HIS GOODNESS – ADVERSITY

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TEXT: Exo.1:8-14; Pro.24:10

INTRODUCTION

Adversity comes in many shapes forms and fashions. These perplexing predicaments show up at the most inconvenient times, disrupting our lives and the frustrating thing is that adversity does not need an invitation. One moment life appears to be serene, and then the next moment we find ourselves caught in the middle of the storm.

For some of us life is just one storm after another. We wake up in a storm, go to work in one and come home to another. Tough times are part of human lives and we all at different times have experienced them. The children of Israel were not left out. God, as an expression of His goodness to them allowed them to go through tough times in their own interest.

Adversity can come from 3 sources

* God – Job 1:6-22, 2:3-10
* Satan – IChro.21:1,Lu.22:3-4
* Man/Self –James 1:13-15,4:1-4
* Often God uses the challenges or ruins of our lives to establish His purposes – Rom.8:28
* He rides the storms in our lives at times with the wings of our inconvenience – Lu.19:39-40

Take a look
1. Jacob: Fear of Esau pushed him to seek God, and came out as Israel – Gen.32:28
2. Joseph: Envious brothers sold Him to Egypt. He became out as a sent one – Gen.45:3-8
3. Delays: Hannah – from the seeming ruins of her life, He raised a prophet, Judge for Israel – Isam.1-2
4. The persecution and scattering of the Church – Acts 8-12
Result – Acts 8:4-5

So, we should learn that:
– God is at work always Phil.2:12
– Trust God and Give thanks – Ithes.5:18
– Not to complain no matter the situation– Job 34:32-35, Matth.11:2-6

Adversity Principle
Biological term
Comes from the understanding that easy living and prosperity produce certain softness.
Animals in the Zoo.
Lie there and yawn and eat.
Flabby
Not toned up
Not ready for action.
Because all their needs are met.
There is something to having to work for it.
There is something about the stress and strain of living in the wild.
Where if they aren’t successful in finding food they go hungry.

Plant world – tree in rain forest – plenty of water – roots stay on the surface – doesn’t have to send them down to find water………as a result it can be blown over by the first wind storm that comes along.
But you plant a Dongoyaro tree in the desert where the roots have to go down 30 feet of more to find water.
And that tree is so strong that nothing can blow it over.
Because it grows in a hostile environment.
There is something about adversity that makes a better organism. It makes them tough! I believe that God is calling us to toughness!

I Pet 1:7 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

· When you go through hard times you get tougher!”
· I believe this fact explains the difficulties and stress that the Lord allows into our life.
· Psychologists will tell you that our emotional stability is wrapped up in what we expect from life.
· Now brethren, if this is true of animals and plants it’s true of us and it’s especially true of us spiritually.

E.g. In Europe just before the Berlin wall came down 10 years ago.
You’re aware that Europe was divided into the east and the west.
The east was behind the “Iron Curtain”.
And the Christians that were behind the Iron curtain were under “Incredible oppression”
They couldn’t find Bibles.
No materials
No tapes.
No Christian programming on TV or radio.
Christian leaders were executed, tortured or imprisoned.
Many times 1 pastor that has not been through formal Bible School training has 8-10 churches that he pastors.
And those churches have to meet in private.
“GREAT OPPRESSION ON THESE PEOPLE IN EAST EUROPE….

In Western Europe by contrast they were free.
They can worship where they want to
How they want to and when they want to.
Bibles everywhere.
Seminaries everywhere.
Authorities on the bible are everywhere.

But isn’t it strange brethren that there were and are more Christians in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe?!
There were more Christians behind the Iron Curtain than there were in the freedom of the West.
And they were tougher, believed more and even were more committed just like in the north of our country.

I believe that God wants His people to be “Tough”!
Look at the Children of Israel in the desert.
No water
No food

And they started to complain.
And let’s look at how God responded to their complaints.
Numbers 11: And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. 2And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. 3And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
New Testament
Jesus in boot with the disciples
….asleep…storm…..disciples scared……Jesus rebukes them and says o ye of little faith.

Jesus on the night of His betrayal
…..asks the disciples to watch….they were tired…they couldn’t do it…Jesus comes back and rebukes them for not being tough.

Look at the 2nd half of the 11 chapter of Hebrews when those people suffered every form of difficulty and their call “Heroes” because of the way they suffered.
Sawn asunder
Went without food
Improper clothing

This theme runs throughout the bible ——– Why does God allow adversity?

First let me say that the same boiling water that softens the carrot will harden the egg.
Some people respond to adversity by getting tougher and some by going to pieces.

The Lord understands that He knows that. It is not sent to:
Confuse us 1Cor.14:33
Make us bitter against anyone
Make us play the blame game Isa.58:9

It is sent to:
· Build courage in us Matt. 14:24,27
· To show us our weakness so that we can work on improving them. Matt.14:28
· Comes to show us another side of God 1Cor10:13
· To push us to pray Exo.2:23-25; Jam.5:14-18
· To toughen us Rom.8:28-29
· To humble us Deut.8:1-3,16
· To cleanse us Gen. 50:20; Lu.15:11-23
· To show us men ie who our true friends are.Prov.19:4,6-7

Five (5) Things not to do in Adversity
· Don’t ever get angry with God or anyone for it
· Don’t ever give up
· Avoid negative remarks or words or confession
· Avoid self pity at all cost
· Avoid discouragement at all cost.

But here is what I believe the Lord wants.

SPIRITUAL STABLILTY
This runs very close to emotional stability.
* Mind
* Body
* Spirit

One affects the other.
If mind is sick….body is sick…
If body is sick …spirit is sick….
Spiritual problems develop out of emotional and physical weakness.
And if you do not have stability emotionally it will affect you spiritually.

This is why God wants strength from us.

Paul said in Philipians 4: 1Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed {Commanded} both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

* Do you realize where Paul was when He wrote that?…
* Roman Jail
* Rats
* Damp
* Bugs
* Criminals
* Chains
* Hands and feet in chains
* Can you imagine what kind of bathroom facilities
* He’s an older man by now.

And he writes….: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Conclusion
God wants us strong & resilient not weak & vulnerable. Therefore, get tough! As Apostle Paul said:

Acts 20:24

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

2 Tim 1:12
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Dr. Udoh
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