Sometimes victory is not recognizable after one strike. It takes time. One little win after another until it is complete.
This too is a victory that God allows. It is His strategy to preserve His people while defeating the enemy.
²⁸I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. ²⁹But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. ³⁰Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. Exodus 23:28-30 NIV
Why does God sometimes seem to prolong and not take away in an instant our problems in one strike?
Why wouldn’t He just get our enemies, troubles, and trials out of the way in one blow?
1. God's protection.
²⁷“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ²⁸“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ²⁹“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ” Matthew 13:27-30 NIV
There are times when enemies and troubles must stay so we can be taken cared of. It is for our protection.
God, in His unfathomable wisdom, takes care of us even in the presence of those who harm us.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 NIV
2. God's intention.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 NIV
Joseph went through a great deal of "not-in-an-instant" type of victory.
- One moment he was his father's favorite, next thing he knows he is a slave.
- One moment he is his master's most trusted servant. Next thing he knows he was in jail.
- Then most trusted by jailkeepers. Then the 2nd most powerful man in the most powerful country in the world.
- Not a single moment was recorded that he was complaining. He just kept doing what trusting God looks like.
- When he had the chance to act in revenge against his brothers who sold him for slavery, he did not take it. Instead, he assured them he got their back.
Learn to embrace your God-ordained situation. Pray that God will take it all away but let His will be done.
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42 NIV
3. God's provision.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV
Take the days leading to the Day of the Pentecost as an example of how sometimes God sends His provision..
• ⁴On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5 NIV
• ¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4 NIV
Jesus could have just sent the Holy Spirit while He was still with them. Or maybe right after he left. His plan was to get them to wait on God's move, and they did. The result was victorious. 3000 people received Jesus. We remember how the heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents.
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7 NIV
On the Day of the Pentecost, 3000 sinners repented. There must have been an overnight celebration in heaven!
Listen, the enemy knows he has been defeated. Jesus made sure of that. What he does now is to try to deceive us into believing that he is the victorious one – a life most unbelievers find satisfying, giving in to the lust of the flesh and calling it good, seemingly getting in control of one’s life and choices.
Hear me out, if your choice or your newfound relationship, or your definition of success forces you to become a professional liar, if it isolates you from your usual support group, from your loved ones, from your family, from the people who have always been there for you, something must be up. You are switching sides when that begins to happen, and that is Satan’s scheme. He makes you feel like you are winning in life but his plan is leave you empty and broken. He wants you to value INSTANT GRATIFICATION.
The problem is that if you are switching to the enemy’s side, you’re already in too deep when you realize it. This is why we learn from the Word before these things happen. God’s Word is our guide.
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Remain connected to your Christian brothers and sisters. Remain connected to God’s Word.
Remember,
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV
Our victory might not always be in an instant, but our God's track record is a clean slate.
He wins all the time!
CONCLUSION:
With Jesus, even what seems like a loss is a part of the journey to victory.