Power to Succeed Pt.4

Most of what God equips us with operates in adversity. You don’t need help when everything is going well. “Salvation” (from the Greek translation means deliverance, healing, preservation) is about God’s provision to you to overcome anything that comes against you. In the face of hard times all around, the Spirit of God reminds us in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good to a specific group of people; those who are called and answer, and that love and obey God. This is an inclusive call of hope to everyone no matter what you’re facing. As a child of God, you need to know that with God you won’t be embarrassed, and you will learn to see every challenge in life as an opportunity (Romans 5:5). When you come to the end of your situation – whatever it is – count it all joy knowing that all things will work together for your good. Only you can define what “all things” are.

Last week, we left off understanding that God’s hope changes the way a person sees (Romans 8:24, 25). You can never allow your or anyone else’s experiences determine what your hope could or should be. Unfortunately family members stop potential and dreams through misplaced fear, just because they haven’t seen it accomplished before. God will not do what eye has seen or ear has heard so stop looking in the possibility bucket! The God-type of hope is NOT seen. If the power has been ignited, then you won’t see your seed. It’s been planted. Farmers don’t plant seed and dig it up to see if it’s working! (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18; 11). Paul’s “light affliction” included beatings, prison, shipwrecks, and abandonment, all of which he wrote off as temporary. Think of how bad Joseph had it! He was beaten, sold into slavery by his own brothers, and thrown into prison. Yet, he rose to run all of Egypt. It was all part of God’s plan. Who cares what people think of your situation? What Paul and Joseph went through pales in comparison to just about anything you’re going through.

Hope gives you the endurance to make it. Not to go 10 miles and give up short of the finish line. When you think endurance, think power; the ability to go all the way to the finish line (Romans 8:25). Why are you looking longingly at superficial things when you have the power to see what others can’t see? No one can waive something at you to drain your power! The control and power are in your hands.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3; Hebrews 12:2 – your hope is Christ, a living hope. Look at Jesus through the Word as our example of endurance.
































































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