So God Gave You the Victory, You Gonna Brag Now?

I can remember when my wife and I first started in the poetry ministry the Lord gave us we faced so much rejection. We faced rejection from our friends, some family members, strangers, and even our church including some pastors. This shocked me because I thought that if I was doing what God told me to do then everyone should just fall in line with the program and do what God told them to do. I mean He put this ministry on our heart to do for Him so automatically the whole universe is supposed to line up with God. If they don’t then they are against God! Well that’s what I thought early in my Christian walk. But the truth is the devil is going to use people to get in your way before you can build up the faith to walk in God’s purpose for your life. The devil’s job is to deter you from doing what you’re supposed to do. And what better way to do that than by using fellow believers, even your own pastor, to discourage you.

During your journey on your way to God’s will for your life you will encounter many people, situations and things that will come against you. They’re supposed to do that. In John 10:10, Jesus told His disciples, “In this world you WILL have troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” So what Jesus was saying is that because God spoke a word over your life the devil now has the right to come and test you and distract you from following God into your purpose. So now you’ve withstood all of the painful trials the devil took you through and now you’re prospering in every area of your life. God is expanding your ministry into other areas and you’re being called on to go to other countries to minister. Wow!! Here’s the point when the devil can step in. You go back and show that pastor or fellow church members that you made it in spite of what they tried to do to you.

Now you have done 2 things: you’ve opened a door for a haughty or prideful spirit to enter your life, and you’ve also opened a door for an envious or jealous spirit to enter into the lives of the ones you “bragged to”. When God blesses you, don’t go back and brag to others what you’ve done in spite of them. This is not the nature of God. But remain humble and allow God to reveal to everyone what He has done in your life and ministry in His time and His way. God will use the success of your ministry to show others what He can do in your life when you are obedient to Him. But it’s not about getting those folks back for making your path more challenging. It’s about spreading the good news of the Kingdom of God through the ministry that God has birthed in you. Step back and allow God to do what He does best. He doesn’t need your help and you just may open a door to allow curses to be spoken over your ministry if you move ahead of God. When you maintain a spirit of humility, God will exalt you in due time.

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)



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