When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

Luke 11:21 – 22

“After suffering has had its perfect work, God launches His people into their season of settlement.”

Today, I want you to know that there is blessing in suffering. It may not look like it, it may look like nothing good will come out of it, but just hold on, as long as God allowed it, there is a sure blessing coming out of it. The captivity of the children of Israel lasted for 430 years, but when God brought them out, He brought them out with plenty of gold and silver. God plundered the economy of Egypt in one night and transferred the wealth of Egypt to His people. God’s people came out with dividends and manifestations of glory after suffering.

Some of the things you are complaining about are not there to destroy you but to strengthen you. In the strengthing phase, God trains us by the things He allows us to suffer. He makes us strong by allowing us to face, deal with and overcome strong oppositions. How did David become strong in defeating Goliath? It was by the lion and the bear, the things he had gone through in the bush alone while tending the sheep of his father.

If you are established and you are not strengthened, you can be easily defeated. Of a truth, you may never backslide or leave Church, neither will you fall into sin, but you will be losing the battles of life everyday. Sadly, there are too many believers like that and I know you must have met them. They are good believers, consistent in Church, Heaven bound, but are subdued and dominated by the forces of life because they are established but not strengthened.

Beloved, your goods, your due by covenant, blessings and inheritance are only safe when you are stronger than the strong man. Otherwise, life will become a chain of defeats. This is why Apostle Paul admonishes us to be strong in the Lord – Ephesians 6:10. Without strength, even though God settles you, you will still be left empty as though you were never settled because of the activities of the strong man. Wake up and put on your strength oh child of God, the glory is here.

Just Do It

• Go for strength, stretch yourself spiritually, break out of your comfort zones.
• Get aggressive at defending your territory.
• Fight the strongman off your land.

Prayers

1. Today, I put on the strength of the Lord and I silence every opposition to my settlement in the Name of JESUS.
2. Oh God, of settlement, arise and settle me in all areas of life in the Name of JESUS.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

OLD TESTAMENT: EZRA 1 – 3

NEW TESTAMENT: ACTS 25