Battered but Never Beaten!

​A few years ago, a cyclone ravaged parts of Australia. The damage from the savage tornadic strength winds was catastrophic. Almost every material thing in the winds swirling path was blown away.
 
The media captured a picture of one cyclone victim who lost his home, but not his spirit. On the concrete slab where his house once stood, a hand scribbled sign hung in the home’s place. The sign read: BATTERED BUT NOT BEATEN!
 
Staring at that sign, my spirit shouted with a resounding yes, awesome, and amen!
 
What an attitude this beaten up but not defeated Aussie from the land down under displayed in the middle of incomprehensible adversity. Battered by merciless, cyclonic winds that destroyed his home, surely stunned and in shock, this guy was not beaten in his heart.  
 
Could you have written that sign over your homestead that was no longer standing? This is a serious question, isn’t it?
 
I believe Paul would have. How do I know? Because of our word for this week. Under constant opposition and persecution for his faith, Paul persevered under pressure, always advancing through adversity because though battered, he possessed a I will not be beaten attitude!
 
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed II Corinthians 4:8-9
 
II Corinthians 11: 22-30 provides a detailed list of Paul’s personal battering as a representative of Jesus Christ. After reading of his sufferings for the sake of the Gospel, you will think again when you think you are having a bad day.
 
Paul, a man of courageous faith, was also realistic about spiritual warfare and the battles Christians face. His take on them was afflicted…but not crushed. Perplexed…but not despairing. Persecuted…but not forsaken. Struck down…but not destroyed.
 
Paul sounds like a man who had been battered but never beaten.
 
When you realize what Paul experienced and endured, you have to ask “How could Paul take such a battering/beating again and again and not be beaten?”
 
The answer lies in his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
I Corinthians 4:10-11 reads “Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
 
The life of Jesus in Paul kept him from being beaten by life’s beatings.
 
As a Christian, Paul’s life was not about Paul. It was about Christ in Paul. A resurrected Christ lived in Him and gave Paul strength to overcome any and everything that life hurled at him.
           
Fellow Christians, please hear me out today. Especially if you have been or are being battered by life’s contrary winds and are starting to feel beaten.
 
You may be feeling beaten up, battered, but in no way are you beaten! Ever.
 
Meditate upon Isaiah 53:1-6. In Christ you and I are not beaten or defeated.  Jesus was battered and took a beating so when we are battered we won’t be beaten. He paid for our sin so we wouldn’t have to.
 
Jesus was beaten up but not beaten down. God’s Son took and conquered everything Satan could throw at Him and prevailed. Why? To provide salvation for you and me.
 
Some Simple Suggestions For Beating A Battering
 
·      Stop trying to figure it out what is happening to you. Stand up against the battering. Stand tall. Be strong and courageous in Christ.
·      Remember the battle is the Lord’s. Battle the battering in Jesus’ mighty name. Beat back whatever is battering you with the faith in the One who carries the biggest stick!
·      Choose and refuse to cave in to pressure. Draw upon the Holy Spirit’s power. Keep pushing back in the name of Jesus. Do all you know to do.
·      Surround yourself with a couple of faithful friends who will stand on the wall of resistance with you. Rally together to push back the gates of hell.
·      Reject the devil’s lies and all negative self-talk. Be constantly vigilant so the enemy will not be able to wear you down.
·      Rejoice! Rejoice! Shout at the top or your lungs! And I mean shout! Give thanks to God for the victory that is yours in Christ!  
 
Do you feel like a battering ram is trying to destroy your spiritual house? Why not focus on life, resurrection life in Christ? Rise up in Christ’s resurrection power. In His Almighty name, overcome the battering you are experiencing. Whatever it takes, focus your faith on victorious life in Christ.
 
Jesus is alive and present in your life. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords cannot ever be beaten, nor can you as you stand firm in faith in Him.   
 
Battered but not beaten. That is who you and I are in Christ.
 
“You are from God little children and have overcome them; because greater is He (Jesus) who is in you than he (Satan) who is in the world.”                            I John 4:4
 
A Word For Your Week: In Christ we may be battered, but never beaten!