Dear Partners and Friends,
You can stand against any adversity! Whether it is the course of this world, the force of the curse that is operating in this world, or the attack of our adversary, you can stand and maintain the victory that is yours through Jesus Christ.
Standing is the key. I am not talking about having a struggle mentality where we play victim songs, pray victim prayers, and cry victim tears. I am talking about standing in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. (Galatians 5:1) I am referring to a stand where you are “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16) We are designed to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. You and I are to put on the “whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)
This is a stand where the winds of adversity do not move us. We are Word-dependent people motivated by the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit! We must sink our roots into the spiritual water supply like the Psalms 1 believer: We shall be like the tree planted by the rivers of living water, that brings forth our fruit in our season; our leaf does not wither; and whatsoever we do shall prosper! We have to plant ourselves in Jeremiah 17:8 and be as the tree planted by the waters that spreads out our roots by the river. We shall not see when heat comes! Instead, our leaf shall be green and we shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall we cease from yielding fruit. The Amplified Bible says, “we shall not see and fear when heat comes…and we shall not be anxious or full of care in the year of drought.”
The emphasis of these two verses is to be like a planted tree or a well-rooted, established tree. This is God’s description of standing. It is a stable and secure life where the Word of God and trust in Him provides our fruitfulness and longevity. The Apostle Paul made the statement, “None of these things move me.” Things in his life were trying to move him away from the plan of God! There were situation that were designed to alter his course or cause him to back off.
Every believer has access to the force of joy. Joy is produced in the re-born human spirit by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 records this as the fruit of the spirit. Joy is a spiritual supply that operates completely different than happiness. If you are looking for happiness, you are aiming at the wrong target. Joy operates independent of circumstances. Happiness depends on what happens. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have joy. But, there are times you have to rejoice or open the faucet of joy in your life.
Joy provides supernatural strength. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Spiritual standing requires the spiritual force of joy. Sadness is subtle. Heaviness tries to creep into your life and weigh you down. The instruction for us is: “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.” You have to employ the force of joy against that heavy feeling or sorrow. Celebrate! Be exceedingly glad! Rejoice in Jesus Christ and His covenant with you!
In Isaiah 12:3 we see this truth: “Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Water that comes from the wells of salvation is a spiritual substance and supply. This shows me that there is a spiritual supply for your life that only joy can access and transport into your life. Joy is a spiritual bucket. Dip it into the well of your rescue, the well of your preservation, and access the healing your need. Access the power you need to heal your marriage. Access the provision you need to get out of debt. There is a supply for the stand and you can draw it out with the force of joy! Philip and I are praying for you!
Build Your Faith” Conference
At Family Church Pine Bluff – 2500 Hwy 104, Pine Bluff, AR 71602
Friday, November 20th at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 21st from 10:00 a.m. until noon
Admission is free and open to the public. Doors will open an hour prior to event. Seating is on a first-come basis.