Him because God’s promises and protection couldn’t be broken. 

The bottom line is NOTHING ever caught Jesus by surprise. As He is the same yesterday, today and forever there is nothing in your life that either surprises Him or frightens Him.  Is someone or something trying to kill you, plot against you, ridicule and slander you or even demand payment off you?  Jesus not only has the power to deliver you but He has your answer planned and your steps ordered (Matthew 6:8; Psalm 56: 3 – 13; Psalm 37:23).   Put your feelings in check, check that your focus has not been taken off God and watch Jesus checkmate your enemy before your very eyes.  The Psalmist gets it spot on when he writes, “Let them curse but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.  Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle”, Psalm 109:28-29. 

But let us not forget that the human factor does at times kick in.  There are times when the best of us feel completely disillusioned and undermined by a sudden attack, bad news or sense of failure.  If this should be the case then yet again follow the example and advice of the Psalmist, “For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before Thine eyes: nevertheless Thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto Thee” (Psalm 31:22).  Don’t feel you have blown it because you have blown up and momentarily lost control.  Quickly turn the tide on the approaching danger  – repent and run into the arms of a forgiving God who answers your prayers (Mathew 7: 7-12; Psalm 34:4; Hebrews 11: 6; Hebrews 13: 5 – 6; Psalm 86: 7).