Knocked Down but NOT Knocked Out

If you are here this morning, God is not done with you yet. If you are here this morning, God is giving us another chance to repent of our sins and make it right with Him or to continue to walk in obedience to His will.

Family, God is a good God and His desire is to restore our relationship with Him. 

It is past time for us to put away the distractions and concentrate on that which is good for the soul, our spirit.

In the beginning of time, Adam and Eve lived in harmony and close connection with our Creator. At the end of the creation account, Genesis 1:31, ”God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He validated it completely.

But it wasn’t too long after that sin entered the world. 

In the 2nd chapter of Genesis verses 15-17, the Lord God told Adam, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden; but [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat, otherwise on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die [because of your disobedience].”“ 

Then God made woman. Satan used her, Eve, to disobey God by eating of the said fruit and giving some to her husband. Genesis 3:1-19. 

Since then Family, life has been filled with challenge after challenge. Sometimes, I don’t know about you, but I have some moments that leave me feeling knocked down and defeated. 

At some point or the other in our lives, we get sick, we become unemployed and the bills don’t stop coming in, we get involved in relationships that lead us down the wrong path and drain us emotionally, we focus on the evil that’s going on in our circles and around the world and we get overwhelmed. 

This past weekend presented me with a real challenge. I don’t know how many of you missed Friday night Intercessory prayer. I apologise for that, but that was unavoidable. Turns out that I collapsed and fainted around 6pm on Friday and ended up in the hospital. 

Thank God my youngest daughter was there. She said she gave me mouth to mouth resuscitation and tapped me on my back and when I started to cough a little, I regained consciousness and we were advised to go to the emergency room.

So I was still there during prayer time. In the hospital for the next few hours, I underwent periodic testing, including ECG and I was given medication via IV or drips, before the doctor gave his diagnosis and I was released.

Family, I was knocked down. But glory to God, I had some people praying for me - Pastor Erma, the two prayer teams, the destiny workers -  they prayed.

By early Saturday morning, I was back home and I am here with you today. Hallelujah.

Family, as usual, I can only give my testimony. I know that there are many of you here today who are going through. Maybe not health challenges, but some serious trying times in your lives. 

With my experience and my faith in the one Ever Living True and Faithful God, I have come by here to encourage you to put your hands in the Hands of the Master, let go and let God take over.

There is absolutely no one and nothing in our lives that is more important than our soul salvation. Amen?! Could be your husband, wife, children, family member or friend.

When we come face to face with our mortality and the fickleness of life, it must be a come to Jesus moment. It really shouldn’t take that. But tragedy must be a wake up call.

Each and every one of us should be ever conscious about our obligation to live right all of the time. And the thing is, there are some people who have gone through near death experiences, who are still being defiant and disobedient to God and stubborn in their wrong.

As believers in Jesus Christ, Family, it is comforting to know that even though we may be knocked down at times, we are never truly knocked out. 

I’ll say that again: even though we may be knocked down at times, while we have the breath life, we are never truly knocked out. 

We believe in the Word of God, don’t we? 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 states ”We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed;“

So even though I lost consciousness and didn’t know what was happening to me, God’s promises to me were being fulfilled. 

God's providence, His divine guidance, care and foresight, was at work for me. 

”I will not die, but live, And declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the Lord.“ Psalms 118:17.

For you, my sisters and brothers, it may be His power strengthening and sustaining you as certain circumstances threaten to discourage you and crush your spirit. In times like these, more so, we look to the Word of God. 

Isaiah 41:10 God says ”Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’“

Remember today, when we feel knocked down physically, emotionally, financially or spiritually, we can find comfort in the closeness of God. He is our everything.

Psalms 73:26 ”My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.“

And Philippians 4:19 ”And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.“

So even in moments of deep despair, even when we are knocked down, we must be reminded that God is with us. While we still have life, we are never knocked out. God’s strength becomes our source of resilience, lifting us up when we are knocked down.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ”but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.“

Romans 8:37 ”Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us].“ 

So let us be encouraged Family. The challenges we face may knock us down, but because of Christ's love, we are not just survivors; we are more than conquerors. Because of the love of Jesus Christ, we are empowered to rise again, stronger than before.

Romans 8:37-39 ”Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Family, in moments of trial, remember that being knocked down doesn't mean defeat.  Rather, see it as an opportunity to experience God's grace, resilience, and transformative power. 

So we may be knocked down by the challenges of life, but through God's strength, while we are breathing, we are never knocked out. 

Let our faith in God sustain us and help us to rise up strong and victorious over every adversity.

Romans 8:31 - ”What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us?“ 

I trust someone was encouraged this morning by these few words. We go forward in the strength of the Lord.

aub - 26 February 2024

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