Facing Resistance: A Guide to Divine Assistance

By Jerrard P Fero and Elias Ndeda

Jerrard P. Fero teaches that resistance is necessary for assistance. The struggles you face are part of the process required to sharpen, strengthen and solidify you for the life ahead of you. You were created unique and set apart by God for a specific purpose, this means that you should never lower the definition of your life to just be about the troubles around you. He illustriously paints a life of persistent faith through the story of the Samaritan woman and with 5 other brush strokes from men and women of the bible he teaches fundamental principles vital for your success as you journey through the process towards becoming who you were created to be. To top it all, Jerrard will take you on a path through some parts of his life in an authentic, realistic fashion. If you believe you are destined for greatness, this book is a must have as it will encourage you in your dark days and empower you for the journey ahead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9780620720533

Book preview

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INTRODUCTION

There is a theology that has crept into the church and is evident among many twenty- first century believers, that coming to the knowledge of Christ automatically triggers the cessation of trouble. It is a thinking and a belief system that is predicated on an ever- growing teaching that when you know Jesus all pain ceases.

I submit to you that Jesus Christ is the measuring stick upon which we exemplify our faith in God. It is by living a life of pursuit of his character that one truly becomes Christian. In theory, we claim to be Christ-like but in reality, we are seldom available or willing to endure even a fraction of what he went through.

The church is well invested in God’s promises, we hold conferences themed around them, and we sing songs and make constant declarations of his promises concerning us. There are so many books that are based on God’s promises. I am however convinced that though the word of God is rich with his promises, the in- between literature of the Bible is voluminously filled with a record of the journey and process of men and women who believed God’s promises even when their surroundings were contrary.

Jesus learned patience by the things he sufferedii, not during his triumphal times, not on Palm Sunday and definitely not on the donkey or the foal. It is in the sufferings of our present moment that yield in us the patience, wisdom and stamina required for us to become good stewards of God’s promises.

We are all candidates of God’s promises and proof of that is found in the trials of our faith. God is not interested in you just walking in victory; he is invested in the trials of your faith, employing everything to work together for your good. Without the journeys, processes and seasons of distress, the bible would be one boring and lengthy 2 See Hebrews 5:8 book void of inspiration and something no one would wish to emulate or live by.

If you have never been through anything, keep on walking, you will definitely collide with contrary winds sooner or later. If you are in the midst of trying times and are troubled on every side, be encouraged in the knowledge that God is on your side. Don’t yell louder to God because you are in trouble, he is not far in your walk through the valley of the shadow of death. He is there in the storm and even through the fire. So journey on through your seasons of resistance, because as you press on, you will pick invaluable resources that will lead you to your divine purpose on your way there.

Nothing happens without a reason and that to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heavens (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Some, if not all of your struggles are not just teachable moments for your individual life but are universal lessons that apply to all. Remember that no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). So if there is nothing new under the sun and if everything we go through is familiar to all, it means that there are lessons we can share with each other, that can help us to avert some of the predicaments we find ourselves in because of our reactions to situations.

Many people walk on with a smile on their faces while they struggle with deep wounds of the painful lives that they inwardly lead. Walking with your shoulders high and looking like you have it all together, yet on the inside, your head is bowed low in self- pity, guilt and shame isn’t exactly living a life of purpose. If we take time to look through the binoculars of one going through severe pain and through the lens of one who has lost it all, we will pick up vital lessons that will help us to make better decisions, and enable us to be sufficiently equipped with the knowledge and preparation necessary to help us navigate through the challenges of life.

You are set on a pedestal toward greatness and I will teach you to harness the challenges that come with the journey and process of your walk of faith, to use them as a training ground to build up enough muscle to help you weather the storm and to stand the test of time. I know that if you follow the lessons prescribed in this book you will ultimately become great and go on to live a purpose-driven fulfilling life.

CHAPTER 1

Persistent Faith

Set your Face as Flint in spite of Prevalent Circumstances

Allow me to put a magnifying glass on this age-old question; ‘What do you do when you are faced with unbearable opposition?’

Many people have become professional quitters, always jumping onto the next carriage that halts with an offer for a quick ride to success. They have become accustomed to pain and constantly seek for remedies and quick fixes. The culture of our time, in this generation, is one which seeks to find ways to cure symptoms and not the root cause of the problems we face. We invest time and material to cover up problems instead of uprooting them. If a relationship turns dreary we are too quick to look for the easy way out. If bills are due and friends are few we are too quick to look for quick and often crippling options.

As often and as quickly as you get yourself entangled in these prevailing predicaments, you are in constant pursuit of even quicker ways to get out of your mess. That is why many who masquerade as ‘breakthrough-preachers’ and ‘miracle-workers’ have emerged with the sole purpose of milking the vulnerable, the fickle, whose primary need is that of a quick means of escapism.

If you have been running away from your troubles and are looking for a quick way out, this treatise will help you come to a place of permanent change. The intention is not to offer a quick fix for life’s challenges and I certainly do not in any way wish you a quick fix out of your mess, because anything you can get out of quickly, you can get back into