Facing Adversity

Storytelling - an acknowledgment and description of adversity

Series Review - I want to call it What Next, Lord?

no college, construction, always had a next step; achieving goals

I want to call it “What next, Lord.” “Which way” implies you are seeking direction, wanting to grow; some coast, some are indifferent;

good crisis v. bad

start moving, then discern

quitting to go somewhere else v. quitting

Is quitting necessarily bad?

relationships; jobs; house project; committments; ministry

Transition to sermon: good quitting v. bad quitting

good quitting:running from v. running to

running to: not burning bridges, communicating; reputation; reference; not leaving co=workers; leaving with integrity

running to: not burning bridges, communicating; reputation; reference; not leaving co=workers; leaving with integrity

running from: to go somewhere else: coasting; not finishing projects; posting on FB, calling in sick; let someone else pick up your slack

running from…adversity

Sermon Intro. - adversity

Acts 9:23 NIV

After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,

“That’s what you signed up for.”

The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” —G. K. Chesterton

we redefine discipleship to make it more tolerable; or leave it altogether

Fuquay, Rob. Which Way, Lord?: Exploring Your Life's Purpose in the Journeys of Paul . Upper Room. Kindle Edition.

Counting the costs. Knowing what you are getting yourself into.

Counting the costs. Knowing what you are getting yourself into.

Jews = Jewish leadership

When you pursue God’s call, you WILL face adversity. When you know you are where God wants you to be; doing what God wants you to do - it is very exciting. But you will face hardship. Anything worth having requires sacrifice.

Acts 9:”23

giving up?

identify 3 types - physical, spiritual, persecution - Paul acknowledges, pushes through

Good intentions, horrible results

and respond to adversity - a tale of 2 churches - which church do we want to be?

Adversity is a given

a tale of 2 churches - which church do we want to be?

this is something that God allows, but His call remains

Key Question: are we just running away from something, or are we running to something

How to answer? Adversity. Adversity could mean God is pushing us to the next step, but usually it’s because we are doing the right thing.

1. physical adversity -

hardest of all; body just can’t do it; know when to rest and when to inspire

Romans 8:20–21 NIV

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Romans 8:

ever get sick while you’re trying to accomplish something?

one thing to perform when healthy; another to perform when the body says no

2. spiritual adversity

Romans 8:26 NIV

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

3. persecution

Acts 9:23 NIV

After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,

After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,

Acts 9:29 NIV

He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.

3. You will experience adversity from the world

Romans 8:38–39 NIV

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:

reject the faith

reject you

reject the church

transition: so we know how to suffer; how do we respond to it; not just attitude, but what are we going to do?

e.g. roller blading - knowing how to fall;

4. Adversity from within the church

the principle of roller blading (like I do): the fall is inevitable; recover from it?

4. a tale of 2 churches (both faced adversity)

from paralysis to growing

1. Response #1: Fear

Acts 9:26 NIV

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.

3. need a Barnabas,

an encourager; visionary, one who sees God at work when others can only point to the problems; encourage when others complain; invite the new rather than stick to the old;

not soft peddling; not a therapist; confrontation with a redemptive purpose; goal of reconciliation

barney box on mission trip

doesn’t take much to discourage; encouragement is a powerful gift; easier to point to problems

encouragement is not encouraging the current situation; encouragement is you can grow, you must and you can

e.g. stay in ministry; fail? get up I see ability; self destruction? God has more

Acts 8:27 NIV

So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

Acts 9:27 NIV

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 8:

deal with discouragment

exercise; read book; sleep; break; remember past victories

people: encouragers; lunch; confide; your best interests; visionaries

away from discouragers; only see negative;

2. Response #2:

Acts 9:31–32 NIV

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda.

Acts 9: