Joy in Adversity

Joke I read on our Youth Pastors Facebook Page this week:

I accidentally gave my wife a glue stick instead of the chapstick earlier this week. She’s STILL not talking to me!

I want to share a wonderfully familiar story in scripture today. It’s such a powerful scripture because it helps us to understand that we can find Joy in Adversity. We’ve all had difficulties and misfortunes in our lives. It’s good to be reminded that through everything God is faithful and has a purpose.

You might have heard of a scandal called Watergate. There was a man named Charles Colson who was known as the “hatchet man” during the scandal. He was convicted of obstruction of justice and served 7 months in prison.

What’s interesting is that this man is also the man who years later recieved the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion. It was a $1 million dollar prize which was a reward for exceptional efforts in promoting and advancing religion in the world.

This man found Christ while in prison and founded the non-profit organization called the Prison Fellowship which if focused on teaching and training people with the Gospel.

He was asked about his time in prison and this is what he said: “Out of tragedy and adversity come great blessings. I shudder to think of what I would have been if I had not gone to prison.”

Isn’t that an interesting story?

I’m going to tell you the point of the sermon right up front today: Adversity can be God’s refining fire.

Now, most of us in this room today have never served time in jail or been locked away in a prison, but I would say that spiritually speaking, we have all been through what I would call “prison experiences” in life. Times when it feels as though the enemy is working overtime in our lives and God is allowing it to happen! Times when we wonder where God is and if He will ever help you through what you’re facing.

Some of you might be facing that right now! You’re wondering why, if God really loves you, are these things happening in your life. Each person has asked these types of questions which is why I believe the scripture we are going to read is especially powerful in helping us to find joy even in adversity.

Acts 16:16–34 CEV

16 One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners. 17 The girl followed Paul and the rest of us and kept yelling, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved.” 18 This went on for several days. Finally, Paul got so upset that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to leave this girl alone!” At once the evil spirit left her. 19 When the girl’s owners realized that they had lost all chances for making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into court. 20 They told the officials, “These Jews are upsetting our city! 21 They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip. 23 After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. 24 The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. 26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! No one has escaped.” 29 The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas. 30 After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.” 32 Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the Lord. 33 While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home were baptized. 34 They were very glad that they had put their faith in God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave them something to eat.

We don’t always Deserve Adversity

In the first few verses we see Paul and Silas obediently serving the Lord. The Bible says they were just going about their daily business. They weren’t causing any trouble, but trouble found them.

Trouble came in the form of a girl who had a spirit in her. She was following them around everywhere they went for several days!

To me, this is a reminder that we are in a spiritual battle and just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean there aren’t evil spirits following you and trying to trip you up while you’re just trying to live your life in peace.

Paul and Silas were the good guys. They didn’t deserve this type of harassment. Haven’t you felt that way before? Haven’t you seen someone who doesn’t deserve something go through a horrible situation?

Maybe you’re like the Psalmist who said:

Psalm 73:1–6 CEV

1 [A psalm by Asaph.] God is truly good to Israel, especially to everyone with a pure heart. 2 But I almost stumbled and fell, 3 because it made me jealous to see proud and evil people and to watch them prosper. 4 They never have to suffer, they stay healthy, 5 and they don’t have troubles like everyone else. 6 Their pride is like a necklace, and they commit sin more often than they dress themselves.

I’ve felt that way before! Seems like when you try to do good you get rewarded with pain. That might have been what these men felt like when they were being beaten for doing something good for this girl who had been afflicted.

Acts 16:22–23 CEV

22 The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip. 23 After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully.

Paul and Silas were beaten, probably with a cat-of-nine tails.

When the prison experiences of life come, they tend to beat us down and leave us in torment.

If you haven’t been there yet, you will be some day! The first question is “Why?” The answer is “Why not?” As we pass through this life, we can expect our share of difficulty and trouble.

John 16:33 CEV

33 I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.

Or what about our friend Job, He had experienced hardship for seemingly no reason? These are his words:

Job 14:1 CEV

1 Life is short and sorrowful for every living soul.

Adversity is inevitable. Trouble will follow the just and unjust. We must remember that God can and does use these experiences to develop us into the image of His Son.

Romans 8:28–29 M:BCL

28 That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. 29 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.

God has a plan even when we find ourselves beaten and cast off by the world.

These men were thrown into prison. The word used in greek for thrown mean to “throw something without regard to where or how it lands”. They were just tossed into the prison without any care for their well-being.

Roman Prison was dark, dirty, discouraging.

There are times in life when the Lord “shuts you up” in some prison. When this happens, it is never pleasant! During those times, it may seem that He doesn’t care what you are facing. It may seem that He has just tossed you aside without any regard for your well being. Such is not the case! If you are His, then He is working out His perfect plan for your life. You are in that prison because the Lord loves you and has something special planned for you.

Think back to Genesis when Joseph was thrown into prison. He had no idea that God was going to place him in the most powerful position in Egypt!

Acts 16:24 CEV

24 The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.

As if it weren’t enough to beat these men, throw them into prison and cast them into the dungeon, the jailer placed their feet in stocks and prevent any activity on their part at all.

The prison experiences of our lives often serve to shut us down spiritually. God’s purpose is to to use us more greatly for His glory. But, the devil and the flesh seize the prison experiences of life as an opportunity to force us into inactivity spiritually.

Adversity Doesn’t Affect our Praise

Acts 16:25 CEV

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened.

This part of the story is always the most interesting to me because my first inclination in difficult times is NOT to praise, but instead to complain or try to fix. How could any person praise the Lord in the circumstances these men found themselves in?

Maybe we need to learn that our Attitude determines our Latitude. Or a better way to say it might be that we can get away from adversity by forcing ourselves to keep our hearts and minds where they belong.

Instead of pouting, these men prayed. They rolled their burden onto the shoulders of the Lord. This is a valuable lesson for us to see. When we are in one of life’s prison experiences, we need to learn to call upon the Lord.

Philippians 4:6 CEV

6 Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.

or Matt 11:28

Matthew 11:28 CEV

28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.

Were they in pain? Yes! Were they scared? Yes! Were they uncomfortable and miserable? Yes! Still they did not allow their circumstances to defeat them. They went to God in prayer! That is what we need to do when we are locked away in one of life’s prison experiences.

As they prayed before the Lord, He began to lift their hearts. Soon, they were filled with praise and they began to sing songs to the Lord. When they prayed and adjusted their focus from the prison to Jesus they forgot about the stocks and remembered who He was and what He did for them.

One of the surest ways to overcome your prison experience is to learn the secret of praising God in the midst of your pain.

Anyone can praise God when all is well in their life! But, it takes massive faith to praise His name when the bottom falls out from under you! In fact, if you really want to gage the depth of your commitment to the Lord and your love for Him, just see how you react when the pressure is on in your life! That is where the real you is most clearly seen!

God can Use Adversity

So now we get to the miracle part of this story. We’ve learned that EVERYONE will have Adversity in life. What we do when we are locked up in the chains of Adversity proves who we are and what we believe. Now we see that God uses these difficult times for His glory.

Acts 16:25 CEV

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened.

This verse tells us that “the prisoners heard them”. This verb means “to hear attentively”. These men had never heard anything like this before! Here were two old boys beaten to bloody pulps, locked in the nastiest place imaginable, with their feet locked in stocks, which, by the way, forced them to sit in the mire and the muck of the prison, and still they are able to praise the Lord! What a testimony to the grace of God! What a challenge to the church!

The world is watching you as you go through the prison experiences of life! As they watch you, they could care less about your joy when things are going well. But, just let tragedy come into your life, and they are all eyes and ears! They want to see if what you have is as real in the valley as it is on the mountain! There is no better testimony to the grace of God than a saint who can shout when the pressure is on! It says “My God is real!” It says, “My faith is real!” It says, “My relationship with God makes a difference in my life!” It is a powerful testimony for the glory of God.

Remember what Satan said to God about Job?

Job 1:9–11 CEV

9 “Why shouldn’t he respect you?” Satan remarked. 10 “You are like a wall protecting not only him, but his entire family and all his property. You make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere. 11 Try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.”

and

Job 2:4–5 CEV

4 Satan answered, “There’s no pain like your own. People will do anything to stay alive. 5 Try striking Job’s own body with pain, and he will curse you to your face.”

Satan squeezed Job expecting to get bitterness; instead Job exuded blessings and praise! If only that was the testimony of our lives as well!

Acts 16:26 CEV

26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners.

As they praised the Lord, God shook the prison and broke their chains! Notice that they were still in prison, but they were free! Their bonds were gone and all the doors were opened. They could have bolted for freedom, but they willing remained where God had placed them!

A joyful heart in the midst of difficulty has the power to loose your bonds and make you free, even when you are still in the middle of that prison experience!

Please notice that faith in the prison of life may change your circumstances, but more often it will change YOU in your circumstances.

We are changes in our weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 CEV

9 But he replied, “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. 10 Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.

In the final verses we find out that the Jailer and his family hear the Gospel and believe. The affliction endured by two faithful servants of the Lord was used by the Spirit of the Lord to open the hearts of these lost pagans and to bring them to faith in Jesus Christ.

You will never know what the prison experiences of life are doing to those around you. As the world watches you walk in victory despite your problems, they will be stirred by your faith. That is why it is essential that believers learn to patiently endure the trials of life.

Friends, we can either fight against what God is doing and suffer, or we can rest in what He is doing and have the victory. The choice is yours!

During World War II, Dr. Victor Frankl was imprisoned by the Nazis because he was a Jew. His wife, children, and parents were all killed in the Holocaust. At one point, the prison guards cut his wedding band off his finger.

Frankl said to himself, “You can take away my wife and children, you can strip me of my clothes and my freedom, but there is one thing no person can ever take away from me-and that is my freedom to choose how I will react to what happens to me.”

That is the secret to successfully surviving the prison experiences of life.

What are you facing right now? Wouldn’t you like to walk in victory in the midst of your prison experience? The first step is to get before the Lord and to pour out your heart in prayer and song. He will meet with you and help you.