AN OPPOSITE SPIRIT
“Come at it with an opposite spirit,” Tim suggested in the midst of a ministry challenge. Tim and Wendy McDonald have run alongside Sam and I in ministry for close to 20 years. They have been true friends and co-labourers.
I can no longer remember the specific details playing out in this particular scenario that took place many moons ago, but I have always remembered those words.
ACT IN AN OPPOSITE SPIRIT
Since that conversation this mantra has become a resolve to govern many of my difficult decisions over the years. And now, more than ever, there is an urgency for Christians to carry the culture of Heaven into their circumstances and wider spheres of influence. The culture of Heaven is usually opposite to the culture of the world.
On observation, there appears to be a fair deal of struggle in people’s lives. It may be the sifting mentioned so often in both testaments of scripture, and we should not be surprised when it greets us and leaves us with a decision to make – which response will govern our heart condition and our action?
Will you be reactive or proactive?
Will you be led by emotion or by vision?
Will you be overcome or will you overcome?
Jesus gave us these comforting words;
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Know this:
When the enemy comes in like a flood, you have been empowered to raise up a standard against him (Is 59:19).
You are the bigger person in any trial because He who is in you is far greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
This often means choosing a response that is opposite and superior to the base-level warfare you are being invited to engage in.
Do not waste time engaging at a dysfunctional level. Raise the stakes, change the game, and come against your enemy with an opposite spirit.
DON’T ENGAGE WITH DYSFUNCTION
There is an idea in counselling that recognises the difference between primary and secondary emotions. For example, a person responding with anger (primary emotion) could actually be behaving from a deeper level of rejection or humiliation (secondary emotion). Appropriately identifying the emotion allows for proper strategy.
We can borrow this concept when facing our enemy in his attempts to knock us off course. Let me show you:
Falling into financial hardship could be the primary challenge, but the deeper (secondary) agenda if left unchecked is to instil and reinforce a deep poverty mentality that will have affects well past the isolated financial circumstance.
An unexpected medical diagnosis may be affecting physical health on the primary surface level, but the true onslaught is being waged against your trust in God’s faithfulness, which is the secondary and actual battle.
A delayed promotion at work is, at a deeper level, a wicked scheme to rob you of your joy, hope and motivation, which are much greater battles to be fought and won.
When we can properly diagnose the true battle, we can appropriately strategize to win the war.
We must mature to the point where we can see beyond the immediate surface level distraction of our circumstances, in order to truly overcome. The weapon for this kind of victory is an opposite spirit.
I want to offer you a series of blogs called THE OPPOSITE SPIRIT SERIES in the coming weeks.
You are called to rise up and overcome. This cannot be done by bowing to the dysfunctional culture of the circumstance.
YOU MUST CHALLENGE THE CHALLENGE
You do this by coming against the challenge and its secondary affects with an opposite spirit.
Love and obedience are greater than fear.
Kindness is greater than frustration.
Forgiveness is greater than bitterness.
Hope is greater than discouragement.
Generosity is greater than lack.
Joy and peace are greater than anger.
The list goes on and each application is blissfully practical as well as spiritual in nature.
May these coming blogs be a prophetic empowerment to you. May their words be the words of scripture into your spirit. May you be strengthened and encouraged to stand again, with the right attitude in the face of your trial.
Respond to your challenge in an opposite spirit.
