rjones
Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 314
As Christians, victory is our inheritance. Two important facts establish our claim to a life of victory:
God can't be defeated (Jn. 16:33; Col. 2:15; 2 Sam.22:7-19)
We are in Him (2 Sam. 22:29-36; 2 Cor. 2:14; 1 Jn. 4:4; Rev. 17:14)
All the circumstances that we face are used by the Lord to produce in us a relationship of trust and rest in Him (Ps. 37:7). Situations which seem to be overwhelming provide an opportunity for God to display His grace and miraculous power on our behalf. There are FOUR KEYS which, if expressed in our life, will allow God to reveal His hand right in the thick of our trials and circumstances.
1. FACING UP TO THE PROBLEM
While we are still on earth, there will always be difficulties - but how do we handle them? Many Christians find it hard to cope with these problems for two reasons:
They don't properly understand their relationship with Christ - and so allow the enemy to rob them of the faith necessary to release God's victorious power into their situation (1 Jn. 5:4).
Or, on the other hand, they are not willing to be honest - to face their responsibility in the situation. Being insecure in our relationship with God can produce a desire to make excuses. Self justification often blocks God's opportunity to help.
Two factors will help us as Christians face up to the problem at hand. We must:
Be willing to accept responsibility for the problem
"When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
(Ps. 32:3-5).
Realise that God is able to overcome any problem
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me (2 Cor. 12:9).
2. HAVING THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE
Realising that the Lord is our answer
"... For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." (2 Chr. 20:12).
In any situation, we must first of all realise that our answer is to be found in the Lord. His desire is for us to look to Him for help BEFORE we look anywhere else.
Seeing things from God's viewpoint
''We are asking God that you may see things, as it were, from His point of view'' (Col. 1:9) (Phillips).
When we face problems, we often see the problem highly magnified and distorted. But God sees these difficulties within the much larger framework of our lives. If we allow Him, God can begin to change the way we look at life's situations. Seeing things as God sees them helps us understand why the problem is there, and how to handle it.
Handling the situation from the throne
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).
When we are ''born again'' by God's Spirit (Jn. 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23), God locates our life in Christ - and the basis of our authority is now in the throne. We can now approach ANY situation in life knowing that we have the full backing of heaven behind us (Col. 2:10).
Recognizing that it is a spiritual battle
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph.6:12).
Problems and people often go hand in hand. Many of the difficulties that we have to face arise when someone opposes us. But when we realise that there are spiritual forces working behind many people, we can face the problem - and love the person doing us wrong at the same time.
Knowing that God is at work in the situation
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28).
When we have the attitude that God is engineering the circumstances around us (which may be disguised as problems) for our good, then we can rest in Him . . . with complete assurance that He is able to help us in our need (Heb. 4:16).
3. BEING WILLING TO RECEIVE THE ANSWER
The victory is ours to receive
Firstly, we must DESIRE the victory, and be WILLING to receive it, Many Christians try to struggle it out with their problems, but the result is defeat. If we are ready to receive God's answer - not our own - then we allow Him to step into our situation.
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds" (Ps. 73:26-28).
The basis of victory is Christ's work, not our work
The Lord doesn't look at what we are doing, but at what Christ has done for us. OUR victory is solely based on Christ's victory on the Cross. The only thing God wants from us is an act of our will in giving the situation over to God in complete trust (Ps. 37:5-7.18-19, 23-24, 39-40).
4. TAKING THE BATTLE TO THE ENEMY
Acknowledging Absolute Victory Over Satan Through Christ
" I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me - I am ready to for anything and equal to anything...that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency" (Phil. 4:13) (Amp)
Confessing the Word of God in the face of all circumstances
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Heb. 10:23).
Praising the Lord in all situations
''I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. l will constantly speak of His glories and grace'' (Ps. 34: 1) (TLB)
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Rom.8:37).
God can't be defeated (Jn. 16:33; Col. 2:15; 2 Sam.22:7-19)
We are in Him (2 Sam. 22:29-36; 2 Cor. 2:14; 1 Jn. 4:4; Rev. 17:14)
All the circumstances that we face are used by the Lord to produce in us a relationship of trust and rest in Him (Ps. 37:7). Situations which seem to be overwhelming provide an opportunity for God to display His grace and miraculous power on our behalf. There are FOUR KEYS which, if expressed in our life, will allow God to reveal His hand right in the thick of our trials and circumstances.
1. FACING UP TO THE PROBLEM
While we are still on earth, there will always be difficulties - but how do we handle them? Many Christians find it hard to cope with these problems for two reasons:
They don't properly understand their relationship with Christ - and so allow the enemy to rob them of the faith necessary to release God's victorious power into their situation (1 Jn. 5:4).
Or, on the other hand, they are not willing to be honest - to face their responsibility in the situation. Being insecure in our relationship with God can produce a desire to make excuses. Self justification often blocks God's opportunity to help.
Two factors will help us as Christians face up to the problem at hand. We must:
Be willing to accept responsibility for the problem
"When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
(Ps. 32:3-5).
Realise that God is able to overcome any problem
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me (2 Cor. 12:9).
2. HAVING THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE
Realising that the Lord is our answer
"... For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." (2 Chr. 20:12).
In any situation, we must first of all realise that our answer is to be found in the Lord. His desire is for us to look to Him for help BEFORE we look anywhere else.
Seeing things from God's viewpoint
''We are asking God that you may see things, as it were, from His point of view'' (Col. 1:9) (Phillips).
When we face problems, we often see the problem highly magnified and distorted. But God sees these difficulties within the much larger framework of our lives. If we allow Him, God can begin to change the way we look at life's situations. Seeing things as God sees them helps us understand why the problem is there, and how to handle it.
Handling the situation from the throne
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).
When we are ''born again'' by God's Spirit (Jn. 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23), God locates our life in Christ - and the basis of our authority is now in the throne. We can now approach ANY situation in life knowing that we have the full backing of heaven behind us (Col. 2:10).
Recognizing that it is a spiritual battle
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph.6:12).
Problems and people often go hand in hand. Many of the difficulties that we have to face arise when someone opposes us. But when we realise that there are spiritual forces working behind many people, we can face the problem - and love the person doing us wrong at the same time.
Knowing that God is at work in the situation
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28).
When we have the attitude that God is engineering the circumstances around us (which may be disguised as problems) for our good, then we can rest in Him . . . with complete assurance that He is able to help us in our need (Heb. 4:16).
3. BEING WILLING TO RECEIVE THE ANSWER
The victory is ours to receive
Firstly, we must DESIRE the victory, and be WILLING to receive it, Many Christians try to struggle it out with their problems, but the result is defeat. If we are ready to receive God's answer - not our own - then we allow Him to step into our situation.
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds" (Ps. 73:26-28).
The basis of victory is Christ's work, not our work
The Lord doesn't look at what we are doing, but at what Christ has done for us. OUR victory is solely based on Christ's victory on the Cross. The only thing God wants from us is an act of our will in giving the situation over to God in complete trust (Ps. 37:5-7.18-19, 23-24, 39-40).
4. TAKING THE BATTLE TO THE ENEMY
Acknowledging Absolute Victory Over Satan Through Christ
" I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me - I am ready to for anything and equal to anything...that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency" (Phil. 4:13) (Amp)
Confessing the Word of God in the face of all circumstances
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Heb. 10:23).
Praising the Lord in all situations
''I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. l will constantly speak of His glories and grace'' (Ps. 34: 1) (TLB)
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Rom.8:37).
