Mind Field. The True Battleground

Adversity is opportunity for those who possess the mind of Christ. Adversity is God's university. God doesn't use anyone until he puts you through the adversity factor. A rubber band is effective only when it's stretched. The tea kettle, when it's up to its neck in hot water, sings its finest song. Winston Churchill said, "The nose of a bulldog is sloped back, so it can bite and breathe without turning loose". I love that. Joseph came to the throne of Egypt through the adversity of slander, betrayal, abuse, persecution.

Listen, if you cannot endure the persecution of the pit, you will be destroyed by the prosperity of the palace. I want you to get that in your brain and let it sizzle for just a minute. If you cannot endure the persecution in the pit, you will be destroyed by the prosperity of the palace. And let me tell you, prosperity has destroyed more people than has poverty. God uses no one until he puts you through the blast furnace of the adversity to check your fortitude factor. The person in the blast furnace is next in line for promotion. Is this you? Don't give up. God will give you the opportunity to stand the pressure to go through that university of adversity. Call it a "fiery furnace". Call it whatever you want. But God will not promote you until you stand that blast furnace. What does it take to make you quit?

A man was walking through a graveyard at midnight, and he fell into a freshly-dug grave. He jumped, and he jumped, and he jumped, and he just couldn't get out. A few minutes later, another man fell in the other end of the same grave. He jumped, and he jumped, and he jumped, and he couldn't get out. Exhausted and defeated, he sat down. Suddenly, a voice came from this side of the grave, "You can't get out of here". But he did. This actually happened.

How many of you in this room can say, "I am prone to be a person of worry, of doubt, of cynicism, of sarcasm. I tend to have a negative personality most of the time. Based on what you're saying today in the Word of God, I want that to go away. I want the Lord Jesus to come and sit down beside me and make the things that I'm doing, a thing of beauty." If that describes you, I want you to slip your hand up right where you are and pray this prayer with me:

"Heavenly Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I turn my life over to you to. All of my negative thoughts, all of my fear, all of my doubt, all of my worry, you take it. And let my life be lived filled with peace, love, and joy. In Jesus' name, I receive that. Amen."