Worship

“See a Victory” by Elevation Worship

Scripture

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” -1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (ESV)

A Time for Celebration

As those of us in America enjoy Thanksgiving tomorrow, it is truly time to celebrate. The whole world is being confronted with the reality of sin and brokenness. My doctor shared with me recently that they have never encountered the amount of health issues they are seeing both mentally, emotionally, and physically because of this year. These days seem all too overwhelming. But this morning, we climb up a little bit higher and see things from Heaven’s perspective with the cross in view. We are going to choose to take hold of one truth: we have the victory! We are the triumphant ones in Christ. We are supernatural carriers of hope because of Jesus. We have reason to overflow with gratitude all of our days, no matter what this all looks like. We can face the giant or face the battle and write the word TRIUMPH over it. The story isn’t done, and we know who wins!

“The Lord goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes.” -Isaiah 42:13 (ESV)

Whatever your situation or trial is, see the word TRIUMPH written over it. Receive that promise, even unfulfilled right now, fully complete in Christ!

Triumph Through Testing

As we head back to our Scripture we have been in for three weeks, I want us to look at the word “labor.” “… your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).” The meaning behind this statement is that your labor in the Lord is not empty or resulting in nothing. Do you know that this word is actually associated with grief or sorrow and even trouble? Interesting to me that Paul doesn’t disregard this intimate part of being seated, persistent, and firm, increasing and overflowing, and yet Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33).” Yes, victory is ours, immovability is ours, increase is ours. And yet in this world our labor or work can have pain, tears, and suffering associated with it.

My best friend from college, Kel, and her husband, Scott, had a daughter, Livy. It was a difficult pregnancy, so she and Scott decided to adopt three more children. They received Sam, then Gabriella, and then Ikey. Their family looks like Heaven with all the different skin colors. Sam is 8 now and is manifesting very disruptive and potentially violent behavior. It’s wreaking havoc on their family, and they finally admitted him this last month for an inpatient program. Kel has been asking the birth mom for a year what she may have done during her pregnancy. Finally, she confessed to doing meth and benzos and most likely alcohol. His little brain was cooked in the womb. In their grief and in deep despair, Scott sensed the Lord placing these words on his heart:

If she would have told you at the beginning, you would have not taken him.

It was God’s goodness to Sam that, in His mercy, He chose Scott and Kel to parent him.

They said, “yes,” to this calling when the Lord put it before them. Now the grace for walking out their calling will need to come in even greater measure. Being in the Lord and trusting you’ve heard clearly does not mean it won’t come without tears and pain. In fact, you can count on two things: every calling will be tested, and there will be a battle before every breakthrough. He sees the finished prize, and yet He rejoices in the process. He is faithful to carry us to the finish line. NO ONE and NOTHING can snatch you from the hand of God. Come hell or high water, you are IN HIM, sealed with His Spirit, and He’s coming back for you.

Your labor and your pain in the Lord is not in vain, dear sisters!

I need you to hear these words because as we move from glory to glory, we become more like Jesus. He takes the areas of our lives that need to be shaped and pruned and purified, and if we will hand them to Him, we will put His glory on them. And we will look more and more like Jesus. Your pain and grief and sorrow is not in vain because you are in the Lord. Your God will never fail you; He will never forsake His own.

Scripture’s Examples of Faith

Your triumph was written by the blood of Jesus on the cross.

“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy— wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,” -Hebrews 11:32-40, ESV

David’s Journey of Preparation

Your triumph was written by the blood of Jesus on the cross.

“So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.” -1 Samuel 17:50, ESV

Do you know that David was anointed as King when he was just a teenager tending sheep during the day? It was soon after that he faced Goliath, was run off by Saul, found his place of hiding in the desert, lived on the run from his enemies, was forced out of Israel, and fought many battles along the way. It took 15 years of preparation between the time that he was anointed king and actually became king of the nation Israel. We so want the crown and not the years of preparation. We question and complain and weep and toil, waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. And Jesus looks at us and says He is our promise, and everything is fulfilled in Him! His triumph is written over your life, your salvation, your journey to healing, your wholeness, and your final crowning before the Bema Seat of Christ. This journey of surrender and sanctification as we are in the Lord matters to God. It really matters to God.

Finding Joy in Trials

Even when we are walking in perfect union with Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, we are going to face toil and trial. We will begin to view it from the perspective of God the more we walk with Him in deeper intimacy. We will realize the necessity of gratitude to be the gamechanger for acceptance and embrace. And on the flip side of the pain will be the redemption of God. He will cause the pain and suffering to bring the overflow and even greater authority for ministry! The Lord is enlarging our capacity to carry more of His manifest power and presence through our lives. This year is a divine reset for the Bride of Christ. None of what you have gone through or are going through is in vain because you are in the Lord. But if it is not processed by the Word of God and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, this is where ungodly beliefs can begin to shape our faith.

So today, let’s stand on the precipice of our tumultuous days and give Him praise. He knows how this story ends. And just like Scott and Kel who are believing for the healing of their son, until we see that day come, our only option is to praise Him!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” -James 1:2-4

He is making you complete so that you will not be lacking anything. And the outcome of the pain is that He will redeem and return to you sevenfold what the enemy has stolen. Take heart; you are secure in Him and He is for you. Today, let’s just praise Him and give Him thanks for His triumph and tenderness to His beloved Bride.

A Promise of Restoration

I want to close with a particular Scripture that has been dated in my Bible several times as I took hold of this promise. A harvest of joy and reaping is coming forth from you. So hold tight, sister, and do not let go of the Lord in this hour!

“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. Restore our fortunes, O Lord , like streams in the Negeb! Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.” – Psalm 126:1-6, ESV

AMEN.

A Few Key Notes

• There are no Arise studies this Friday, November 27. Studies will resume December 4. Happy Thanksgiving!
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• Two new Arise mission trips are scheduled! Visit eastwest.org/arise to apply.
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