Shake Off the Dirt: Seven Oppositions Every Believer Must Beat

Sermon outline

With God nothing is impossible, so when tests and opposition come, believers must not quit but shake off what is thrown at them and keep rising, because God has their back.

1. Pass your test and clothe yourself with humility

   Don't find it strange when you are doing everything right and are still tested; don't play the blame game but pass the test quietly, like Job, who refused to curse God and ended with double. From 1 Peter 5 he teaches that there is rank in the spirit, that a pastor of thirty may be closer to God than a pastor of three thousand because God looks on the heart, and that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. We offer our bodies as living sacrifices, dead to self and alive to God, so that people read Christ in us.

   Illustration: He admits that as a younger man he was 'cocky and arrogant' and had to learn by painful experience, and one day in prayer he heard the Spirit say to him, 'dead man walking'.

   “So if you want grace, the way to get more grace is the way down.”

   • 1 Peter 4:12
   • Job 2:6
   • Job 2:9-10
   • Job 42:10
   • 1 Peter 5:1-5
   • 1 Samuel 16:7
   • James 4:6
   • Romans 12:1
   • Romans 6:11
   • 2 Corinthians 5:17
   • 2 Corinthians 3:2

2. Be like the donkey: shake it off and step up

   A farmer's donkey fell into a deep pit dug for compost, and with no way to lift it out, the farmer and his neighbours began shovelling dirt in to bury it. Each time the dirt landed, the donkey shook it off and trampled it down, until it reached the top and walked away. When you pursue success, people will try to bury your dreams and keep you down, so keep shaking it off and rising higher.

   Illustration: The donkey in the pit that shook off every shovel of dirt and climbed out on top of it.

   “Which means to say if God's got your back, no one can put you down.”

3. The first opposition: the temptation to quit

   Whether in your Christian race, your marriage or your work, you will reach a point where you are tempted to walk out. Don't quit too quickly; stick it out and keep moving forward, though he adds that where there is violence it is right for the victim to leave. Don't give up on unsaved family either: one sows, another waters and God gives the increase.

   Illustration: At police college the training was so harsh, and his troop's six months stretched by an extra 24 days, that he often looked at the gates and was tempted to run, but he stuck it out.

   “You in life will be tempted to quit. I'm saying to you, don't quit. God's got your back.”

   • 1 Corinthians 3:6

4. Opposition number two: your personal problems

   The enemy is determined that you will not fulfil your assignment, so he sends problem after problem, especially to those who lead people. Financial, work and even neighbour problems will come, but deal with them and you will overcome.

   Illustration: When he was in charge of staff in the secular world, he told them to bring every problem with two or three solutions, and the complaints soon dried up.

   “So be like that donkey. Just shake it off and keep on moving.”

5. Opposition number three: wanting too much too soon

   We live in an instant, drive-through society, but don't chase a Porsche when you can hardly pay your rent; your turn will come. Problems are a temporary station, not a permanent one, so ask, wait and keep thanking God for the right timing.

   Illustration: He once drove a car he had to park on a hill and kick-start, and as a young policeman helping his pastor pray over members' new cars, he would lay his hand on them believing for his own. He also waited ten years for money owed to him when he left the police, thanking God until it came through.

   “Your problems is a temporary station. It's not a permanent station.”

6. The fourth opposition: rejection

   Rejection is painful, but don't go by man's word. God knew the plans He had for you before you were formed: he grew up in a false religion, wanted to become a general in the police and told God he did not want to be a poor pastor, yet God's purposes cannot be outrun, as Paul found on the Damascus road. He has the church shout 'Nothing is impossible with God' seven times.

   Illustration: A teacher at school told him to walk out whenever she walked in, and Pastor Zubeda, then head girl, was told he was going nowhere. Years later, at a school reunion held at the church, the same teacher said she had heard he was doing well.

   “Don't let people put a price tag on you because if they put a price tag on you, tear it off and think of your value.”

   • Jeremiah 29:11
   • Jeremiah 1:5
   • Psalm 139:13
   • Acts 9:3-6
   • Psalm 37:4

7. The fifth opposition: inconvenience

   God has not built you for comfort but for adversity. When a fight or a problem comes, you are built to overcome it by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony.

   “God has not built you for comfort. He's built you for adversity.”

   • Revelation 12:11

8. The sixth opposition: jealousy

   People are jealous when they see you rising, and sadly that happens in the kingdom of God too. He had to be delivered of jealousy, and God told him to celebrate other people's success and He would give him more. Hurting people like to hurt people, so shake off jealousy like the donkey and keep moving.

   Illustration: When a new Maserati or Ferrari was handed over on the promenade, he would wait for the photographs to finish, shake the owner's hand and congratulate him.

   “God told me, every time you see somebody, celebrate their success and I'll give you more.”

9. The last opposition: selfishness

   When you feel selfish, pull back and give way. Give people space and freedom and celebrate their victories, and as you surrender to that your flesh dies and you can be happy for everybody.

   Illustration: The day before, he visited a church family building a three-storey home and, as their leader, rejoiced with them instead of being jealous.

   “Celebrate their victories, and when you surrender to that, your flesh dies.”