God has promised us power over all the power of the enemy. In Christ the Church is the most powerful force on earth. The nations of the world appear to be authoritative and powerful. One saint who is walking in Christ is more authoritative, more powerful than the combined nations of the earth.

Certainly we are being tested constantly and thoroughly. Certainly we are brought low as God develops truth in the inner parts of our personality. Sometimes we are crushed almost to the point of despair. There are long seasons of oppression. God seems far away. When those periods take place we are to keep trusting the Lord, waiting patiently for Him. His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

We are being tested with rigor because we are being trained to rule the creation.

First of all we must learn to rule the small (and sometimes not so small) problems with which we are faced now. Are we conquering in Jesus' name and power? Are we stretching forward in faith? Are we placing our faith and trust in Jesus and marching on?

Every believer in Christ can be a victorious saint. There is no exception. No man or spirit shall be able to stand before the believer in Christ when he is following the Lord. Whenever there appears to be a setback it is because God is working out something in the saint or in the circumstances. Christ, and those who are in Christ, are always victorious.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Romans 8:37)

No devil can stand before the believer who presses forward in the blood of the Lamb, who keeps on bearing a faithful witness of God's Person, will, and eternal purpose, who loves not his own life to the point of death.

No government on the earth has the power to shut the doors against Gospel work when the saints are marching in Christ. It is only as we begin to rely on the arm of flesh that we see the doors being shut against the message of the Kingdom of God.

The God whom we serve is greater than all. There is no door He cannot open.

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. (Isaiah 40:15)

God will not fail or forsake the saint who is performing His will. The battle being waged on the earth can become severe indeed. Sometimes we are required to wait on the Lord year after wearying year as patience works perfection of spirit in us.

During this time our faith maintains its grip on the invisible God. He has prepared joys and blessings for us that we have never seen, heard, or imagined. God is our Hope and He will not change. He clothes Himself with faithfulness as with a garment.

To be continued.