I was attending a local ministers’ meeting last year where in a time of fellowship I heard different individuals say, “Man, I’m glad 2016 is over, it was a tough year.” This struck me strange for some reason. Just recently I was scrolling through a social media site and saw a post with the same statement concerning 2017, “Glad this year is almost over, I’m done with it.” As believers we were never promised exemption from hardship. On the contrary we were told by the Master Himself that in this world we would have tribulations, yet He also said in the same breath that we should be of good cheer for He has deprived the world of power to harm us and has conquered it for us. The problems we are facing won’t and don’t disappear at the stroke of midnight; they remain until we have dealt with them. This is so vitally important. My prayer for you is that at the end of 2018 no matter what the devil may have thrown at you, you will be shouting, “I’m still standing as God through Christ has given me the victory and always causes me to triumph!”
I want to walk you through three steps that I believe will bring you to a conquering end. The first step in living in this success is forming a belief. What is a belief? One author said it this way, “A belief is a core conviction based upon absolute truth.” The world and religion continue to use political opinion and reason to formulate new ideas of truth for us to stand on. The problem with these new truths is that they are a mixture of lies and partial truths. They never hold up and they always crack under pressure. There is only one truth and His name is Jesus! He is full of truth and it is by the word of Truth, that we have been brought forth as son and daughters of the Most High God.
I was reading the story of Jairus in Mark 5 and I saw something very interesting concerning the way Jairus received his daughter’s healing. In verse 23 Jairus reveals his belief to Jesus when he says, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may live, and she will live.” Jairus’ belief was that if Jesus would come and lay hands on his daughter she would live. Many of us start off our weeks, months and years believing that this is a new day and my body is healed, my bank account is full and favor surrounds me like a shield! But just like Jairus as we go with Jesus, the day gets busy and reports of sickness, lack and failure are hurled at us with relentless repetition. Then the voices from the crowd weigh in with, “Don’t bother the Master, for there is no hope and all is lost.” Let me encourage you, there’s always hope and all is never lost!
If you continue reading on in verse 36 in the Amplified Classic Addition (AMPC) Jesus replies to the contradictions of truth that are thrown at Jarius, it reads “Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.” This is what I hadn’t seen before. Jesus was saying to Jarius, “You told me, ‘If I would come and lay My hands on your daughter she would live!” “Don’t let the report change your belief.” In other words, Jesus was telling Jarius to continue with your original belief! This is so powerful and key to breakthrough.
The second step in preparing to have an overcoming 2018 is to speak the truth, the whole truth and NOTHING but the truth. Proverbs 12:19 says, “The truthful lips shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” One thing that God is always encouraging me to do concerning areas that I’m tempted to forfeit my original belief, is to speak His words only. When we stand looking at the situation that is trying to absorb our faith through doubt and fear, it is so important that we speak the truth, God’s word only, and not the lie that is only for a moment. Sickness is a lie and for a moment. Lack is a lie and is only for a moment. You may say, “Yeah, but it looks and feels true and never ending.” But it’s not, it’s a lie that the devil is trying to get you to believe as truth. The woman with the issue of blood that intercepted Jesus on His way to Jairus’ house in Mark 5:28 (AMPC) demonstrates this, “For she kept saying, If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.” She made speaking the truth and her belief about her illness priority in the midst of the congestion of life. It’s not so much about repetition as it is keeping your thoughts and words only on the truth, for it is authentic truth identified that brings liberty. Remember, the lie is subject to the truth and if we will place a watch over our mouth to make sure that we utter only words that line up with what God has already set in motion through Christ, we will see what we are believing for!
I want to leave you with one last step toward a year that is crowned with goodness, and drips with abundance. Don’t quit! Don’t give up on what you have come to believe as true, and don’t stop speaking the truth, don’t quit!! I tell Mandy all the time, “As long as we don’t quit or give up we’ll make it!” I like Thomas Edition’s perspective and drive toward his inventions, he said, “I didn’t fail. I just found 2,000 ways not to make a light bulb.” Galatians 6:9 (NLT) declares, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Your due season, your harvest of blessing is NOW and yours for the taking! I believe that you won’t have to find 2000 ways that won’t work, but that by the Spirit of Truth He will speak truth and declare righteousness to you and show you all things.
1 John 2:27b …but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.