76,000,000 Documented decisions for Christ

If I Encounter Resistance, Am I Out Of God's Will? (Part2)

by Daniel Kolenda

David in the Wilderness of Waiting

David was not a favourite candidate for greatness. He was not his father’s first choice. In fact, when Samuel came to anoint a king from Jesse’s house, David’s father didn’t even bother to call him out of the field. Instead he presented his older, more impressive sons to the prophet.

But God’s choice is often different from man’s choice because while man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. God found David in the field, faithfully watching his sheep and worshipfully playing his harp. Against all human logic God chose David to be the next king of Israel. But before David could sit on the throne, he would have to go to the wilderness.

King Saul, possessed by evil spirits and plagued by cruel jealousy, hated David with unrelenting passion and hunted him like a bird (Lam. 3:52). David fled south toward the Dead Sea into the barren desert land where water is scarce and life is precious. There he hid in caves and ran from Saul for eight long years. David had been anointed the next king of Israel, yet he was hiding like an animal in a hole.

It would have been easy for David to question God’s plan during the desert years, but God used the scorching heat, the salty air, and the pelting sandstorms to forge a king from a shepherd boy in the lonely suffering of the wilderness. When David emerged from that barren wasteland, he ascended to a throne and an eternal covenant with the living God.

Other Studies in this Series

If I Encounter Resistance, Am I Out Of God’s Will? (Part 1)

We’ve all heard clichés such as, “Where God guides He provides” or “What God ordains He sustains.” And while there is an element of truth in trite adages such as these, they can often give a false impression that if someone is in God’s will, everything will be easy.

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Other Recommended Studies

Not of this world

Exiting Egypt with only what they could carry, they were to change the world. Overnight, slave-Israel became a new nation totally different from the rest of the world. God gave them a reverse culture. This was to prepare and equip them to be his people. He said, “Do not learn the ways of the nations …” (Jeremiah 10:2).

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The Gates of Hell will not Prevail

One of my favourite places in Israel is a place that’s known as Banias, known as Caesarea Philippi in the Bible. Today, it’s just a big ruin and archeological dig. But to this day, you can see how otherworldly and strange and mysterious it must have been in its time. The city was built on a huge rock foundation, nestled up against the side of a steep cliff at the foot of Mount Hermon.

You may have heard about Mount Hermon. In the Bible, it’s often associated with strange and creepy things – demonic things. It was famous for idolatry. In fact, more than 20 pagan temples have been excavated there so far. It was the place where Jeroboam built golden calves and shrines to pagan gods and led the northern kingdom of Israel into idolatry.

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God’s Promises for Healing and Hope

I will never forget the first healing I witnessed with my own two eyes. I was a very young man preaching in India. After the message, I invited all who needed healing to the front of the field where I would lay my hands on them and pray in Jesus’ name. Soon a young lady stood before me. I instantly recognised her because I had noticed her weeping and praying earlier in the meeting. She got my attention because her voice was loud, hoarse, monotone, and out of synch with the movement of her mouth. I did not know her language, but I could tell she was deaf.

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Evangelism By Fire

Jesus Christ is the Great Physician, who is on call day and night. His surgery never closes and we do not have to wait for an appointment. He specialises in all kinds of troubles, whether sickness of the soul, afflictions of the body, or the ills of society.

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The Lord Your Healer

Jesus Christ is the Great Physician, who is on call day and night. His surgery never closes and we do not have to wait for an appointment. He specialises in all kinds of troubles, whether sickness of the soul, afflictions of the body, or the ills of society.

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Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. - John 20:30-31

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“This secret of Jesus’ ministry has also characterised the lives of great men and women of God throughout history who discovered the incredible power of prayer.” – Daniel Kolenda

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Possess The Promise

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
Hebrews 11:32-34

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Part 1 - An Agnostic Meets God

Peter Vandenberg had rejected Christianity. Born into a faithful churchgoing family in 1947 Zimbabwe, he found the Christian message to be full of holes.

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