Greater 

As we see in John 16:33 and as we have all experienced, it is not a matter of if, but when we will have trials and troubles. When we do, in our human weakness and own strength, we become overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed in the midst of these storms. 

However, my dear friends that in and of itself is our greatest failure, striving and trying to live this life and face these storms and trials in our own human strength. Throughout scripture we are told things like, “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15;5) and “With man this is impossible” (Matthew 19;26). What does Matthew 19:26 go on to say?  “…but with God all things are possible.”

My dear friends, if we will call upon Him he will calm the storms of our circumstance just as He calmed the literal one in Matthew 8. 

Not only that He will give us peace “that passes all understanding” in the midst of it.

So, how can we overcome these struggles and trials? We trust and rely on what Jesus already completed. Let’s start by looking back where we began, John 16:33. “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

With His death and resurrection Christ defeated all the powers of Death, Hell and the Grave. 

In the final days of his ministry on Earth before He ascended back to The Father, Jesus promised that He would send The Helper, The Spirit of Truth from the Father. The name that most of us know this spirit by is the Holy Spirit. It is this same spirit that he promised would come to dwell within all who call on His name. It is in the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead and ultimately was resurrected from the grave himself. His word has told us in Romans 8:11

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

John adds in I John 4:4

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

Hear the words that God spoke to the prophet Zechariah, “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”   Zechariah 4:6

Finally, if we accept and believe that these passages are “Truth” and in faith trusting in Him then we can be assured that with Him that there is nothing that is impossible!

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” Matthew 19:26

One thing that I can assure you is, just because we come to believe this mighty powerful Spirit resides in us, does not mean that we will always “fill it.” However, throughout scripture we are promised the He will never leave or forsake us. Even in our weakness, He remains strong.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”   Deuteronomy 31:6

“…God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever”    John 14:16

 My dear friends, brothers, and sisters, whether you are in the midst of the most difficult time of storms and struggle, or these days still lay ahead yet unseen, I pray that you find this message encouraging and that in your brokenness and weakness you will call upon He has overcome ALL. I pray that your faith is stirred up and you realize the strength that DOES reside IN YOU by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. I pray that in this time and always the no matter where you are or what you are going through you will always remember that “GREATER is he who is IN YOU that the he that is in the world”. We when come to truly believe this, the natural result is that we know and experience “the PEACE that passes ALL understanding.”

---

All the scriptures referenced above are shared below (They are not in order of use)

• ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ‘  Acts 1:8
• You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
• And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you Romans 8:11
• Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
• So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6
• Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”   Deuteronomy 31:6
• “…God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5
• “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever”    John 14:16
• And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
• “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, namely, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, He will testify about Me, John 15:26
• “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
• “….apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5