DON’T FAINT IN THE DAY OF ADVERSITY!

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small (Proverbs 24:10).

Christianity is a bed of roses, with tests, trials, and challenging times in our journey of faith. Such challenging times are what the Bible refers to as “the evil day” (Ephesians 6:13), or “the day of adversity” as read in our opening verse. Some believers dread such periods and specifically pray to God never to allow them to go through trials and challenges. To avoid situations that challenge your faith, checkmate your chances of promotion. DON’T FAINT IN THE DAY OF ADVERSITY!

James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Why would God admonish you to rejoice when tests and challenges come at you on all sides? It’s because He knows that victory is in your spirit. Having been born again, you’ve become an overcomer and more than a conqueror. Consequently, no situation that you face should overwhelm you.

God knows what stuff you are made of, that’s why He said “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). You have what it takes to overcome any trial, temptation or adversity. So, you must not cower, give in or faint under any pressure whatsoever. Be tough. Jesus was tough. He withstood and triumphed over all the contrary winds that came His way (Hebrews 12:2).

Some things make you tough as a Christian, and if you don’t welcome them, you’d remain at the same level of faith and maturity. Therefore, your adversaries are important in the toughening process, so never pray against them, no matter what troubles, problems and difficulties they bring your way. Welcome the as necessary challenges to strengthen your faith muscles and you’ll discover they’re the agents for your promotion.

Do you remember Joseph, and how he managed the adversities that came his way? He overcame all the troubles he faced after his brothers sold him into slavery and rose to become the Prime minister of Egypt. He would later tell his brothers in Genesis 45:5: “…be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will…being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience (Colossians 1:9-11 NIV).

God’s people are soldiers; we’re built to withstand and prevail against the pressures and adversities of life. There’re no sissies in God’s army. Don’t faint in the day of adversity. The TLB version of the Bible says in Proverbs 24:10: “You are a poor specimen if you can’t stand the pressure of adversity.”

Be strong and tough for Christ! It makes no difference how fiercely you’re persecuted for the Gospel; count it all joy! 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

2 Timothy 2:3 says, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Some people endure with tears, but our theme scriptures say to do so with joyfulness. Always remember, the contrary winds make your roots go deeper. The quality of your personality must be tested. The bigger the trouble, the greater your victories. Without pressure, your greatness may never manifest.

Therefore, in the face of opposition, declare,

“Greater is He that’s in me, than he that’s in the world!” James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Why would God admonish you to rejoice in adversity? It’s because victory is in your spirit.

Paul said, “We glory in tribulation, for tribulation produces patience” (Romans 5:3). Always remember that greater is He that’s in you than all the troubles you could ever face. With the Word in you, you’ll stand any test! You’ll always win. Praise God!

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing”; that means to continue in prayer until there’s a change; don’t give up; don’t give in! Some Christians give up too quickly, but faith never gives up. It’s like what happened with the Apostles in Acts Chapter 12, when Herod arrested Peter, having killed James, one of the Apostles. Herod saw that killing James pleased the Jews, so he proposed to do the same with Peter. However, the Bible says “…prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5).

The Holy Spirit specifically emphasized the phrase “without ceasing.” This shows that the Apostles made intense petitions and gave God all the reasons Peter’s life should be spared, and they continued in prayer until he was miraculously delivered. They knew they had a tool with which to effect the change they desired; the tool of effectual fervent prayers; and they prevailed.

Christianity is for the tough-minded; we don’t give up or give in; we don’t faint in the day of adversity. We’re not at the mercy of Satan; we know exactly what to do when he shows up; we use the Name of Jesus against him. We’ve been given the right and power of attorney to use the Name of Jesus and make our petitions known to our heavenly Father for answers. This is what you must do when you need to change things; continue in prayer. Pray fervently with the Word until you have the note of victory in your spirit.

James 5:16-18 says “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” Elijah prayed this way and got results; He didn’t give up or give in!

You too can take advantage of God’s Word and insist on your rights in Christ. Take God’s Word to Him in prayer and continue until there’s a change. You can learn more on prayer and the principles of effective prayer in the book “How to Pray Effectively, Volume 1.” It’s an insightful volume that’ll greatly enhance your understanding of the different kinds of prayers the Bible teaches.

Herein our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).

A few years ago, a certain Christian brother was kidnapped by a cult. When they arrived at the kidnappers’ shrine, he saw the skulls of several people who had been beheaded; and shortly after their arrival, the ritualists began to call their latest captives one after the other to the slaughter slab.

Suddenly, the brother began to speak in other tongues. As he spoke in tongues, one of the ritualists came to shut him up, but he spoke in tongues even louder. While everyone else was enveloped in fear, he spoke out in tongues! Soon enough, pandemonium erupted amongst the ritualists, and they kicked him out of their midst. He was freed.

That brother’s experience reveals what happens when you’re full of the Spirit; you’re bold! At that moment when trouble strikes, the power of the Holy Spirit will rise in you; words will come out of you in torrents of divine energy.

Victory is assured in the fullness of the Spirit. When trouble comes, you’re ready; you’re bold in the day of crisis. The word “judgment” is from the Greek word, “Krisis”—the derivative of the English word “crisis.” It depicts a time of intense difficulty or danger.

There have been times when it was said that a Christian was travelling in a bus, and there was a terrible accident, and everybody died. Was the Christian supposed to die with them? No! He was supposed to have boldness in the time of crisis.

He could have declared at that moment, “In the Name of Jesus, I’m preserved! I don’t die!” He may not even need to say anything at all, because he was already prayed up before he got on the bus. The Bible doesn’t say, “…that we may shout in the day of crisis”; no, it says we may have boldness in the day of crisis. With that boldness of the Spirit, you’ll prevail, irrespective of the circumstances or crisis. Hallelujah!

And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God (Philippians 1:28 AMPC).

As a Christian, you’re a victor forever; therefore, never be concerned about who’s against you or the challenges that you face. For example, anyone who sets himself up as your adversary will of necessity stumble and fall. You don’t have to pray about it; the Word says so: _ “…When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell” _ (Psalm 27:1-2). So, you see, the adversaries and adversities that you face are not a factor.

The Bible says, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). You’re unconquerable. James 1:2 says, _ “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” You may be faced with challenges in your academics; count it all joy, because no matter what happens, you’re coming through with a testimony. Refuse to faint or lose heart in the day of crisis; God believes in you! He believes that He’s trained you enough to face challenges and win.

Even when you’ve prayed and the trouble seemed not to have gone away, refuse to give up. We never buckle under trouble! We never cry when we face challenges. Eyeball the devil and say, “Devil, no matter what you do, I’m more than a conqueror, because greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world.”

We have the comfort of the Scriptures; we have the assurance of the Holy Ghost in our lives that we can never be defeated. Refuse to be terrified by anything. There are no adversaries or adversities on earth or in the heavenlies that can overpower you as long as you function in God’s Word. Glory to God!