Trample on them

날짜: 
2001/12/02
설교: 

Psalms 91:13 Trample on them
"Are Christians weak or strong persons ?" Someone may answer like this, "Christians are not strong nor weak but tough."
The meaning of this answer is different according to the situation. Christians look weakest in the world, but they are strongest in the world because they were tough even under the severe hardships.
People are afraid of problems, but Christians are not afraid of them. We overcome them and triumph over them. People are afraid of demons, but Christians are not afraid of them. We shout out, "You demon, go away from me !" People are oppressed by the bad circumstances, but Christians turn them into blessings.
That is, people are oppressed by the devil, by the problems, by the circumstances. But Christians oppress the devil, the problems and the circumstances.
Therefore Christians can be joyful always, thankful always, and happy always. Your joy and my joy, your happiness and my happiness depend on oppressing or on being oppressed.
Bible says, "A righteous man may have many troubles." (Psalms 34:19) If it means that Christians perish because of many troubles, who can believe God ?
But keep this in mind. Christians enjoy good health with much blessing, even as their soul is going along well. (3
John 1:2) It's not because they have no troubles, but because they oppress them and overcome them.
Let's see the apostle Paul. "Five times he received forty lashes minus one. Three times he was beaten with rods. Once he was stoned to death. He was in danger from river, in danger at sea, in danger from bandits, in danger from Gentiles, in danger from false brothers. Sometimes he was in hunger and thirst, cold and naked." (1 Cor 11:24-27)
But he was not oppressed by them. He never grumbled nor gave up because of these hardships. He trampled the hardships and triumphed over them. That's why he was a great apostle and great believer who handed down the great faith to us.
One day when the ship was wrecked, when it was raining and cold, Paul and others were warming themselves by the fire.
Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
Others expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead. But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects because he was the man who trample on even snakes and vipers.
Bible says, "These signs will accompany those who believe ; In my name they will drive out demons ; they will pick up snakes with their hands ; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all." (Mark 16:17-18)
Brothers and sisters, sometimes we face the troubles like snakes and vipers. But don't be embarrassed. Don't say, "I will perish !"
Just shake off the vipers and trample on them. Jesus obviously says, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy ; nothing will harm you." (Luke 10:19)
When I was in Korea, I used to go to the mountain 'Samkak' to pray. One day when I was walking up the mountain, I felt a cold chill pass through me.
As I looked around I was really surprised and almost fainted. Lots of snakes were staring at me with their heads up and with their tongues in and out.
"What a terrible !" When I woke up, it was a dream. I questioned God, "Lord, I prayed five hours before I go to bed. But you showed me the swarms of snakes, not the kingdom of heaven. Why ?"
Just after that dream, I read the bible, and my eyes were captured by this verse, "You will tread upon the lion and the cobra ; you will trample the great lion and the serpent." (Psalms 91:13)
Brothers and sisters, sometimes the snakes of problems come to us like the viper came to Paul. But don't worry. Don't be embarrassed. Don't fear. Just trample on them.
Bible tells us not to be oppressed by the problems, by
the stress, but to oppress and trample them. Of course, when the situation is too hard to overcome by yourself, you may be oppressed and your heart may grow faint.
But at this time, pray like David, "From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint ; lead me to the rock that is higher than I." (Psalms 61:2)
As you know, David was the man after God. But he also faced a lot of problems. When he faced the giant Goliath, how could he defeat him ? Don't you think it was impossible by the human power ?
When the whole army of Israel were terrified by Goliath, David shouted against him, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord." (1 Sam 17:45)
Of course, David was smaller and weaker than Goliath. He was not armed and he had no battle experience. But David believed in God and God's power. He believed that God is with him even in the valley of the shadow of death.
He ran quickly to Goliath and slung a stone. It struck him on the forehead. The giant Goliath fell down on the ground.
David ran and trampled on him and cut off his head with the sword. At the moment Israel army surged forward with a shout and trampled enemies like David trampled Goliath.
Brothers and sisters, let me ask you a question. Are you
trampling men or trampled men ? I want you not to be trampled by Goliath in this foreign land.
Don't say, "I cannot do it !" Don't give up. But triumph over Goliath and trample on him. And encourage many people, enjoy the victory, and shout like this.
"Through you we push back our enemies ; through your name we trample our foes." (Psalms 44:5) "Thanks be to God ! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor 15:57)
Bible says, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." (1 John 5:4)
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart ! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
Brothers and sisters, Jesus is in us. He has overcome the devil, diseases, poverty and death. Like Jesus we can also overcome them.
Therefore wives, don't be oppressed by the demons of anxieties and unhappiness. Trample them and triumph over them in the name of Jesus.
Husbands, don't be oppressed by the worries about money, job and business. Trample the worries and go forward.
Young men, don't be oppressed by the private problems. don't destroy your dream. don't lose your vision. Trample the troubles and problems, and spread the wings of your dream.
Brothers and sisters, don't be oppressed by the devil of diseases, by the devil of poverty. Don't be oppressed by the negative and destructive thinking.
Don't be oppressed by the worries. Trample them and shout, "I've got the victory !" Deliver the good news of victory to all of us, and greet each other, saying, "We've got the victory in Jesus !" Amen !