Running in the Rain

The Christian journey is a lot like Running in the Rain. We are commanded to live faith-filled lives in the midst of the unexpected, the disappointing, the painful and the trying circumstances of life.  If we are to be honest, this is surely not what we expected or even want to accept.  It is however, what the Word of God forewarns us about.  Despite this truth, we are still expected to live victorious, overcoming lives for the glory of God. This workshop will examine the what, why and how of living an overcoming life in Christ Jesus.  For the days of playing church are over and it’s time to rise up to a new level of trust, understanding, acceptance and commitment to His plan for our lives, no matter what the cost. When we purpose to “finish our race” His way, then we will reach our destiny in Him and achieve all that He intended for us since the beginning of time. 

This is a preordained time:

Once again we are called together to unite our hearts around the Word of God.  This is a special and chosen time that God has set aside for us to minister to us the desires of His heart and to impart into each of us renewed hope, strength and courage in His love and in the power of His resurrection. He loves us dearly and wants us to remember that we’re not alone and all we need to overcome and live victorious lives can be found in His Spirit within us.  Amen. 

Scriptural Foundation:

Hebrews 12:1-3: 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

This workshop will be conducted in three sessions as follows:

1. It’s Raining on the Outside, but We’ve Got the Son on the Inside
2. How to Run the Race to Win
3. Self-Examination and Group Discussion

Session I:  It’s Raining on the Outside, but We’ve Got the Son on the Inside

This session will take a look at the realities of the Christian Journey, the hope we have in Christ and the power we already have to be overcomers.

Revelation Knowledge:

I.   The Forecast is For Rain.  The scriptures forewarn us that our journey will not be easy…

• In this world you will have trouble (John 16:33)
• We are told that we will go through the fire (Is. 43:2, 1 Peter 1:7)
• We each are expected to take up our cross (Matt.10:38-39, Luke 9:23-24)
• Time and chance happen to us all & it rains on the just and the unjust (Ecc. 9:11, Matt. 5: 45)
• We are to share in the fellowship of his sufferings (Phil. 3:10, Rom. 8:16-17)
• Parable of the two builders (Matt. 8: 24-27)
• You will slip and fall  (Prov.  24:16)
• There will be tests, trials, tribulations, storms (Rom. 12:12-14, Deut. 4:30-31, Is. 25:4)
• Waters, floods and famine (Ps. 93:3-4, Mark 13:7-8)
• Death, burial and resurrection are just part of the process, roads on the journey- it’s a process (Heb. 12: 4)
• Through the Valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23:4)
• He chooses the pathway (Heb. 12:13, Eph. 2:10)
• It shouldn’t surprise us (I Peter 4:12)
• We live in a world that we are not a part of & so we fight against all odds (John 15:19-20)
• The race is a marathon not a sprint (2 Chron. 26:16)

2. The Word warns us about the challenges of life’s journey, but life does the teaching: What kind of “rain” can we expect?

• Sickness and Disease
• Being mistreated or misunderstood
• Disappointments
• Deception
• Heartache
• Loss of things and loved ones
• Frustrations
• Persecutions
• The unexpected
• Things out of your control
• The things no one told you about
• Unemployment
• Mistakes and bad decisions
• The stress and pressures of life
• Always something, get used to it, expect it

3.     The Reason for the Rain: God Will Use Life’s Circumstances & Challenges to:

• Get our  attention so He Can Accomplish His Purposes (I Peter 5:10, 2 Tim. 1:9)
• Correct  & change our direction and thinking (Heb. 12: 5-11)
• Reveal Himself and His ways (Phil. 3:10)
• To mature us so we can be more like Him (Heb. 12:10-11)
• Strengthen us (I Peter 5:10)
• There is purpose in everything we experience (Eph. 1:11)
• God desires to take us to a place where we learn to do His will by living supernaturally on His grace, power and anointing. Our lives are to be fueled by the very presence of God. (I can do all things…, “I can do this!”  Phil 4:13) 

II.   You Need Jesus:  You Weren’t Made or Meant to Take this Journey Alone

• God created you and has a plan for you (Jerm. 29:11)
• You don’t have what it takes to make it on your own – something’s missing (John 15:1 -5)
•       (Sooner nor later, you’ll come to the end of yourself & your dependence on others)
• Pursue the peace of God (Is 48:22, Job 22:21, Phil. 4:7)
• All you’re looking for is found in Him, your only answer.  (John 14:6)
• Your steps are ordered (Eph. 2:10)
• Consider the cost of Calvary: Must Jesus bare the cross alone? What cost are you willing to bear? (Phil. 2:8, Matt. 16:24, Luke 9:23)
• You can’t get there without Him, Acknowledge an Accept your need for God. (At the cross)

III.  Face the Facts & Make a Decision:  How Will You Live Your Life?

• Since your life is but a mist and your time here is most precious, you need to be wise on how you spend it? How will you deal with what life throws your way? It will always be something.
• Decide today what you will do with the finished work of Calvary – It should have been you.
• Know that survival and victory in life are found in service to God and His people (Matt 6:25-34)
• Have you accepted Christ and His Passion? What will your life offer, what service will you render, what cross will you bear? (Phil. 3:8)
• It’s not about you – God has greater purposes in mind (Rom. 8:28)
• We are His body and God expects us to accept Him & run the race, keeping our faith, just like He did. (Acts 20:23-24)
• What will you decide? Will you choose Christ and learn how to run in the rain?

IV.  When You Accept Him: You’ve Got the Power:  All You need to Overcome in Life is Already on the inside of you.nce we accept Christ, we need to live out the truth as it is reveled in God’s Word on who we are in Christ and the ability that we have to overcome by His Word and the power of His Spirit within us.  (Rom. 8:11)

1. We share Christ’s victory over the cross – (John 16:33, I Cor. 15:57)
2.  Created Victorious – we’ve already won and are who He says we are  (I John 4:4, I John 5: 4-5,
3.        I John 5:4)
4. We have been made more than conquerors through Christ (Rom. 8:37)
5. You are running with God Himself towards your Destiny in Him (Col. 1:27)
6. The Exchange:  He died for us so now we must live for Him, we are His Living sacrifice (Rom.

       12:1)

V.   Scriptural Truths: The Word of God must fuel your Journey:

A.  What God Will Do –   

•     We are His covenant children and all of His promises are yes and amen (Jerm. 33:20-21, Ps. 89:34)
•     He will perfect those things that concern us (Ps. 138:8)
•     God is faithful to deliver & restore you (Ps. 34:19, 91:1-3, Heb. 10:23)
•     With God Nothing is Impossible (Luke 1:37)
•  I am the resurrection  (John 11:25)
•  He is your comforter (2 Cor. 1: 1-7)
•  He will fill us with His fullness (Eph. 3:19)

B.  What You Must Do –

• Have faith for without faith it is impossible to please God, This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (Heb. 6:12, 10:22, 11:6, I John 5:4-5, I Cor. 16:13)
• Realize you are called and chosen for His purposes, to reveal His glory (2 Tim. 1:9)
• You have His Spirit of Power, Love and a Sound mind, don’t let the enemy convince you of otherwise (I Tim. 1:7)
• Remain Humble (I Peter 5:5-6)
•  What you’re going through is common to man so stick to the plan (I Cor.  10:13)
•   Learn to be content in God’s control (Phil. 4:11)
• Don’t even look back (Luke 9:62, 17:32)
• God can not fail you (Heb. 10:23, 2 Cor.  2:20)
• Count it all joy (James 1:2)
• Speak/confess the Word – You make the Mountain move (Mark 11:23-24)
• Believe:  (Matt. 19:26, Like 1:37) All things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23, Heb. 10:35, Rom. 4:24)
• Think on these things (Phil. 4:8)
• We are more than conquerors through Christ (Rom. 837)
• Be willing to be crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20)
• Be consistent, committed and fail to compromise  (Daniel 1: 8)
• How great is your love for Him.  (Heb. 12:4, John 15:13)
• What are you willing to give up, to have all that He’s planned for you? (Phil. 3:8)

The Bottom-Line:
We need to accept the realities of the Christian journey and determine where we stand in our trust and commitment to the Lord.  We are expected to accept Him, Love Him and endure as He did, so that we may reign with Him.

Session II: How to Run the Race to Win

• This session will look at some practical day-to-day strategies that we need to use to be overcomers in Christ.   Exactly how do we “run in the rain”?
• Revelation Knowledge:
• Once we’ve accepted Christ into our hearts, we must live each day by faith and work out our own salvation. (Phil. 2:12-13)  It’s Your Race.  YOU decide how you will run it.  No, it won’t be easy, but there are some scriptural reminders on how to stay on track so that we can finish the race to the glory of God. (I Cor.  9:24)
• Required Equipment for Your Journey:
• Courage:  Be strong and courageous (Josh. 1:9)
• Hope  -We have a hope, His name is Jesus (Rom. 4:6)
• Patience  (Heb. 10:36, James 1:3-4)
• Confidence in God (Hebrews 10: 35)
• Passion (Heb. 12:2)
• Love (I Cor. 13:7)
• Perseverance (I Cor. 9:24, Ps. 62:6-7, Heb. 12:4)
• Trust (Ps. 25:2, 62:8, Ps. 115:11-14)
• Power and Authority is ours (Luke 9:1)
• Wear the Armour of God & know that no weapon can prosper over you. With each new level there’s a new devil (Eph. 6:16)

Scriptural Truths: We Must be Christ-Inside Minded (Phil.  2:5, 4:7, John 5:30, Rom. 12:2, I John 4:9)

• Keep your focus & dependence on God.  He must be your first priority  (Is. 26:3) All of your help cometh from above, Turn your eyes upon Jesus)
• Nothing else matters except your relationship with Him, it must direct your every thought & action
• Learn, as Christ did, from the things He suffered (Heb. 5:8), Is God trying to tell you something?
• Be ready to Fight the good fight of faith (I Tim. 6:12) – remember you are a soldier & you are in a battle (2 Tim. 2:3-4)
• Don’t let the past slow you down – get over it (Phil. 3:13)
• Practice Forgiveness or it will halt your maturity and hinder your blessing (Mark 11:25, Matt. 6:14)
• Remember – it’s not you, but Christ in You. (Zach. 4:6-Not by Might, Not By Power, But by My Spirit
• Is your obedience unto death? (Rev. 12:11)
• Strengthen yourself in the Lord (I Peter 5:10)
• Remember the faithfulness of God (Lam. 3:19-26) When I think of the goodness of Jesus…
• Whatever He said will come to pass as God can not lie (Num. 29:19, Heb. 6:18)
• Don’t faint or grow weary:  Consider the cost Christ paid  (Prov. 24:10, 2 Cor. 4:16-17)
• Confront your fears (Is. 41:10, I Sam. 17:40, I John 4:18)
• Praise Him in the pain – for He is still worthy (Heb. 13:15)
• Pursue Wisdom to make good decisions (James 1:5)
• Pray in the Spirit and keep a melody in your heart (Eph. 5:18-19)
• Keep your heart fixed, trusting in God (Ps. 57:7, Ps. 112:7-8)
• Remember He is able to make all grace abound (2 Cor. 9:8,12:9)
• Run with the attitude of gratitude, remember to give thanks always for who He is, not only for what He has done.  Learn how to live rejoicing! (Eph. 5:20, Phil. 4:6, 1 Thess. 5:18)
• Let God be God, learn to wait on Him (Lam. 3:26, Is. 40:31, Ps. 62)
• Experience His resurrection Power as you rely on His strength, His grace and His anointing (Phil. 4:13)
• Get God’s attention by keep calling on His name: Jesus (Jerm.33:3, Ps. 145:18)
• Daily Repentance:  Eliminate your Toxic Sins by doing some spiritual cleansing (I John 1:9)
• Disobedience will make the journey painful (Is. 1:19)
• Fasting will increase your sensitivity to His voice (Joel 1:14)
• Accept your assignment and your cross – you’ve been anointing for it (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
• When there’s nothing else you can do, simply Rest In the Rain (Ps. 37:7)
• It’s not over, until God say’s it’s over and He said, “We win”  

Practical Insights: Tips on How to Overcome Daily:

• Remember to be forgiving and compassionate:  “He can’t help it”
• Let love & forgiveness prevail – they always glorify God
• Pray for more Grace & Mercy, then give it away – No one deserves or earns this, including us
• Watch your Expectations – are you waiting on God or man? Who is your source? (Ps. 62:5)
• Let God work out the salvation of those you love – don’t interfere with their private conversations
• Keep the right attitude (soar like an eagle, climb every mountain, fly!)
• Guard your heart (Prov.  4:23)
• Develop resiliency: Like a punching bag that always springs back – “Bring it on! /Take your best shot” mentality
• Pray: Help Me, Hold Me, Heal Me Lord
• Focus on someone other than yourself
• Take one day at a time
• Remember WWJD
• Forget about time, just wait on God
• When left for dead, remember the resurrection power of God is within you!
• Rely on the Holy Spirit as your coach & trainer
• Take Communion daily
• Allow your tears to cleanse your heart
• Don’t look to the left or to the right.  Don’t compare yourself with others.  It’s a private race.
• Cry out to God to do what only He can do in your life
• Let Him have His way, just obey and do what ever He says do
• In all things, learn to know and love Him more
• Remember the clay has nothing to say – Yes, Lord, The sound of surrender is silence
• Your workplace may be a practice battlefield – how are you doing?
• Give your children to the Lord & pray – they’re His anyway
• Practice Praise & worship – Hallelujah is the highest praise!
• Have daily encounters with God
• Cry out when you must, groan when you can do nothing else (Rom. 8:26, Acts 7:34)
• The need to slow down – recovery time, stillness in the presence of God
• Get Up and Get Going: Stay in the race -Don’t stop living (Prov.  24:10)
• Shake yourself, get a hold of yourself – don’t let the enemy steal your stuff!!
• Remember to enjoy the journey and celebrate who you are in Him along the way
• Why You Must Go On to Finish Your Race & Can’t Quit:
• Because He did as an act of His love for you (Phil. 3:10)
• Because He is in you and has already overcome the world (I John 4:4, 12-13,17, 5:4-5)
• You were made for this, it’s all part of His plan and He knows the beginning & the ending (I Peter 4:13)
• Because your latter will be greater (Ezek. 36:11, Job 8:7)
• We were created to reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:12)
• All things are working together for your good (Rom. 8:28)
• Because someone is watching you
• Great is your reward, double for your trouble (Zach. 9:12, Zeph. 3:14-20, Ex. 22:4)
• Because we’re almost there.  Could what you’re waiting for be “just on the other side”
• So you can hear Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” (2 Tim. 4:7)

The Bottom-Line:

The Christ who overcome and was victorious over the shame and death of the cross, now sits at the right hand of our Father and dwells within each of us.  As He reigns, so shall we, if we endure to the end.  He will teach us how through trust and faith and we will find ourselves “still standing, through it all” through His grace. So, it really doesn’t matter what life brings our way when we trust in the power of Christ in us, we will overcome each day.  For when purpose to finish our course, we will surely receive all of His promises and find out as He did, that it was worth it. (Heb. 6:12, Rev. 2:11, 17, 26, 3:5)