JOY IN ADVERSITY

Job declared: when I am tried, I will come forth as gold.

How is pure gold made? Gold is put in intense heat to remove impurities. That’s what happens when we go through a trial. We are in a heat which causes the impurities to separate from us so we can become pure.

What about a pearl? A pearl is made when a stone or sand gets into the shell of a clam. It becomes an irritant. We all have irritants in our life, maybe a boss, a neighbor or even a friend.

You have to go through fire and be purified to become gold, but also endure irritations that will make you a pearl.

How does a rock become a diamond? Continuous and extreme pressure makes that beautiful diamond. Pressure. We all have pressure every day no matter where we are.

What determines how long you must endure tests, trials or irritants? If you look at it as a stumbling block you will stay there a long time. But if you look at it as a steppingstone you will come out blessed and God will be glorified. The trials, tests and irritants can build you up, or they can destroy you.

Paul’s trials produced trust in the Lord, and so will yours. Paul was in prison in Caesaria for two years, but his goal was to preach the Gospel in Rome. When he prayed about this, the Lord confirmed in Acts 23:11: “So you must also bear witness sin Rome. He wanted to go as a preacher, but he went as a prisoner.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:10 to take pleasure in the trial for Jesus’ sake, for when you are weak, that is when you will become strong. Take pleasure means to have the right attitude… your attitude should be viewing the trial as a steppingstone not a stumbling block.

7 principles of why adversity should be viewed as a steppingstone rather than immediately praying for the Lord to deliver you.

1. Adversity promotes the progress of the Gospel.

Philippians 1:12 – Everything that happened to Paul was turned to the furtherance of the Gospel. Paul saw everything in life in a lens of winning people to Jesus. When Paul used the word “furtherance” he had in mind that the word was a military term used when the military built roads to remove barriers so they could pass through. This is how Paul used the word “furtherance.”

2. Adversity provides the opportunity to witness.

Philippians 1:13 – Paul had not mere guards but imperial troops of Caesar at his side 24/7. They were exposed to Paul’s testimony, and they were changed. Paul would not have been able to approach such high dignitaries if it wasn’t for being in prison.  Every day 24/7 a soldier was chained to Paul. He had 4 prospects for gospel every day. As he preached to the soldier everyone in prison heard it. Paul didn’t come up with this plan. It was God’s plan. God’s plan throws all the normal away. It usually makes no sense to us to do it this way.

3. Adversity produces courage in our fellow believers.

Philippians 1:14 – Paul being sent to prison had effect on his preaching buddies. They become bolder and more courageous because they saw Paul’s courage as he was chained in prison to bring forth the word of God. Bravery is contagious. Persecution can also be productive. In Acts 8:1,4 we see that it was persecution that caused them to leave Jerusalem to preach the Gospel in other cities and countries.

Persecution satisfied Gods purpose.

4. Adversity proves the character of our friendships.

Philippians 2:15-18 – Paul is in prison and he’s getting information from his buddies about what is going on in the world. Some have taken advantage of his imprisonment to make themselves better and bigger. They weren’t false teachers, but they used this imprisonment for purposes not godly. They were preaching from their own selfish ambitions – their aim was to get people to follow them. Paul’s aim was to get people to follow Christ, not him. Paul didn’t rebuke them, but he rejoiced that Christ was being preached even if not the way he wanted it to be. Christ may not honor the motive of the messenger, but He would honor the message. Sometimes people get saved listening to a message from someone who isn’t even saved.

5. Adversity promotes growth in our lives.

Philippians 1:19-20 – Paul looked at the situation and watched what God was going to do in his life. Adversity separates people, some are made better, some are made bitter. Which one are you? Adversity helps us to see clearly the things we need to do. Pray for our brothers and sisters in the Lord and the adversity they are going through. The prayers give the ability to survive the crisis and move onto maturity. Prayer is a responsibility we have for each other in the body of Christ. We are all filled with the Holy Spirit, but don’t always use the provision He has given us. Pray and have an earnest expectation that God will provide. Don’t allow adversity to define who you are, but let it only be a footnote in your journey through life.

6. Adversity purifies our motives.

Philippians 1:20 – Paul was determined Christ would be magnified in his body whether by life or death 2 Timothy 2:9 tell us that the Word of God cannot be chained. They could chain Paul, but they couldn’t change God’s Word.

7. Adversity prepares us to see life and death in perspective.

Philippians 1:20-21 – Paul said for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Paul was so in love with Jesus that he thought about being with him in heaven. It overshadowed all the things going on in the earth. Paul spent most of his time in prison while he was on earth. He wondered if he should go to heaven or stay here. He made decision to stay here for the church. When we accept Jesus Christ, death is not the end, it is the beginning of a life of expectancy and of wonderful things.

When going through test and trials, are they a stumbling block or steppingstone? That determines how long you will be in this trial. God goes with you for the victory and trials won’t last that long if you know you have that you have that victory.