Lesson 8 - Understanding Adversity
Why do Christians have problems? or Why does God allow adversity into our lives?
Adversity can be a great motivator for spiritual growth, or it can be a great source of discouragement. The difference is found in how you view adversity (or problems). Our first response to Adversity should not be to try to remove it, but to allow it to reveal our true weaknesses. What "good" does adversity do for us? 1. Adversity is God's way of getting our attention. The "cares of the world" are God's greatest competitors for our time, attention, and affections. Matthew 13:18-23 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceit- fulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. We get busy with plans and projects, friends, daily concerns and routines, etc. and all the while God is calling out to us. Jeremiah 35: 14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwith- standing I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. Then problems come; we are faced with problems and become overwhelmed; these things are too big for us. Our strength is drained, and we begin to call out for help from one who is bigger than the problems. Christ's invitation sounds so good: Matthew 11: 28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. God's ultimate intention for getting our attention is that we might be conformed to the image of Christ. When we see that, then we can understand Romans 8:28-29. Romans 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 2. Adversity is our assurance that God loves us. What? Can this be true? Certainly! Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Hebrews 12:10-11 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. We must learn to recognize God's love in adversity if we are to face it with the right attitude. 3. Adversity is God's call for self examination. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. God requires that we confess and forsake every sin. That requires some examining of ourselves to find out what areas need to be confessed and cleansed. Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy. The Lord's Supper is a regular time we are called to examine ourselves. 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 4. Adversity is God's way of conquering our pride. The consequences of pride is destruction. With the destruction comes shame. But through the shame, we are humbled, and that humbling brings healing and rightness in our souls. Ultimately, ever knee shall bow before Him anyway. Proverbs 16:18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 11:2 [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom. James 4:6-7 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 5. Adversity reminds us of our weakness. Through adversity, we are able to experience the power of Christ resting upon us, as we go beyond our natural abilities. 2 Corinthians 12:6-10 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but [now] I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 6. Adversity is our motivation to cry out to God. Problems will bring us to our knees faster and longer than anything else will. And He hears us when we cry out. Psalms 34:17 [The righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. We should cry out: with our voice... Psalms 3:4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. daily... Psalms 86:3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. in humility... Psalms 9;12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. with a pure heart... Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Our second response to Adversity should not be to focus on outward circumstances, but to realize that we are dealing with unseen spiritual powers. 7. Adversity is evidence of spiritual warfare. If we do not recognize this, we will be overwhelmed and tempted to give up. When we find ourselves confused, suspicious, and divided, we can be sure that spiritual warfare is raging. Paul encouraged believers to be strong, courageous and prepared. Ephesians 6:11-18 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 8. Adversity is God's method of purifying our faith. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. But faith will be tested in the fires of adversity. 1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Adversity may come from those who mock our faith and God's principles, or it may come because we have violated God's principles. Either way, it will strengthen our faith. Trials will also increase our patience. James 1:3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. So, trials, problems will improve us. (They will make you better or bitter.) 9. Adversity increases our hatred for evil. When we realize how sin robs us of our potential for achieving and enjoying what God had planned for us, we should grow in our hatred of it. Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For 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. When we see how it damages lives and relationships, it should become mare and more intolerable to us. 10. Adversity is a reminder to pray for authorities. God teaches us that a quiet and peaceable life is related to intercessory prayer for those in authority over us. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Those is authority provide spiritual protection for those under their care. When there are failures in the life of a leader, the umbrella of protection develops leaks, and satan will have greater ability to wreak havoc in the church. When you go through trials and temptations, realize that those in authority over you are going through things, too. That should make us pray for them. Leaders need your intercession. 11. Adversity is a signal to reevaluate your priorities. Wrong priorities can cause problems for us and those affected by our lives. When we fail to spend adequate time in prayer and Bible study, we fall back a little, and rob others of spiritual encouragement and direction. We instead become vulnerable to transgression in our own lives. Psalms 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Psalms 107:19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. Adversity that comes as a result of wrong priorities may be the consequence of trying to do more than God intended for us to do. (God is not a slave driver.) Psalms 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. 12. Adversity is God's means of testing our work. Every spiritual built must be rested in order to confirm that it is founded on truth. Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 13. Adversity is God's way of testing our friendships. Adversity will always test friendships. A true loves at all times - especially times of adversity. Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Contrast this with the prodigal son. As long as he was rich, he had friends. But when his money ran out, his friends were gone. Luke 15:12-16 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. Our third response to Adversity should not be to live for Christ in our own efforts, but to realize that Christ must live in us through the power of His Holy Spirit. 14. Adversity God's call to identify with Christ. One of the ultimate purposes of adversity is to cause us to desire more of Christ's power in our lives. Paul suffered the loss of all things in order that he might win more of Christ's resurrection. Philippians 3: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; This power is available to every believer. Ephesians 1:17-20 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, God's power becomes a reality within our lives when we enter into the truths of scripture. i.e. In Romans 6, we learn how to know that we are crucified with Christ, how to reckon ourselves dead unto sin and alive to God, and how to yield ourselves to God and our members as instruments of righteousness. In Romans 7, we discover that our death in Christ caused us to die to the Law so we are free to be controlled by God's Spirit. In Romans 8, we learn our source of power over sin - the indwelling Spirit of God. We see that as we walk in God's Spirit rather than our own flesh, God is able to fulfill the righteousness of the law in us. 15. Adversity is motivation for open accountability. God's key to life, peace, wisdom, and lasting achievement is a moment-by-moment awareness of our accountability for all our words, thoughts, actions, attitudes, and motives. This continuing awareness is actually the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. When we lose our awareness of God, we become vulnerable to thinking and acting as if God did not exist. 16. Adversity is our preparation to comfort others. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 2 Corinthians 4: 8-10 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2 Corinthians 4: 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4: 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Study Guide For "What The Bible Is All About"
by Henrietta Mears
Chapter 8 - Understanding Judges and Ruth
1.. What do some people call the book of Judges? _______________________________ What happened between God and the people?________________________________ 2. Why were the judges raised up? ___________________________________________ 3. How many judges were there? ____________ 4. What phrase sums up the problem with the Israelites during this period? _______________________________________________________________________ 5. The book of Judges is full of __________, ___________, __________ & __________ 6. People who spend much time in disobedience make ____________________________ 7. How many times did Israel backslid in this book? ______________ 8. Man has constant ___________, but God has constant ______________. 9. What 3 teachings do we find in Judges? _____________________________________, __________________________________, and _________________________________ 10. What command did the people disobey and what was the result?_________________ _______________________________________________________________________ 11. Under the Oppressions, what various sins do we see committed? ________________ _______________________________________________________________________ 12. When the people sinned against God, what happened? _________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ 13. What caused Israel to fall away from God in 3:7-11? __________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ 14. What did Othniel do before going into battle? _______________________________ 15. What did Othniel do to repair the problems in Israel? _________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 16. In the 2nd Apostasy, what caused the people to lapse into spiritual weakness? ______________________________________________________________________ 17. Who was the only woman judge? _________________________________________ 18. What was Samson’s downfall? ___________________________________________ 19. Read Judges 17:6 again. How important is good leadership? __________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 20. The book of Ruth establishes what? _______________________________________