From Suffering to Victory

The Apostle Peter gave the Body of Christ an apostolic charge to move from a stance of defeat to a position of kingdom authority.

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:10-11

The Apostle Peter admonished us to realize that our suffering would only last for a short time and that we should walk in faith that God would take us from a place of suffering to rulership. God Himself will perfect (Perfect – Greek word: katartizo - to complete thoroughly, repair or adjust—fit, frame mend, make, prepare, restore; equip fully), confirm (Greek word: sterizo – set fast, establish, steadfastly set, to turn resolutely in a certain direction or to confirm) and strengthen (Greek word sthenoo – bodily vigor; to confirm in spiritual knowledge and power).

However, many members of congregations have not been taught that they should demonstrate the kingdom agenda oftentimes believing that the gifts are only for ministers. All Believers are called to manifest Christ wherever we find ourselves, whether in the workplace, gym, doctor’s office, grocery story and home. I shop at a local grocery store in my city and there’s a woman who on the outside appears somewhat “slow” in her mental abilities. She is extremely friendly and makes conversation with the customers who come into her line as she bags their groceries. One day I was in the store with my grandson who had an ear infection and wasn’t feeling very well. She approached us and tried to play with him. He wasn’t having it so she asked me if he was alright. I told her he had an ear infection and she began to pray down Heaven on this baby. She decreed and declared and by the time she finished my grandson was smiling and well. This woman was no joke. She took Kingdom authority over sickness and went on about her business. I was shocked because there was not a shy bone in her body to bind sickness. She is very inconspicuous in her manners but bad to the bone in the gift of healing.

The Spirit of the Lord is calling us to come deeper and move into higher heights in Him. We are not to be dismayed by what we see around us or on the t.v. news. God is perfecting the Church and confirming us in who He has called us to be. He wants us to move in purpose in this season as He strengthen and establish us. We must know Him and know in our knower that He knows us. We must be totally assured in our hearts that we have been called to purpose and to affect the darkness around us. God establishes us in our gifts and callings so there’s no need to walk in fear or defeat. This is the hour of victory! When we see and hear of shakings around us we must know that the prayers of the righteous avail much. Our prayer produces fruit and God answers the prayers of those He loves. We have seen mighty miracles the past year because of prayer. We have seen death cheated through resurrections and miraculous healings because of prayer.

So many of us think that suffering is a bad word but it is not. The road to victory is through suffering. We are told that after we have suffered that God will perfect us, confirm us, strengthen us and establish us in Him. What an awesome promise and comforting words to those of us who suffer at the hands of others. God notices our pain, loss and our hurts. The God of comfort will take us to another place in Him. This suffering produces spiritual growth of faith, revelation and manifestation of His glory.

To the apostles, prophets, bishops, elders and pastors, feed Jesus’ sheep. Tend His lambs and strengthen His people so that they can mature and be confirmed in the knowledge of God as to who they are and what they were called to do. When they are taught to worship in their secret places then they will be strengthen by the intimacy they find with God. When they are faced with obstacles, challenges and hard times; they will know how to effectively bind and loose to declare victory. God has called us to prepare a people to walk in power and authority. We were called to change the atmosphere wherever we may be. The Chief Shepherd who is Jesus has called all under-shepherds to correctly handle His sheep. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.