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”
• In Romans 1:10 Paul expresses his desire to go to Rome and preach the Gospel.
• He would do that, just not as he probably thought.
• He wanted to go as a preacher, he ended up going as a prisoner.
• Talk about some adversity!
• But Paul clearly had the right attitude about this adversity.
• Read Philippians 1:21-25.
• Paul was confident that this adversity was Gods will.
• And he sought Gods purpose amidst it.
• We need this attitude before adversity even comes our way.
• As hard and difficult as that is, remember what Paul said in Romans 8:28.
• Use my testimony.
• Use your past trials and adversity in your life.
• Look at how God has worked things out in your life in the past.
• Take confidence in that.
• Read Romans 8:28.
