The Prosperity Of Adversity

II Cor. 6:1-10

Song of Sol. 2:9 “My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.”

If God can use:

A bird to tell Noah that there is some dry land,

A rooster to tell Peter that he needed to repent

A worm to tell Herod that he better let God be God

A donkey and talk to Balelume

then surely He can use me to tell you (title)

Prosperity = Fortune, goodness

Adversity = Misfortune, trouble

I am not here to tell you that you will be completely free from trouble or adversity.

I am going to tell you that the Church has always been under adversity.

And the Church is still the Church

Because God is still God!

In April of 2000 some family members advised against starting a Church.

Some local preachers didn’t want us to start a Church.

But we knew it was God’s will and we did start it.

In 2002 some family members advised against starting a School.

Some local preachers didn’t want us to start a School.

But we knew it was God’s will and we did start it.

In 2002 we left the store fronts and bought 2 proprieties the same day from 2 different folks.

Some advised against it.

But we knew it was God’s will and we did buy it and you are sitting in it this morning.

In 2005 we added a 3rd property (the trailer and lot).

In 2007 we added the connecting foyer.

In 2008 we added the porch.

In 2009 we are staging for a great revival!

The Prosperity of Adversity

Paul said, “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.”

We have had some hard times, but we have had some great Church.

We have had some trying times, but we have had Spirit filled meetings.

I believe God has set his approval upon Promise Land and

Now we are ready to reap a great harvest.

Tell) Little Pentecostal girl who had to sleep in a rat infested room. During the night she was awoken by the noise of many rats. She prayed, “Jesus, please take the rats away.” She fell back asleep and when she awoke later that night there was a peace and a clam. No rats… she herd the growl of big old tom-cat.

We’ve been rat infested, and Jesus has come in a let loose a big O’ tom-cat.

We are going to have revival like you have never seen before.

God is on our side,

We not only are going to survive, we are going to have great victory along the way.

We are going to make it.

We are going to have Church like you have never seen!

Prosperity of Adversity

What I am trying to get across to you here this morning is,

That there are some compensations in life:

There are some joys in our sorrows

There are some crowns in our crosses

There are some mercies in our miseries

There is some love in our losses

There are some appointments in our disappointments

There are some compensations in our contradictions

Thank God today that my FAITH is greater than it has ever been!

I believe God is ready for us to reap the prosperity of adversity!

If you want it, it is here.

If you want it, you can have it.

Ecc. 11:1 “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”

Don’t you get it:

When we cast our bread upon the waters and it returns unto us,

It will be in a sandwich

And you won’t have to guess where the meat is!

Isa. 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

We’ve (Promise Land) been waiting 9 years for this.

I’ve been waiting the entire 18 years of my preaching ministry for this.

2009 is the year of change.

The year of reaping the prosperity of adversity!

Zach. 4:6 “…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

JOB - Example.

Lost in adversity: 7,000 sheep; 3,000 camels; 500 yoke of oxen; 500 mules.

Gained in prosperity: 14,000 sheep; 6,000 camels; 1,000 yoke of oxen; 1,000 mules.

Gal. 6:7-9 “7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”