LIFE IS FILLED WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS

o   We all experience challenges and struggles in life.

o   Most problems we face are natural, needing natural wisdom to solve.

o   But there are times we, as Christians, experience spiritual opposition, conflicts and spiritual warfare. (Eph.6:12)
"Being 'tested' by God, and 'tempted' by Satan are 2 totally different events with completely different purposes:

God's testing: brings Spiritual maturity and spiritual development.

Satan's objective: Destruction, loss, defeat, and sin.

o   Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) Text

o   12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against wars, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

A.   WHAT TO REMEMBER IN TIMES OF GOD'S TESTING

Dt.8:1-5

““Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.”

Deuteronomy 8:1-5 NKJV

1.    God is more concerned about shaping your character than keeping you comfortable.Even in the lesson, God performs miracles (manna)

o   Ps. 138:7,8 - "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect (mature) that which concerns me."

B  WHAT TO REMEMBER IN TIMES OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE.  SPIRITUAL OPPOSITION found in a  CHRISTIAN'S LIFE

1.You will never win a spiritual battle with natural logic, natural weapons or natural wisdom.

2 Cor. 10:3,4- "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." (So we should walk in the Spirit) seek the spiritual gifts to enhance your physical life!)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 8:1 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.8.1.NKJV

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:25 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/gal.5.25.NKJV

2. Spiritual opposition can typically be found at SIX distinct times in a Christian's life:

1.    When you are physically exhausted. “Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table. I Kings 18:19 NKJV

 Elijah, prophets, Jezabel, tired. Minister and the Monday syndrome

2.    Birthing a new endeavor/ministry. Whenever you want to do something for God, you’ve got an adversary

I Cor.16 “But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” Paul’s view.

3.    Strategic 'intersections' of life- dealing with the unfamiliar / unknown / uncertain

Moving in ministry, very difficult. Lots of prayer, tears, life change for family.

When you don’t have confidence, you don’t have faith. Uncertainties breed doubt. But we walk by faith and not by sight. We need to grow through that experience but the enemy would like us to level out and make no headway. Why? Because he wins that battle. Eagle and crow story. Move a little higher.

4.    When you have received a life-changing truth. (Mt. 13:20-21)

“But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”

 We want the Word to be with us but it says he sent forth his Word and healed them. When you hear the Word, you’ve been with Jesus. All Jesus had to do was speak the word. Jesus spoke the Word again and again. When God sends out his Word, let it take root. The enemy wants to distract us here. Now I need to walk this out on Monday morning. The enemy’s strategy is to steal it!, kill, Steal destroy

5.    A miracle has left God's hand for you. “Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.  Daniel 10:12 ESV

Daniel prayed for 21 days. God sent the miracle the first day.

Battles on Sundays, battles in worship. Faithful group of singers in RC. They (some)  were with me for 15 years, giving up time and sacrificing their lives to worship but do you know the enemy still challenged us with foolishness at the last minute. Mothers Day mess. Attacking choir members because they’re mothers pic wasn’t included.

God may have a nugget for you that day. What if you had let the enemy of your soul miss the word that day?

In our first church, I experienced a depression because of personal goals not being met, etc. Healed on a Wednesday night.

6.    When you are next in line for promotion. David in I Samuel 16. Family gathered around and he was the one anointed. In I Samuel 17, David was fighting his Goliath. When you are about to move forward in your promotion, you may have your own Goliath. (Oppression)

There are some things in your lives that are not merely circumstances or mistakes. These times are thrown at you when you least expect it. It will try to thwart your ministry.

If you recognize what is happening, you will not lay down to it, cower under the load of it, defend yourselves from the lies going forth about your character, use your physical illness to bow out of responsibility. You will have to run that race and fight the fight of faith.

II Cor 4:8-9

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—”

II Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.4.8-9.NKJV