You’re not a Survivor, You’re a Deliverer!

Josh Garrels – Farther Along

One of the things people usually hate to hear is, “It’s not just about you.” That statement usually causes the person hearing it to feel less important, humbled, and less special. Ironically though, that statement should actually propel us into a faith and a trust in God’s plans far beyond what we originally felt for our lives.

One of Satan’s greatest tricks is convincing Christians that they will always be hindered by sin and should just be happy if they can “get by” while here on earth. When struggles arise a common phrase spoken is, “By the grace of God we will get through this.” While there isn’t anything wrong with that statement, the attitude often behind it is that we are fighting just to maintain what we have always had. But Jesus didn’t die for us simply to live and die here on earth. He didn’t give us His Word just so that we can “get through this.” He didn’t create us for a simple life.

God’s picture is bigger than all that. He didn’t call the disciples just so that they could experience salvation. He called them to be, “Fishers of men.” Their lives and their callings were much more than just about them as individuals. They were made to change nations. When Jesus spoke to people and healed people He would often tell them to “go and tell others what the Lord has done” for them. Their testimonies would release faith everywhere they went. The Samaritan woman at the well didn’t just get personal faith from her encounter with Jesus, she ended up leading her whole town into faith in Him (John 4).

We aren’t called to be survivors in this world. We are called to be deliverers. This truth should motivate us to no longer tolerate struggles with sin and the “just trying to get by” mentality. And this truth should give us faith that God’s will is indeed for us to rise up and pull others up with us. Jesus wants to encounter us. And He wants us to go and tell others what He has done for us.

Isaiah 61:1 – The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

God’s plan is mighty for you! You are more than a conqueror! Open your eyes and let God show you all that He has planned for you. His vision for us is always greater than we can imagine.

Matthew 10:8b – Freely you have received, freely give.