ARTICLES ON LIFESTYLE

DATE:  10 August 2003
SPEAKER:  Pastor Tayo Adeyemi
TITLE:  Rising above your circumstances
TEXT:  Isaiah 60:1-7

We are living in the days when God's glory will shine through us in a dark and confused world. The glory will so shine that prominent people in the world will notice it and begin to gravitate towards it. Isaiah 2:1-2
These are the days of divine acceleration; when God will deliberately speed things up Amos 9:13, John 4:35 Things will no longer follow natural trends.
When God begins to move, the devil also begins to move - in panic. Knowing that we are God's elect, he will begin to hurl distractions at us - simply to discourage us and limit us. We call those attacks circumstances. Isaiah 60:2 - darkness will cover the earth.
Before you can be effective for God you have to learn to rise above your circumstances. Things don't happen until God's people arise.
There may be things that confront you right now - you need to rise above them. Problems and difficulties, pressures and discouragement are part of the realities of life.
The fact that you have a problem doesn't mean that there's something wrong with you. If you are of any significance to the purpose and programme of God, the devil will challenge you. He will attempt to discredit you and mar your testimony.
Three Examples
1. David - 1 Sam 30:1-8 - Circumstances
2. Peter - Luke 5:1-10 - Circumstances
3. Paul - Acts 16:22-26 - Circumstances

5 Things to do to rise above your circumstancesi. Detach yourself from the problem
Disown it and declare your independence. You belong to another world - another kingdom
1 Sam 17:32, 51, 52; John 14:1,27. As soon as the devil is able to involve your heart in the problem, he's got you - you are hooked, you are paralysed. 1 Sam 30:6 David strengthened himself - to be strong, courageous, manly, established, firm, obstinate.
ii. Refuse to quit
You may be moments away from your breakthrough. Tomorrow may be your day. Your hour of visitation may be tonight. Gal 6:9.
iii. Remember your past victories
Remembering your past victories have a way of boosting your faith Every believer should have a victory journal - recording every victory God gives you.
iv. Unleash the presence of God through praise
When you praise God you throw the devil in pandemonium. You show the devil that you are not a mere mortal, but a child of God. By praise you get to regulate your internal climate which then influences the external climate.
v. Get in the right company
There is something in the company of believers that encourages you. There are times your faith, prayer, praise alone cannot carry you through, and it is then you need to be in the company of believers. I cannot understand believers who when in trouble stop coming to church. It's like a person who visits to the hospital when they are well and stop going when they fall ill.
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