Don’t give up!

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Revelation 12:11 (KJV) – emphasis mine

The victory that God desires for us isn’t automatic – it’s not going to just happen because you’re a Christian. Victory is yours, but you have to put your faith (confidence and trust) in God and His Word to start seeing it flow. This scripture shows us that they overcame the enemy, but that they overcame through Jesus (“the blood of the Lamb”): through what He did for them. You will have challenges in this life, and the enemy will attack you. But God has set you up to overcome every attack and live in victory! You will have challenges and attacks in life (John 16:33). But because of Jesus, you can overcome. There is a part for you to play: submit to God and resist the devil and his attacks… then the devil will leave you alone. (James 4:7)
 
God is glorified when we bear much fruit (John 15:8). He didn’t create anyone to be defeated or to be overcome by the enemy and the challenges of this life. God never created anyone to suffer – that’s a result of the fall of man (Romans 5:17). We are Christ’s ambassadors, or representatives (2 Corinthians 5:20). Therefore, we represent Him well when we are overcoming, and experiencing fruitfulness in our lives.

“On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.””
Mark 4:35 (NKJV)

“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”
Matthew 8:23-26 (NKJV)
 
The disciples had a word from Jesus (God) to “go over to the other side.” Jesus didn’t lie or trick them. He never told them to “go halfway and drown…”. Yet when they came up against this mighty storm which seemed like it was going to sink their ship, they panicked and were filled with fear. They could feel the mighty wind and see the ferocious waves. They saw that their boat was filling up with water, and sinking, and as a result, they were filled with fear.

When we focus on the natural (the effects of the storms in our lives) we too will be filled with fear and panic, but the reality is that they were not going to drown. Jesus knew that, and that’s possibly why He was sleeping (resting) through the storm. The problem was that the disciples had forgotten Jesus’ word to them, and had allowed the circumstances to consume them. When our hearts are consumed with the attacks that we are facing we easily forget about the power of Christ in us (Colossians 1:27) and that we are never without God because He is always with us (Hebrews 13:5).

If the disciples had only put faith in Jesus’ word to “go over to the other side” they would have possibly rebuked the storm themselves, or simply pushed through and persevered. Either way, they would have gotten to the other side.
 
God hasn’t called you to trust Him so that you could be the first person to ever see Him fail. Fear paralyzes us and prevents us from “getting to the other side”, and the only reason we would be filled with fear is that we are not putting faith in the promise of God which is now fulfilled in us – Christ in us, who will never leave us nor forsake us! 

Don’t give up! Don’t give up! Don’t give up! Keep focused on Jesus and keep persevering. Resist the attacks of the devil and any opposition you face. Hold onto the promise of God’s ever-abiding presence and power in you. You are born of God and born again to overcome! 

Much Love

Shayne