Standing strong in seasons of adversity, part 2


Faith doesn’t mean that there won't be storms in life what it does do is take you through the storm, without it having to get inside you!

Peter was walking on the water and a storm began to blow up, but yet Jesus was on the water too. Note: Peter did walk on the water and he didn’t drown!

The disciples and Jesus were in the boat, going to the other side and a storm arose. Note: they did make it to the other side, where a mighty deliverance took place!

Jesus is with you, through the power of His Spirit and He has infused you with inner strength so that you can win in life each and every day! Ephesians 6:10 AMP, "In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]."

II Corinthians 4:1 AMP, "THEREFORE, SINCE we do hold and engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits, opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear) or become faint with weariness and exhaustion."

There will be favours and opportunities in your life and also there will be adversity and things that will come to try and make you give up. The New Living Translation of this verse says, "We never give up". In Christ you are a winner and have the authority to tell the storms of life to quieten down and turnaround, and you have the right to pass on through without those negative circumstances bringing you down! As you delight yourself in the Lord he will cause you to ride in the high places and not the low places.
v2 "We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man's conscience."
It is those secret thoughts that if you don't handle them, will become a reality. If the way you think is not lined up with the Word of God will take you off track; even two degrees can result in a crash!

You don't use the Word wrongly to bail yourself out of trouble.

v3 "But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost."

The Word is not a mystery hidden from you; it is revealed to you, God's child!

v4-7 "For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God. ⁵For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. ⁶For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). ⁷However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."

You have the advantage!

v8-9 "We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; 9We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;

No matter how adverse it is right now, it is all subject to change! You will never be struck out because God is for you and you are appropriating His Word! It doesn’t matter about the trouble or what the devil does; don't give him any glory in your life. Greater is He that is in you!

As you spend time going through this chapter in II Corinthians, allow the Word to renew your thinking to the place that you are an overcomer in Christ. Although things may come against you in life to try and take you out, or cause you to quit… the above passage shows us that you don't have to give up or be struck out!

Say it now, "I will never be struck out, I will finish my race and live life to the full till it overflows, in Jesus Name!"