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The evidence that you have overcome your situation
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is that your situation does not overcome you.
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Greetings in Jesus’ name and welcome to another edition
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of ‘Faith Is Natural’ here on God’s Heart TV.
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Today, I want to address an issue that I have been
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asked about many, many times over the years.
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And it’s something like this –
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as a Christian, why do my problems persist despite my prayers?
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I’ve played my own role.
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You know, I go to church. I’ve prayed and fasted.
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I’ve received prayer; I’ve received prayer for deliverance.
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I read my Bible; I claim the promises in the Scripture
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and I really to strive please God.
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But why can’t I seem to overcome this problem?
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People of God, just as God created each of us to be unique –
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in the same vein, each situation we face is unique.
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So, there’s no single message that can address every situation
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but the answer, of course, lies in the Word of God.
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Today, I want to share with you a very valuable
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and important truth that I believe will help you.
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As a Christian, overcoming your situation…
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And when I say ‘situation’ – I mean, it could be in your finances,
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your health, marriage, family, business, career – just name it.
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As a Christian, overcoming your situation
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does not necessarily mean that situation will change.
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No! The evidence that you have overcome your situation
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is that your situation does not overcome you.
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Let me repeat that –
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the evidence that you have overcome your situation
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is that your situation has not overcome you,
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has not taken you away from God,
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has not misled you to sin.
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You see, it’s common today for us to equate overcoming our situation
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to a change in that specific circumstance.
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For example, we equate overcoming hardship to
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receiving financial breakthrough
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or we equate overcoming sickness, affliction
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to receiving physical healing.
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But remember – as Christians, we walk by faith, not by sight.
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So, the evidence of overcoming is in the spirit first,
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not the natural – the spirit first.
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Remember, God is Spirit and your real value lies in your spirit.
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So, the evidence of overcoming is in the spirit, not the natural.
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Now, I am not saying that God cannot sovereignly,
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supernaturally intervene and change that situation in your life.
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Of course, HE can – there is nothing impossible for God.
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I am just stressing to you that your present condition
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is not a means of measuring your spiritual life.
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Overcoming hardship does not mean getting rich.
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No – it means not being ruled by that hardship.
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Yes, I may have hardship and yes, I am seeking God –
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I am seeking Divine intervention.
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But no matter how hard, how long is that hardship,
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it will not mislead me into seeking alternatives outside of Christ.
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No matter how difficult is that difficulty,
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it will not deceive me into taking steps outside of God’s ways.
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No matter how painful is that pain,
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it will not break the flow of joy in my heart
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and prayer in my spirit.
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That is how you overcome!
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And when the blessing comes in God’s time,
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according to His Master Plan,
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just as hardship does not rule you,
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so too the blessing will not rule you but the Giver – God.
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So, as Christians, we are not immune to trouble.
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No – in this world, there will be trouble.
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But we are not ruled by it.
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We are not exempt from challenges.
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There will be challenges –
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sometimes prolonged, persistent challenges.
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But we are not to be controlled by them.
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People of God, I want to remind you of that famous story
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in the Gospels in the book of Mark 4:37-40 –
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the story about when Jesus Christ calmed the storm.
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And I want you to take note of something.
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Jesus Christ was calm in the midst of the storm
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before He calmed the storm.
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The storm was raging around him but not within him.
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Fear did not overtake Him.
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Worry did not overwhelm Him.
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Anxiety did not overthrow Him.
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No! He mastered the storm because the storm did not master Him!
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But on the other hand, look at the reaction of the disciples.
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Look at their response.
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They woke Jesus up and said,
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‘Master, don’t You care that we’re drowning?
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Don’t You care that we’re about to die? Don’t You care?’
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This is a picture of what happens when your problem overcomes you –
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you begin to see God in a bad light.
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‘God, don’t You care that I’m sick? Don’t You care I’m in pain?
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Don’t You care that my business is about to go bankrupt?
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Don’t You care how they’re treating me unjustly at my work place?
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Don’t You care?
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Why is God allowing this to happen to me?’
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We begin to question God’s goodness and query His ability.
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And even if we do approach God,
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even if we do run to the house of God,
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it is often to submit our prayer requests out of panic, not faith.
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People of God, I want to share with you a secret to overcoming –
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the recognition that it is not all about you.
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It’s not about how you are feeling,
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how you are doing, how you are treated.
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No! The central character in your story is God
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for you are created for His glory.
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So, redirect the focus from you to God.
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Instead of asking, ‘Why is God allowing this to happen to me?’ –
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change the focus.
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Why is GOD allowing this to happen to me?
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Because if God allows it, if God permits it – it’s for my good.
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Perhaps there is a lesson he wants you to learn
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that is necessary for your future,
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for the responsibilities He has for you tomorrow.
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Perhaps He is humbling you under His mighty hand.
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Perhaps He is refining you so that you come forth as gold.
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Perhaps He is building your character for
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the greatness that lies ahead of you.
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Look unto Jesus!
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The extent to which your problem, your situation misleads you
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to worry, to fear, to anxiety, to discouragement, to alternatives
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is the extent you place something else above God in your heart,
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usually yourself.
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So, people of God, in conclusion –
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let us look unto Jesus, for He is the Light of the world.
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Today, we’re close to a lighthouse – a beautiful lighthouse.
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And we recognise the importance of a lighthouse in the dark,
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not when the sky is clear and the sun is shining.
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No – it’s in the darkness that you know how important,
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how life-saving a lighthouse is.
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It is in the dark moments of your life that you will come
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to recognise, to appreciate, to value the light – Jesus Christ.
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Jesus is the Light of the world.
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He will illuminate your paths and eliminate your fears!
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He will provide you the strength to overcome,
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the peace to persevere,
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the grace to keep pressing whatever your situation.
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Whatever your situation, know this –
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if that situation sparks your spiritual life, you are an overcomer.
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Right now, let us pray together.
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Jesus Christ stood in the boat in the midst of the storm
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and declared calmness!
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Right now, whatever storm that surrounds you,
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whatever storm that rages around you –
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I declare calmness in the mighty name of Jesus Christ!
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Let there be calmness in your marriage!
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Let there be calmness in your family!
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Let there be calmness in your business,
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in your finances, in your career!
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Let there be calmness in your health right now!
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Calmness, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ!
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To every troubled heart, to every disturbed heart –
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receive the calmness of Christ!
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Receive the calmness of Christ right now!
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Jesus Christ is the Light of the world!
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Whatever represents darkness in your life,
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let there be light right now!
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Let there be light right now!
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Let there be light!
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That sickness is darkness.
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That setback is darkness.
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That limitation in progress is darkness.
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That nightmare is darkness.
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I command you to come out of darkness!
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Come out of darkness right now!
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Let there be light!
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In Jesus’ mighty name.
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Amen. Amen. Amen.
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Thank You, Jesus Christ!
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Thank you, viewers.
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God bless you for joining us for today’s edition of ‘Faith Is Natural’.
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Please share with us the lessons you learned from
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today’s message in the comments below and remember –
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continue to seek God’s heart to see life clearly,
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in Jesus’ name.