God is working on you

“Everyone wants to be clothed with power, but no one wants to be stripped of self.” - Leonard Ravenhill

1 Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.”

2 Corinthians 11:24–29 “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?”

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Between the glories is a struggle!

2 Corinthians 4:1 “For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

2 Corinthians 4:7–18 NKJV

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

People want to be a warrior like David.... Are you willing to face Goliath?

People want love like Jacob and Rachel…are you willing to wait 14 years and go through deception and hurt?

People want to be generous, but are you willing to give your last penny out of obedience?

People want to be healed like Namaan, but are you willing to lay down your expectations of how God should do it and be obedient? Or be desperate enough after a 12 year battle finally found Jesus?

People want to call down fire from heaven like Elijah, but are you willing to put your faith on the line and then endure death threats afterward?

People want a boldness like Peter, but are you willing to stop cutting off ears in judgement? Are you willing to be humbled by the reality that your talk may not always match your walk!

Every mighty man and woman of God in the Bible faced a struggle that was greater than they were!

The struggle is what made them reach out to God!

Purposes of the Struggle

You learn to fight in the struggle.

Giants expose the grasshoppers in faith.

Your true self is revealed in the struggle.

You learn to recognize your need for God in the struggle.

The struggle tests your commitment and passion.

The struggle helps you to learn to trust God and see His faithfulness

The struggle can build your faith.

The struggle will humble you

You would have no testimony without a struggle.

The struggle is not trying to make you buckle…the struggle is trying to make you snuggle.

Snuggle up to God let Him hide you in the shelter of His wings.