Hebrews 12:1-4
“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, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
Despising the shame means de-esteeming personal pride and dignity.
– It is most difficult dealing with opposition when we add ego to it.
– some steps you need to take to overcome the challenge will require some debasement of who you esteem yourself to be, and sometimes what you esteem some people in your life to be.
What you esteem highly is what the enemy comes after.
If you make ‘you’ the center piece of life, ie your beauty, or education or business, wife/husband, children or family; that’s what he will come after. And because of the value you have wrongly placed on those, instead of on the Lord and His Word, you will be hurt.
Lk 14:26
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
3. Counter opposition with Meditation.
the real lethal opposition comes at your mind, imaginations and thoughts.
For those of us who see enemy in people, that is elementary.
The real Principalities come and sit on your mind with grandiose imagination.
This imagination could become so strong and so real that they not only oppress you, but with your active cooperation, it births into reality.
2 Cor 10:5
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
Imagination is a very powerful tool. The enemy can use it to have a “stronghold” upon you. As long as that stronghold persists, no amount of prayers or laying of hands can deliver that captive.
– What will be needed is “light of revelation ” into that soul.
– once light enters, the imagination can be cast down, and the Spirit will give life.
Jesus said: Jn 6:63
“The words I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life….
1 Cor 16:9
“For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”
– You will be extremely lucky if your adversary is a human being.
But most times, it is not a person.
* How again I wish that opposition could be overcome by a strong onetime prayer and laying of hands by a “Powerful Man-of-God”.
– But it’s not so. Even if he did, the next opposition will come, what do you do?
– So get wisdom, and in getting get understanding. …
Taking the Word of God and meditating upon it until your imagination changes is the key to countering the opposition of the enemy.
“Seeing God” helps you to despise every negative situation.
Isaiah 26 : 3
If your mind is stayed upon God in your inner man, you will have a steadiness and peace no matter what.
Moses said to the people:
” Stand still and SEE the salvation of the Lord.
Thus is not an ordinary looking at a thing. It’s concocting a superior imagination.
Mark 6:41
“Jesus LOOKED to heaven”.
When you “see”God, there’s nothing you can’t overcome.
That’s why Isaiah says:
” Sanctify the Lord always in your heart, let him alone be your fear”. Isa 8:13
And Peter:
“Sanctify the Lord always in your heart, and be ready to give everyone who asks, the reason for the hope in you.”
1 Peter 3:15
Paul said:
“But we “see” Jesus…… Hebrews 2 : 9.