How to choose Victory over Defeat!, on: 2011/11/6 23:10 What will increase the chances that when faced with a trial, a fork in the road, that we will choose the path of faith and vi ctory over the road of fear and defeat?  Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.â Many things it seems, has to be learned. I am glad that Paul had  learned,â to be content in whatever state he found himself in. No magic wand, no waking up one morning and finding the answer. As we walk through this life, we will find, t hrough our circumstances, through our trials and tribulations, through our families, through the world, the secret to conte ntment. Failure is such a neccecary part of learning. There are some it seems, and I was certainly one, that had to learn the hard way. Many years ago I faced a particular trial. I exercised faith, most impressive, then at the very end when failure seemed as sured, I lost it. Afterwards( and after victory was delivered by His hand) the Lord spoke to my heart. As I looked back up on the situation, of which I gave myself about a 4 out of 10, I wanted to learn to walk in a 10. I imagined what it may look like to enter into a trial with full assurance. Not the full assurance that somehow the circumstance would change, but wit h the full assurance that despite the trial I would walk through it in peace. This became my goal. I determined in my hear t not to fear, not to sin, but to know that the steps of a righteous man is ordered of God. The Lord assured me that there would be more trials. And the more trials I went through, the more I realized that every single time the Lord was with me. Now, most of the times the circumstances did not change, but my attitude towards them did, and in this lay the victory. K inda like Psalm 23 when the Lord prepares a table before the psalmist in the presence of his enemies. One can walk in goodness and mercy all the days of their lives despite the circumstances, whether abounding or abased, whether full of whether hungry. So brother, what is the likelihood that we will choose faith? Much will depend on our previous victories, much will depend upon if we have been blessed by trials and circumstances where we have seen the Lord move powerfully in our lives. A nd victory is this, to sit in HIs presence. How many would rather have a life-time of trials and walk in HIs presence, than a life of ease and walk according to our own knowledge? I am very fortunate that within two years of coming to Jesus that I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. This remains th e single most important event of my life. I learned to walk by faith. I learned not to fear death, I learned that the steps of a righteous man is ordered of God. I learned that I was His servant and that no force in the universe could take me out o f His hands. No sickness could, no devils could, no man could. I was not leaving this planet one second before my Mast er deemed it to be so, as it is with all of His servants. This attitude has revolutionized my walk with the Lord. Can I just say that the trials have came thick and fast. It seems lik e every year I am glad that the year is over, but I know that I have went out deeper into the Lord. What price faith? What price peace? This contentment, this thing that the whole world hungers after, do you have it? Can you kneel down and p ray to the Lord  Whatever ot takes?â I prayed this prayer in 1995, just four years after coming to Jesus. It was one of those prayers that lit up my spirit. I knew that I knew that God had heard me and said  Okay Frank. This was a choic e to enter a world of trials, a world of sorrows, fields of fire, very high mountains, very low valleys, victories and defeats. There is only one way to learn, just as the Apostle Paul, we have to be both hungry and full, we have to be both clothed and naked, we have to have nothing and have abundance, we have to be stoned, rejected, reviled, shiprecked and lose our reputations. Do you want the peace that surpasses all understanding bad enough to throw it all down and yield and s urrender completely? Can you embrace and give thanks for all things? One fork of the road leads you to the point of a p eace that surpasses all understanding, the other leads to a troubled life and greater struggles. And the terrible thing is? Its our choice. We can have the treasures of heaven and walk in a peace that is beyond the wis dom of man to understand, but it involves the death of ourselves to this world. Will you do it brothers and sisters? Its an exciting, terrible, marvelous road. Its all or nothing. Its leaping of the edge of all that we know into the arms of a saviour we cannot see and a world that is yet to come. It is for all Gods childrenâ      brother Frank Page 1/5
Re: How to choose Victory over Defeat! - posted by live4jc, on: 2011/11/17 3:09 Dear brother Frank, I have often been blessed by the deep things of the heart that you've shared from your life experiences, and how they ha ve brought you closer to Christ. It is so very true that trials, though unwelcomed events to the flesh, can be so valuable, i n their ability to refine us, and make us more like Christ. I love how 1 Peter 1:7 puts it, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" Along these lines, I wanted to share about a beautiful song I came across recently. It was written by a lady named Laura Story, and I'd encourage anyone who'd like to listen to it on Youtube, to search for 'Laura Story Blessings'. The words of this song were birthed out of a deep trial that Laura and her husband went through, after finding out the news that he ha d brain cancer. Below are the lyrics to the song, but listening to it really makes it come alive! :) In Jesus, John Laura Story- Blessings ------------------ We pray for blessings We pray for peace Comfort for family, protection while we sleep We pray for healing, for prosperity We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering All the while, You hear each spoken need Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things ' Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops What if Your healing comes through tears What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You re near What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise We pray for wisdom Your voice to hear And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love As if every promise from Your Word is not enough All the while, You hear each desperate plea And long that we'd have faith to believe Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops What if Your healing comes through tears What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You re near And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise When friends betray us When darkness seems to win We know that pain reminds this heart That this is not, this is not our home It's not 'our home ' Page 2/5
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops What if Your healing comes through tears And what if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You re near What if my greatest disappointments Or the aching of this life Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world canâ t satisfy And what if trials of this life The rain, the storms, the hardest nights Are Your mercies in disguise Re: How to choose Victory over Defeat! - posted by dietolive, on: 2011/11/17 10:10 Encouraging post Brother. Be well, Doug Re: How to choose Victory over Defeat! - posted by MyVeryHeart (), on: 2011/11/18 2:23 Brother Frank, I was very encouraged. Jesus has been very good to us in our trials. The way is narrow. I pray that we develop tunnel vi sion that constantly gazes upon the the Lamb of God. Peace in Christ, Travis Re: How to choose Victory over Defeat! - posted by MaryJane, on: 2011/11/18 6:59 I was praying over some of these very things just this morning. I want so very much to walk with the LORD with out fear, with out counting the cost but there are times when its such a struggle. I feel the weight of my failures because there are many. I know without a doubt what I must do, I must trust completely, I must let go completely knowing that HE is LORD. I do not want to hold anything back from the LORD, I want to die to self, to the things of this world. I pray HE would incre ase this desire to walk that road with HIM and not to live for self any longer. This morning I prayed that the LORD would help me to take little steps, perhaps I am not yet ready to run but as you said as I go through each day HE is here with m e and one day I know I will be able by HIS strength, to have victory... Thank you for sharing what the LORD has placed on your heart. It very much spoke to me this morning. God Bless mj Re:, on: 2011/11/24 9:56 HI Maryjane, I was out of town when you replied. God bless you in your walk sister. I know the Lord will take you through one day at a time. I love that advice from the Lord, sufficiant for the day is the evil therof. I believe very much that you are walking the narrow path. I posted something yesterday, it was in the devotional section so it quickly past through :) http://www.sermo nindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=41885&forum=45&0 Its a follow up to this post and came from a conversation on my site from comments on this post. God bless you sis and have a great Thanksgiving... bro Frank Page 3/5
Re:, on: 2011/11/24 9:59 HI John, I love those lyrics and have heard the song, someone posted the youtube of it recently, was it you? Here it is again for th ose who missed it... bro Frank http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoofaaugfre Re: How to choose Victory over Defeat! - posted by DieingtoLive, on: 2011/11/25 1:24 Dear bro. Frank, Thank-you. Such true words, Rms 5: 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherin we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience: 4 And patience experience; and experience hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is give n unto us, My longing is to get back to that place. Yes it's a choice. What would you say propelled you to trust Christ implicitly? Was it not a life or death situation? Bro. Frank I'v like millions have walked a lonely path. Even after my salvation I felt there was no one to journey this path with. I accepted it and recieved much encouragemen t, hope and joy in the Holy spirit in fellowship with Him under annointed preaching, His blessed Word and many Godly fu nctions. But still hadn't experienced that total abundant joy only he can give. But there was a time when I too was propelled into a life or death situation. But the death (I thought was not my own) was my son's eternal death I was sure to come that propelled me into His merciful arms like I never drove myself into bef ore. I wrestled like Jacob and I was blessed. It was I that had to die. He taught me so much and I experienced the living word sustain my very being. Hope beyond measure. Faith of a mustard seed. Glory in being nothing and Christ my all. All that you said is true, I know, I experienced, I now miss. It was a gradual receding of prayer, my Bible reading, autobiographies and other Bible helps. The old lonliness syndrome gave way to a state of depending on MJ legal RX. Would you believe by way of a Bible stu dy. It took 3 months of mixed emotions and arguing w/ self that I wasn't sinning against anyone but myself, and mmm m aybe God. More arguing. I never completely stopped praying, reading etc. Conviction of being found out by my children and the feeling of how in the world will I ever know you so ever deeply an d sweetly again won. Yes through it all I never left the Lord completely. But He didn't have me completely anymore and I lost that fellowship of Lord not my will but thine be done. I haven't read any testimonies bearing such details, but I am new to SI and hope I am welcomed here. I know there ca n be worse sins but any sin that separates us from the Sweet Holy Spirit is enough to hate. No abhor. I have the sweet assurance of His Word, I am still His child and I will experience again the closeness we once shared. Maybe this will help someone who has had that sweet assurance and communion with our living God and let it slip aw ay or are still trying to reach it. It truly is all or nothing, all of heaven is all I desire, nothing on earth sustains, fills or completely inspires. Nothing but Jesus is my heart's earnest cry I want to live once again, Lord help me to die. Page 4/5
Re:, on: 2011/11/25 10:36 Dieingtolive writes... "What would you say propelled you to trust Christ implicitly? Was it not a life or death situation?" Many things brother, many things. Persecution is a good start. I witnessed my mother persecuted for her faith as a child growing up, that was my training ground. My mother came to Jesus when I was seven. My alcoholic father violently oppo sed her faith and because I liked the things of God and gave my heart to Jesus a year later, he hated me too. I witnesse d my mother and her reaction to violence for His sake. I saw her with a thousand black eyes and even a broken jaw. My dad nailed the front door shut from the inside with six inch nails in order to stop her going to church, we lowered her out t he window and she was beaten upon her return. Her clothes were ripped up, her Bibles were destroyed and had to be hi dden. I guess my point of describing these few things was that i witnessed the reality of Christ at a very early age. Now, I walked away as a teenager and walked into hell. I came back to Christ at the age of 27. Two years after that I was diagn osed with a terminal illness, stage three pulmanory fibrosis ( the disease that killed Bill Bright) I have lost a son, my other son was 60% third degree burned, my other son has Down Syndrome. I have an unsaved wif e who opposes my Christianity. I fell and was seriously injured and have delt with chronic pain and surgeries and multipl e pain injections for 18 years. My oldest son is in prison serivng four years. God has brought me through all of that brother and I stand today because He stood on this earth 2000 years ago. I have my sanity because He has kept me in the palm of His hand. If I had not trusted Him implicity, the winds of this world wou ld have blown me away a long time ago. I would have returned to the alcoholism and drug addiction that he delivered m e instantly from when I came home to Him at the age of 27. So, the bottom line for me was that this implicit trust was not a one time thing, it is a continuous thing and if we truly desi re to walk in peace and be close to Him we have to die daily and make that decision multiple times. We have to desire th e narrow path, and the narrow path is a path of many trials and sorrows. Just a couple of years after coming home to Hi m I cried out to Him the most compelling prayer I have ever prayed. " Lord, whatever it takes." God heard, saw my heart, and said " Okay Frank." The landscape of the saint who has walked the narrow path is a dramatic one. It has been shaped by countless storms. Paul said that he had " learned," to be content. This peace that surpasses understanding comes not with the waving of a wand or one emotional moment at an alter, it comes by walking through multiple fires. The question is, how badly does a saint want to walk this path of death? Yet the beauty is, when I die then I gain life and that more abundantly...broth er Frank Re:, on: 2011/11/28 9:30 "I was very encouraged. Jesus has been very good to us in our trials. The way is narrow. I pray that we develop tunnel vi sion that constantly gazes upon the the Lamb of God." Amen Travis...bro Frank Page 5/5