Learn To Grow Through Adversity Series

Learn To Grow Through Adversity

James 1:1-12 S02

God never intended for or made provision for us to stop in our spiritual growth. God's purpose for us is that we grow and become more like the Lord Jesus Christ in our daily lives. To reflect more of Him and less of us. Sometimes we become complacent in our Christian growth. We feel that we have reached a place and no longer have a need to grow or go any deeper in our walk with God. When this happens, God will allow adversity to come into our lives to move us forward in our walk with Him and cause us to grow. How we respond to our trials will either makes us or break us.

Why is that when we encounter troubles, trials or adversity many in the church want to quit and give up. Over the years I have seen people quit church, quit serving God, quit reading their bible and quit praying because of troubles. I have even seen those that became bitter and angry with God because of their troubles as though God has done them an injustice. Many have expressed that God had been unfair to them. Than there are those that feel that God owes them something. Let me say that God doesn't owe any of us anything. God, because of His mercy and grace chose to bestow on us His Blessing. Not because He owed us or not because He had to, but because He Chose to.

If we will submit ourselves to God during times of adversity we will discover something about God and about ourselves.

Lesson Learned about God:

God has a purpose for every trial that comes into your life. Nothing happens to you without God's approval or purpose.

God has the power to work things out to your good. Regardless of the circumstances you are facing God can make all things work to your good and your benefit.

God's perspective is not the same as yours. God sees the purpose and outcome of your trial. All you and I see is the pain and the problem. God sees the future while all you and I can see is the present.

God's promise of His presence in the time of your trial. God will never leave you when you nor forsake you.

When faced with adversity we will also discover some things about ourselves.

We will discover what our view of God really is.

We will discover what our weaknesses and our strengths are.

We will discover how mature we are.

We will discover what our priorities really are. God's command or my comfort.

God is going to have a people that have been tried and proven.

God is going to have a people that have learned to grow through adversity.

God is going to have a people that have been made stronger and have become more determined than ever to serve Him.

God is going to have a people that is willing to change in order to become more like Jesus in their lives.

God test us to bring out the best in us.

Satan tempts us to bring out the worst in us.

This morning we are going to Learn To Grow Through Adversity..

This morning you can Profit From Your Problems. You can turn Trials into Triumph.

If we are going to Grow Through Adversity. If we are going to Profit From Our Problems. If we are going to Turn Trials into Triumph. Then there are some facts of Life that we MUST face and accept.

Fact # 1 The Reality of Trials.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

1. Problems Are Inevitable.

James did not say, "If you encounter problems consider it joy" but when you encounter problems. You can count on it, you're going to have problems. If you don't have problems, check your pulse. It is a fact of life. Jesus said "In the world you will have tribulation." Peter said, "Don't be surprised when you have problems." Count on it. Problems are not an elective in life. They are a required course. You don't get out of them by saying you don't want to have any problems. Nobody's immune.

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Don't be surprised by your trials they are coming.

2. Problems Are Unpredictable.

He says, "...when you fall into troubles ..." The word "fall" literally means "to fall into unexpectedly". It is the same word used in the story of the Good Samaritan where the man fell among thieves -- it was unexpected. Trials are not planned. We seldom can anticipate the problems we're going to experience in life. That's probably good because if we could anticipate them we'd run the other way and we wouldn't get the benefit from them. We don't plan to have a flat tire. Or a crisis. They are unplanned and unpredictable -- when we least expect them. That's what makes a problem a problem. Often it's inconvenient when you fall into it suddenly.