Intro: Paul’s main emphasis here seems to be that God has opened a door for effective ministry and that he has faced much opposition. Opposition was not new to Paul neither is it uncommon for any believer, for the Bible tells us that we have an adversary the devil, who goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
While we see that opposition and adversity may be common, it is by no means to be accepted nor submitted to by the believer for God has made us more than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us.
I. Adversities will come when you confess Christ as savior.
A. We will face mental opposition.
1. Satan will speak to our mind.
2. We must reprogram our mind to think as Christ.
3. We will have to battle doubt and fear.
B. We will have emotional opposition.
1. Our feelings will get hurt. ( Paul was
rejected by other believers when he became a
Christian)
2. Satan will try to seed such emotions as
hate,greed, fear or pride into your heart.
3. We do not walk by emotions but by faith in
God.
C. We may face physical opposition.
1. When sickness comes Satan will tell you it’s because you have sin in your life.
2. Satan will tell you it’s for the glory of God
or to keep you humble.
3. He may say it’s to test your faith to see if
you have faith to be healed.
II. 1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJ)
A. Adversity is to be overcome.
1. We are to put on the mind of Christ and be
renewed in the spirit of our mind.
2. We allow the Holy Spirit to develop the fruit
of the Spirit in us.
3. We must trust the Word of God concerning our healing.
B. Opposition is to be defeated.
1. Col 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (NKJ)
2. Satan is under our feet.
3. The gates of hell shall not prevail against
us.
C. Rom 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword?
36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are
killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep
for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor
life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers,
nor things present
