Lisa Comes (Nee Lisa Osteen) - Overcoming Opposition

OVERCOMING OPPOSITION:

How To Succeed In Doing the Will cf God

by Lisa Osteen

Contents

Foreword

by John Osteen

When my daughter Lisa wrote Overcoming Opposition: How To Succeed In Doing the Will of God, she had experienced victory over opposition in many areas of her life, even from her birth. Lisa was born with a condition similar to cerebral palsy. She had no sucking reflexes, no muscle tone. She could not raise her head or cry like a normal child. God miraculously healed Lisa as my wife, Dodie , and I stood on the promises of God in the Bible for her healing. Today, Lisa is perfectly normal in every way.

When Lisa completed this book, she had no way of knowing that in writing the manuscript she was being prepared by God for one of the greatest challenges of her life. Shortly after completing the book, Lisa was routinely opening mail in her office when she opened a box addressed to me. It exploded in her lap. A powerful, deafening pipe bomb exploded, injuring her, riddling her office with debris, nails, shrapnel, and barbed wire and setting her office on fire.

Miraculously, Lisa's life was spared and not one piece of metal penetrated her body. Only minor surgery was needed to close wounds created by the explosion. One emergency official on the scene told me, "Pastor, I want you to know that someone had to be standing between your daughter and that bomb." Thank God, the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them (Psalms 34:7, KJV).

Lisa has once again overcome opposition and continues her personal ministry all over the world. As you read this book, you, too, will discover that you can stand in the storms of life and overcome opposition in every area. I challenge you to stand against the forces of darkness and let the Greater One who dwells within you give you success in doing the will of God in your life.

Overcoming Opposition:

How to Succeed in Doing the Will of God

The book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament is a small book, but it has a great story which is very relevant to you and me today. It teaches that we can overcome opposition in order to do what God has called us to do.

Nehemiah was an ordinary man, a layman who was cupbearer to the King of Persia. (This was during the time the Jews were in captivity there.) One day God called him to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls around the city. This wasn't an easy task because the city had lain in ruins for over 100 years. Nehemiah had never been a builder. He had never been a minister or great leader. He was just a man who had a heart for God and who was willing to obey God's call to rise up and lead the Jews in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

I believe with all my heart that every Christian has a call upon his or her life. God has called us and set us aside for a special purpose. Whether you are a minister, a pastor, or a layperson, God has chosen you to accomplish certain things for Him. He has put dreams and desires in your heart and given you a vision. Believing for a loved one to come into the Kingdom of God, for healing in your body, for your financial needs to be met, or whatever God has put in your heart may seem to be a difficult task. But when God calls you to that task, He will help you.

God isn't looking for a great leader, a great minister. He is looking for someone like Nehemiahsomeone like you who is willing to rise up and do what He has called you to do. Anyone who is willing to cooperate with God can see great things done for Him.

God often calls us to do things which we are not humanly qualified to do. He chooses the weak things of the world to confound the strong, the foolish things to confound the wise (see 1 Corinthians 1:27).

Nehemiah was afraid in the beginning. He had to approach the king for permission to leave his job and to rebuild the wall. He even had to ask the king for the necessary permits and supplies. The Bible says he was very much afraid (Nehemiah 2:2). But something happened to him when he stepped into the presence of the king. Suddenly, he spoke with the boldness of the Holy Spirit, and the king granted all of his requests.

When God calls you to a task, He anoints you to do it. He equips you and empowers you. He gives you the strength, courage, and boldness you need to see it done.

Nehemiah said, The gracious hand of my God was upon me (Nehemiah 2:8). He knew he was anointed. He knew he was called. He sensed it when he went into the presence of the king. One minute he was dreadfully afraid, and the next minute he was speaking with the boldness of the Holy Ghost.

God will anoint you and equip you the same way He did Nehemiah. He will give you the talents, the gifts, the wisdomwhatever you needto accomplish the task He has called you to do. Don't ever let fear stop you! The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (KJV). Don't ever let a lack of qualifications stop you. Zechariah 4:6 says, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (KJV). It's by the Spirit of God that victories come. It's by the Spirit of God that your ministry will be born and become powerful. It's by the Spirit of God that you will receive the desires that God has put in your heart. By His Spirit you will have the victories, so don't let fear stop you. Rise up and be willing like Nehemiah to step forth and do what God has called you to do.

Nehemiah went to Jerusalem...and 52 days later, the walls were supernaturally completed! Nevertheless, Nehemiah faced great opposition in accomplishing his task. He had a battle on his hands. Just because God called him to the work didn't mean the walls automatically stood up. They didn't fall into place overnight. Nehemiah had to fight to get the job done. He knew how to face opposition and how to overcome it.

Perhaps you are facing opposition today. Anytime you do anything for the Lord, you will face opposition. The devil is going to attack you. Whenever something worthwhile is going on in the Kingdom of God, Satan will launch an all-out effort to stop it. What you are doing for God is worthwhile. The ministry you have is worthwhile. That loved one you are believing God for is worthwhile. Whatever it is you are doing is worthwhile in the eyes of God, and the devil doesn't like it. The Bible tells you to, Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes (Ephesians 6:11). The devil has schemes and strategies that he uses to try to stop the work of God in your life, but, thank God, the strategies of the Holy Ghost are more powerful than the strategies of the devil.

Isaiah 54:17 (Amplified) says, No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This peace, this righteousness, this security, this triumph over opposition is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. God has promised that you can triumph over opposition. It's won't always be easy, but you can overcome every obstacle the devil puts in your way.

The devil used people to oppose Nehemiah. Sanballat was the governor of Samaria and an important person in Jerusalem at this time. Tobiah was a corrupt official from a nearby nation. Neither of these men liked what Nehemiah was doing, and they attacked him in three different ways: through persecution, discouragement, and compromise.

These are three major schemes the devil will use to try to defeat you. He will cause you to be persecuted and to be discouraged, and then he will tempt you to compromise. But Nehemiah overcame in all three of these areas, and you can, too!

Nehemiah faced persecution

In doing God's work, we all face persecution, including ridicule and criticism. Nehemiah 2:19 ,20 says, But when Sanballat the Horonite , Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is this you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?" I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."