Strength in Adversity

Introduction

Elijah after Mt. Carmel

Scripture Introduction

Connection: We all face adversity

Take Home: Sometimes we hesitate to help others grow in their faith because our loyalty to something else is stronger than our dedication to God’s call for us to engage in discipleship.

Message Focus: Go and make disciples (not believers)

Fainting in Adversity

Security camera memory full when robbed at the parks

Proverbs 24:10 “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”

God is not in the business of removing adverse circumstances from our lives. Instead, He takes us through it. It is only in difficulty that strength can be demonstrated.

This is the time our strength is suppose to show itself.

An indicator that something has a stronger hold on us than our dedication to God’s call for us to engage in discipleship.

Self-Reliance instead of God’s Empowerment

Our Time instead of The Will of God

What would you do if, as a punter, you are kicking 20 yards shorter than average? The same goes for our Christian walk. But we are not increasing our intellectual muscle. It is more like recognizing we are missing programming data in a robot. The effort we make to do the programming, will input the data needed for the robot to automatically use the information when needed. That is what happens when we internalize the truths of God.

Be Careful of Excuses

Proverbs 16:2 “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.”

We will even try to deceive ourselves. We are warned in Pro 28:26, trusting our logic is foolish. Also, Pro 21:2, we think everything we do is right.

I don’t know what to say

I don’t have the time

Selfish ease

Unconcern for others

Ignorance

Inability

It’s Okay to Faint

Jesus’ disciples (willing to become the right ones)

Proverbs 24:16 “for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.”

It’s easy to not fail when you don’t even try

It’s okay to notice you are weak in an area. The important thing is if you pursue making the needed change.

The Lord is with you when you faint

Psalm 37:23–24 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”

Isaiah 40:29 “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”

Become the strong one!

Someone Else is Discipling

Christians are not the Only Ones Discipling. The adversary is also making disciples.

The whole idea is to get people to look at dinosaurs more like birds than as a reptile. - Jurassic Park movie purpose (Jack Horner, paleontologist consultant)

Proverbs 18:9 “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.”

Discipleship can come from anyone passing on information from one mind to the other.

Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Dinosaurs with feathers

Laws cant change hearts

Their primary intent is not to change hearts but to restrain actions.

Movies- rebel against parents and they will understand in the end you knew better than them.

Who is discipling your kids? Who is discipling you?

Social Media; podcast; authors; movies; informational signage; friends; teachers (church also)

Increasing Strength

Proverbs 24:10 “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”

Fathom God (Who God is)

Self-Reliance instead of God’s Empowerment

Exodus 4:11 “Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?”

Our Time instead of The Will of God

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Sense His Will (God’s Concern for His glory)

Self-Reliance instead of God’s Empowerment

Ephesians 4:13 “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”

Our Time instead of The Will of God

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

See the Big Picture

Self-Reliance instead of God’s Empowerment

Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Our Time instead of The Will of God

Proverbs 28:26 “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

Make Your Request (in light of God’s glory)

Self-Reliance instead of God’s Empowerment

Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Our Time instead of The Will of God

Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Jesus was willing to become inconvenienced for you. Are you willing to follow His example for the well-being of another?

Summary

Sometimes we hesitate to help others grow in their faith because our loyalty to other commitments is stronger than our dedication to God’s call for us to engage in discipleship.

We must invest in each other’s discipleship because the adversary is also trying to guide us according to his ways.

Fainting in Aversity

An indicator that something has a stronger hold on us than our dedication to God’s call for us to engage in discipleship.

Someone Else is Discipling

Christians are not the Only Ones Discipling. The adversary is also making disciples.

Increasing Your Strength

Fathom God, Sense His will, see the big picture, and make your request accordingly

Potential Impact

Daniel and the youths in Babylon resisting corrupt discipleship

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were discipled in the faith before Babylon. Therefore, we read . . .

Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.”

A Possible Next Step

Increase your strength while Going (and making disciples)

Perhaps God will use me