God Rules in Your Circumstances

God Rules in Your Circumstances

God's light often shines brightest through us in our darkest moments.

November 12, 2023

Philippians 1:12-20

If you could change your present circumstances, would you? Most of us would say yes. Even if we’re experiencing relatively peaceful and comfortable conditions, we can always imagine a better life. And those of us enduring difficult, painful, or trying situations long to see the burden lifted.

But as everyone knows, there are some circumstances over which we have no control. We can’t maneuver our way out, so our only option is to go through them. As redeemed children of God, however, it’s important to remember this: We are exactly where God wants us, because His sovereignty rules over all our situations at all times.

Let’s look at Paul. He was sitting in a Roman prison, chained to a guard after a fruitful ministry of sharing the gospel. But even though the Lord brought him into difficult circumstances, His work in and through Paul didn’t stop. A negative aspect of the apostle’s life—being chained to a jailer—turned out to be the means God used to deliver the gospel to the entire praetorian guard and Caesar’s household.

The sovereign God who used Paul’s circumstances for His good purposes can do the same with yours. But like Paul, you may have to go through them trusting that the Lord will comfort and strengthen you to endure, and yes, even rejoice.

Bible in One Year: Acts 8-9

MATTHEW 17:20 NASB 20 ... if you have faith ... you shall say to this mountain ...

The action of Bible faith is (primarily) speaking (and standing on your statement of faith). Jesus said if you had faith -- you would say!

There is no such thing as just silently believing. What you believe will come out. If you don't have enough confidence to say it, you don't really believe it.

LUKE 17:6 NASB 6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith ... you would say to this mulberry tree ...

MATTHEW 21:21 NASB 21 ... if you have faith, and do not doubt ... if you say to this mountain . . . it shall happen.

For faith to operate, it must be released through spoken words, according to Jesus.

What you speak is evidence of your faith. Another way of saying that is: your speech reveals what you believe.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:13 NASB 13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we also believe, therefore also we speak;

If you believe, you will therefore speak.

LUKE 6:45 NASB 45 "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

MATTHEW 12:34 NASB 34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

You speak what you believe in your heart. Not always, for you can pretend or lie. But when your guard is down and you speak spontaneously without thinking, you will say what you believe in your heart.

ROMANS 10:8 NASB 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" -- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

Where is the word of faith? In the heart and in the mouth. For faith to work properly, it must be in both places.

ROMANS 10:10 NASB 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

What you believe in your heart must be expressed through your mouth for it to produce. Salvation means deliverance. So this is the way Scripture tells us people can be delivered and set free: believe in their heart, and say it with their mouth.

SAY THIS: I have faith in God, so I will speak up.