GLASS JAW
š„YOU WERE PREPARED FOR THIS HITš„
Today I got introduced to a new concept called Glass Jaw at CCI global.
Iām currently out of my base, went to see my parent and attend to some personal issues.
Just a little bit about my past week.
The interesting catch for this new week is the concept common to boxers I learnt in todays series called āGlass Jawā.
Concidentally, on getting into my whatsapp I saw a post from Sky sport that illustrated this fact.
WHAT IS GLASS JAW?
This is a fighting vulnerability where one is easily knocked out via a single hard blow to the chin or jaw (due to lack of conditioning, insufficient training, or damage from past cerebral concussions).
WHY DO I NEED FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS FACT?
Have you ever been in a situation where you think all the tides are against you? Yes, if you are in this world, then this shouldn't be a surprising question.
We are either in one of this scenes or have passed it, for now.
We are doing life, and we can liken it to a boxing ring, though, Jesus didn't use this illustration. But here is the catchā¦.
We can call that ring; the earth and there are many participant.
There are rules that Guides it.
There are ideologies that governs this ring (earth realm).
One of many ideologies is that ālife is a battleā. Someone will ask; āIs it only christians that are always fightingā?
The answer is, if you are not aware of this fact, then you are already a casualty of the war. You are already blinded. You are on the enemies side without Knowing.
The biblical worldview informs us that we are in a warefare. Life shows us that.
Back to Glass Jawā¦
Because you are in a battle field, you need to know that you will take some blows.
A guy just got knocked out in 54sec by a couple of hit.
He knew fully well that he was going to get Hit in that ring but he had a glass Jaw.
Life will throw hits at you because you are in this world but you must know that for you to fight back, you must get rid of glass jaws. Things that makes you vulnerable to the attack of the enemy.
The devil knows your vulnerability. You should try and know where you are weak too. Make a list of the things that weaken your fervency in life, in your work with God, career or profession.
The devil will come to hit you hard on those areas. I know you are not always strong , but in your weakness , you were never meant to be alone.
He will suggest ideas that are anti-christ. He would suggest friends that quench your fervency. There will be Pop -ups that get you distracted.
Focus is a price, pay it.
Be aware of your vulnerable point and guide them with all due diligence.
Life is sweet, but there are provison for trouble in this world. Face it because there is victory at the beginning of the tunnel.
A good life is not a life without challenges or problems, Its a life that acknowledges the fact that there is a battle going on and knows that victory is assured in Christ.
God has been before any chaos. Wisdom demand that you align with the wisdom of the eternal creator.
MINDSET TO HAVE IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE.
1. You must know that you are not alone. We were never designed to be alone.
We have the help of God ministered to us by his spirit. He is the spirit of Love, Joy, peace and sound mind. We have a local church, we have covenant friends, and we have family. Humans are social beings built and sustained by relationships. You must recognize that you are not alone.
Isa 43:2Ā When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.Ā
2 This trouble wonāt see the end of me, I will see its end.
2Co 4:8Ā We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;Ā 9.Ā Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10.Ā Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.Ā
Rom 8:28Ā And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.Ā
3 It will not be forever.
You must live now with eternity in mind.
2Co 4:17Ā For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18Ā While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.Ā
Do not be surprised when trouble comes. I know you have prayed. But because you have a defeated enemy and you are in this world, trouble goes to and fro looking for who is available to be devoured.
1Pe 4:12Ā Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:Ā
This knowledge should equip you before hand and if you are already facing trials or in pain. Do thisā¦
WHAT TO DO WITH PAIN WHEN IT COMES.
1. Count it all Joy.
This can be easily said than done but when the revelation of the eternal weight of glory that is set before you in this world and the world to come. Nothing by shall any means, take away the Joy/love of God. I am the Joy of the Lord and it is my strength.
Jas 1:2Ā My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;Ā
Rom 12:12Ā Rejoicing in hope (salvation); patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;Ā
Hab 3:18Ā Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Second thing to do when pain comes.Ā
2. Guard and condition your heart.
Prov 17:22Ā A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.Ā
Prov 15:13Ā A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.Ā
The popular opinion believers have about pain is that* "God is teaching you something with it". You must kill that sacred cow (idea).
Can we really learn when we are in PAIN?
Does the scripture suggest that we convert our body and mind to a place where pain becomes our teacher?
Pain was never designed to teach you.
Even the woman that goes through labour pangs does not learn anything during that travail. If she had, she wont take-in again.
But the scripture says āJesus learnt obedience through what he sufferedā.
What he suffered during his earthly life was describe in the earlier verse.
Heb 5:7 During his earthly life Christ offered both *requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears*, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion( his reverence).
Ā 8Ā Ā Although he was a son, he learned (practiced) obedience through the things he suffered.
He understood what it was like to make request and supplication to the one who was able to save him.
He wasn't learning anything from death but his suffering led him to pray, make request and supplication and not complain. It led Him to joy not pain.
Death does not add anything to us rather, it subtract from us, our earthly body.
Our pain should lead us to pray not mumur.
Your Prayer must be backed up with an assurance that the one you are praying to will save you from the suffering/pain.
A believers responsibility is not to understand why he is pained or troubled. At that point, you don't understand anything.
In times of trouble, do not try to make sense of the matter or justofy it with a reasonable explanation. Pain does not teach you anything except Pain.
Psa 73:16 NET When I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling to me.
The psalmist profers a solution to the pain he was going through.
Psa 73:28 NET But as for me, Godās presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign LORD my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.
He said that he prayed. Psa 73:17 NET Then I entered the precincts of Godās temple, and understood the destiny of the wicked....
The early church learnt the scriptural way to handle pain, suffering and anxiety.
Phi 4:6 NET Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.
This is not the best time to understand the trouble.
When you tell your request with prayer and supplication. You get a feedback of peace.
Phi 4:7 NET And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
This peace then brings you to an understanding that will guard your heart and mind in the provisions available in Christ for that matter.
How we should react during times of pain;
Normal reaction-> Understand the situation, analyse it, complain and then pray.
Believers reaction should be -> pray, until you come to the provision in Christ for that problem.
Christ had been made unto us peace, wisdom, strength, power,love, Joy.
Don't be surprised he has all this attribute. He is The Christ. And when you are In Him, though trouble may come because you are in this world but you are not of this world, you are victorious in Christ.
Pain is not a tool we attribute to God when correcting you, neither is suffering an ingredient to bring you to his level of understanding on a matter.
God will not inflict pain on the one he loves. The pain is not for Moral lesson, neither is suffering for correction.
God will correct you because he loves You. He doesn't correct you so that he can love you.
Jesus endured such rebellion because of the joy that was set before him not the pain. Pain does not motivate, love does.
The believers suffering is not a teaching aide, it's a show of the fathers love to bring him into a more weighter Glory.
God doesn't use pain to teach you endurance. You must have a higher revelation beyond teaching to help people understand the believers suffering. Look carefully there is a joy set before you and not a moral lesson. You must persevere to lay hold of it.
If your pain leads you to learn how to complain or a moral lesson, I wonder what you will understand from that school of thought.
Heb 12:7 NET Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?
The discipline of God might be painful but its not to produce a moral lesson or teach you something you didn't know.
Heb 12:11 NET Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.
God does not discipline you with pain but at times, the training of God can be painful.
If you are sick, lay your hands on your body and command every pain to go. If you need emotional healing, meditate on the love of God, so that his peace and what he has done right in christ be Express in that situation.
God is raising a formidable army for himself. I'm you sre a part of them.
Confession: The spirt of God helps my infirmities. I fight with the mindset of a victor. I came to enforce my victory, the enemy is defeated, In Jesus name. Amen.