TRUTH NUGGETS FROM MY TEACHING ON "TOUGHEN UP."

 Prov 24:10;  Jeremiah 12:5; Gen 41:52
Christians tend to naively believe they will have victory without battle, but when faced with adversity they tend to skeptically think they will have battle without victory. We must remember that we will have battle, but we will also have victory.

Luke 22:39-46
When the load cannot be lightened, we must be strengthened. In the agony of Jesus’ prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane He knew He would have to carry that load. It was not lifted, but the angels came and strengthened Him. Sometimes He lightens the load or lifts it, but at other times we must carry it. He will strengthen us if we stand in faith and call out to Him in prayer.

Luke 21:19; 2 Thess 3:5; Rev 2: 10-11, 13, 19, 25-26; 3: 8-10; Rev.1:9; 13:10; Rev 14:12.
The mark of spiritual strength is perseverance and endurance, not glory clouds and glitter. We can be tempted to grow soft on the mountain top. Comfort sometimes breeds complacency. Popularity breeds compromise. Much of our strength and spiritual substance is built in waiting, adversity, and spiritual battle.

Psalm 18:39; Josh 14: 6-12; Colossians 1:11.
We are strengthened for war, not for exhibition. We are strengthened to stand and to fight spiritual battles. We are not strengthened to look good. Celebrity does not make for maturity. The Apostle Paul said that we are “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, FOR all patience (endurance) and longsuffering with joy.

 

xRev 12:11, Matthew 16:18; 2 Peter 1:2-11, 12-21;  2 Peter 3:1-2, 14-18.
The enemy cannot destroy and lay waste to the church unless the church has first laid aside the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. When the church compromises in these two areas it is moving down a road to apostasy, heresy, and desolation.

2 Kings 22:5-13.
If the Bible is lost in a culture, it is because it was first lost in the house of God. If the Bible is to be returned to the culture, it must be found first in the house of God. The church must renew its commitment to the Bible as the Word of God and our final authority for doctrine and behavior. We ignore scripture at our own peril. The scripture warns us not to add to it or take away from it. Psalm 119 has 176 verses, and they are devoted to the Word of God.

2 Cor 4:7-10; 6:4-10.
To face the perplexities, anomalies, and enigmas of life, we must hold to our faith in God’s love and kindness, and His power and greatness. We must also trust His infinite wisdom. He is all-wise in all His works, perfect in all His ways, and righteous in all His judgments. We should not question God’s love, power, and wisdom. Praise the Lord for He is good, and His lovingkindness and mercy endure forever.

Isaiah 5:1-4; Isaiah 1:5-6.
Unbroken and spiritually unresponsive people will not respond to God’s blessings or to God’s discipline. At what depth they gripe and rebel going down into the valley, at that same corresponding height going up the mountain they will forget God. The flesh of man will find reasons to stumble whether on the mountain top or in the valley. In Isaiah 1:5-6 Israel would not humble themselves under discipline. In Isaiah 5:1-4 They rebelled during God’s blessing and protection.

Genesis 41:51-52
We must get victory over our failures. They cause us to disobey out of hurt, despair, grief, and humiliation.  We must get victory over our successes. They cause us to disobey out of pride and vainglory. 
We must get victory over the things we hate. They fill us with bitterness, unforgiveness, and resentment. We must get victory over the things we love. We tend to make them idols or we place them ahead of God.

1 Chronicles 12:1-2; 33-38; John 17:21-25; Acts 2:1-4; Eph 4:1-16; Rom 8:18; Gen11:6.
We need to see the importance and power of the unified body of Christ. Even David’s mighty men, with their almost supernatural strength, knew the value of “keeping rank” and working together to get the biggest battles won.

Rev 21:8; Deut 20:1-4, 8; Judges 6: 25-35; 7:3; Numb 13:27-33.
The fearful and unbelieving cowards will drag you down and spread unbelief and fear.

Joshua 2: 8-11; Joshua 6-7
Jericho and Ai. The outcome of the battle is not determined by the size of the enemy. Victory depends upon our heart, our obedience, and our faith. The battle will not necessarily be easy if the enemy is small; but neither will it necessarily be hard if the enemy is big. The victory depends upon our faith and obedience. We serve the sovereign Almighty God.

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