Romans 8:31
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"
In the early years of my ministry, I faced a battle that could have destroyed my ministry.
I remember going to a wise man of God to get counsel on how to deal with the situation. This man gave me one of the greatest pieces of advice that I have fallen back on time and time again. He said, "Bro. Domelle, if man set you up in the ministry, then man can take you down. But, if God called you and built your ministry, then only God can take you down." That one little sentence has been an anchor during the many battles that have come my way.
The verse above poses a question that is truly a statement. God asks, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" This is not a question, but rather a statement to the believer. It is a statement that as a Christian, if God is on your side there is nothing that can take you down. Let me take you through the progression of the teaching of this statement.
First, "If" is not a word of doubting or uncertainty, but it is a certainty and assurance that God is for us. Friend, anytime you do right, you can be assured that God is for you. God is for every believer who does right. Psalm 147:11 says, "The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." God pleasures in helping His children. It does not matter what your status in Christianity may be, if you are saved then God is for you. Psalm 149:4 says, "For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people:..." As a Christian, you can rest in the assurance that God is for you.
Second, God is on your side when you do right. Notice it says, "If God be for us,..." In other words, this verse is teaching that when you do right, you are on God's side. All you need to know is that you are on the right side. If you are obeying the Scriptures, then you are on the right side. If you are doing what God tells you to do, then you are on the right side. This verse even implies that God is pulling for you. When you are on the same team, you cheer for someone to make it. When you do right, you are not only on God's team, which means He will work with you to help you succeed, but it also means that God is cheering for you to make it. Your enemies may be waiting for you to fall, but God is cheering for you to make it.
The last phrase is a strengthening phrase when it says, "...who can be against us?" When God chooses to be on your side, it doesn't matter what the enemy throws at you, God is greater than their weapons. Isaiah 54:17 says, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." Look at the words, "No weapon..." If the weapons are words, they will fail because God is for you. If the weapons are undermining your work or credibility, they will fail because God is for you. Whatever the weapon you seem to be fighting against today, you can be assured that God will overcome the weapon.
However, this does not say when the weapons may fail, it just says that God will come through. Friend, the enemy may be making advances right now, but their advances will end one day. You may seem to be losing, but just keep doing right for God will eventually come through.
Whatever you face is no match for God, and that is what you need to remember when people try to take you down. If man set you up, then you have something to fear for they can take you down. But, if God set you up and is on your side, only God can take you down; therefore, you have nothing to fear. All you need to do is keep doing right and wait on the LORD to help defeat those who are trying to destroy you.