Knowing Gods Will

by Sherry Jones

When challenges to faith come, people respond in different ways. Some might say, What did I do wrong? or Why is this happening? Others might think that the Lord is trying to teach them a lesson. But Jesus said that challenges would come to our faith, so we may as well get ready for them. He said in John 16:33, In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Satan will come to challenge our faith to see if we really believe what we say we believe. As a believer, we have an advantage over the devil and his works because scripture declares in 1 John 4:4, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Problems are designed to get us off course, to keep us from being all that God wants us to be, to keep us from having all God wants us to have, and to keep us from doing all that God wants us to do. However, it is not the problems in life that make us or break us its what we do in the midst of the difficulty that determines whether or not we overcome. So while the devil is working to stop, prevent, and hinder the will of God from coming to pass in our lives, there are things that we can do to prevail against him. The Things That Will Put You Over 1) Be filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5:18 says And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit. Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin said, Youll never really begin to grow spiritually as you ought to grow until you are filled with the Holy Ghost and begin to speak with tongues. Smith Wigglesworth declared, This infilling always lifts a man to a plane above the ordinary. 2) Confess Gods Word - Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. F.F. Bosworth said, Nothing will establish you and build your faith as quickly as confession. Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin said, You will never have anything beyond your own words. Confession holds a very large place in Christianity. Our tongue controls the direction and destination of our life. 3) Release praise and thanksgiving to God Hebrews 13:5 says, By Him therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. We are called to be praisers. When we live in an atmosphere of praise, it has an effect upon our disposition, countenance, and manner of life. Paul said, Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice, (Philippians 4:4). Praise brings God on the scene, brings glory to God, and sends confusion to the enemys camp. Praising God in the midst of trouble is evidence that we believe the Word of God rather than the circumstances of life. 4) Walking in love - Romans 5:5 says, The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. First Corinthians 13:8 states in the Amplified Translation, Love never fails{fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end}. Walking in love shuts the door on the devil, blesses others, is quick to forgive, and covers a multitude of sins. Your very faith works by love. The answer to lifes problems is not to hide your head in the sand hoping they will go away. We are equipped with things that we can do to stop the devils activities.

Knowing Gods Will June 2011 Page 1 of 1 www.sherryjones.org