Overcoming Your Obstacles
Ephesians 1:18-20 (NIV): "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who
believe".
Exodus 9:16(NKJV): "But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth".
Do you know your God’s given purpose?
As a believer in Christ, You have heard that we all have specific God given calling and/or purpose to fulfill in our lives. However, the process of discovering that purpose and/or calling can be a challenging one. We can experience many hindrances thru out the process which keeps us from walking in our purpose. Often we have set aside specific times of prayer and fasting to hear from God regarding our calling and still not see breakthrough or receive new insight into our true purpose. These hindrances can produce doubt.
My testimony about my journey to fulfill my purpose
From the moment I got saved, my desire was to serve the Lord and go into full time ministry. I was hindered by different situations that was beyond my control that kept me from fulfilling that desire. When I married my husband, Scott, we had four children. At that time, I sensed the Lord saying that my husband and children are my ministry. I accepted God’s direction and dedicated all of my time and energy to my family.
Then about 12 years ago, I sensed from the Lord that it was time to prepare for ministry. I had no idea what that would looked like. I do know that I had a stirring inside of me and as time went by, that stiring and burning became stronger and stronger because I knew it was time to start walking in my spiritual destiny. When you are aligned with God’s timing over your life, you will feel an urgency from Holy Spirit. The anointing over your life will increase to give you the grace and strength to work in God’s kingdom.
Tests, trials and tribulation are part of the process
The word says that we will be tested. Isaiah 48:10 (NIV): “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction”.
Trials and tribulations are our life tests. When you are in school, at the end of the semester, you have finals and you have to pass them in order to go to the next level. During the test session, you’re not allowed to talk to the teacher. There will be silence. Maybe you already have experienced those times when you feel as if God is not listening to you, He’s not answering. But you need to know that He is always there, working behind the scenes. He is always in our favor. He is there, but maybe you’re going through your test because is time to go to the next level as we go from glory to glory.
The testing is necessary for you to achieve spiritual maturity
God does not want you to remain a baby Christian during this journey. The tests that you are experiencing are designed to bring you into spiritual maturity. God’s desire for you to mature by using the power and authority that Jesus gave you through the Holy Spirit.
How did David defeat his giant
In the bible, David was chosen and called by God at an early age. David believed God and constantly kept walking in his calling. There was something about him that made him answer the call of God without questioning or doubting, even when others close to him rejected him.
When God chose David to be King of Israel God told Samuel to go to Jesse’s (David’s Father) house and anoint one of his sons as the next King of Israel. Samuel went, now Jesse had 8 sons:
1 Samuel 16:6-13
6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I haverefused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”
And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward”.
Jesse was not even including David as one of his sons. Later on in the story we see that David was sent by his father to bring food to his brothers when they were fighting against the Israelites, David’s own brothers rejected him and spoke mean words. Because David was getting involved in their business, He was talking trash against the Philistines.
Then David said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? (1 Sam. 17:26). “Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle” (1 Sam. 17:28).
David experience rejection
David was rejected, ignored, looked at as weak, unworthy, prideful, insignificant, not able to be part of the army. All of this was enough to cause a huge emotional trauma in his life. However, he did not pay attention to anything that was done or said against him.
1 Samuel 17: 29 says, “And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” 30 Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.
David kept his eyes on the problem at hand, knowing that he had the solution.
David did not give attention to what was said against him. WHY? He kept his eyes on the problem at hand, knowing that he had the solution. He had one purpose and one purpose only to get rid of the giant that was before the army of the Lord. This giant was talking against God’s people and stopping them from walking into their purpose. David was able to ignore the offenses, attacks, and rejections because he knew his purpose and he knew in whom he had believe, in the God the Lord of Hosts. The One who called Him. David did not owe anyone an explanation. He kept his eyes on the goal. As long as he did that, his offense was against the uncircumcised giant who was coming against God’s people. He declared, “How dare you, giant?”
One of my giants was breast cancer
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, a group of my friends got together and pray over me, I heard one of them say to the enemy, “How dare you devil, come against God’s anointed one?” That stirred something in me that righteous anger that made me realize, I am God’s daughter thus heir with Christ. Once I realized that I was “Heir with Christ”, it helped strengthen my faith for my complete healing.
“We need to arouse that righteous anger and directed towards the right enemy”
David used his righteous anger towards Goliath, took up a sling, his weapon, armed it with stones, his artillery, and swung it towards the giant, his real enemy. You are the sling, the sling and you are one, the stones are the Scriptures. Jesus came against Satan with the Word of God. When offenses or rejections come against you, what will your reaction be?
In order to defeat your giants, you must attack the right enemy, and take action using the spiritual weapons of warfare.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).
What are the giants that you facing today?
David’s giant was a physical giant that spoke against the one true living God. My giant was breast cancer. Your giant and/or obstacle can be physical (bad relationships, living conditions and a challenging manager at work, sickness to your body) or your giant and/or obstacle can be spiritual (rejection, emotional trauma, fear, anxiety and worry) . We need to remember that we need to keep focus on our purpose while we are defeating the giant. Once the giant is defeated, we are one step closer to our promised land, our purpose and blessing.
Resources of Encouragement during the process
Travis Greene “Made a Way”
Steven Furtick “Don’t miss your purpose”