Out From Under Circumstances

INTRODUCTION: When asked, “How are you?” We usually respond from the perspective of circumstances. Some people say, “I guess I’m okay under the circumstances.” Others know better than to say “under the circumstance” but are still dominated in their thinking and reporting by adverse circumstances. We need to learn how to accept the reality of circumstances, but to then move immediately to getting out from under them. We need to learn about and practice true contentment. We also need to learn how to get past simply living as victims of circumstances and become victors through setting conditions and victory and success. Circumstance defined: A condition that affects what happens or how somebody reacts in a particular situation (usually used in the plural) 2. the conditions that affect somebody’s life and that are beyond his or her control 3. an event or occurrence (formal) 4. the way an event happens or develops There are two kinds of conditions: 1) Conditions which occur beyond our control. 2) Conditions which we set (more about this later). Condition defined: Something that is necessary for something else to happen, for example, to bring a circumstance about. Content (verb) as commonly defined: to accept or make do with something, rather than taking further action or making more demands. Content as a biblical contextual definition: Peacefully satisfied with what you have done or achieved in regards to circumstances You cannot control all circumstances, though you can greatly affect them. Discontent is a disease of the soul. It is often personal incompetence, laziness or failure to acknowledge mistakes parading as finding fault with others. People on jobs sometimes say, “I’m not happy here anymore. My needs are not being met. I need to move on.” That sounds like a pouting, self-centered, child who neglected his chores and wants to blame the parents We should not react to circumstances, but respond from conditions set by contentment. Example: If a major league threw a 95 mph fastball in your direction, you would duck or run away. If he threw it toward Barry Bonds, he would try to hit it out of the park. For you, the fastball is a circumstance because you don’t play baseball. For Bonds it is a condition for which he has prepared through contentment. Five Keys to setting conditions that lead to contentment: 1. Foundation: Prayer / Worship / Holiness / Obedience “Pray and not faith…” 2. Revelation: A “rhema” Word Romans 10:17, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Faith begins where the will of God is known 3. Impartation: Faith Matthew 17:20, So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. With faith, nothing shall be impossible (cannot exist and cannot be done), though it may seem improbable (not likely to happen or be true) to you. The possibility or impossibility of something is a judge call that we make based on our understanding of circumstances. God does not live in our circumstances. Faith is a condition to hope. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is one of the most important condition to positively affecting your circumstances 4. Dedication: Patience / Perseverance (NKJV) Hebrews 10 35] Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36] For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: (NIV) Hebrews 10: 35, So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38] But my righteous one[6] will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."[7] 39] But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. (AMP) Hebrews 10:35 Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. 36For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and [5] carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. 37For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay. 38But the just shall live by faith [My righteous servant shall live [6] by his conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it]; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him.(9) 39But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe [who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by faith preserve the soul. Make the commitment to stay the course. “Don’t cast away your confidence.” You don’t need deliverance. You don’t need more money. You don’t even need a face lift or a tummy tuck. You need endurance. Endurance defined: the ability or power to bear prolonged exertion, pain, or hardship Greek definition: “cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy” Edurance/Patience is continuing on the path, within the assignment and connected to the people God has set in your life. 5. Confession: Words are evidence of belief. Words impact our thinking. As a man thinks, so is he. Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. (Amp.)