Does anyone think that as soon as you are born again, Spirit filled, and walking in faith, you are exempt from problems? No – problems will still come your way. But we have been given the tools and weapons to overcome. There is no need for us to be defeated.
“How are you doing?” “OK, I guess, under the circumstances.”
What are you doing under the circumstances? You’re supposed to be an overcomer!
John 16:33 33 …. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
“Well, that’s easy for Jesus to say. But what about us?”
1 John 5:4-5 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
We will encounter challenges to our faith in this world. Whether we succumb or overcome depends on how we can tap into and take advantage of the provisions God has made for us.
What do you do when the pressure is on?
Step 1 – Recognize the source of your trouble
The devil’s sole mission and purpose is to try to hurt God. He knows he has been defeated and that eternal punishment awaits him. It drives him insane with frustration, bitterness, and the desire for revenge. Since he is unable to attack God directly, he goes after what belongs to God – the saints. His mission: to steal, kill, and destroy:
John 10:1010 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
We have to realize that God is not the source of our problems. In the same verse that tells of the devil’s mission, it also tells of Jesus’ mission: “I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.”
The first chapter of James makes it very clear that God is not the source of trials and tribulations. In this chapter, wherever you see the word “temptation” or “trial” , it comes from the same the Greek root word peirasmos which not only means a temptation to sin, but any kind of test, or trial (it’s true, look it up!)
James 1:12 AMP 12 Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.
Many translations bring out both meanings of peirasmon in vs. 12 – both a temptation, and/or a trial. But now continue on:
James 1:13-17 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
What is this chapter saying? It begins with an admonition in vs. 2-4 to count it all joy when you encounter trials (Gr. peirasmois). In vs. 5 James tells us we can ask for and expect to receive wisdom when we are in a situation where we don’t know what to do. Then he gives us a warning, telling us not to be tricked into thinking that God is the one sending those temptations/tests/trials (vs. 13, Gr. tempted is peiradzomenos, a verb form meaning to tempt, test, or try). I don’t see how the Bible could put it any plainer than that – God is not the source of our problems!
The fruit of the Spirit and Christian character is not developed just because you experience trials. It comes from “abiding in the Vine” and fellowshipping with God. If experiencing a trial causes you to seek after God, He will take advantage of it to draw near to you and you will grow as a result. But you could have spent that time with Him even if there wasn’t a trial.
Years ago a friend of mine broke her leg, and while she was laid up she did a lot more praying and studying of the Bible than she usually did. The result was that she ended up being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Now did God cause her to break her leg so she could be baptized in the Holy Spirit? No – it was just that because she couldn’t do much else, she used her time to seek after God – and He was there waiting for her.
(For more on this subject, see Tribulations on Trial)
Step 2 – Recognize the devil’s defeat
Another mistake that Christians can make is that even if they recognize that God is not the source of their problems, they make the devil into an all powerful bogeyman who has control over most every circumstance in their lives.
This is not true – the devil is limited in what he can do to Christians. He cannot come in and perform his will to do whatever he wants to you. He has had his power stripped from him.
The devil has only one basic weapon left to his disposal, but he does know how to use it well. That weapon is deceit. It enables him to control the people that believe his lies with fear.
Ephesians 6:10-13 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
(Vs. 14) The word wiles means a sly trick, a deceit, or a stratagem.
(Vs 16) above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
How many does all mean? All means “the total quantity and none besides”. Verse 16 means that any attack the devil can throw at us, the shield of faith can nullify.
We do not need to live in fear of the devil and his devices. We should be like Smith Wigglesworth. He was awakened one night by a sound in his room. There at the foot of his bed, was the devil in all his unholy glory. Smith said, “Oh, it’s you”, turned over and went back to sleep.
Yes, the devil will attack. Yes, he will hurl those fiery darts. Yes, he will bring pressure to bear. But we are not to be afraid of him or what he can do. We are stronger than him!
How? Remember Ephesians 6:10 – be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
James 4:7 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
The devil is weak compared to God’s strength. If he sees you in armor, he is wary. He doesn’t know whether you’ll stand or fall. So he fires a dart, hides, and watches, to see how you’ll react.
It hits your shield. Thunk! “What was that?” Another one: Thunk! “Aughh! Darts!” You drop your shield, your sword, turn tail and run. “Aughh! The devil’s after me!”
He’ll chase you. The devil is not strong, but he is a master at taking advantage of circumstances. He’s a good bluffer.
A different scenario:
Thunk! A dart hits your shield. “What was that?” Thunk! Another dart. “Ah, hah, a dart. All right devil, now you’re gonna get it!” You draw your sword of the Spirit, and start chasing him! What does the devil do? He drops his bow, turns tail, and runs! “Aughh! The armor of God! Aughh! The word! Aughh!”
The word flee in James 4:7 means to run away, to seek to escape. It implies running away from something that is frightening or terrifying.
1 Peter 5:8-9 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
Notice it says the devil seeks whom he may devour. When a lion pack hunts, they observe the herd, then pick out the weakest and the slowest member, and that’s who they go after. They don’t go after the biggest bull buffalo, or the fastest gazelle. With the armor of God on, we are stronger and faster than the devil.
Notice a common theme in James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:9 – we are told to resist the devil, in faith. The word means to withstand or to stand against – to oppose. If you do that, you will not be one of those that he may devour.
1 Corinthians 10:13 AMP For no temptation – no trial regarded as enticing to sin [no matter how it comes or where it leads] – has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man – that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out – the means of escape to a landing place – that you may be capable and strong and powerful patiently to bear up under it.
The devil is limited in what he can throw at us. For the most part, they are “natural” things – circumstances, financial pressures, health problems, etc. – pretty much the same type of problems the world goes through (that’s why they’re “common to man”).
God guarantees that He will provide an escape route. No matter what you’re going through, somebody’s gone through it before, and God has provided a way out for you. Just look for the “Exit” sign (and use it)!
2 Corinthians 2:14 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
The phrase “leading in triumph” here refers to the Roman practice of the conqueror’s processional. The conquering Roman armies returning home would march through the streets in a processional – the generals would be up front leading the column, riding on horses or in chariots, followed by the army itself (that would be us, being “led in triumph”), and then followed by the prisoners of war with a contingent of guards to keep them in line. Every soldier in that Roman army was a victor and conqueror.
In another sense we are like occupation forces. After a war is won, the victors send in an occupation army to enforce the terms of surrender and make sure the enemy does not try to rise up again. Jesus defeated the devil for us, but we must enforce his defeat.
Step 3 – Pray
James 5:13 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.
Notice who is supposed to pray: the one who is afflicted. There is nothing wrong with getting others to pray for you, as long as you do some praying also. Baby Christians can be carried by others’ prayers for a certain period. There will come a time, however, when others’ prayers for you will not work unless you do some praying of your own.
What and how we pray is important. Bawling and squalling doesn’t make it. There is a time for pouring your heart out before God; but you shouldn’t end on a note of defeat, steeped in the circumstances you’re going through.
Philippians 4:6-7 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Anxiety and worry, fear, is the opposite of faith. When you are in fear, it makes it easier for the devil to control you and your circumstances, and it makes it harder for God to get His provision to you.
Make your requests, i.e., the results you want to happen, be made known to God. That is, pray the answer, not the problem. If you only tell God about your problems, you haven’t made a request.
Step 4 – Ask for Wisdom
James 1:5-8 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Is there some specific thing I should do when I am under pressure? The answer to that will come with wisdom. And fortunately we have a promise that unequivocally states that it is God’s will to give us wisdom when we ask.
But it comes with a stipulation – you have to ask in faith; meaning you have to believe God will give you answers when you ask.
There is a second implied step here. Not only do you need to ask, expecting an answer, but then you need to listen for the answer. That is actually a natural response to believing He will answer.
If you are talking to someone who has the answer for something you really need to know, you have to give them your attention. If you ask the question, but then keep talking over them about your experiences, or fiddle on your phone only half listening, you are probably not going to get your answer even when you asked.
The Bible uses the terminology take heed. In its simplest, it means to pay attention. But it is more than that, it means you are giving value to the speaker and the words being spoken. Enough to put aside distractions, and your own thoughts and opinions to really listen to what is being said.
It is no different when seeking wisdom from God. Probably the biggest struggle is quieting that inner dialog (that may be in turmoil) enough to hear His “still, small voice”. Most of the time (I won’t say never) God isn’t going to shout at you “WILL YOU SHUT UP I’M TRYING TO TALK TO YOU!” Sometimes I wish He would!
No, He’ll just wait patiently, until you get alone enough and quiet enough. (Also see my post, Listening to the Lord)
Step 5 – Give Thanks
Philippians 4:6 said to make your requests known with thanksgiving.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Ephesians 5:3-4 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Why should we thank God?
Because He commanded it. It’s in the Word, so we should give thanks just to be obedient to the Word of God.
Give thanks because He deserves it.
Thanks is an acknowledgment that someone has done you a favor – from simple things like someone holding open a door for you, to bigger things. When someone does you a favor, receiving a “thank you” is usually all the recompense they need to feel good.
Can we recount all the things that God has done for us? He does not expect us to pay Him back, but He does appreciate our thanksgiving – even God likes to be appreciated.
One of the things that “irks” God is ungratefulness. In Numbers 11:1-33 the Israelites complained and were ungrateful about having to eat manna all the time – the supernatural food that God was providing for them. The problem wasn’t that they wanted a variation in their diet – they could have made a request to God politely. But instead they griped and said “our soul loathes this miserable stuff”. A plague struck them.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Paul says that in the last days perilous times will come, and describes the attitudes and characteristics of people, that make the times perilous. One of those characteristics listed is being unthankful.
Give thanks as an act of praise.
Hebrews 13:15 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
What giving thanks does for us
It puts us in a positive frame of mind. Optimism is a healthier attitude than pessimism.
It takes our mind off the problem and puts it on the solution. It enables us to cast our cares on the Lord.
Thanksgiving is an act of faith
If you make requests with thanksgiving, you are thanking God for the answer before it comes. When someone makes you a promise, you thank them when you receive the promise, not just at the fulfillment of the promise.
What to thank God for
We thank God for what He is going to do, or has done. We find out what He is going to do by what He has promised in the Word.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “In everything give thanks”. In whatever situation you find yourself in, you can give thanks to God.
Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are many who will take this verse coupled with Romans 8:28 (”For all things work together for the good…”) and say that we should give God thanks for everything, whether good or bad. I don’t believe that is an accurate interpretation of these verses.
God is not responsible for everything that happens to us, as the cause of it. The universe is God’s, but there are many things He is not in direct control of, such as human wills, and the devil. We should thank God for the things He does or will do, not for things the devil does.
If you get sick, do you thank God for making you sick (some would say yes)? No, He is the Healer – thank Him for the stripes He took on His back by which you were healed.
If you lose your job, you don’t thank God for getting you laid off, but for supplying all your needs (which will include a new job. Believe for a better one!)
If you receive a blessing, thank God for it! He is responsible for good and perfect gifts coming your way.
Step 6 – Cast Your Cares on the Lord
1 Peter 5:5-7 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Pride will lead to downfall. Haughtiness, arrogance, showing partiality (snobbishness) – these are all related.
Humility – this doesn’t not mean looking down on yourself, but to have a sober estimate.
“Care” means a burdened state of mind, mental anguish, anxiety or worry.
We are to cast our cares – to hurl them away. It’s not talking about fly fishing though, so don’t reel them back in! For you champion worriers: God wouldn’t tell us to cast our cares on Him if it were not possible. Same goes for “be not anxious” in Phil 4:6.
We are given a reason we can cast our cares on the Lord: because He cares for you. This is a different Greek word than the care we are told to cast on Him – He doesn’t get in a burdened state of mind over us. Literally it means, “for it matters to Him concerning us”. Also, it means He will take care of us.
We can dump our worries and anxieties on God when we develop a trust in Him. How do you develop trust in someone? You spend time with them, get to know them, observe their character, and see that they have your best interests at heart. You learned to trust your parents as a child because they were there for you, ready to meet your need.
Trust is the childlike faith we are supposed to have. It is actually more important to develop simple trust than a warring, right confession, “I believe I receive” type of faith. In the long run, it will get you further.
(For more see Casting Your Cares)
Step 7 – Study the Word
Hearing the Word builds the capacity or potential for faith (Romans 10:17). This “hearing” is more than just listening to the Word; you have to heed and believe it. The hearing must be mixed with faith or it will not profit you (see Hebrews 4:2).
Studying the Word gets us to know about God and how He operates – the “protocol of His royal court”. Praying and talking to Him gets us to know Him personally. We need to do both.
1 Timothy 2:15 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Word of God contains what we need to equip us for service. Spiritual multi-vitamins! But like vitamins, it doesn’t do any good sitting in the bottle – it has to be taken internally!
In Ephesians 6:17 it calls the Word of God the sword of the Spirit. In the listing of the armor of God, it is our one offensive weapon. Coming at the devil with the Word (like Jesus saying “It is written”) is what will cause him to flee. Resist the devil – don’t cooperate with him, or go along with his plan. Don’t be passive about the things he throws at you.
There are different levels of victory: you can just stand your ground under an onslaught of the enemy. This is better than caving in. But what’s to prevent him from starting another onslaught? Or, you can chase him down and tear down his strongholds. Make him run!
Step 8 – Maintain your fellowship with other Christians
Hebrews 10:24-25 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
I have seen this happen over and over: someone starts having personal problems, and they stop coming to church.
This is a tactic of the enemy – to get you isolated. There is real strength to be drawn from your fellow saints. They can stir you up, exhort, and encourage (of course, this is why some people avoid church – they know their fellow Christians would exhort them to trust God and do the Word, but they’d rather stay in their pity party). Just knowing someone has gone through the same thing and come out OK is an encouragement. They can pray for you.
Some avoid church because they feel guilty, because perhaps they haven’t been living quite as they ought to. But any church where the people walk in love will not look down on you, but welcome you and help and encourage any way they can.
There are a lot of Christians who never came back to church after Covid. “But I attend church online”. In this internet age, it is wonderful that you can do that. But there are some things you can’t do as well online, and that is interact with other people. Fellowship. Yes you can have a zoom chat – and the wonderful thing about that is you can connect with people that are not within your geographical area.
When someone gets out of fellowship at their local church, usually the next thing that suffers is their personal fellowship with God. If that happens, you have no more power or resources than the world.
….As is the habit of some…. not going to church, not being involved with spiritual things, becomes a habit. The more often you give in to the habit, the littler the excuse has to be not to go. What we need to do is develop a strong habit of going to church.
Sometimes, because you’re no longer a threat to the devil, the pressure lets up a bit. You have then been effectively neutralized.
Step 9 – Obedience
Sometimes God gives us specific instructions to do something: remember step 4, Ask for Wisdom. If we fail to do it, we are out of His will, and that can make an opening for pressure to get through.
Isaiah 1:19 19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;
What was the last thing God said to you? Have you done it?
Often all we need is a small adjustment. It’s not that God is saying, “You haven’t obeyed Me, so I’m going to remove My protection and let the devil climb all over you to teach you a lesson.” No, He is a merciful Father, and very patient. But it could be that doing what He tells you will put you in the right position to receive some blessings. If you are not in that right position, you miss out on the blessings, and the lack, or the pressure that was prevalent before, continues on.
God does not ask you to do the impossible, but it could be uncomfortable – at least to your flesh. He might need you to trust Him, or not be timid, or something equally “horrible”! But in anything that God asks you to do, He gives the ability also. The gain to be gotten is much greater than any pain to your flesh. Do it!
Step 10 – Stand your ground
Ephesians 6:13-14 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore….
Stand, stand, stand. To hold your ground, not be moved, or swept away, or retreat. A defensive rather than an offensive term. Stand is what you do when you are under attack, rather than when you are doing the attacking.
What do we stand against? Verse 11 – the wiles – schemes, tricks, stratagems, deceits – of the devil. The devil’s main weapon against us, his main method of attack, is through deceit. He feeds the deceit to us through thoughts – these are the “fiery darts” of verse 16 (read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
He will also influence people to come against us. But this is also a stratagem; the real enemy is not the people, but the devil as the motivating force behind them. (Vs. 12) For we do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but against principalities….
Many Christians go after the symptoms rather than the source; that is like trying to shoot and explode bombs in midair as they fall rather than trying to shoot down the bomber (sounds like a Patriot missile?). If you’re a good aim, you can be protected from the attack, but it does nothing to halt the attacker from dropping more bombs.
Most Christians are not persistent enough. We believe the devil is persistent, but we’re not willing to be as persistent as the devil. The devil is not the unwavering, untiring, fearless, superhuman being we’ve imagined him to be. He’s nervous – he doesn’t know whether you’ll stand up to him or not. He takes a chance every time he comes against a Christian. All he has to go on is past experience – how did you react before?
Passive vs. Active Resistance
James 4:7 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Webster’s defines resist as
- To withstand, fend off, stand firm against.
- To oppose actively, fight or work against.
- To keep from yielding to, as in resist temptation.
Definition (3) is passive resistance – you keep from yielding to the devil’s pressure; enduring without giving in. This is good in that the devil cannot defeat you, however, because there is no real threat to him, he can keep the pressure up for a long time.
Definition (2) is active resistance: you take off after the devil in an offensive move. Now you become a threat to him, and he’ll flee in terror.
Put as much pressure on the devil as he puts on you! How? If you read in Eph 6 about the armor of God, you’ll notice it is all for defense except the sword of the Spirit in vs. 17. Many Christians battle the devil by resisting him with their faith. That is what we are supposed to do (1Pet 5:8-9), but it is still fighting a defensive battle. Don’t just try to hit the devil on the head with your shield, go after him with your sword – the Word of God. He’ll leave you alone a lot quicker.
Don’t Quit
To stand means not to quit or give up. This is where we blow it the most. We are not tenacious enough. We need to persevere – this is a kind of patience that keeps on, is unwavering, unmovable.
Hebrews 10:35-36 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
When we have done the will of God – by making sure a thing is God’s will, getting scripture on it, confessing it, believing, acting on the Word, etc. – this does not guarantee instant results. Sometimes there is a waiting period between the “amen” and the “there it is!”. This is the time we need to stand, and exercise perseverance. “Don’t quit” means we’ll have to keep on believing even when the circumstances are against us. Hebrews 10:35 exhorts us not to cast away our confidence; unfortunately, this is what we do sometimes, right before the answer comes.
Even if we have a setback or a failure; we may be knocked down, but we’re not beaten! Get up! Don’t quit!
Here’s a key: You will eventually win if you don’t quit!
2 Corinthians 2:14 KJV 14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ….
