There comes a point in the life of a believer when those who have opposed, misunderstood, rejected, or worked against you begin to recognize something they cannot manufacture, control, or overcome: the presence and power of the Spirit of God operating in your life.
What they initially dismissed as weakness, they eventually recognize as strength. What they thought was merely your determination, they discover is actually the grace of God sustaining you. What they believed they could destroy, they discover was being upheld by the hand of the Lord.
The enemy may use people, circumstances, accusations, rejection, discouragement, and opposition to attempt to pull a child of God down. But Scripture makes it clear that the believer’s ultimate battle is not against people.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.” — Ephesians 6:12
Therefore, we must learn to distinguish between the person and the spiritual forces influencing a situation. We do not have to hate people because they oppose us. Instead, we must remain spiritually discerning, prayerful, and firmly established in Christ.
THEY MAY WORK OVERTIME, BUT GOD STILL HAS THE FINAL WORD
When people become determined to undermine what God is doing in your life, they may increase their efforts. They may speak against you, misrepresent you, exclude you, discourage you, or attempt to convince others that what God has established should not succeed.
But their determination does not outrank God’s sovereignty.
The Word of God declares:
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” — Romans 8:31
Notice that Scripture does not say that nobody will ever come against you. It asks, “Who can be against us?”
Opposition may arise, but opposition does not have the authority to overturn the purposes of God.
Isaiah 54:17 declares:
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.”
The Scripture does not say that weapons will never be formed. It says they will not prosper.
That distinction is important.
There may be attacks, but the attack does not have to become your outcome.
There may be accusations, but the accusation does not have to become your identity.
There may be rejection, but rejection does not have to determine your destiny.
There may be opposition, but opposition does not have the final word.
God does.
WHEN THEY REALIZE THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS WITH YOU
One of the most powerful truths throughout Scripture is that God’s people were often opposed precisely because God’s hand was upon them.
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Yet what looked like a series of defeats was actually part of God’s providential plan.
Joseph eventually declared to his brothers:
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” — Genesis 50:20
What people intended for destruction, God was able to use for preservation.
David was pursued by Saul even though David had been chosen and anointed by God. David had opportunities to retaliate, but he refused to take God’s authority into his own hands.
David understood something many believers must learn:
You do not have to destroy your enemies in order for God to establish you.
The Lord is capable of defending His own.
Psalm 37:5-6 says:
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light.”
There is a time when God Himself will reveal what people could not see.
THE ANOINTING DOES NOT MAKE YOU IMMUNE FROM OPPOSITION
Being empowered by the Spirit of God does not mean that believers will never experience resistance.
Jesus Himself said:
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33
The presence of opposition does not necessarily mean that God has abandoned you.
Sometimes opposition becomes the environment in which God’s faithfulness becomes most visible.
Paul experienced tremendous opposition, yet he testified:
“But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.” — 2 Timothy 4:17
That is the believer’s confidence.
The Lord stands with us.
Not because we are perfect.
Not because we have never made mistakes.
Not because everyone approves of us.
But because our confidence is ultimately in Jesus Christ.
DO NOT BECOME WHAT YOU ARE FIGHTING AGAINST
There is another biblical truth we must not overlook.
When people mistreat us, we must not allow their behavior to transform our character.
Jesus taught:
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” — Matthew 5:44
That is Kingdom power.
Anybody can retaliate.
Anybody can respond to hatred with hatred.
Anybody can answer insults with insults.
But the person governed by the Holy Spirit learns to respond according to the character of Christ.
Romans 12:19 says:
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
You do not have to spend your life trying to prove yourself to everybody.
You do not have to chase every accusation.
You do not have to answer every critic.
You do not have to fight every battle.
Some battles belong to the Lord.
GOD WILL EXPOSE WHAT PEOPLE TRY TO HIDE
There are moments when people may successfully create a false narrative for a season. But eventually, truth has a way of coming into the light.
Jesus said:
“For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” — Luke 12:2
Therefore, do not become consumed with exposing everyone who has opposed you.
Walk in truth.
Walk in righteousness.
Walk in humility.
Walk in obedience.
Let God deal with what you cannot control.
Galatians 6:9 reminds us:
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Your responsibility is faithfulness.
God’s responsibility is the outcome.
THE CHOSEN MUST REMAIN HUMBLE
There is something else we must understand about being “chosen.”
Being chosen by God is not a license for pride, arrogance, or superiority over others.
Peter tells believers:
“Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” — 1 Peter 2:9
But why?
The verse continues:
“that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
We are chosen for God’s purposes, not our own glory.
The evidence that God’s Spirit is working in us should not merely be that we overcome opposition. It should also be that we increasingly display the character of Christ.
Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit as:
“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”
If God is truly empowering us, His Spirit should produce His character within us.
WHEN THEY PUSH, GOD CAN STRENGTHEN
Sometimes people think that if they apply enough pressure, eventually you will collapse.
But God can use pressure to develop endurance.
James 1:2-4 teaches:
“Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
The pressure may reveal what God has placed inside you.
The rejection may drive you deeper into prayer.
The opposition may teach you dependence upon God.
The closed door may redirect your steps.
The betrayal may teach you to trust God more deeply.
The wilderness may prepare you for the assignment.
What the enemy intends to use to break you, God can use to mature you.
GREATER IS HE
Ultimately, the believer’s victory does not come from personality, influence, money, position, intelligence, or human strength.
It comes from God.
1 John 4:4 declares:
“Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
That is the foundation of our confidence.
Not “I am greater.”
But “Greater is He.”
Not “I can defeat everybody.”
But “God is able to sustain me.”
Not “I don’t need anyone.”
But “I need the Lord.”
Zechariah 4:6 declares:
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
That is the secret.
By His Spirit.
KEEP STANDING
So when individuals work overtime to pull you down, don’t spend all your energy watching them.
Look to Jesus.
When they misunderstand you, keep walking.
When they reject you, remain faithful.
When they speak against you, guard your tongue.
When they attack your character, maintain your character.
When they attempt to discourage you, return to the Word.
When the battle becomes intense, increase your prayer.
When you become weary, wait upon the Lord.
Isaiah 40:31 declares:
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.”
Your strength is not found in winning every argument.
Your strength is found in remaining faithful to God.
Your victory is not proven by how many people you defeat.
Your victory is demonstrated by whether you continue walking with Christ.
THE FINAL WORD
There will always be people who misunderstand what God is doing in your life.
There will be people who underestimate you.
There will be people who oppose you.
There will be people who attempt to pull you backward.
But never allow the opposition to become greater in your mind than the God who called you.
If God has assigned you a purpose, remain faithful to that purpose.
If God has given you an assignment, remain obedient to that assignment.
If God has called you to stand, then stand.
Ephesians 6:13 says:
“Having done all, to stand. Stand therefore.”
And when you have done everything God has commanded you to do, stand.
Not in arrogance.
Stand in faith.
Not in hatred.
Stand in love.
Not in revenge.
Stand in righteousness.
Not in your own strength.
Stand in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Because ultimately, the testimony is not:
“Look how powerful I am.”
The testimony is:
“Look how faithful God has been.”
The Lord is able to preserve what He has ordained.
The Lord is able to strengthen whom He has called.
The Lord is able to vindicate according to His righteousness.
The Lord is able to turn trials into testimonies.
And the Lord is able to keep His people standing when everything around them says they should fall.
So don’t be distracted by those working against you. Keep your eyes on the One who is working for you.
“If God be for us, who can be against us?” — Romans 8:31
The battle belongs to the Lord.
The assignment belongs to God.
The strength comes from His Spirit.
And the glory belongs to Jesus Christ.
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