It ain’t over till it’s over! A lesson in overcoming adversity and obstacles in life. Christ has given us the spirit of an overcomer. With Christ in us we can overcome every adversity and obstacle in life.
What did we learn from the 2013 America’s cup race? I was watching the final race on TV and having my morning Bible study at the same time and came across the following verse: Isaiah 33:23 “They could not strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail.” I didn’t know God was watching the race as well!
“America’s cup” - it was a bit of a farce really. Only one American on board the Oracle, but it had 8 kiwis, the skipper was an Aussie, and the boat was made in New Zealand. We came first AND second!
The “American” boat did well to come back to win after starting the series two penalty races down. Their story is an inspirational example of what is possible for a team of overcomers. But in real life, how do you remove two penalties from the start of life’s race? Some of us didn’t get off to a very good start, and we have major set backs to overcome. Well, the good news is, Christ in us is the hope. There is no setback in life that He cannot overcome.
Sometimes Christians say that they do not feel very close to God. But He is closer than our very breath. He lives within us. Ephesians 2:12, 13 says that those who once were without hope, have now been brought near.
I try not to spend too long in the Old Testament, and on a good day try and avoid books like Lamentations, but they have their place in helping you find an identity in times of crisis. I read in Lamentations 3:18 “And I said, “my strength and my hope have perished.” That became a starting point for prayer as I was feeling without hope at the time. But the Lord quickly lead me to the verse Isaiah 35:3,4 where I read, “strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are feeble-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
God does give aid to the seed of Abraham. He has given us Christ, the hope that dwells within us.
Learning to live with failure is one of the keys to success, because I doubt anybody in the world ever became or accomplished anything without encountering failure at some stage of their journey. Obstacles, trials, misunderstandings, hurt and pain are everywhere in life.
Without an overcoming spirit, you are going to get left behind. You can’t just cruise through life without encountering some of the unpleasant aspects of sharing a broken world with broken humanity. But how do you cope with failure in general when the failure is YOU? How do you try and fix failure when all attempts at self-improvement are doomed to fail because a broken you cannot fix YOU? You are helpless.
Thank God it’s in Him, and not in us. Christ in YOU the HOPE! Jesus can fix us because He ain’t broke, and He specialises in healing broken people. He lives inside you. Turn to Him. Become “God-inside” conscious, and let His power be sufficient for you in your weakness. Thank God for the hope of the Christian – Christ in YOU!
Part 1 - Christ in you the hope
Part 2 - Overcoming adversity and obstacles in life
The Overcomers Confession
Standing - A song about standing on the promises of God
Sermon Directory: 1990 - 1999 I 2000 - 2009 I 2010 - 2014
