Adversity (4 of 5)

ADVERSITY (4 of 5):

Adversity will affect us all at some point in our lives.

10. Adversity can be: Our reminder to pray for our authorities.

      Question: How often do we pray for our superiors?
      Elected officials? Spiritual leaders?

      God teaches us that there is a correlation between praying for those in
      authority over us, and a quiet and peaceful life. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

      In a spiritual sense, those in positions of responsibility
      serve as a spiritual umbrella to others. (1 Peter 2:13-14)

     Those in leadership are judged by a higher standard. (James 3:1)

     When there are failures in their lives, leaks develop in the
     spiritual umbrella – this gives Satan greater freedom
     to attack and defeat those who are under that umbrella.

     We need to remember:
           When we experience the pressures of temptation,
           spiritual leaders are also undergoing temptations
           (this is why they need our intercessory prayers).

11.   Adversity can be: Our signal to re-evaluate our priorities.

        Do we know our priorities are in line with God’s will for us?

        Wrong priorities can result in a lot of painful adversity
        (not only for us, but also for others who are affected by our lives).

        When we fail to spend time with the Lord
        (memorizing His Word, meditating, praying, etc),
        we rob others of spiritual encouragement and direction.

        We instead become vulnerable to temptation and sin. (Psalms 107:17)
        However, God saves people from their distresses. (Psalms 107:19)
            Question: How does God save us out of our distresses?
                                      – With His Word (Psalms 107:20).

        Sometimes we may experience adversity
        because our priorities are out of balance.

        We may be trying to serve God, but doing more
        than He intended for us to do (Psalms 127:2).

        If we have more projects than we can do in six days, we
        have assumed more work than God intended (Exodus 20:9-10).

        When our priorities are our of balance, we can find ourselves
        living in the conflict of two worlds (temporal and external).
            Question: What is the difference between the two?
                                      – Whatever we can see with our eyes is in the
                                         temporal world (2 Corinthians 4:18).

12. Adversity can be: God’s way of testing our work.

       Every spiritual house (mind, body, & soul) must be
       tested in order to confirm that it is founded on truth.
       (Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
             Note: In both cases the house is built, but one is built in vain.

       The test of our work will reveal if we are working in vain.
       (Psalms 127:1)

       Question: How should we build our house?
                                 – We build it with good materials. (1 Peter 2:1-5)
                                 – Our house is built on faith (the foundation),
                                    but there is more. (2 Peter 1:5-8)

13. Adversity can be: God’s way of sifting our friendships.

       Adversity is a time when friendships are tested.
       We find out which friends are concerned about getting
       and which ones are concerned about giving.

       A true friend loves at all times, especially
       during a time of adversity (Proverbs 17:17).

       Jesus explains this kind of friendship
       in His parable of the Good Samaritan.

       His commitment to his neighbor (in the middle of adversity),
       continued until all his neighbor’s needs were met (Luke 10:30-37).

       On the other hand, the prodigal son had many friends
       while he was spending his inheritance.
       When the money ran out and hardships came, he found himself
       without any real friends to help him. (Luke 15:11-16).

       True friendship can be seen in the relationship
       between David and Jonathan.
           They were good friends when adversity came to David.
           Jonathan could have chosen many valid reasons for deserting David,
           but instead he stood by David right up to the end of his life.
                 – He warned David of dangers.
                 – He protected David from others.
                 – He encouraged David.
                 – He remained a friend of David’s.
                 – He even risked his life for David.

          When David was in the middle of adversity (threatened with
          the possibility of death), Jonathan was there for him.

          Question: How did David feel about Jonathan’s friendship?
                                     – We can see how much David appreciated
                                        Jonathan’s sincere friendship (2 Samuel 1:25-26).

       True friendship can be summed up in these verses: (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)