Presence Carriers – David Shearman预览

Facing the Opposition

One of the early dreamers of the Bible was Joseph. He overcame herculean obstacles that were attempting to divert him from fulfilling his dream as a presence carrier and a man of purpose. His journey alerts us to the challenges we are likely to face.

His enemies – his brothers in the flesh, but who knows the identity of his unseen spiritual opposition – first tried to CRUSH his dream, mocking his confession: “Will you actually rule us?” Then they tried to CONFUSE him, taking his robe from him and throwing him in a well. Then, prevented from actually killing him, they sold him as a slave, trying to CONFISCATE his identity. But amidst all his troubles, and they were long and many, the Bible keeps telling us that, “The Lord was with him.” Next came the plan to COMPROMISE him. Day after day, a wealthy woman offered him easy pleasure. In the end he had to flee, leaving his cloak behind in order to keep his integrity. It cost him an unjust prison sentence, but he retained the presence of God. Now cruelly deprived of his freedom his enemies are trying to CONFINE him.

What a journey! But after a year or two of further disappointment, this man's character had been shaped and honed by God to such an extent that he was ready to be thrust onto the world stage, to see his dreams fulfilled, to become an economic wizard and a international deliverer, always knowing that, “the Lord was with him”.

We can only conclude that Spirit-filled and Spirit-led men and women will face fierce opposition and tough times, including challenges to who we are who we trust and depend upon. We need to know, as Jesus did, how to use the Scriptures as the sword of the Spirit and learn to overcome. Then we will maintain His presence in Spirit-filled lives, know God’s approval and fulfill His plan and purpose.

We can find huge consolation in the fact that the Great Intercessor knows us all by name and is praying for us, specifically that our faith will not fail.

Finally, after our tests and trials, we are able to strengthen and comfort others. Like precious metal refined in the heat of a furnace, something happens to us and in us when we face our trials that cannot be produced in any other setting or context. We are made stronger to encourage and strengthen others.

Let us each be diligent to face our opposition but not become distracted or side-tracked, so that we fall short of our best possibilities.