There Will Be Pressure: How to Stand Your Ground
Gary Keesee • May 20, 2020
How is everything that has been going on affecting you? Have you lost your job? Lost hours at work? Is your family in financial trouble?
Are you having trouble believing you can get out of this?
Please listen to me. It has never been as important as it is right now that you learn how the Kingdom of God operates.
Now, more than ever, you need to know who you are in Christ, and know the promises of God.
Because, now, more than ever, you have to be able to stand your ground.
In Luke 6, Jesus talks about a man who dug deep and built the foundation of his house on a rock. When a flood came, the house couldn’t be moved. Then He tells us about the man who built his house on the ground, without a foundation. When the flood came, his house collapsed and was ruined.
Now, you might have heard that story or even sang the song as a kid. The wise man built his house on the rock and the foolish one built his on the sand, right?
But, did it sink in? Did you take the time to build a firm foundation? Have you been confident enough to be able to stand your ground in the midst of this storm, or the pressure it may have caused in your life, your job, your marriage, or your relationships?
Maybe this whole COVID-19 situation hasn't felt like a storm for you at all.
Maybe you were dealing with problems prior to having to stay in your house.
Or maybe you haven't really faced any hard things... yet...
We’re all going to face storms in our lives at some point. And sometimes they’re even going to catch us off guard, like this one likely did. But if our foundations are strong, like strong trees weathering a storm, we’ll still know how to stand our ground.
Years ago, Drenda and I we were invited to a birth. We thought it would be a normal delivery, and we got there just as the baby had been born. The baby girl was extremely pale, and several doctors and nurses came running.
We watched as they started CPR on her. She was in cardiac arrest.
For more than 30 minutes, her heart stopped beating.
But as I watched these things happening, the Spirit of God said, YOU HAVE AUTHORITY HERE.
We couldn’t go in the room, but her dad and I stood outside the entry doors on each end, laid our hands on those doors, and began professing life over her, declaring what the Word of God says over Baby Holland.
We were praying.
We were standing our ground.
Then, we heard the beep of the heart rate monitor.
That was more than eight years ago now, and Holland is a healthy, thriving little girl.
But, as you well know, every story doesn’t end that way.
Sometimes we miss it. Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we let what the world is saying sway us. Sometimes we panic.
But it’s all part of the learning process. And, if we learn through the small things, we just might not miss it when it’s a life and death situation.
How do we keep from missing it?
We have to learn what the Word of God says. We have to know how the Kingdom of God operates.
The church… the TV preachers… the people representing God, most haven’t done a good job of teaching people to recognize truth. Instead, they’ve taught people that God makes decisions on the run. It’s “if” He’s going to respond, and “if” He’s going to rescue them. We think we have to beg, and cry, and somehow convince
God of our need.
But that’s not what the Word of God says, and that’s not how the Kingdom of God operates. So it never works, and that house crumbles and falls in the storm.
One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 12:2:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect.
See, most of the time our problem isn’t the enemy—it’s our lack of understanding.
Of course, the enemy is going to contend for every piece of ground that you try to take, but the Bible says the enemy is under our feet.
So the problem really is that people don’t know who they are.
They give too much credit to the enemy. If they would understand the truth, and the authority they have, they would know exactly how to stand their ground in every situation.
We can’t know the truth without knowing the Word of God.
First John 5:14 says that the confidence we have in Him is that if we ask anything according to His will, He listens and hears us. But if you don’t know the will of God, you can never be confident. And, if you’re not confident, you can never stand your ground.
We have to know how to build our houses on the rock. We have to be an example. This isn’t the time to play church. There’s no time for riding the fence. When everything is on the line, you can’t sit around wondering where God is. You have to know the Word. And you have to be courageous enough to wade into the face of circumstances—into the pressure—and DECLARE THE WORD.
Oh, and there most definitely WILL be pressure.
You’re just going to have to be confident that you can take it because, many times, your victory is based on that—on whether or not you can hold onto it under pressure.
See, Satan fears the Word. He fears the living Word of God. He knows that if the Word is incubated by your spirit, there’s no stopping it. It will produce every time.
So the only thing he can do is bring pressure against you to make you give up—to make you let go of the Word.
He wants you to think it can’t be done. He wants you to think the times are too scary. He wants you to think you’re not strong enough. He wants you to think it’s too late.
Years ago, a woman in our church found her four-year-old son at the bottom of a swimming pool. Her thirteen-year-old niece was with her. She screamed, “Call 911!” But her niece had been in church. She had learned that we have authority. So, she told her aunt, “We have authority here.” I believe God placed that niece with that mom at that very moment for that very purpose.
They began praying in the spirit and nothing was happening. The niece said, “We need to speak life to him.” So they said, “In the name of Jesus, wake up!” Immediately, he spit the water out and woke up. Today, that boy is an adult.
Now, I don’t know what the outcome might have been had they called 911. And, I’m not against doctors and medicine, but I do know that the right person was there—someone that understood the Kingdom of God and how to operate in the authority of the Kingdom at the right moment.
Could you handle that?
Are you so confident that you can look your situation in the face and declare what God says, even though the facts seem to say otherwise?
That’s the definition of faith: being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He said even though there are facts saying otherwise.
You don’t have to be moved by facts. The Word of God is true. God doesn’t lie.
We need to be aware of facts, but they don’t dictate the end result. God is the final authority. And, if we’re the agent of God in that particular moment, we’re the final authority.
I knew why I was there at that exact second when Baby Holland was in cardiac arrest. I know why the niece was there when the little boy was found lifeless in the pool.
Friend, YOU are here for such a time as this.
You can either look at the situation—at what the facts might appear to be—and miss it. Or, you can know the Word of God, feed your faith, doubt your doubts, starve your fears, dig deep, and stand your ground.
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It has never been as important as it is RIGHT NOW that you learn how to resist the enemy and take territory for God.
Because you have an adversary, and he doesn’t care if you go to church every week. He doesn’t even really care that you’re going to heaven. What he does care about is whether or not you’re influencing the world. He doesn’t want you to exercise your authority as a child of God.
It’s time you did.
Download Gary's life-altering four-part series Taking Territory now, and unpack all you need to know about using your authority, enforcing your rights, and taking territory in life!
Get the spiritual knowledge YOU need for YOUR battle!
Because you have an adversary, and he doesn’t care if you go to church every week. He doesn’t even really care that you’re going to heaven. What he does care about is whether or not you’re influencing the world. He doesn’t want you to exercise your authority as a child of God.
It’s time you did.
Download Gary's life-altering four-part series Taking Territory now, and unpack all you need to know about using your authority, enforcing your rights, and taking territory in life!
Get the spiritual knowledge YOU need for YOUR battle!
Reading Time 4 mins 58 secs – Friend, I’ve been thinking a lot about identity lately. So many people are walking around without a clue about who they really are. They’re trying to find their identity in the world’s system, in what other people think, in how they look, in what they own—and they’re completely missing the revelation of who God created them to be. You Were Created with Intent Let me tell you something powerful: you are not here by accident! Before you were created in your mother’s womb, God knew you. He created you with intent, just like he did with Jeremiah. The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” —Jeremiah 1:4–5 (NIV) Now, I believe this isn’t just about Jeremiah. I believe every single person was created with intent by God. He designed you specifically with your uniqueness in mind. If you have more than three or four kids, you know they’re all completely different even in the same household! As they get older, you begin to see their unique bends and talents that you had nothing to do with. That’s because God made them for certain things and put His design in them. It’s sad that most people never discover this because their life of survival holds them in places they were never intended to be. Your Uniqueness Defines Your Value Anyone who collects something knows that the uniqueness of an item dictates its value. But here’s the thing. It’s YOUR uniqueness that God put there to be seen. People want to fit in because they don’t know who they really are. Getting Back to Basics When we look at 1 Corinthians 3, we see Paul dealing with this exact topic. This new church in Corinth was worldly; they had no concept yet of who they were. They were baby Christians, still in spiritual diapers, yet they wanted to be grown up. They wanted to drive the tractor, be seen, and have identity. They were jostling for position, all fighting over spiritual gifts, all trying to judge who was more spiritual. Paul had to write this letter to give them wisdom. He said: Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. —1 Corinthians 3:1–3a (NIV) Friend, we have to go back to the basics. We've got to get this thing fixed. Finding Your Place in the Body In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains how the body of Christ works. The foot can’t say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body.” It would still be a foot no matter how much it decided it wanted to be a hand. Why? Because God made it a foot. The ear can’t say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body.” It was created as an ear with a very distinct purpose. Psalm 139 tells us: You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. ... My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place... Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. —Psalm 139:13–16 (NIV) Wow! The place where you’re going to end up has already been decided. All your days have already been ordained by God for your life. What you’re going to end up doing was written in His book before you were ever created. Discovering the Mystery of You It’s sad that so many people never discover themselves. You’ll hear me say many times that God will help you unravel the mystery of you to you. The world has raised us to bounce off the mirror: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” And besides you in the mirror, there are a ton of comparisons. In Ephesians 4:11–13, we learn that Jesus gave the church five ministry offices: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Their purpose is “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith.” Here’s what’s important. These offices are not something you pick like a job opportunity. Jesus calls people to these offices. I know when I was called. I remember that day when I had the open vision and God spoke to me saying, “I’m calling you to preach My Word” three times. Standing in Your Place For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. —Romans 12:4–8 (NIV) I was obedient to what God called me to do. I am no better than you. I am just standing in the place God told me to stand. You need to stand in the place God told you to stand. If all of us stand in the right place, the body will function, and great things will happen. That’s only going to happen when you understand that your function is needed. It’s not a popularity contest. It’s by revelation, and you’re doing it as unto the Lord. Friend, it’s a great journey discovering who God created you to be. Don’t try to be someone else. Be exactly who God made you to be.
Reading Time 6 mins 30 secs – I’m constantly asked the same question as I travel around the country speaking to people: “Gary, what am I supposed to do with my life? What’s my purpose?” But I’m going to tell you something right now. That’s actually the wrong question to start with. See, before we can talk about what you’re supposed to do, we need to establish who you are . We live in a world that evaluates people by what they do, not who they are. That’s completely backward from God’s perspective! This broken thinking started back in the Garden when Adam lost his identity and purpose and became a survivalist. The Earth Curse System We Grew Up In God told Adam, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground.” —Genesis 3:17b–19a (NIV) I call this the “painful toil and sweat earth curse system.” That’s the system you and I grew up in. It creates a survivalist mentality instead of an assignment mentality. What’s the first question people ask in this system? “Where’s the money? Where’s the provision?” Adam had an original assignment—to represent God’s Kingdom on Earth and take care of God’s stuff. But he abandoned that created purpose and became a survivalist. And friend, we’ve all inherited that perverted view of life. We Need to Fix Your Identity First Now, here’s the thing. We have no business talking about your assignment or purpose until we get your identity fixed. Why? Because anything God has for you to do will be bigger than you! It’ll take more money than you have and more people than you know. It’ll take faith in God’s grace. As Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) says, “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Our identity has been warped. Just like Adam covered himself with fig leaves, we try to cover ourselves with wealth, position, and the pride of life. We don’t want people to know the real us because we fear shame. The Prodigal Son’s Identity Crisis In Luke 15:11–24, Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son. This is really a picture of what happened to Adam—leaving Father’s house full of provision and going to a place he thought was better, only to find it bankrupt. For the first time, this son had to be “hired.” Previously, he worked with his father in the family business. But then he had to take on an assignment that was disgusting to Jews—feeding pigs. He was totally out of position. When he finally came to his senses and returned home, what did he say? Luke 15:21 (NIV) tells us: “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” He wanted to be made like one of his father’s hired servants. He didn’t understand who he really was! And even though the father restored him as a son, he carried this “I am not worthy” concept with him. Friend, this is what happens to us! When you feel unworthy, what do you want to do? Perform! You want to earn respect. You want people to acknowledge you’re worthy. And you perform for God. Even though we’re born again, even though we’re in Father’s house, we carry this survival mindset into our new life. And unless that is fixed, you’ll never be able to receive freely from God. Your Real Identity in Christ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. —Romans 8:28–29a (NIV) You’re a coheir with Christ—part of the family! What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? —Romans 8:31 (NIV) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. —Romans 8:37 (NIV) Those are powerful statements, but it’s problematic because most people aren’t confident that God is actually for them. Religion has taught you that you’re nothing but a worm crawling in the dust. But that’s not what the Bible says! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” —2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. —Romans 6:6–7 (NIV) You’re not a measly sinner who can’t stop sinning. You’re free from sin! Created with Divine Intent The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” —Jeremiah 1:4–5 (NIV) I believe this applies to every person. Before you were created in your mother’s womb, God created you with intent. You’re not here by accident! If you have multiple children, you know they’re all different, even in the same household. Why? Because God made them for certain things and put His design in them. Unfortunately, most people never discover that because their life of survival holds them in places they were never intended to be at. You are extremely unique! So why is everyone trying to be like everyone else? Because no one knows who they really are. Your Unique Function in the Body For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. —Romans 12:4–5 (NIV) I’m not a pastor because I chose to be. I was obedient to what God said. And I’m no better than you are. I’m just standing in the place God told me to stand. You need to stand in the place God told you to stand. If all of us stand in the right place, the body will function and great things will happen! But that’s only going to happen when you understand that your function is needed. Ready for Your Mission? So, friend, before you ask what you’re supposed to do, make sure you know who you are in Christ. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. —1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) Until you’re absolutely convinced of your identity, we don’t need to be talking about facing your Goliath. Your Goliath knows who he is. You have to know who you are! Your purpose isn’t a career choice. It comes by revelation. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. —Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. —Psalm 139:16 (NIV) Only the Creator knows why something was built. Only God knows exactly why He created you and what He designed you to accomplish. Are you ready to discover your true mission? It starts with understanding your real identity in Christ. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:14 (NIV) When you do, you’ll stop trying to survive and start thriving in your God-given purpose! Remember John 10:10b (NIV) where Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Reading Time 3 mins 8 secs – Let me ask you something. Are you truly concerned about God’s business? Or are you more focused on your own? That might be a tough question, but it’s one we all have to answer at some point. The truth is, when we align our lives with God’s agenda, everything else begins to fall into place. Jesus made it clear in Luke 2:49 (NKJV) when He said, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” He was focused. He understood that His life was about fulfilling a divine purpose, not just going through the motions of everyday existence. And guess what? The same applies to you and me. God’s Business First A lot of people are trying to build their own lives, solve their own problems, and make their own way—only to end up frustrated, tired, and lacking. But Matthew 6:33 (NIV) gives us a powerful principle: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” That means if we take care of God’s business, He’ll take care of ours. I’ve seen this firsthand in my own life and in the lives of countless others. When we align our time, energy, and resources with what God is doing, He ensures that we never lack what we need. Provision follows purpose. Philippians 4:19 (NIV) reminds us, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” When we prioritize His business, He supplies all we need. What Does It Mean to Be About God’s Business? Being about God’s business isn’t just about working in ministry. It means bringing Kingdom principles into everything we do—our careers, our families, our finances, and even our daily conversations. It means: Using your talents and skills to make an impact for God’s Kingdom : “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23, NIV). Handling your finances according to His Word, not just worldly wisdom : “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9–10, NIV). Being led by the Holy Spirit in decision-making, rather than reacting to circumstances : “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14, NIV). Viewing your work as a mission field, wherever you are. Stepping into Your Kingdom Assignment Too often, people are waiting for God to bless them before they take action. But that’s backward! When you step into your Kingdom assignment—when you take that step of faith and prioritize what God is doing—then provision, opportunities, and success start flowing your way. That’s how the Kingdom works. James 2:17b (NIV) tells us, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” God has called you to make a difference, to live with purpose, and to operate in the blessings of the Kingdom. But it starts with a choice: Will you focus on His business, or will you continue trying to figure things out on your own? Make the Shift Today If you’ve been struggling, feeling stuck, or wondering why things aren’t working, take a moment to check your focus. Are you aligned with God’s business? Are you seeking His Kingdom first? Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) encourages us, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” When you trust Him and put Him first, He will lead you to success. I challenge you today: Make the shift. Start putting God’s agenda before your own, and watch how He transforms every area of your life. His business is the best business to be in! Let’s go after it together! Watch the full message here: Are You Concerned About God's Business?