THE REFINING BLESSINGS OF

ADVERSITY

THE REFINING BLESSINGS OF

ADVERSITY

“Count it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds . . .

James 1: 2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing

(James 1:2-4, NKJV)

Adversities/trials come inAdversities/trials come invarious SSS (styles, sizes, various SSS (styles, sizes,

shapes)shapes) ApathyApathy Betrayal/deceptionsBetrayal/deceptions Discouraging circumstancesDiscouraging circumstances DelaysDelays Physical infirmitiesPhysical infirmities Anxiety/fearAnxiety/fear Unwanted eventsUnwanted events Etc.Etc.

The nature of man is detest/hate The nature of man is detest/hate adversity. But God’s view is altogether adversity. But God’s view is altogether different.different.

• Life never was intended to be easy. Rather, it is a period of proving & growth. It is interwoven with difficulties, challenges, & burdens… yet these very forces, if squarely faced, provide opportunity for tremendous personal growth and development.

• After the crucifixion & resurrection of Jesus, Christianity made rapid gains in Jerusalem. Then disaster struck: Stephen was stoned to death; Christians were scattered to Judea & Samaria. End of the Church? NO! This proved to be its Great Beginning.

• Shakespeare writes “Sweet is the uses of adversity.” Persecution became the catalyst of Jesus’ Great Commission.

* Persecution jolted the apostles out of their comfort zone & sent them out to witness in their hiding places. It was God’s way of fulfilling Jesus’ prophesy.

Many in today’s generation have not fully known nor appreciated the refining blessings of adversity.

Adversity is a painful experience, but by God's grace it is possible for

great good to come from such experiences.

Don't give up! Don't hate the refiner's fire. Trust God during the dark days and He will guide you

through to a better tomorrow

Refining Blessings Refining Blessings of Adversityof Adversity

Jesus knew that adversity is on the outside Jesus knew that adversity is on the outside of a person. An individual’s attitude of a person. An individual’s attitude determines whether one chooses to determines whether one chooses to become bitter or better from it.become bitter or better from it.

Ask the Lord to improve your ability to handle adversity with a better attitude.

Jesus knew that adversity often Jesus knew that adversity often allows one to demonstrate courage.allows one to demonstrate courage.

Refining Blessings Refining Blessings of Adversityof Adversity

Ask the Lord to help you respond with

great courage to hardships.

Jesus knew that adversity often Jesus knew that adversity often exposes our weaknesses.exposes our weaknesses.

Refining Blessings Refining Blessings of Adversityof Adversity

Ask the Lord show you your weakness so you can learn ways to grow in Christ.

Jesus knew that adversity comes to Jesus knew that adversity comes to everyone, but God provides a way to everyone, but God provides a way to overcome them.overcome them.

Ask the Lord to help you choose the way out of trials rather than allowing it to

conquer you.

Refining Blessings Refining Blessings of Adversityof Adversity

Jesus knew that adversity Jesus knew that adversity overwhelms people because they overwhelms people because they do not utilize the power of prayer.do not utilize the power of prayer.

Refining Blessings Refining Blessings of Adversityof Adversity

Ask the Lord to help you utilize the full power, privileges, and processes of prayer

to overcome your adversity.

Jesus knew that adversity is often a Jesus knew that adversity is often a

part of God’s plan to help us grow inpart of God’s plan to help us grow in

Christ-likeness.Christ-likeness.

Ask the Lord for willingness to let Him do whatever He wants to bring youmore into conformity with Christ.

Refining Blessings Refining Blessings of Adversityof Adversity

Jesus knew that adversity could Jesus knew that adversity could bringbring

People to see the greater works of People to see the greater works of God. God.

Sometimes God allows adversity for Sometimes God allows adversity for His purposes which we are not to His purposes which we are not to question.question.

Refining Blessings Refining Blessings of Adversityof Adversity

Ask the Lord to allow you to believe, perceive and understand more of

the greater things God will do through all types of adversity.

In life we all have our times of In life we all have our times of testing and growth.testing and growth.

These trials are necessary.These trials are necessary. They are growth experiences.They are growth experiences. Although these were times of deep Although these were times of deep

anguish and suffering, they are anguish and suffering, they are also times of drawing near to God.also times of drawing near to God.

The suffering of the Savior in The suffering of the Savior in Gethemesane was without Gethemesane was without

question the greatest that has question the greatest that has ever come to mankind, yet out ever come to mankind, yet out of it came the of it came the greatest blessinggreatest blessing

in the in the

promised promised eternal life.eternal life.

A Carrot, An Egg, A Carrot, An Egg, A Cup of Coffee?A Cup of Coffee?

Carrot, Egg, Coffee

The carrot seems strong, but under trial wilts.

The egg seems fairly formidable but under trial becomes very hard in the inside; still looks

the same from the outside, but its inside is stiff.

But the coffee bean is altogether different. It changes the hot water. The very circumstance that brings the pain is changed into something

that changes the environment.

Am I living my life that way?

Which of the three are you?

May you. . .May you. . .

elevate yourself above the dark hourselevate yourself above the dark hours have enough happiness to make you have enough happiness to make you

sweetsweet have enough trials to make you have enough trials to make you

strongstrong have enough sorrow to make you have enough sorrow to make you

humanhuman have enough hope to make you happyhave enough hope to make you happy have enough courage when you fall to have enough courage when you fall to

rise againrise again

In Christ!

The happiest of peopleThe happiest of people

don’t have the best of everythingdon’t have the best of everything make the best of everything that make the best of everything that

comes their waycomes their way builds their future on hope, not builds their future on hope, not

from past failuresfrom past failures