No Matter Your Circumstances, Never Cast Away Your Confidence in the God That Has You Covered! If You Do Not Have This Level of Confidence in God…GET IT!

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“I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in His suffering, and go all the way with Him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.” (Philippians 3:10-11 MSG)

It is not correct to say that God spoke in the past but does not speak now. We cannot limit His Word or His discourse to any time.  He is as ready today to enrich His seekers from the fountain of revelation as He was at any time, and the gates of His grace.  He is the fountainhead of all excellences and combines in Himself all powers.  All grace originates with Him and everything returns to Him.  He is the Master of all kingdoms and possesses every perfect quality.  He is free from every defect and weakness.  It belongs to Him alone that all those on earth and in heaven should worship Him.  Nothing is beyond His power.  Earth and heaven, man and animals, stones and trees, souls, and bodies, have all come into existence by His grace.  God is the One Who is living today as He was living before, and Who speaks today as He spoke before, and hears today as He heard before.  It is a false notion that in this age.  He hears but does not speak.  Indeed, He both hears and speaks.  All His attributes are eternal and everlasting.  None of His attributes has fallen into disuse or will fall into disuse.  None of His powers lacks anything.  He is near and yet far, and He is far and yet near.

While John was a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos, far from his loved ones and surrounded by the cries of abused captives, he had a vision of Jesus. He writes, “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead…” (Revelation 1:17 AMP). He received an incredible revelation during confinement, chaos, and pain – and isn’t that often how revelation works? God certainly has an amazing way of showing Himself mighty during our misery. The problem is; however, we don’t respond like John. Despite what John was facing and surrounded by, when “…he saw Him…[he]…fell at His feet as if dead…” Let us be honest, how many of us fall into worship mode when during struggles? Truth is, far more often, we become snappy, our attitudes get out of control, our emotions are doom and gloom, our faith falters, our countenance falls, our hope becomes helplessness, we invite family, friends and even foes to our self-proclaimed pity party. It is sad but true. Rarely do we immediately fall into worship when life hits us with its worst!

When during what John was surrounded by, he still fell at the Lord’s feet. During what Jonah faced, he still worshiped. So, what is our excuse? Do we really believe that trials, troubles, struggles and tribulation are all bigger than the God we say we serve? Well, if that is our belief, then I am here to tell you our broken belief system needs repairs!

Please understand that the difficult circumstances you’re going through right now can clear your perceptions, cause you to seek God as never before, and find answers for your life, to questions that have been bombarding your sanity! John’s predicament proves that negative experiences do not hide the Lord – they reveal Him! The Bible reads: “I saw this and fainted dead at his feet. His right hand pulled me upright, His voice reassured me: “Don’t fear I am First, I am Last, I’m Alive. I died, but I came to life, and My life is now forever. See these keys in My hand? They open and lock Death’s doors, they open and lock Hell’s gates. Now write down everything you see: things that are, things about to be…” (Revelation 1:17-19 MSG). As bad as it was, John saw the Lord, bowed before Him in reverential fear and had the Lord Himself to encourage him: “…His voice reassured me: “Don’t fear…” That is the beauty of being a child of the King, even when all the Kingdom of Darkness is against you! He Always Reveals Himself to the Righteous, Regardless of How Bleak Their Circumstances May Appear.  After all, the One Whom we serve is still the first and the last, which encourages us to know that no matter what transpires in the middle, God got it covered from beginning to end! And He is so awesome that He admits Himself, that He died and came back to life and now lives forever. He is reassuring John (and us) of just how powerful He really is! All He desires is that we trust Him and believe Him! And then, if that weren’t enough to increase our faith, lift up our heads, square off our shoulders and straighten up our back, He goes on to say in His hand are keys, and He alone has the access to open and lock death’s doors and Hell’s gates, so you’re afraid of what? Right! Absolutely Nothing! Because this is the God you serve!

I think sometimes we unfortunately forget the Lord’s promise to us: “…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” (Hebrews 13:5 AMP) How do you read a promise like that and fear anything or anyone? The Lord Himself DELIBERATELY REFUSES to fail you; give you up; leave you without support and will under no circumstances leave you helpless; nor will He forsake you; let you down or relax His hold on you! You are so loved, cherished, treasured, and protected by God that He Initiated This Promise to You! You did not have to ask Him to do it, you did not have to ask Him for it, He Chose to Give it to You Himself! So regardless to what you’re in, what you’re surrounded by, what you’re going through, who you’re up against or what you’re facing, you have full CONFIDENCE that God’s Got You COVERED!

“When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4 NKJV) Please understand, those fishermen were no better or no worse than YOU! So keep in mind: “…God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from – if you want God and are ready to do as He says, the door is open…He’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.” (Acts 10:34-36 MSG) God Can and Will Do It For YOU! Unlike man, He doesn’t play favorites! The door is open for the janitor, the bus driver, the waiter, the preacher and the singer alike!

Jesus said, “…According to your FAITH be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29). Not according to your bank account, where or how you were raised, if you have a degree, if you’re the right color, if your resume is impressive enough, if you wear the latest fashion, or if you’re in the right circle of people of influence to open closed doors on your behalf. Not according to any of that, But “…According to your FAITH be it unto you” However, 

The Message Bible says it like this: “He touched their eyes and said, “Become what you believe.” It happened. They saw…” (MSG). Don’t miss the vital key: “…Become what you believe.” It happened. They saw…”  They believed in what they could become, and as a result, they became it!  Listen, if it was possible for these fishermen, please know that it is certainly possible for YOU! How do I know? Because the Bible says, “…Jesus doesn’t change – yesterday, today, tomorrow, He’s always totally Himself” (Hebrews 13:8 MSG)

“A man cannot please God unless he has FAITH. Anyone who comes to God must BELIEVE that He is.

Hebrews 10:35, “Do not, therefore, fling away your FEARLESS CONFIDENCE, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.” (AMPC) The Message Bible says it like this: Hebrews 10:32-39, “Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they could not touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So, do not throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It is still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you will be there for the promised completion. It will not be long now; he is on the way; he will show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I will not be incredibly happy. But we are not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.” (MSG)

No Matter Your Circumstances, Never Cast Away Your Confidence in the God That Has You Covered!

Instead of destroying you, Satan’s attacks can develop you. Yes, it STRESSES you, but it also STRETCHES you spiritually. In Hebrews Chapter 11 we see two things:

The Deeds of Their Faith; and

The Depth of Their Faith.

It always amazes me how God’s saints of old could worship Him during absolutely anything and we cannot seem to worship in anything. They pursued God on just promises, and even the ones that were not fulfilled in their lifetime, they never lost their appetite for God. They continued to hunger and thirst after Him. Maybe that is why they were so Full, and we are so Empty. The depth of their faith propelled them to continue in their deeds for Him, despite what was being done to and against them. They maintained such a Faith Under Fire That No Fierce Attack Could Put it to Ashes! They mastered how to Press in and Press On…Anyhow!

Think about it: Where did God prove His faithfulness to Daniel? In the Lion’s Den! “The king caved in and ordered Daniel brought and thrown into the lions’ den. But he said to Daniel, “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” A stone slab was placed over the opening of the den. The king sealed the cover with his signet ring and the signet rings of all his nobles, fixing Daniel’s fate. The king then went back to his palace. He refused supper. He could not sleep. He spent the night fasting. At daybreak, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. As he approached the den, he called out anxiously, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve so loyally, saved you from the lions?” “O king live forever!” said Daniel. “My God sent his angel, who closed the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me. I have been found innocent before God and before you, O king. I’ve done nothing to harm you.” When the king heard these words, he was happy. He ordered Daniel taken up out of the den. When he was hauled up, there was not a scratch on him. He had trusted his God.” (Daniel 6:16-23 MSG). My favorite part? “…HE ORDERED DANIEL TAKEN UP OUT OF THE DEN. WHEN HE WAS HAULED UP, THERE WASN’T A SCRATCH ON HIM. HE HAD TRUSTED HIS GOD.” Daniel was able to trust God during his attack, why can’t you do the same? After all, He is still the SAME GOD! We need to learn like Daniel to pursue God, to trust Him, rely on Him, rest in Him no matter what, because He’s Got Us…No Matter What or Who is Trying to Get at Us!

Let’s Recall Paul’s Words: “I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in His suffering, AND GO ALL THE WAY WITH HIM…” (Philippians 3:10-11 MSG)

Why don’t we trust God like that? John bowed, Jonah worshiped, Daniel trusted and yet we do none of the above when the circumstances of life attack you us? But I Reiterate, HE IS STILL THE SAME GOD…OUR GOD! So, whether He takes us out, or leaves us in, we ought to serve Him with gladness anyhow, because He is already promised to never leave you or forsake us.

You must leave Circumstantial and Conditional Faith and Finally Attain Concrete Faith!

Listen: Believe it or not, but there is a place in God where fiery trials consume everything Except your desire to know Him. And though that place may sometimes escape your grasp, never let it escape your gaze. It was Paul’s all-consuming goal: “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out-flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].” (Philippians 3:10-11 AMP)

Paul desired to know God intimately. No matter the circumstances, no matter the obstacles, no matter the pain, suffering or tragedy of death. It was all worth it, just to know Him! Paul would do anything for HIM! Will you? And just in case you think Paul had a cake-walk to getting to know God, listen at his testimony: 2 Corinthians 11:21-29, “… I’ve worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I have been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I have been shipwrecked three times and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I have had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I have been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I have known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather. And that is not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches. When someone gets to the end of his rope, I feel the desperation in my bones…” (MSG)

Even when I do not know what to say, the Lord already has an answer.

Remember: What You See Will Determine What You Seize!  Your God is the same yesterday, today and forevermore! He is not changing! What He Did THEN He can still do NOW! The issue is Do You Believe It?!

Listen, I know struggles and attacks can make it hard sometimes to press in, but you have got to press anyhow! No matter how bad it may become, remember your God is always good and will always bring about good on your behalf: So, continue to trust God no matter what you’re in, He’s a proven provider and protector of His people!

If You Do Not Have This Level of Confidence in God…GET IT!

Remember This: Fiery Trials Work for You, Not Against You!

“Dear friends, don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you.  Instead, be glad because these trials will make you partners with Christ in His suffering, and afterwards you will have the wonderful joy of sharing His glory in that coming day when it will be displayed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13 TLB).

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So, do not try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” (James 1:2-4 MSG)

EVEN BAD WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THE BELIEVER!

So, Give God Your Very Best in Serving Him, Because He’s Given You His Very Best in Saving You!

And what is one thing you can start doing today? DON’T LET THE PRESSURE STOP YOUR PRESS!

Blessings

Join us for our Tuesday Bible Study each Tuesday at 7:00 PM. The number to call is 302-202-1106. Access code is 738510.

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org