Romans 8:28-37(NLT) We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Understanding opposition:
1. Opposition will come
John 16:33(NIV) …”In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
2. Opposition will refine you but it does not define you
3. Opposition is an indicator.
“IN MORE CASES THAN NOT OPPOSITION IS AN INDICATOR THAT YOU ARE DOING THE RIGH THING.”
Realities in Releasing Dominion….
1.Positioned for Triumph
Romans 8:37 (NLT)Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Our victory is paid for!
1 John 3:8(NIV) The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 5:4-5 (NIV)Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Romans 8:37(NLT) WE ARE MORE than conquerors through him who loved us.
2. Practice of Prayer
Mark 14:38 (NLT) Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.
3. Posture of Praise
2 Corinthians 3:17(NIV) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
“Freedom is not found in the absence of opposition but in the Presence of Jesus!”
Isaiah 59:19 When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.
4. Proper perspective
We must start looking at things through Heavens perspective.
2 Corinthians 4:8-, 17-18 (NLT) We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.…17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
1 Kings 19:3-13 (NLT) 3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the LORD said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
How does God speak?
John 10:27 (NLT) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
1. The clarity of his Word
Psalm 119:105 (NLT) Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
2. The voice of our Father
John 12:49-50 (NLT) I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
3. The leading of the spirit
John 14:26 (NIV) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
4.The happenings of life
5. The wisdom of our Community
Colossians 3:15-16 (NIV) 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Romans 7:4 (NLT) Now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.
Galatians 6:7-10 (NLT) 7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
Faithfulness….
God is looking for faithful people…
2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT) The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Because he wants to pour out a blessing…
Proverbs 28:20 (NIV) A faithful man will be richly blessed…
Psalm 18:25 (NIV) To the faithful you show yourself faithful.
What is Faithfulness?
“You won’t be fruitful without being faithful!”
John 15:5 (NLT) Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.
Faithful Endurance
1- Focus on Jesus
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
2- Remember Process
“Big fruit requires strong, thick, branches!”
“The process is preparing us for promise”
3- Dont Quit
“90% faithfulness is not faithfulness.”
Ministry:
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”