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 2 mins 49 secs – Okay, let’s take a breath. Not everything has to be heavy, and healing doesn’t have to feel impossible or mysterious. Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that God actually wants us to feel better. Yes, you included. God Cares About How You Feel We can get so used to pushing through that we forget God never designed us to live burned out, worn out, or always dealing with pain. Third John (NIV) 1:2b says, “ I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well .” God’s heart is not just that we survive life. His heart is that we thrive—spirit, soul, and body. That includes your sleep. That includes your energy. That includes your mind and your moods. Healing Isn’t Just for Emergencies Most of us wait to think about healing until something significant goes wrong. A diagnosis. A surgery. A crisis. However, healing is an integral part of your daily life as a believer. You don’t have to wait for something to fall apart to lean into God’s promises. It’s kind of like drinking water; your body needs it regularly, not just when you're dehydrated. The Word is the same. It brings strength, clarity, and peace to your health before the storm hits. You’re allowed to believe in a life where you’re not constantly recovering—you’re well. Small Shifts, Big Results Maybe you’ve been dealing with something for a while—nothing catastrophic, just something that lingers. A chronic ache. Fatigue. Brain fog. A stress habit that’s hard to shake. Can I encourage you? You don’t have to settle for “just getting by.” Start speaking life over your body. Make simple changes in faith; walk a little more, drink more water, eat a bit better, get quiet with God. Healing isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes, it happens gently. Daily. Gradually. The power of God isn’t always loud, but it’s always effective. The Best Kind of Doctor He doesn’t rush your appointment. He’s never stumped by your symptoms. And He doesn’t hand you a bill at the end. He simply says, “Come to Me.” Come tired. Come unsure. Come with your questions. And He’ll give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Yes, He heals in big, miraculous ways—but He also heals in little moments of laughter, sunlight, worship, and truth. Let’s Make This Simple Healing isn’t about performance. It’s about proximity—staying close to the Healer. So, take the pressure off today. You’re not failing if you’re still waiting. You’re not disqualified if you’ve had some doubts. You’re growing. You’re learning. And most of all, you’re loved. Let healing be a conversation you have with God, not a crisis you fear. Let it be part of your everyday life with Him, not just a 911 prayer when things feel scary. A Simple Prayer to Start With “Lord, thank You that You care about every part of me. You know when I’m tired, hurting, anxious, or overwhelmed. Thank You for being my Healer, not just in emergencies but in the everyday. I receive Your peace and Your promises. I speak life over my body and my mind today, in Jesus’s name. Amen.” Take This with You Healing doesn’t have to feel far away or hard to reach. It’s not reserved for the super spiritual or the desperate. It’s available, it’s real, and it’s for right now. You don’t have to make it complicated. Just take one step. Open the Word, talk to God, speak life over yourself, and trust that He’s working behind the scenes. You don’t have to live in survival mode. You were made for wholeness. And friend? You’re allowed to feel better.
Reading Time 3 mins 46 secs – Picture this. You’re standing at the edge of a foggy path that winds through a forest. You’ve never walked this path before. You can’t see more than a few feet ahead. There are no signs. No map. No flashlight. Just a still, quiet voice inside telling you to start walking. Would you? Most people wouldn’t. They’d wait until the fog clears. Until the way is visible. Until they feel “sure.” But that’s not how the Kingdom works. Friend, faith walks before it sees. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) tells us this plainly: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Not what we can see. Not what we understand. Not what’s guaranteed. Faith is walking when it feels like you’re walking blind, but you’re actually walking guided. Let’s talk about Abraham for a second. God said to him, “...Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1, NIV). God didn’t show Abraham the land first. He didn’t explain all the details. He didn’t promise a step-by-step plan. God simply said, “ Go, ” and Abraham went. He didn’t argue. He didn’t delay. He didn’t ask for the weather report or route details. He trusted the voice. He walked before he saw. And because of that one step, a generational promise was unlocked. Now, let’s fast forward to the New Testament, to the story found in Matthew 14. Jesus came walking on water in the middle of the night, and Peter saw Him. Peter said, “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come.” And Jesus said, “Come.” What did Peter do? He stepped out of the boat and onto the water. Pause and think about that. Peter walked on water—not because he had magic in his feet but because he trusted the One who called him forward. Peter walked before he saw. Yes, he started to sink when he looked at the waves, but before that, he did what no other human besides Jesus had done: he walked on water by faith. Friend, your boat might feel safer. It might feel familiar. But if God is calling you out of it, staying there is more dangerous than stepping forward. Let’s get real for a second. There are seasons when God will not show you the full picture, on purpose. Why? Because if He showed you everything, you’d try to control it instead of trusting Him with it. Faith is trusting His character when you can’t see His hand. It’s saying yes without having every answer. It’s building the ark before the rain comes. It’s marching around Jericho before the walls fall. It’s digging a ditch before there’s a drop of rain. That’s the Kingdom. Here’s what the Bible says: “For we live by faith, not by sight,” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV). That’s not a metaphor. That’s a lifestyle. You don’t wait until all your fear is gone to obey. You don’t wait until you’re certain to trust. It means you don’t wait until your finances line up perfectly to give. You walk before you see. Let’s look at one more example. In Acts 9, Saul, who later became Paul, was traveling to Damascus while persecuting Christians when, suddenly, a blinding light stopped him. Jesus spoke directly to him, and Saul was blinded. God then instructed a man named Ananias to go and pray for Saul and restore his sight. Ananias was hesitant because he knew Saul’s reputation for harming believers. Despite his doubts and without any guarantees, Ananias obeyed and went to Saul. He stepped out in faith before knowing the outcome. That single act of obedience set the stage for Paul’s powerful ministry and the writing of much of the New Testament. So, let me ask you… Where is God asking you to walk, before you see? To step into a calling that scares you? To give up something you’ve leaned on for security? To trust Him with your finances? To forgive someone you haven’t gotten an apology from? Whatever it is, I want you to hear this. You don’t have to see the outcome to take the next step. You don’t have to understand the entire path to move forward in obedience. Faith walks before it sees. That’s where the miracles are. That’s where the provision is. That’s where peace is waiting. Your comfort zone won’t get you there. But your obedience will. God doesn’t need your full understanding. He needs your full surrender. So today, let this be your reminder… You don’t have to feel brave. You just have to follow. Even in the fog. Even in the unknown. Even when it doesn’t make sense. Because God is already in the place He’s calling you to. He’s gone ahead. He’s prepared the way. He’s waiting at your next step. So, take it. Because faith? It always walks before it sees.
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.