The Progression - Like a Flint
Prayers
1. Every power assigned to destroy my determination and advancement, die in the name of Jesus.
2. Every power assigned to weaken my strength and capability die in the name of Jesus.
3. I will not miss heaven in Jesus mighty name.
Text: Isaiah 50:7
For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. (KJV)
Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. (NLT)
The Lord God will help you in Jesus name.
You will not be confounded. You will not be disgraced in Jesus name.
As you set your face like a flint you will not be ashamed in Jesus name.
Text: Luke 9:51
And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, (KJV)
Now when the time was approaching for Him to be taken up [to heaven], He was determined to go to Jerusalem [to fulfill His purpose]. (AMP)
You will fulfil your God ordained purpose in Jesus name.
What is the progression?
Progression has been defined as:
· The process of developing or moving gradually towards a more advanced state.
· The act of moving from one thing to another.
· The act of moving forward
· Proceeding in a course,
· Onward motion
· A step forward
· Advancing
May the grace for the type of progression that delivers rewards here and, in the hereafter, come upon your life and family in Jesus name.
What does flint mean?
Flint means:
· a hard type of rock that produces a small piece of burning material (called a spark) when it is hit by steel
· a piece of metal used for producing a spark
Wikipedia further states:
“Flint is a sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as the variety of chert that occurs in chalk or marly limestone. Flint was widely used historically to make stone tools and start fires.
It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones (used for building and for fertilizers). Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white or brown in colour, and often has a glassy or waxy appearance. A thin layer on the outside of the nodules is usually different in colour, typically white and rough in texture. The nodules can often be found along streams and beaches.
Flint breaks and chips into sharp-edged pieces, making it useful for knife blades and other cutting tools. The use of flint to make stone tools dates back hundreds of thousands of years, and flint's extreme durability has made it possible to accurately date its use over this time. Flint is one of the primary materials used to define the Stone Age.
During the Stone Age, access to flint was so important for survival that people would travel or trade to obtain flint. Flint Ridge in Ohio was an important source of flint and Native Americans extracted the flint from hundreds of quarries along the ridge. This "Ohio Flint" was traded across the eastern United States and has been found as far west as the Rocky Mountains and south around the Gulf of Mexico.
When struck against steel, flint will produce enough sparks to ignite a fire with the correct tinder, or gunpowder used in weapons. Although it has been superseded in these uses by different processes (the percussion cap), or materials, (ferrocerium), "flint" has lent its name as generic term for a fire starter.”
From the above we note that flint is:
· Durable
· Make tools and start a fire or fires
· Important for survival
Flint also means:
· Steadfastly resolved
· Most hard rock
· Solid rock
No wonder the Bible in Isaiah 50:7 talked about setting one’s face as a flint, having a determined posture or stance in order to make substantial progress and not to be put to shame.
For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. (KJV)
Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. (NLT)
We had previously examined the place of faith in progression and established that we need faith for positive beneficial progress. We further examined ‘in a moment’ and saw the need to be ready for the rapture and stay in Christ since gaining the whole world and losing one’s soul in hell would be a great waste. We were encouraged to stay in Christ till the end. Last week, we were cautioned to recognize and avoid the mixed multitude and ensuring you do not become a mixed multitude yourself on your journey of progression.
In this final installment of how to make progressions, we want to note that even with other conditions fulfilled you need to set your face as a flint, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
In 1 Corinthians 15, the Bible tells us that even after having victory and progress, we should remain standing in Christ and abounding in the work of the Lord:
57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Why must you and I set our faces like a flint?
For anyone on the path of progress, the following assailants are likely to visit:
1. Fear
2. Discouragement
3. The devil
4. Agents of darkness
5. Trials from God
Sometimes all these come at the same time or in varying combinations as if some strange thing is happening. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory. (1 Peter 4:12-13).
When do you need to demonstrate your innate flinty stance?
When you have a goal. Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem.
Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem notwithstanding that bonds and afflictions were waiting for him.
A person with no goals will face no opposition. The only issue that one may have is he or she may not enjoy the companion friends of the goalless and aimless – poverty, lack, sickness, failure, lack of progress, stagnancy etc.
Get your God given goal and stick with it to fulfillment. Jesus fulfilled His calling; you will fulfill yours in Jesus name.
You have the overcoming gene in you; the qualities, strength and grace of an overcomer. (1 Corinthians 15:57)
The Bible states in 1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (KJV)
Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind]. (AMP)
Additionally, in 1 John 5:4, the Bible states:
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (KJV)
For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]. (AMP)
God has given you goals and a purpose. Satan and his cohorts will fight you to try to stop you from fulfilling God’s purpose. They fought Jesus and lost the battle. As they fight you, they will lose the battle over your life and destiny in Jesus name. You will fulfill your purpose in Jesus name.
What you set your heart to you will achieve in Jesus name.
What should you do?
1. Be on Gods side. He can help you and He will help you.
2. War a good warfare - 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)
3. Be holy - 15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1: 15-16)
4. Stay in righteousness - Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous (1 John 3:7). Also Romans 1:4 and Habakkuk 1:13.
5. Reject fear. Fear is false evidence appearing real. Satan is a master magician full of tricks and deceits of unrighteousness. Remember that All power belongs to Jesus.
6. Don’t be discouraged. Your resistance and resilience and how far you can go can be understood by what it takes to discourage you.
You are as strong as your capacity to withstand opposition.
You are as strong as your ability to confront opposition, your willingness and capacity to push back, attack and destroy opposition.
You have the capacity to; and you have to move from the defensive to the offensive. Refer to the conquest stories of the children of Israel in the book of Joshua on how they took over the land God had given them. They engaged their weapons of war to drive out the enemies out of their land.
Your stance determines the level of progression you can achieve. Your flinty unyielding stance determines level of achievement you obtain notwithstanding the oppositions and confrontations you face. Your flinty, stony stance to opposition and problems determine the extent and reach you will attain.
Prayers 1
1. Fear; depart out of my life and destiny in Jesus name.
2. Discouragement, I am not your candidate, die out of my life and destiny in Jesus name.
Prayers 2
1. Give thanks
2. Born again?
3. I overcome fear and discouragement in Jesus name.
4. The devil and agents of darkness will not be able to prevent me from achieving my God ordained goals in Jesus name.
5. I will pass every trial from God gallantly by the special grace of God in Jesus name.
6. I receive grace to abide in holiness and righteousness all my days in Jesus name.
7. I receive healing and deliverance from every sickness and difficult situation in Jesus name.
8. Unrelenting conspirators working against my life and progress, antagonise and destroy yourselves in Jesus name.
9. Goliath, Pharaoh and Herod of my father’s and mother’s houses die in Jesus name.
10. I bind every strongman that have stolen from me and recover my goods in Jesus name.
11. I will not die I will live by the power in the blood of Jesus.
12. I will have progressive increase, joy, peace, flourishing and great accomplishments in all areas of my life, family, career, academics, business, ministry and destiny in Jesus mighty name.
13. My life and family are shielded with the blood of Jesus against every attack from the kingdom of darkness in Jesus name.
14. I receive the anointing of ease in my endeavors in Jesus name.
15. I will not go to hell, I will make it to heaven in Jesus name by the power in the blood and Jesus.
16. Personal prayer points.
17. Give thanks
