My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.... Hosea 4:6
Sad as this may sound, it’s true nonetheless! God’s people suffer in life, not because they don’t pray enough or love God enough, but because they lack accurate and adequate knowledge of the Word. Reiterating this, the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 22:29, “...Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures....” When people lack accurate and relevant spiritual information from God’s Word, they experience defeat and failure. This isn’t because they’re “weak” Christians or because God couldn’t deliver them; it’s just the plain and inevitable result of ignorance. In the lives of some people, things aren’t just happening the way they should; they’re putting in all the efforts they could, yet nothing productive is coming out. What’s the problem? Ignorance: they know not, neither do they understand; they walk on in darkness.....(Ps 82:5), destroyed by sickness and plummeted by the harsh elements of this world. Is this the lot for the Christian? Emphatically no! The Bible declares, “...but through knowledge shall the just be delivered” (Proverbs 11:9). If you have knowledge, there’ll be a difference in your life. The knowledge of God’s Word will build you up, and deliver your God-given inheritance into your hands (Acts 20:32). If you’ve been wondering why your experiences haven’t been as victorious as the Word describes, you need to spend more time studying and meditating on the Word. Build your faith with the Word of God, for faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). As the Word comes to you, don’t just agree by way of mental assent, respond by confessing the same things. Soon enough, you’ll change the situation.
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As a child of God, endurance is a quality that God expects you to cultivate. He doesn’t want you to jump and run at the slightest sign of challenging situations. This was why Paul counseled Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:3 to endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ.
God never said we wouldn’t face opposition and persecution, but He assured us that He’ll be with us always. This should be our confidence as we face the tough situations and opposition which comes with the preaching of the Gospel. There are people who give up too soon, because they haven’t learnt to stick with a situation or process till they win. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-25 TLB, Paul said, “I have…been put in jail more often, whipped times without number, faced death again and again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me their terrible thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I was in the open sea all night and the whole next day. Yet, none of these things move me”. Despite all Paul faced, he never gave up; he remained strong. Challenges and tough situations are for your promotion, therefore don’t pack up and run whenever they show up. God has given you the strength and courage to endure every contrary situation. Let your endurance be mixed with hope so you can create a better future right in the midst of the storm. I don’t know what challenges you may be facing today; whatever it is, don’t complain. Be encouraged to endure with hope and always remember 2 Corinthians 4:17 which tells us that “… our light affliction, which is for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The Bible says, “…and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Samson and he picked up the jaw bone of an ass and whipped one thousand men” (Judges 15:16). And when that same Spirit came upon David; He caught the lion that attacked his sheep by the beard and slew it. He didn’t have to go behind the lion (1 Sam 17:35). Still under that anointing, when he faced Goliath, he said: “this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them” (1 Sam 17:36).
As a Christian, you're not in a sinking boat, neither are you living a life of defeat. That same Spirit that worked with Moses, Samson and with David; that Spirit that came upon Elijah, Elisha, Paul, and the Apostles; that same Spirit is the One by whom you function. When you are influenced of the Spirit, you cannot be discouraged or dismayed. Do not struggle, nor should you wonder how it shall be done, for the Lord is adding to the Church such as should be saved. The Anointing of God protects you and His influence in you brings confidence and acceptability. Anything you do for the Lord will be acceptable to Him and your world will be impacted. |