Author: Dr. Mark D. Flattery 

Chapter Nine

Victory Action #6 Live in Faith

 

“As the Scriptures tell us, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced’” (Romans 10:11, NLT).

 

The perfect life that he had worked so diligently and strategically to build was about to be shattered into a million pieces. The impending destruction really was not of his making but due to the decision of another. It is really immaterial as to what brought him to this point, be it a betrayal of relationship, loss of employment, or a life-threatening report from the doctor. What matters at this very moment is the decision he is about to make. Will he listen to the voices of

doom screaming his demise? Will he attempt to overcome by thinking positive thoughts and going it alone? Or is there another way?

Fortunately for him, there was another way! He remembers the lessons about God that he learned in Sunday School. Lessons like “God will never leave you or forsake you,” and the Bible verse telling him to trust in the Lord with all his heart. He decides, at that very moment, that he is going full in … 100% … and follow God and then allow the chips to far where they may. Either God will protect and defend him, or God is a myth. But, in his heart he knows that this is more than a Hail Mary pass or a risky proposition. God is real. God is his friend, especially in his time of need. He determines to press forward with God by his side. Later, he will look back at this moment and tell his children that what could have been the tipping point to destruction instead propelled him to victory was due to one simply word; faith.

 

I would like to tell you that at this point in your journey that the difficult part of rebuilding your life is over. But, that would not be the truth. Experience tells us that our spiritual enemy, the devil, will continue to take the fight to you. He has knocked you down to the canvass of life. You have responded in the ways that we have discussed so far and you are standing firm. He is now ready to hit you again! He is going to test you and see if you really have a fight in you. What is different this time though is that you are ready to defend yourself and to respond offensively.

Paul instructs us in Ephesians 6:16, “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” This is what we will call Victory Action #6: Live in Faith.

While you are gaining momentum to a victorious life, you can expect the evil one to attack you. The devil will do everything he can to scare you, to intimidate

to doubt, fear, to be anxious, isolated, and quit on life. His response will be dramatic and impressive, like fiery arrows filling the sky to descend on defenseless victims. But, he can only impact you negatively if you take your eyes off Jesus and onto his attacks.

Early, I told you that you can expect the attacks of the enemy to return like ocean waves pounding the beach shore. But, when you respond with truth, righteousness, and peace and yet the attacks return, remember that you are still in God’s hands; His will and His plans. Paul tells us, “in addition to this” or “at all times” take up the shield of faith. In his other writings, Paul instructs us in Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

You can see the arrows of the enemy extinguished by standing firm behind the “shield of faith.” So, what is faith? Faith is the belief in God so strong that you will stand with Him no matter what. This is what you need to understand: When you live by faith, your beliefs in God are your strength. Regardless of the current circumstances, regardless of what people around you are saying, and regardless even in the face of the loss of hope, you will stand with God! Your hope is in the Lord. Your assurance of victory is in the Lord. Hebrews 11:1 puts it this way: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” You may not see an immediate solution to your life issue or be avenged for the wrongs done to you. But, like a farmer who plants seed in one season, works the fields, and anticipates the season of an abundant harvest, you can stand firm with the shield of faith knowing that you will be protected now and be assured that victory will come.

Allow me to make some suggestions how you can live in faith personally and collectively. You can respond in faith personally by allowing your belief in God to be your strength. You can respond in faith collectively and by that I mean that you situate yourself strategically around people who love the Lord and who will speak Truth into your life. Both of these responses will develop your faith in the Lord.

There are many ways that you can respond personally in faith during your personal drama that will protect you and draw you closer to God. I want to begin this aspect of our discussion by reminding you of the story that you learned as a child and that is of David and Goliath found in I Samuel.

The nation of Israel was in a battle with the Philistines. They determined that one representative from each army would face off in battle with the winner take all. This was well and good until the Philistines revealed that their warrior was a giant. Even the mighty soldiers of Israel were paralyzed by fear for they believed Goliath to be unbeatable. As you know the story, it took the faith of a young man, some say even a boy, to defeat the undefeatable, to bring victory to Israel, and glory to God.

David’s belief in God was his strength. His five actions during this account are valuable lessons for us as we “take up the shield of faith” before our offender. His response in the face of death serve as a road map for us to follow as we overcome the attacks of our spiritual enemy.

First, look at your personal drama from God’s perspective. It is a cliché to put it is way but I will anyway. The army of Israel saw Goliath as a state-of-the-art killing machine who was too big to overcome but David saw him as a giant who was too big to miss. David surveyed the situation and placed it into proper perspective when he asked, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (I Samuel 17:26b). That simple statement refocuses the power and authority off the enemy, a negative faith if you will, and onto

the One who is truly in control of everything in heaven and earth and He is God. What was meant to be a season of destruction to you, God will use as a season of victory, and show you His power and glory.

Right now, faith means that your belief in God is your strength. Do you really think that God was surprised by your drama? I guarantee that no matter what trial is your present burden, God has seen it before and brought people through to victory. Do you really believe that He will leave you in the very moment that you need Him the most? Of course, not! Your belief in God was designed for this. Turn to him now. Later, David would write, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4). By faith, you can declare in your heart that you will walk with God and know that this will “extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Your faith to believe in God by defining on the battle from His perspective is your strength.

Second, remember that God is faithful. David’s proclamation of faith in God is a tremendous breath of life into the army of Israel. Immediately, he is brought before King Saul as a potential defender of the faith. What Saul saw though was a mere youth who was not battle tested. He knew that sending David before Goliath was sending him to a quick and horrible death. But, David’s reply to the King is our example of faith under fire as he remembered the victories of the past given him by God. “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (I Samuel 17:36, 37).

While David had never encountered an enemy of such physical prowess and magnitude, his faith is God was developed in his short life as he encountered attacks previously. The common thread in David’s recounting of the past was the faithfulness of God.

In the same way, remember the victories that God has brought you! Remember how he saved you, protected you, brought people into your life who made you a better person, and who has walked with you throughout your life. He is still the same! Maybe the obstacle before you is new to you. But, He was faithful to others who encountered that same issue and brought them through and He will do the same for you.

By faith, you can declare that God will bring you victory. Instead of aligning your heart with the fear of the attacks by the enemy, you focus the totality of who you are on the Lord. Your faith in God to believe that He is faithful is your strength.

Third, fight the battle God’s way. King Saul dressed David in his armor in preparation for battle. On one hand, this was admirable because a good General must equip his soldiers with the best equipment possible. On the other hand, Saul did this so on the very slim chance that David should win the battle, then Saul could claim victory. The thought is that of course David won; he was wearing the King’s armor! But, as we read in I Samuel 17:39-40, David refused the armor as he was not used to it and instead, as directed by God, chose five smooth stones for his sling and approached the Philistine. If victory would be achieved that day, there would be no doubt that it came from the Lord.

By faith, your implicit trust in the Lord is your strength. Proverbs 3:3-5 give us wise instruction, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will set your paths straight.” As we have been leading up to in previous chapters together, fighting the battle God’s way means that you will live daily, by faith, the fulfillment of this Proverbs passage.

What can the enemy do to you if you respond by trusting in the Lord? He will shoot the flaming arrow of anxiety but you trust in the Lord and find His peace. He will throw the shroud of depression on you but your trust in the Lord brings you joy. He will force the logic of your

situation to get you to accept that your position on the canvass of life is your new home but your trust in the Lord fills your heart with hope.

I hope that you are not giving serious thought now to taking control of the situation instead of giving it over to God. Proverbs counsels us to “lean not on your own understanding.” This is the very situation in life that you need to submit your will to the Lord and follow Him. He alone will lead you out of the fog of life and into the Light. He alone removes the obstacles before you and brings order to the chaos. If God is out of the conversation then the devil can deceive you, fool you, and use worldly logic against you. But, what can he do to you when your response is, “this does not make sense to me but I am going to trust in the Lord no matter what happens”?

How can the devil respond to you when you give praise to God constantly for His love and thank Him daily for another opportunity to serve Him? When you acknowledge God in all your ways He will set your crooked path straight. This means that He will right the wrong, bring order to your chaos, and overcome your doubts and depression with peace and joy. Be rid of the enemy’s bondage and replace it with the freedom of believing, without reservations, that God is on your side and therefore, He is in control and has your very best interest at heart.

Your faith in God to believe that you must fight the battle God’s way is your strength.

Four, remember that God fights for you! David stood before Goliath and the entire Philistine army and made a public declaration of faith, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands” (I Samuel 17:47). Just as “the battle is the Lord’s” for David, the Lord is battling for you! It would seem appropriate to add, “and the Lord never loses!” but that would imply that He has an opponent who has the potential, however large or small, of defeating Him.

The truth is that no one in heaven, on earth, or anywhere else can oppose God. So, when you determine to stand with Him, you become automatically the winner and in the majority. David wrote, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 118:6). Paul wrote in Romans 8:31-39,

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The devil will use every tactic in his arsenal to cause you to fear and to doubt. Your best response is to stand with the Lord and declare, “if you have a problem with me then take it up with Him!” End of story! Your faith in God to believe that He fights for you is your strength.

Fifth, do what you are supposed to do! When Goliath moved closer to attack David, what did the young man do? Did he drop his sling and run away? Did he look back to the King for assurance that he was doing what was right? I Samuel 17:48 tells us that, “David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.” As you know the story, David then slung the stone, hit the giant in the forehead, and killed him instantly. He then ran and stood over the dead body. He

took Goliath’s own sword and cut off his head, leaving do doubt that the Lord brought the victory to Israel through is servant.

In the same way, you must do what you should. Your assignment right now is to have the faith in God to know that your beliefs are your strength. Hebrews 11:1 instructs us, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” You are trusting in the Lord to bring you the victory even though at this moment all you see is your life in shambles. You believe that God is faithful even though voice around you shout that you have been abandoned. But, even in the worst of times, you can be certain of what you hope for because you are standing with the One who is faithful.

In a similar way, you must keep the end result in focus and act accordingly. You are not adrift on the sea of doubt and chaos. You have a plan now which will can follow with purpose and see the Lord bring the desired outcome. This is what Paul meant when he wrote, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

You do not have to give in to the temptation to response to your troubles in a manner similar to your offender. As we stated earlier, this is short-sighted and will not bring you your desired result. Instead, you must respond by fixing your ends on the eternal, the end result, and then live in a manner that glorifies the Lord. You respond by playing by God’s rules and avoiding lowering yourself to the tactics of your offender. You keep focused on your identity, for you belong to God, and on your desired outcome which is victory without regrets. You determine in your heart that you will not allow the obstacle of the immediate rob you of your eternal reward.

Any athlete of substance will know that you cannot give in, or give up, when training is tough or when the game is not going your way. Instead, you keep focused at all times on the end

game and that is winning. The joy of victory will far exceed the trials of the battle and so you press on, fixing your eyes on the ultimate prize.

Remember that before the greatest reward comes your greatest trial. You can never experience the greatest comeback in your life if you quit before attempting to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. And, you can only know if your faith in God has meaning when you are tested.

Anyone can look at your situation and become depressed and robbed of joy. But, you have been equipped to stand firm in faith next to the Lord and focus on the ultimate victory that only He can bring. So, respond now in a manner that honors God. Play by His rules. Allow the impending victory to fuel you to respond rightly and to navigate you expertly through the current season of obstacles.

You can fix your eyes on the “unseen” because you are standing with the Lord. There is a story in II Kings 6 that share how a king tried to abduct the prophet Elisha. The king’s army with horses and chariots surrounded the city where Elisha and his servant stayed. When the servant saw the imposing enemy he panicked. But, Elisha calmed his servant by saying, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (II Kings 6:16). Elisha prayed and the Lord opened the servant’s eyes to see the hills full of horses and chariots of fire about them. The victory was assured! The servant focused initially on the seen but God opened his eyes to see the unseen. I pray that God will open your eye and heart to know that He is with you this very moment.

You can do what you know to do and that is to focus on the desired outcome and act in the appropriate manner to get there. Your faith to do what you must do is your strength.

 

We have just considered that you can respond in faith personally by allowing your belief in God to be your strength. Now, you should know that another way that you can “put up the shield of faith” and thwart the attacks of the enemy is to consider your faith in God in context with the family of God; the church. There is no need for you to stand firm alone and hold the shield of faith. There are plenty of other believers who are engaged in the very same battle. While I will not spend much time on this point, it is still important.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” There are people in the family of God who have overcome your life issue, by the grace of God. Allow them to stand with you, encourage you, speak God’s Truth into your life, protect you, and to help you in tangible ways.

I may need to remind you that this strategy makes four basic assumptions. First, it assumes that you will put aside your pride and admit that you need help. Second, it assumes that you will be open to hearing God Truth and allow it to penetrate your heart. Third, it assumes that you will make whatever changes are needed; spiritually, socially, psychologically, physically, and materially. Fourth, it assumes that you will allow people that the Lord brings into your life to take this portion of life’s journey with you. These can be very large assumptions but ones that you must address. But, the reward is that when you place yourself in the context of the family of God, you are taking up the shield of faith.

When I experienced my personal drama and was knocked to the canvass of life, the Lord brought people to me who were life-savers and difference-makers. While not many of them continue in my personal journey today, they were present and breathing life into me at just the right time; when I needed them the most. Some stood with me and just listened. Some were people who endured great personal tragedy but were an example of how faith in God brought them through. Some spoke God’s Truth into my life. Some, protected me from bad attitudes,

from doing something stupid like retaliate, and from the voices of doubt during my weak moments. Some, fed me, took me to a game to give me a moment of relief, even helped me learn to laugh again. All of these people, I believe, were directed to enter my life by God and at the very moment that I needed their special gifts the most. I am forever grateful for their willingness to stand with me in the faith and be my friend. This can be your story, too!

 

So, how does faith play in our daily walk? Daily you can proclaim loudly that your faith is in God alone. This will be your strength and extinguish those fiery arrows meant to destroy you. Here are examples of what you can believe every day. You can have faith that:

· God is in control.

· God will balance the scales of justice.

· God will vindicate you.

· God will provide.

· God will give you the strength to endure during this trial.

· “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

· God will bring people into your life to stand with you.

· There will be better days.

· God will get the glory through this season of your bleakest season of life.

 

 

For You to Consider

 

1. What is your definition of “Faith” and what must you do to live by faith?

what must you do to live by faith?

esence will change your situation.

3. List at least three accounts in your life when God was faithful.

4. What changes must you make to “fight the battle God’s way”?

5. What does this phrase, “we are more than conquerors” mean to you?

6. What must you do in response to your current situation and as you remember that God is with you at all times?

7. Who is standing with you that is in the family of God?

8. The chapter ends with examples of what you can believe every day. Personalize each one in a prayer.

 

Scripture for You to Pray Today: Proverbs 3:3-5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will set your paths straight.”

 

What is the Lord saying to you right now?