Adversity

ADVERSITY

INTRO:

• We all have some type of adversity.

• Last 2 years have been tough on everyone.

• Although adversity differs from one person to the next, we all face it.

• I don’t want to compare what adversity is worse than another.

• Or who has the worst adversity.

• I want us to look to scripture to see what it says about adversity and maybe how to handle it.

• Lets look a John 16 this morning.

• John 13-16 are very personal chapters.

• Jesus spends very important time with the disciples right before the garden, trial, and ultimately his crucifixion.

• John 13; where Jesus washes disciples feet, Judas betrays Jesus, and Peter proclaims he will never leave Jesus.

• John 14; Jesus tells them he is going to prepare a place, tells why he must go, so the Holy Spirit can come.

• John 15; the vine and the branches, if we abide in him we produce fruit that is nourished by him.

• John 17; a prayer by Jesus for the church.

• John 16; where we are today, Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure.

• His departure will bring real/true adversity to the disciples and his followers.

1. YOU ARE NOT ALONE

• Read John 16:1-4

• He tells them these things, so they won’t be surprised when the adversity come.

• Greek word for stumble in verse 1

• Skandalizo = someone stumbling on a block, their feet getting tangled up.

• Jesus doesn’t want them to be caught off guard.

• It’s the same with us.

• We’ve been promised adversity will come.

• Read John16:33

1 Peter 4:12

John 15:18

• Many other scriptures as well.

• Scripture tells us to expect adversity.

• We can also expect adversity by looking at the lives of the apostles and disciples.

• These people were mistreated, persecuted, rejected, many of them martyred.

• Expound on how their lives were filled with adversity.

• Their lives show us to expect adversity.

• We can also look at people in our lives and the lives of people that live in our community.

• Do they face adversity?, of course they do!

• We all know people or stories where people are facing various forms of adversity.

• Expound on some of the adversity in our community.

• We have all this knowledge that adversity is real, we see it everyday.

• Yet we are still caught off guard by it.

2. LEAN INTO GOD

• In times of adversity, do you lean into God or away from him?

• Better question, when adversity comes, who is the first person you call?

• Example Nanna

• Having people we can turn to is important as we will see in a moment.

• But God wants us to turn to him first.

• Read 1 Peter 5:7

Psalm 55: 22

• Greek word for cast literally means to throw.

• I’m talking open honest dialogue with God.

• Summarize Psalm 55.

• Example my prayers during my divorce.

• Another way of leaning into God is by turning to the people he has placed in our lives.

• Mention Paul and his achievements for Christ.

• All that he did, all that he was, He still needed prayers from his friends and loved ones.

• Read 1 Thessalonians 5:25, Paul closes the letter by asking for prayer.

• Expound on Paul needing prayer.

• Prayer is a responsibility we have to one another in the body of Christ.

• Mention James 5:16. Prayers of a righteous man avails much.

• We’ve got to lean into the provision of the Holy Spirit.

• Read John 16:33.

• Greek word for take heart is tharseo = to take comfort.

• What is comfort to you?

• Our natural response to adversity isn’t comfort.

• It’s usually get this away from me.

• However, we as Christians empowered by the Holy Spirit have access to the same power that allowed Jesus to overcome the world.

• Read Philippians 1:19.

• Another word for salvation= deliverance/rescue.

• Paul was able to overcome his adversity because of the provision of the Holy Spirit.

• Remember, God is always as close to us as he always has been/ever will be. He’s omnipresent.

• It’s up to us to turn to him and the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. God knows what he’s doing

• Most important thing to remember about adversity, God knows what he’s doing.

• All of us probably agree with this statement.

• However, do we live with this attitude when adversity strikes?

• Let’s look at Philippians 1.

• Paul is imprisoned writing to the Philippians, he says this.

• Read Philippians 1:12-14.

• “Things that have happened to me”