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Dealing with Adversity
Written by Mike McGuire, DRE
Sources: "Changed into His Likeness" by Watchman Nee
I have a keen interest in Spirit filled Bible teachers from the
early 1900
era. Some taught Biblical principles about the Word and Authority
that were
far ahead of there contemporaries. According to the Bio on the back
of
Watchman Nee's book "Changed into His likeness" the author was
arrested in
1952 and found guilty on false charges. He was imprisoned until his
death
in 1972-Watchman Nee 1903-1972. All you have to do is teach the
truth,
and persecution comes. Notice that while Watchman is being tested he
gives
a clear picture of the freedom released in being in-Christ. Below is
a
summary of his teaching.
Isaac
The Life of Isaac is a life of being born into riches. He didn't
have to
travel to the Promised Land or break ties with heathen ancestors in
order to
follow in obedience to God. He received everything Abraham had and
that
meant he was very rich in cattle, silver and gold (Gen. 13:3, 24:36,
25:5).
Can you think of someone born into wealth like Isaac? You're not
going to
believe this at first, but you could be in that very position
yourself.
John 1:12 says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power
[exsousia: power, liberty, authority, right, strength, power of
rule] to
become the sons of God..." There is only one way to be a son. You
must be
born into it. In John chapter 3 Jesus explains two kinds of birth.
One is
natural and the other spiritual. Spiritual birth follows natural
birth on
this earth. In Rom. 8:29 we have the first spiritual birth recorded,
"For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
Jesus was
the firstborn Son. Acts 13:22 - God has fulfilled this for us their
children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in
the
second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.'
But He desired to have many brothers. Second Cor. 5:21 says that the
Father
God, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might
be made the righteousness of God in him. Notice that the Father made
us
righteous and placed us "in Christ Jesus" His Son. So then
everything that
happens to the Son, because you are "In Christ" happened to you
also. Place
a bookmark in the Bible and nail the Bible to a cross. The book mark
is
nailed with it. If you bury it and dig it up the bookmark is
restored with
it. Jesus even ascended and seated us in heavenly places. Read 1 Cor
1:30,
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us
wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"
Now if a son does nothing but be born into this, the only thing that
can go
wrong is if the son does not understand it or cannot freely receive
it.
Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of beans because he did not
value what
the father had. Jesus said, "And as ye go, preach, saying, The
kingdom of
heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
dead, cast
out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Mt. 10:7-8) Paul
wrote, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us
all, how
shall he not with him also freely give us all things (Rom. 8:32)?"
Why would anyone turn down Jesus and not receive Him? Maybe people
don't
know what He has to offer. We must preach the kingdom and heal the
sick and
reflect exactly what the kingdom is like. It must be freely
received.
Jacob
Now let's look at Jacob. He was a schemer. He was always looking for
a way
to bargain or scheme his way into where the blessing was. He
deceived his
own father and enraged his elder brother Esau. He stole Esau's
blessing.
He fled and went to live with his uncle Laban. The first thing he
did was
to bargain and negotiate a price he would pay for the hand of
Laban's
daughter, Rachel, in marriage. After seven years of labor, Laban
deceived
Jacob. Leah was planted in Jacobs's tent and the marriage was
consummated
that night. But still Jacob worked seven more years for Laban to
earn
Rachel's hand in marriage. Even encounters with God would not
convince him
to freely receive the blessing and protection that God had for him.
He sent
his wives and servants ahead of him with the herds and wealth. He
was
willing to offer all he had to Esau in order to settle the offense.
He
tried to buy off Esau and the war party that was coming to destroy
him
instead of trusting God to defend him. Jacob knew a lot about
adversity and
not much about freely receiving. Isaac knew a lot about freely
receiving
and not very much about severe adversity. But God proved Himself as
a
defender and a provider to both of these men and blessed them just
as He
said He would. He will do the same for us.
You see freely receiving is important, but you must see the other
side also.
Life is not always as it was with Isaac. Isaac was for most part
protected.
Many trials and battles will be fought. Many Laban's will be over
you
before you are able to get a word from God and take authority over
them.
It's not enough to be "in Christ", we must have "Christ in" us also.
Our
very character must reflect Him to the world. The fruit of the
Spirit from
Gal. 5:22 must rise up within us as Christ is formed in us. This
part
requires the progressive discipline from the Holy Spirit and a lot
of
patience on the son's part.
Gal. 4:19 - My little children, for whom I labor in birth again
until Christ
is formed in you,
Col. 1:27 - To whom God would make known what is the riches of the
glory of
this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory:
James 1:3 - Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience. 4
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire,
wanting nothing.
Heb. 6:12 - That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who
through faith
and patience inherit the promises.
1 Peter 5:9-10 - Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the
same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But
the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ
Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
stablish,
strengthen, settle you.
Defeating Adversity
Let me summarize. As a son you must, by faith, freely receive the
blessing
and absolute riches and abundance that comes with being made a son.
If you
are born again (John 3:5-6, 1:12) you have been made righteous and
placed
"in Christ Jesus." Sometimes it seems too good to be true. But don't
even
try to work or scheme for anything that Christ has purchased (past
tense)
and laid up for you. Jacob sure didn't have much success with
working
scheming strategy to capture the blessing.
Be aware, however, that a son is tested, chastened and corrected. In
the
process of this testing, the character of Christ Himself can be
formed in
you. This is not automatic. It requires a steadfast faith, a strong
understanding of the Word and a lot of Patience. Just as Isaac was
commanded to dwell in the land, you must dwell in the promises of
God's
Word. You will need to use the "it is written" in the Word to speak
to both
natural (Mat 8:26) and demonic adversity (Mat. 8:16-17). Remember,
Jesus
spoke to the wind and cast out demons with a Word.
Psalm 105:17-20 - He sent a man before them-Joseph-who was sold as a
slave.
8 They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. 19 Until
the time
that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him. 20 The
king
sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free.
Remember the command of the Lord, Freely you have received, Freely
give (Mt.
10:7-9). God is for us and not against us. He is a giver and not a
taker.
He is a Deliverer. Glory to God, in the end, we win.
Rev. Dr. Hildegarde Sergeant
Love of God Ministries, Int'l
& School of Ministry
There is no greater Physician than Doctor Jesus - no higher
authority than
God the Father - no greater power than the Spirit of Christ - the
Holy
Spirit. Amen
"If we have the Word without the Spirit - we dry up.
If we have the Spirit without the Word - we blow up.
but if we have the Word and the Spirit - we grow up!"
Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin
Comments:
hildie.sergeant@sbcglobal.net
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