Friday, February 6, 2015

The Benefits of Opposition/Excerpts from How to Overcome Oppositions by Uyoyou C. Charles-Iyoha

The Benefits of  Opposition
 Excerpts from How to Overcome Oppositions by Uyoyou C. Charles-Iyoha

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1st Corinthians Chapter 2 verses 7 to 10 KJV



The beauty of oppositions is that they are platforms and opportunities for God to demonstrate His love and power for His children. Additionally, they are also platforms and opportunities for our faith in God to be built up and strengthened.  This is to say that oppositions are faith capacity building and strengthening platforms. God sometimes allows challenges  in our lives to prove Himself God over our lives, to demonstrate His awesome power over our lives and to help us discover ourselves and bring to the fore His innate potentials resident in us.


The brothers of Joseph for instance sold Joseph into slavery because they were envious of Joseph’s visions and dreams of global leadership. Though Joseph experienced some challenges in Egypt, his brothers actually helped to actualize his dreams which explain why he could say to them that God and not his brothers sent him to Egypt to fulfill divine purpose. Please see Genesis Chapters 45 verses 4 to 9; 50 verses 18 to 21. Because Joseph had the clear and big picture of divine purpose, he could forgive his brothers and provide for them. Even as a slave in a foreign land, God showed up and His plans and purposes concerning Joseph came to pass.


The Apostle Paul experienced several oppositions ranging from intimidation, false accusations, imprisonment, and threats to his life. Yet each experience further strengthened his faith in God to preach the gospel to as many cities, towns and villages that needed to hear the gospel. The persecutions also culminated in the writing of letters of encouragement, rebuke and instruction to the Churches he planted some of which he could no longer visit because of the persecution on his person or the pressing activities in the other Churches he had planted. These letters constitute a good deal of the New Testament that is a huge blessing to the Church of God. 


Though the formidable walls of Jericho constituted such a strong opposition to the forward movement of Israel enroute to the Promised Land, it was a platform for God to demonstrate His great power as the walls came down; not because explosives were fired, not because there was an earthquake but because the people carried out God’s instruction to march round the wall for seven days and to give a shout of praise on the seventh day.


Mordecai would have probably remained a gateman or at best one of the many officials of King Ahasuerus because he exposed a plot to kill the King. But because Haman opposed the life of not only Mordecai but all the Jews in the realm of King Ahasuerus, God demonstrated His power when His people cried to Him. There was a way around the irreversible laws of the Medes and the Persians and the Jews eliminated their enemies. Significantly, Mordecai became next in position to the King.


A boastful Goliath birthed David as killer of Goliath and a national hero.

 

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