Invincible Consolation

Introduction

In our day, “forgetting the ways of the world” must also include unlearning certain teachings we once received from well-meaning Christians. In the early years of my walk with Christ, I was so ravenous for God’s Word that I absorbed nearly everything spoken from the pulpit and everything taught by believers who had been “Born Again” longer than I. Many of these teachings—shaped by the fervor of the Jesus Movement and the Charismatic wave of the sixties and seventies—were passionate, sincere, and often helpful, yet not fully aligned with the mind, heart, or intent of God.

One of the most influential was the “name it and claim it” doctrine. We were told that if we were God’s children, free from sin, and following His Word verbatim, then health, success, and prosperity were not only possible but expected. Sickness became evidence that something was wrong in your soul. Doubt, sin, and unforgiveness were the assumed culprits behind every unanswered prayer. Doctors and medication was frowned upon (and still is by many). Demons were imagined in every corner—inhabiting objects, afflicting believers, and becoming convenient explanations for life’s hardships.

To be considered a “good Christian” meant your prayers produced quick, positive results. Health meant holiness. Prosperity meant divine favor. And we, in our zeal, became little Pharisees—unknowingly adopting a theology that reduced God to a cosmic vending machine and elevated His children to self-appointed interpreters of what He “must” do. In our enthusiasm, we became small “gods,” reminding Almighty God what He supposedly promised and what He must surely intend. Many of these teachings persist even now.

In this paper, we will shine light on several of these doctrines—tracing their roots, exposing their errors, and revealing the hollow, weightless version of Christianity they produce. My aim is not to condemn those who taught these things, for I too taught many of these myths, but to call us back to a faith anchored in truth, humility, and the true heart of God.

Invincible consolation

Invincible consolation is a phrase taken from a book written by Oswald Chambers (OC) titled: The Love of God. It describes a kind of comfort that cannot be defeated, shaken, or taken away. It is a consolation that remains firm regardless of circumstances, emotions, suffering, or external pressures.

Here’s a deeper breakdown:

Invincible

• Not able to be overcome
• Unconquerable, immovable
• Stronger than any opposing force

Consolation

• Comfort, solace, inner encouragement
• The strengthening of the soul in times of sorrow, fear, or uncertainty

Together: Invincible & Consolation

The phrase suggests a comfort so strong that nothing in life—loss, pain, trials, spiritual attack, or uncertainty—can destroy it. In a Christian or spiritual context, it often refers to the Holy Spirit’s comfort, which Jesus called “another Helper” or “Comforter” who abides within and cannot be taken away by the world.

It is:

• Deeper than emotion
• Greater than circumstances
• Rooted in eternal truth rather than temporary conditions

Paul expresses this idea when he speaks of being “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” and when he declares that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. That love produces an invincible consolation.

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV

“…preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison”. What a statement! We have no clue what God has prepared for us, yet, all of our afflictions and tribulations are preparing us for that life. There is only one word that we should use to express our condition – Rejoice!

Early Church Teaching

Many of the teachings that emerged in the 1960s and 70s were, in their time, genuinely edifying. My own family and I were blessed to grow up in a church grounded firmly in Scripture. Though I occasionally wandered into teachings that were less sound, the foundation laid beneath me—rooted deeply in the Word of God—spared me from many heartaches. In this, I learned something from the church in Berea.

“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Acts 17:11 (ESV)

The Bereans did not know Paul personally any more than I truly knew many of the teachers I encountered. Yet they listened with eagerness while continually testing everything against the Scriptures, probing the Word to confirm the truth of Paul’s message.

This is our calling as well. We must not assume that every teaching from the past was flawless, nor that long-established traditions hold the full measure of truth. Instead, like the Bereans, we must return again and again to the Scriptures—testing, discerning, and allowing God’s Word to remain the final authority, both over the teachings we have inherited and those we receive today.

About Demons

The influence of the demonic upon believers is real—often heavy, often subtle—but we must not lay every hardship at the feet of Satan and his hosts. Many voices have said it, and rightly so: we give the adversary far too much credit. A great portion of our troubles are born not of hellish design but of our own choices, weaknesses, and missteps—and sometimes, tragically, of the wounds we inflict on others.

There are moments, of course, when it seems the enemy merely nudges the first stone, and we ourselves send the avalanche downward—much to his delight. My wife and I know this terrain well. As “demon chasers” (exorcists) in the late 1970s, we encountered both the genuine and the imagined. I suspect I cast out more demons that never existed than those that truly did. Some encounters were unmistakably real. Others were nothing more than the product of broken machinery or the fervor of overzealous believers eager to “repair” what was not spiritually wrong.

Today, I am convinced more than ever that many demonic strategies depend upon Christian ignorance and confusion. They do not always need to oppress us directly; they simply rely on us to misinterpret, overreact, or assume the worst.

A lingering inner voice—born of self-pity and unhealthy teaching—still whispers that sickness, hardship, and every shadowed circumstance must be from the Devil. We tremble at the thought of The Tribulation, forgetting the blessed hope promised to the redeemed and the assurance that we are not destined for this wrath. Fear feeds on what we forget.

We also overlook a deeper truth woven throughout Scripture: grapes must be crushed and grain must be ground for the wine and bread that sustain life. So it is with us. We are the grapes; we are the grain. The pressures we endure, the trials we face, and the refining we undergo are not evidence of demonic triumph but of divine transformation. Through the life we live in Christ—and the name we bear—hope is carried into the world.

So the question remains: Are we truly in partnership with Him?
And when the final accounting is made, Will our words and actions condemn us—or acquit us?

A Roaring Lion

There is a teaching that still circulates widely: “Satan goes about as a roaring lion, but he is toothless. He only goes about as a roaring lion—he is not one.” Some translations say “like.” I remember a preacher from the 1970s, Jesse Winley, founder and pastor of the Soul Saving Station in Harlem. His words still echo in my spirit. After hearing this overly casual message from a previous speaker, he stood up and said, “Don’t believe that for a moment. Satan will destroy you if you give him one inch. He is a sociopathic liar with no conscience, and he delights in anything that tears down Christ.” (Not an exact quote, but the force of his warning remains.)

Yes, Satan is God’s devil—still under divine sovereignty—but neither he nor God should ever be taken for granted. We are commanded to sit with Christ in heavenly places, to walk in His Word, and to stand against the schemes of the enemy and the unbelieving world that rejects Jesus Christ. Yet in all things, we must remain watchful. Failure to sit, walk, and stand may open the door to troubles of our own making.

Never treat Satan lightly, and never make him the punchline of spiritual bravado. That is an invitation for needless harm. Satan is not “under your feet,” as a popular song suggests—you cannot stomp him. He is under Christ’s feet alone. And apart from the Cross and the Blood of Jesus, he would destroy us, our families, and our friends without hesitation or reason—simply for the cruel pleasure of it.

Keep your eyes fixed on Christ, or the consequences may overrun you and those you love. This is not fear-mongering; it is reality. Read again the life of Paul, one of the greatest apostles and architects of the New Testament. Where in his letters do you find a man resting in complacency? He endured relentless assault, yet he drew his joy from the indwelling Holy Spirit, who empowered him to press on through every hardship.

In a mystery that humbles all of us, the very one we call the devil may be permitted by God to refine us—to manifest in us the graces of the Spirit, to strengthen our dependence on Christ, and to produce in us a faith that cannot be shaken.

Beating Yourself Up

“I’m not worthy. I’m not even sure I’m truly saved. What if I miss the Rapture? I still sin. I take medication because I’m sick and in pain—why won’t God heal me? Has He really forgiven me? What should I do? Lord, remove these afflictions from me. I just want to live free from trouble, walk Your golden streets, sing Your praises, preach Your Word, and share Your love.”

Beloved, hear me: this is not the life of a Christian. A Christian does not wait for perfect circumstances to serve God—a Christian lives and even thrives in the midst of adversity. Who would want to follow Christ if all they see in us is despair, self-pity, and fear? Certainly not I.

And to this personal lament, we must add the constant noise around us: media, misguided preachers, churches without discernment, false prophets, self-appointed apostles—all pouring confusion into the hearts of believers. Yes, the Gospel is simple: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). But the journey does not end at salvation. Salvation is the doorway—not the destination. Now we must work out the life God has planted within us.

Here lies the hidden truth: If you are right with God, the very thing afflicting you is shaping your salvation. God uses the pressures of life as the furnace that refines the soul.

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (ESV)

Christ has commanded us to remain on this earth until He calls us home. Life is not Hell—but it can be hellish. This is nothing new. Isaiah warned,

“Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure…” Isaiah 5:14

He was not describing Hell’s geography but its tragedy: hell is never full. Its appetite is unending, and its pull remains as strong now as in Isaiah’s day. Therefore, our old habits, shallow teachings, and childish understandings must be left behind. As we grow in wisdom and revelation, we must embrace a renewed understanding of Scripture—living truth, unfolding truth, Spirit-breathed truth.

This is your calling as you walk the path and run the race. God’s revelation is not stagnant; His Word is alive. Accept what He is showing you today, and keep moving forward.

• Forget the ground you have already covered (1 Corinthians 9:24–27). Let go of teachings born from immaturity or lack of understanding.
• Do not linger over the past (Philippians 3:13).
• Reach toward what lies ahead.
• Strain every nerve and muscle; pour every ounce of strength into the race.
• Your future depends on it.
• You are running for your life (Philippians 3:13).
• Press toward the mark (Philippians 3:14).
• Fix your eyes on the white line of the course, lest you be disqualified for losing focus (Philippians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 9:24).

Above all, do not fear. Jesus returned to the Father so that He could send the Holy Spirit—your Comforter, your Guide, your Strength in the race. And He is faithful. What He began in you, He will finish.

Hold fast to faith. You will not lose.

In Christ, you are an overcomer.

Conclusion

The purpose of this paper has been to shed light on certain doctrines that have misled many believers into error. There are countless examples, but I have focused on a few to illustrate a simple principle: do not accept everything you hear from the pulpit without discernment. Be like the Bereans, who “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.

We are consoled by truth. It is invincible. But, truth does not come to us without effort, nor does the appearance of truth give us the consolation we need. Some teachings may sound appealing or seem too good to be true—and that is often a warning in itself. I recall hearing a teaching that claimed one only needed to pray for something once, because God hears all prayers. According to this view, if you pray again, it shows a lack of faith. This is not consistent with Scripture. God invites us to persist in prayer, as Jesus Himself taught in the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1–8).

If you are unfamiliar with the Scriptures that correct these errors, I encourage you to search them out diligently. Truth, likewise the invincible consolation I speak of, is not found in convenience or repetition of popular sayings; it is found in the Word of God, illuminated by the Spirit.

Enough Said

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16 ESV