I want to draw your attention to the things God’s people faced while they were abiding in God’s presence. Most of us want to have a life that is devoid of troubles and trials. Throughout the Bible, God’s chosen people faced trials, tests, difficulties, losses, and even death. Initially, that sounds very negative, but if you examine what happened you will see how God helped them. You will witness the favor of God’s presence on their lives. It is important in life and in every circumstance to know that God Almighty is working for our benefit and good. Even when we don’t get what we want, we can see God’s faithful handiwork and blessing. Whatever happens, we need a faith in Christ that does not waver. Your faith and trust in Christ is the anchor for your life in every circumstance or situation. God’s love, power, and care for you is never diminished by the circumstances you face.
Watch and listen to His people when God brought them out of Egyptian bondage.
God’s glory and power had been revealed to them in many ways both in getting them out and preserving their lives.
- When Pharaoh’s army showed up on the horizon, the children of Israel said: “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:12) They thought they were as good as dead. But God destroyed Pharaoh’s army.
- When they got hungry they said: “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:3) So, God gave them manna from heaven and they ate angel’s food.
- The congregation camped in Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. They contended with Moses and said: “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” “So God told Moses to strike the rock and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” (Exodus 17:1-5)
- After eating heaven’s bread, the people became discouraged on their way and said: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” (Numbers 21:5) So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and many of Israel died. Afterward the people said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and you. Intercede with the Lord so that He will take away the snakes.” And Moses interceded for the people, and God provided relief and recovery.
Do you see what those people were doing?
Over and over in many ways, the Lord was supplying and protecting them. They were under the umbrella and favor of His glory and protection and did not realize what God was doing.
It is important for us to pay attention to what the Lord is doing in our lives.
Do you recognize the mighty hand and favor of our God? He is a blessing God. He is a good God. He is a saving and healing God.
When they faced enemies that were greater and stronger than they were, they became faint in their heart and their faith wavered. God was not diminished or weakened by the magnitude of the things they faced. God was able to deliver them.
He wanted His people to know that regardless of what they faced, the Lord God Almighty is with them and would not forsake them.
This is still true for you.
Ask yourself these questions. Did the Lord fail those people? Did He not supply all of their needs according to His riches in glory? Do you think the Lord knows what you are facing?
Pay attention to all of the things that the Apostle Paul faced.
Listen to the words of Paul’s confession. He said he bore in his body the marks and scars of the things he suffered.
- Five times he received 39 lashes from the Jews.
- Three times he was severely beaten with a rod.
- He was stoned once.
- Three times he was shipwrecked.
- A night and a day he spent in the open sea.
- He was in dangers from rivers and robbers.
- He faced dangers from his own countrymen and from Gentiles.
- He was in dangers in the city and in the wilderness.
- He faced dangers from false brothers.
- He faced hard work and toil.
- He had sleepless nights.
- He was hungry and thirsty.
- He was cold and without enough clothing.
- He had daily pressure with concerns for all of the churches.
- He was weak and faced things that would cause one to stumble.
- He barely escaped arrest by being let down in a basket through a window in the wall.
I am certain that some of you have a list of the things that you have been through on your journey.
Have you suffered and been distressed at times? Have you even despaired of life? You thought you could not make it.
Now, listen to the confession of the Apostle Paul about all of the things he went through.
Romans 8:37 — 39 AMP Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Your faith and walk with God is going to be challenged.
Even when you know that things are right between you and God, your faith will be challenged. You have to have faith and trust in God that stands the test of time and your life. You need to know that you are abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. You need to know that the promise of God never fails.
“Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.”
Say it with me… “In all these things we are more than conquerors.”
How can we know that this will happen? How can we know we are going to conquer and gain a surpassing victory? How do we know that our needs will be supplied?
Look at the last words of verses 37 and 39 and you will see how you are going to conquer.
God has made it clear and certain that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. You have a loving, giving, ever present God Who has promised to be with you and help you.
Zechariah 2:5 NKJV For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”
We have been talking about the favor of God’s presence. We have seen the covering that God provides under the shadow of His presence. We have seen the benefit of His provision and rest.
When we are going through difficult things in life, we need to have bold confidence that we are going to be more than conquerers, regardless of what may come.
As Moses progressed through all of the things they faced, he came to know that the only way he and God’s people would survive was if God’s presence went with them.
It was the presence of God that separated his people from all of the people who are upon the face of the earth, (Exodus 33:15-16). It was not just the cloud of God’s glory that Moses was talking about. God was the One who defeated their enemies. God supplied their food and water. God gave them their wealth and continued supply. God had carried them along on eagle’s wings. In every situation they found the favor of God’s presence.
Zechariah 2:10-11 AMP Sing and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion; for behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the Lord. And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day and shall be My people. And I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know (recognize and understand) that the Lord of hosts has sent me [His messenger] to you.
Everything changes when you are walking in the favor of God’s presence.
How could the apostle Paul say: “Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us?”
When the Lord God Almighty is in the midst of His people, we have this confidence. The Lord will be a wall of fire all around and the glory in the midst of His people. We have this bold confidence, because we belong to Him and He is near. We have calm assurance, because the Lord is our Shepherd.
Psalm 91:10-11 NKJV No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:14-15 NKJV “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
When this gets down into the depth of your heart and mind, regardless of what happens, you will say: “Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
Your boldness in the face of conflict changes when God is standing with you. You can stand in the midst of the evil day and say: “The Lord is with me, whom shall I fear.”
Look again at Paul’s confession.
He did not deny his experiences, but embraced them. They were the facts of his life, but there was a greater reality working in him. He had a confident assurance in the One Who kept him.
1 Corinthians 15:57 AMP But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is why he could say, “Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.”
We can say that with conviction.
You can know the favor of God’s presence in every situation of life.
It works wherever you go and in every situation you face. Watch God’s people throughout the ages of time. They went through many untenable situations. Read their stories in Hebrews 11. They walked by faith in a God that does not fail. Their situations were very difficult and trying. Remember the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Don’t forget the test and trial of Joseph’s faith. God was with Moses through the wilderness wanderings. Remember Joshua, Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel and the prophets.
God is faithful.
These people subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, and turned to flight the armies of aliens. They were stoned, tempted and killed with the sword.
In everything that they faced, God was faithful.
God has never abandoned His people. You have to develop this faith and trust in your heart. The Lord is leading you into triumph and victory. He has provided something better for us.
Say it again: “Christ Jesus is leading me into triumph.”
