SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(1 Peter 4:12-14) (12) “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you;" (13)" But rejoice, insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." (14) " If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."
(1 Corinthians 10:13) "There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18) (16) “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (17) “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (18) “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal
(Isaiah 40:31) "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
(Romans 8:28) "For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
(Psalm 55:22) "Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."
(Psalm 120:1) "In my distress, I called to the LORD, and he answered me."
(Philippians 4:19) "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
(Luke 12:6–7) "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
(Mark 10:27) "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.'"
PREFACE SUMMARY
Dear reader, there is no room for depression and loneliness if we understand that God loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place that we through faith might become the sons of God and be adopted into his royal family becoming an heir with God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
Dear reader, don’t you think it is time to enjoy life and come to a life of holiness walking in the light of God’s word?
Beloved, we as his children need to speak His word out loud into the atmosphere that His promises and benefits are working in us.
Beloved, God watches over His word to fulfill it and if God cares about the sparrows and knows when one dies, then He cares about you, yes beloved, He cares for the spouses who have lost their partner in life and He cares about those incarcerated and serving their sentence for crimes against society including the mother that has a son incarcerated facing certain death without a miracle of mercy from a higher court, but most importantly beloved reader, God cares for those who feel that they are all alone.
Beloved, did you know that people are important to God, and He does not want us living in bondage but in the power and victory of the cross?
Dear reader, please remember that the Sin of mankind was dealt a mighty blow by our Savior at the cross.
Beloved, God raised Christ up for our justification making a way for us to come into His Holy presence as one who has no sin, for beloved because he was willing to go to the cross for the sin of fallen man, we that accept and believe are declared righteous through the blood of Jesus.
Beloved, it is now time for us to start living as one that knows God from the free pardon of sin and put the devil where he belongs and that is under our feet, and when we feel there is no way out when tempted to an incredible extreme, we can take comfort in knowing that we are not alone.
Beloved reader, God trusts us to be overcomers because he that lives within is greater than he that is in the world, therefore beloved, let’s be on the alert and be quick to recognize the enemy’s tactics and fight from the side of the victory that has already been won, as we exercise our faith in resisting all attacks and draw support from our fellow Christians and the God of all Grace.
AGAINST ALL ODDS
Dear reader, many people today including myself are being tested by the many trials and pressures of the world around us especially with the daily news broadcasting school shootings, hatred and unrest.
Beloved, did you not know that we as children of God are supposed to be an influence to our environment? Dearly beloved can we as the people of God realize the sign of the times and move to take a firm stand in our faith, asking ourselves, when is enough not enough?
Beloved, one of the ways the enemy attacks us is to launch an attack using others with the intent to discredit our ability to lead and cause those God placed under us to see us as being weak and unfit for the job including the calling on our life and ministry.
Dear reader, another way the enemy attempts to attack us is to cause so much havoc around us, hoping we will get our eyes off our assignment which will allow the pressures on the outside warring against us to get on the inside messing up our thinking thus causing failure and defeat even in our Christian walk of faith.
Beloved, what happens when Christians lose hope and faint in their faith with their prayers running out of words as they become a faint cry on deaf ears?
Beloved, many today when faced with life's hardships either try to ignore them while others tend to look for fulfillment in things of the world such as wine, women and song which leaves them feeling void and empty however beloved, the best recipe that I have found that really works for me is when I push back food and seek to have a divine fresh encounter with my God.
Beloved there is no shortcuts with God and to experience a fresh encounter with him requires a disciplined prayer life with a daily reading of his holy word.
Dear reader, the bible is the only book that you will read that is designed by our creator, that never ages in time and it will actually read you. Beloved, you might say well, man wrote that book but wait a minute; that book was written by men who lived in three different periods of history, living on three different continents and they all agreed on what they had written as the inspired word of God.
Dearly beloved, I feel as we go deeper in this study with more than thirty five years experience ministering throughout the inner streets of America, Canada including some foreign nations throughout the world that we can overcome discouragement and despair by trusting in God's amazing grace, through faith in his unchanging word by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.
THE PEOPLE HAD A MIND TO WORK
Dear reader, many people today including myself are being tested by the many trials and pressures of the world around us especially with the daily news broadcasting school shootings, hatred and unrest.
Beloved, did you not know that we as children of God are supposed to be an influence to our environment? Dearly beloved can we as the people of God realize the sign of the times and move to take a firm stand in our faith, asking ourselves, when is enough not enough?
1. THE ENEMY TRIES TO ATTACK ON TWO SIDES
Beloved, one of the ways the enemy attacks us is to launch an attack using others with the intent to discredit our ability to lead and cause those God placed under us to see us as being weak and unfit for the job including the calling on our life and ministry.
Beloved, I know I mentioned this same passage earlier, but I feel that I need to reflect on it again for there are many people today suffering from anxiety even to the extreme of taking mind altering pills just to deal with the depression attacks that seem to come out of nowhere and beloved, did you know that Charles Spurgeon who was one of the greatest theologians of all time suffered from depression?
Yes, dear reader, this powerful speaker stood in front of five thousand people in London, England and declared that he sometimes suffered with depression so severe that it would cause him to disappear from the publics eye for weeks and months at a time?
Dear reader, another way the enemy attempts to attack us is to cause so much havoc around us, hoping we will get our eyes off our assignment which will allow the pressures on the outside warring against us to get on the inside messing up our thinking thus causing failure and defeat even in our Christian walk of faith.
Beloved, what happens when Christians lose hope and faint in their faith with their prayers running out of words as they become a faint cry on deaf ears, like an animal trapped in a large pit whose cry's echo back into the pit leaving the animal feeling helpless?
Beloved, many today when faced with life's hardships either try to ignore them while others tend to look for fulfillment in things of the world such as wine, women and song which leaves them feeling void and empty however beloved, the best recipe that I have found that really works for me is when I push back food and seek to have a divine fresh encounter with my God.
Beloved there is no shortcuts with God and to experience a fresh encounter with him requires a disciplined prayer life with a daily reading of his Holy word.
Dear reader, the bible is the only book that you will read that is designed by our creator, that never ages in time and it will actually read you.
Beloved, you might say well, man wrote that book but wait a minute; that book was written by men who lived in three different periods of history, living on three different continents and they all agreed on what they had written as the inspired word of God.
Dearly beloved, I feel as we go deeper in this study with more than thirty five years experience ministering throughout the inner streets of America, Canada including some foreign nations throughout the world that we can overcome discouragement and despair by trusting in God's amazing grace, through faith in his unchanging word by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.
2. THE PEOPLE HAD A MIND TO WORK
Beloved reader, a true leader is one that is committed to understanding the importance of the job both to lead and to become an example to their workers.
Dear reader, to get a better understanding of how to deal with outside pressure, we need to read the fourth chapter of the book of Nehemiah and study the character traits of Nehemiah the fearsome leader after being informed that fatigue is setting in among the men and the strength of the workers is giving out because of fear and threats of the enemy that was all around them for they were attempting to build a wall in hostile territory.
3. THE THREAT FROM THE ENEMY NEVER HAPPENED
(Nehemiah 4:7-9) (7) "But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth," (8) " And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it." (9) "Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them."
(Nehemiah 4:10-12) (10) "And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall." (11) "And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease." (12) "And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you."
4. NEHEMIAH ANSWERS THE THREAT
Nehemiah 4:13-14) (13) "Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows." (14) "And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses."
Beloved, the bottom line to the illustration above is that there were many threats against Nehemiah even enticing
invitations to get him away from the people that they may kill him but his answer was that he is working on a great work and he cannot come down, and beloved although the enemy made many threats, there is not one recorded record in scripture that the people were ever attacked.
Dear reader, when we get tired because of outside pressure, the enemy loves to get our eyes on the noise, the rubble and piles of debris stacked all around us hoping that we will become discouraged and lose sight of our assignment.
Beloved, does not Hebrews the twelfth chapter inform us that we need to get rid of anything that would hinder or entangle us in our walk with Christ, and run the Christian race before us with patience?
(Hebrews 12:1) "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Beloved, let me take the time in this message to point out one important point and that is this; through all the hate, slander and threatening words sent by the enemy to bring discouragement among the workers, I cannot find where the enemy actually launched an offensive attack against the people of God.
Dear reader, the enemy plotted and tried in vain to get the chosen leader Nehemiah to come down and attend a secret meeting where they had plans to ambush him and take his life, but this leader was committed to the assignment refusing to come down, stating that he was working on a great work.
Beloved, we find one interesting fact concerning the leadership of Nehemiah that gives us the secret to his success and that beloved is that this fearsome chosen leader of God prayed for divine guidance and help as he instructed the people that they need to respect the Lord's position, rest in his protection and reflect back on his provision to sustain the work.
Dear reader, the lesson we can learn from studying this chapter found in the book of Nehemiah is that we need place our trust in God more than in our emotions, because our emotions can play tricks on us and get us thinking the wrong things.
Dear reader, did you not know that the attacks on our faith will make us into humble servants of God and cause us to apply the truth of God's word to our life and ministry in greater ways, and beloved, these experiences will make us men and women of God that will better appreciate and understand spiritual truths including the real cosmic battle that is going on around us.
Dear reader, In closing this chapter let me use this statement as a bottom line to our complete study and that is that our real enemy is not our brother and sister but that fallen angel Satan known as the tempter, deceiver, and accuser of the brethren who is against everything that God stands for especially mankind that is made in his image and likeness but beloved please remember that the scriptures teach that he goes about as a roaring lion which means he has already been defeated and we need to fight from the side of the victory that has already been won.
THE ADVERSARY - THE ACCUSER - THE DECEIVER
Dear reader, did you know that when we take Kingdom priorities serious, the enemy will stir people to rise against us in an attempt to discourage block the word of God from going forth in our life and ministry.
Beloved, I am familiar with an incident concerning a ministry that was in the process of regrouping and restructuring its foundational walls and constitution.
Dear Saints, the ministry was using as its format the character of the great leader Nehemiah and his assignment to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem that had been torn down by conquering armies.
Beloved reader, the ministry conducted a study concerning the sincerity of Nehemiah and his commitment including his brave leadership to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem using his character and traits as its chosen curriculum to regroup and retrain its ministers.
Beloved look as this fearsome leader never allowed outside pressures to dim or alter his vision. We see the opposition rising up thru the governor of that land causing havoc in an attempt to stop the work by causing confusion intending to mislead the people by mocking and calling the workers feeble which means (withered).
Beloved, he did this by asking could they build a wall that would withstand a mighty army with stones that were old and outdated, declaring a fox could tear down their wall trying to cause discouragement among the workers?
1. FACT: The workers were in hostile territory and were surrounded by their enemies and were in constant fear of being ambushed.
2. FACT: The pressures on the outside were trying to work their way on the inside that they might cause problems among the workers.
Beloved, does this sound like our enemy today with food shortages, school shootings with a lazy out of control government who's main strategy is to divide and conquer?
Dear reader, there is a devil lose that hates mankind because they are made in the image of almighty God and his plan to deceive man has worked throughout history and that plan and strategy has always been one to cause confusion and trick us into thinking and talking like him hoping we will become discouraged and give up.
Dear reader, we are all either in a crisis, coming out of one, or headed into one because that is the way of life, for Job declared in the word of God "that a man born of woman is of a few days and full of trouble."
Saints, we can choose to either react or respond to a situation, but it is better to give it some prayer and respond to situations that may arise and remember to guard your heart and set boundaries that I call scruples including distancing yourself from people and things that have hidden plans to slow you down in an attempt to get your eyes of your assignment for if you react by making quick decisions such as placing someone in a position they were no trained for, you will not only be embarrassed but insulted because the position will swell their head and you risk them tearing down in one day what it took you years to establish.
MY CONCLUSION
Dear reader, I hope you have been inspired and elevated in this study concerning life's disappointments which bring anxiety, fear, unbelief and discouragement which are designed to slow us down to get our eyes off our vision and assignment, and the sad truth is that the enemy know us better than we know our-self and he knows that they actually work.
Beloved, we that have cultivated a relationship with Christ and have spend time in his word know who the enemy is, how he hides himself and what the real battle is all about, therefore beloved, please be ware that there are many spirits in the world today and do you think it would not be wise on our part to test the spirit coming before us before we give someone a word from God?
Dear reader, here are three questions to get us started in testing a word someone may give us that they say is a right now word from the throne of God!
1. Does it build up
2. Does it tear down
3. Does it cause confusion
Bottom Line: Anybody can tear down but are we willing to use discernment and offer our hand willingly to the work of God for the up building of his kingdom?
Dear reader, Nehemiah considered the work a great work and against all opposition finished the work for he stated that the people had a mind to work. The people developed the mind to work when they experienced the leadership of a true warrior who refused to allow discouragement and piecing threating words distract him from his God given chosen assignment.
Beloved when we feel weak and discouragement tries to creep its way into our mind, let us stand strong in our faith putting our trust in our god who never fails for he said he will be with us and never leave us even to the end of the world. Dear reader, did you know in bible days that in a severe storm such as a hurricane, the shipmen would tie themselves with a rope to the huge mask of the ship?
Beloved, they did this to keep from being knocked by huge waves off of the ship and into the raging sea. and may we in these troublesome dangerous days we live in today, seek refuge in the mercy and protection our our God tying ourselves to his holy word which one writer declared it to be a haven of rest and an anchor of the soul.
Beloved church, it is time to wake up to the call and task upon us and strip ourselves from the love of this world and the love of self; Yes, and turn to the Lord with our whole heart with fasting and our prayers being saturated with our tears until we hear from heaven.
Dear reader, let us remember that our view of the Living God will affect our view of our fellow man and as the word says, "How can we say we love God whom we have not seen and hate our brother whom we have seen who is made in his image and likeness?"
Dear Saints,, Jesus is the doorway to God and Jesus had already defeated Satan. God’s church shares the same authority of Jesus. (Colo. 1:18) "And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."
Beloved, we can look at our problems through God or we can look at God through our problem? Let’s exchange our faith for his, trust him and soar?
Saints and fellow peers, recently, I had a vision of what happens when you squeeze toothpaste and then the thought entering my mind, especially thinking about my many mistakes and failures in my Christian life, like a flashing neon sign, I saw the words, "what happens when someone squeezes me the wrong way?"
Beloved, even now while living and ministering throughout the Philippines, I am often reminded of the valuable knowledge God taught me through this process to understand that he is a God of character and that is what he is looking for in his people especially those chosen to lead others for you can tell a seasoned leader for they understand the value of team work and the importance of leading by example instead of leading by using the authority granted unto them by their position.
Dear reader, my favorite scripture in God's word in found in Psalms 19:14) "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be found acceptable in thy sight; O lord, my strength and my redeemer."
Beloved reader, did you know that many suffering from anxiety today will confess that it because they have a fear of the unknown?
Beloved, would you believe me if I tell you that God foreknew you before creation and planned your life the end from the beginning that his purpose may be fulfilled upon the earth?
Beloved reader, what would be wrong in clearing your mind and bow your head right now and ask him to reveal the plans he has for your before you were born?
Dear reader, did you know that (Isaiah 49:16) states that he has us engraved on the palm of his hands?
Beloved, there can be no room for depression and loneliness if we understand that God loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place that we through faith might become the sons of God and be adopted into his royal family becoming an heir with God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
Dear reader, in spite of your failures and the way you have been treated in this unforgiving world, I want you to know that there is a God that loves you unconditionally with a pure love that desires for you to to prosper and be in good health.
Beloved, don’t you think it is time for you to enjoy life and come to a life of holiness walking in the light of God’s word which is described by the Psalmist David as a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path?
Beloved reader, we that have accepted his plan for our life and have been adopted into his royal family, need to speak His word out loud into the atmosphere that His promises and benefits are working in us.
Beloved, the bible states in (Jeremiah 1:12) that God watches over His word to perform it and beloved, if God cares about the sparrows and knows when one dies, then He cares about you?
Beloved reader, did you know that God cares for the spouses that have lost their partner in life, and He cares about those incarcerated, that are serving their sentence for crimes against society including the mother that has a son incarcerated facing certain death without a miracle of mercy from a higher court?
Beloved, the bottom line to this entire message is, "God loves you" and wants noting but the best for you!
Dear reader, God wants you to know that he has a special love for those who feel that they are all alone including those that feel they are unloved because they have no earthly father, but remember beloved, he said in his word, that He will be a father to the fatherless. (Psalms 68:5)
MY CLOSING PRAYER
Dear Lord, I want to thank you for the opportunity to close this message in a word of prayer to all who will take time out of their busy schedule and read this message with an open heart, and Father, I ask that you move to bless each one that through this message have surrendered their life more to your purpose and I ask that you intensify the work that you have begun in their life and ministry.
Lord, I ask that you bless them spiritually, financially, physically, relationally and emotionally that their life may be blessed to enrich the lives of others, and Lord, from this day forward, I ask that your will, your purpose, your word and your Spirit will have free course in their life and everyone that they meet, and Lord I ask in Jesus mighty name that you will touch, heal and deliver all that read this prayer and call upon your wonderful name, that you will meet their need right where they are.
Father, I pray that all curses and words spoken against them would be broken and I ask that you stand up in them in these last days and make their life count for your cause and purpose and lord, as you awaken the gifts and talents placed in them from birth that they may become unified in the faith with other believers realizing the need to work together in harmony like a fine tuned orchestra in the masters hands.
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your great love and blessing over our lives, for we rest in knowing that you promised to never leave nor forsake us as your children, and you promised to go with us all the way even to the end of the world.
Dear Lord, please forgive us for failing to remember that you know our needs before we ask, for you were once one of us that was tempted in all points as us and you went to the cross to pay our sin debt that we could be adopted into your royal family as Sons and Daughters sharing with you in your glory. "Thank You Jesus"
Dear Lord, we ask for you to enlarge our borders and place your hand of blessing upon us to guide us in the path you chose for us for we need your divine guidance that we might walk fully in your blessing and goodness as you lead us by your Spirit to divine appointments, and Lord, please deliver us from evil that we will not be tempted or cause pain.
Dear Lord, I pray that your blessed holy name might be glorified throughout the Earth as you leave your signature through us to future generations., and Lord I ask that you assign an Angel to accompany this work into the home of every person that will take time to read it.
Lord, help us stand firm together activating our faith, for it is in these trying times through your grace that we can find rest in knowing that we can depend on you our God, "Our Father", to come on the scene to direct our path and to guide our footsteps.
Dear Lord help us to understand our dependence for survival is upon you and Lord, help us realize that we represent your glorious body on Earth, therefore Lord help us also understand that there is strength in numbers and we need each other to be fruitful and live a prosperous life as your people.
Lord, please help us to not be careless and prideful in our Christian walk, or resemble a bunch of used body parts, but help us realize Lord, that we are apart of something bigger than ourselves; that we are a part of your glorious body as sons and daughters in your royal family and kingdom.
Dear Lord, my prayer is that you stir us up and burden our heart for true revival, yes Lord, in every country throughout the world and demonstrate to the people in these countries that you are the Unchanging God, for your word declares it, that what you were yesterday, you are today, and will be tomorrow! (Hebrews 13:8)
Dear heavenly Father, I ask that you move to bless each one that has taken time to read this message and have humbly surrendered their life more to your purpose and I ask that you intensify the work that you have begun in their life and ministry in Jesus mighty name.
Father, I ask that you bless them spiritually, financially, physically, relationally and emotionally that their life may be blessed to enrich the lives of others, and dear Lord, I ask that your will, your purpose, your word and your Spirit will have free course in their life and everyone that they meet.
Father, I pray that all curses and words spoken against them would be broken and I ask that you stand up in them in these last days and make their life count.
Dear Lord, I ask you to awaken the gifts and talents that was placed in them at birth, that they may become unified in the faith with other believers, realizing the need to work together in harmony like a fine tuned orchestra in the masters hands.
Father I pray that if any reading this prayer should need deliverance from some oppressing spirit including some illnesses that may be attacking their body, Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit would raise up a standard against these attacks and set these people free.
Lord, I pray that the power of your written and spoken word be activated through the authority that is made available unto us that is in the name of Jesus, and we apply the following scriptures to our prayer.
(John 16:23) "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." and (Psalms 34:15) "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."
Father, we close our prayer believing that you have heard and answered us according to your divine will and purpose, for it is in Jesus mighty name we pray and ask these favors. A-Men
Be Blessed and be a Blessing!
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
