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Cast Down but Unconquered
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (NKJV)
a. Job was pressured and faith and worship came out.
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.”
Job 13:15 (NKJV)
b. Peter was pressured and cursing and denial came out.
“Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.”
Matthew 26:74 (NKJV)
c. Jesus was pressured, and grace and mercy came out.
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.”
Luke 23:34(NKJV).
“And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.”
Mark 14:3 (NKJV)
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?” II Corinthians 2:14-16 (NKJV)
1. Being pressed is part of Life.
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides, You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way,
James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
2. Being pressed releases an odor.
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides, You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way,
James 1:2-4
“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Matthew 12:34 (NKJV)
“Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
Matthew 7:20 (NKJV)
*The smell of our own death doesn’t stink; our death is also the smell of the life of Christ being lived through us. (Just in case you didn’t know, this is a sweet smell to others) #thepressure #whatsthatsmell
3. Being pressed should release life not death.
Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say; “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer,
James 1:13-15 (MSG)
When pressure comes there is only 2 ways we can respond.
The old nature (under pressure) will produce this…
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)
The new nature (under pressure) will produce this…
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Galatians 5:22-24 (NKJV)