Ministrymaker Magazine

We live in a world where everyone seems to be a victim in one way or another. It’s not God’s design for us to become victims of situations and things that happen to us. His design for our lives is that we be victorious over the things that life throws at us. Through out history there have been people who have gone through devastating circumstances which they have overcome. Some biblical examples are: Peter’s failure (Mark 16:1-7;  Acts 2); Paul and Silas ( Acts 16); Job (James 5:10-11) and David (1 Samuel 30:1-6). There are also countless examples in both history and in the lives of people in our day.

God’s design is that we make the things life may throw at us into stepping stones to victory. We need to allow them to take us to higher ground and not allow them to become stumbling blocks which will make us victims (1 John 4:4; 5:4-5; Romans 8:37; Revelation 12:11). Here are a few things that will help us move from being victims to victors:

Choose life (Deuteronomy 30:15 & 19). In these verses we are told that we all have set before us life, prosperity,  and blessing, and at the same time death, adversity, and cursing. When life throws things at us we must choose life in order that we may live.

Some people have gone through many negative things and have been so beat down by life that you feel there is no way out. Let me encourage you that there is a way out. Our God is the God of all hope (Romans 15:13). We must get up everyday proclaiming with a  loud voice “I choose life!”

Once you have made this a habit write a list of things that you can choose to do     everyday to begin to turn your life and situation around. The list should consist of both spiritual things that will strengthen your inner man as well as practical things that will help your situation and circumstances.

We must be convinced of God’s immutable love for us (Romans 8:31-39). In all that Paul went through as a believer and a minister of the gospel he was persuaded without a doubt that God was always for him and the loved him. God’s love doesn’t change with our circumstances, it remains the same. We must have the conviction that God loves us as an individual not just the world in general. When we have such a persuasion it does three things:

• Makes us unstoppable (2 Corinthians 4:7-15; 11:23-28; Acts 14). No matter what Paul went through nothing stopped him.
• Subsides stress (1 Peter 5:7). When we are persuaded Jesus really cares about us then we can give Him our cares, concerns, and anxieties and leave them with Him (Matthew 11:28-30 and Philippians 4:6-7).
• Gives us victory (Romans 8:37). Notice it says “in all these things we are more than conquerers through Him that loves us.”

Faith (1 John 5:4-5). It takes real faith to overcome the things the enemy and this life throws at us. “We walk by faith and not by sight”  2 Corinthians 5:7.  “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”  Hebrews 11:1.  God by faith framed the world so that what we see in the natural was not made out of anything in the visible realm (Hebrews 11:3).  It is interesting that our first point about choosing life is preceded by Deuteronomy 30:14 which says, “the word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart that you may do it.”  The verse is quoted in Romans 10:8 and referred to as the word of faith. There are three things that activate faith:

• Believe and see (John 5:19; Hebrews 11:1; 2 Corinthians 5:7). We must see, believe and hope for what does not yet exist in the natural before in can ever materialize.
• Speak in faith (Romans 10:8; Romans 10:9-11; Deuteronomy 30:14; Mark 11:22). This doesn’t mean we lie but begin to say what we are believing God is doing or going to do. There is something about speaking or testifying what we believe that produces life and gives us the power to overcome (Proverbs 18:20-1; Revelation 12:11).
• Act on what you believe (Deuteronomy 30:14 “that you may do it”; James 2:17-19; Mark 2:5; Hebrews 11). Through out Hebrews chapter 11 it constantly injects that by faith they did something and they overcame insurmountable odds by acting on what they believed God for.

Encourage and strengthen yourself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6). This has to do with focusing on and speaking the positive in the midst of devastation. “I have overcome bad situations before with His help and I will overcome this too.”  “I may be going through a difficult time and have failed miserably, but I will overcome this with his help.” “I will come out on top, prosper and be victorious over it all.” In Philippians 4:8, after talking about prayer and thanksgiving in anxious times, Paul stressed for them to think about the positive and of good things.

Praise (Hebrews 13:15 & Job 13:15). Read also Joshua 7; 2 Chronicles 20; Acts 16. Prayer focuses on the problem whereas praise concentrates on the solution.

Forgiveness (Job 42:10). Job went through devastation and difficulties on more levels than you can imagine. He lost everything. All of his friends said it was his fault and criticized him constantly.  At the end, once he had forgiven his friends and prayed for them, God gave him back twice of all he had lost. Some of you have gone through struggles, difficulty, abuse, and betrayal. You are still experiencing defeat in part because you haven’t forgiven those who hurt, abused and betrayed you. Forgive! Forgive! Forgive!

Endurance (James 5:10-11; 2 Timothy 2:3; Hebrews 12:1-3). Some of you have simply given up. Let me urge you to not give up. The devil knows the only way he can win is if you give up. If you keep pressing on and refuse to quit you will overcome and be victorious.

Being born of God (1 John 5:4; John 3:1-16). This means a birth from above. It takes place when you look to Jesus as your only hope of salvation. Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. We are made up of three parts; flesh, soul (mind, will, intellect and emotions), and spirit (that part that relates to God). When we are born in the flesh (natural birth) our priorities are placed on our flesh first, then soul, and last of all, spiritual.  When we are really born again by the Spirit of God our priorities change completely. Our priorities then are set first on the spirit, then the soul, and last of all the flesh. This doesn’t mean the flesh is ignored altogether, but our priorities have changed. This produces an inner strength that enables us to overcome all that life may throw at us.