Triumphalism

This unbalanced theology associated with the prosperity doctrine focuses on the Christian life being one of continual victory and overcoming while ignoring the reality of ongoing sin, and our own fallen and finite nature. Although Christ made provision for total victory over all the effects of sin, with God able to miraculously heal, provide and bless, this is not always the case this side of eternity. While we are invited to ask in faith, trusting in His divine intervention to receive what we have prayed for, including physical healing and release from spiritual bondage, this does not always happen (Mk 11:24, 16:17,18). We should be persistent in prayer until the Lord indicates otherwise (Lk 18:1-8; 2 Cor 12:8,9). God is not obligated to give us what we ask, rather we must understand He is a holy God deserving of our submission to His perfect will and His sovereign purpose. While it is natural to desire a pleasant and relatively carefree life there is a tension between the jubilation of experiencing God’s provision and the blessing of His power intervening yet there are also the unrelenting circumstances that must be endured with the agony of prayers not answered in the way we had hoped. The NT teaches it is natural for believers to suffer all kinds of trials (Act 14:22; 1 Pet 1:6, 4:12). It also indicates at least two of the NT spiritual leaders had sickness from which they were not healed (2 Cor 12:7-10; 1 Tim 5:23).

Although God reigns, His supremacy won’t be fully manifest until Jesus returns. He uses the less than ideal situations in life to develop character and aid spiritual growth in us that cannot be achieved through any other means. He doesn’t eliminate suffering and defeat but uses these for our eternal benefit (Rom 5:3-5, 8:28; 2 Cor 4:17,18). We should be determined to loyally follow God regardless of His alleviation of our predicaments (Dan 3:11,12).

As believers, our hope and vision should always be centred on Christ and the ultimate victory, not what does or doesn’t happen in this world nor on the negativism that is a characteristic of Satan’s realm.