Ps Darin Browne @ Ignite Christian Church

Uni Adversity 4- Turning Adversity into Advantage

I was recently reading a book by Peter Wagner called “Humility”, and to my surprise I found an entire chapter relating humility to overcoming adversity.

 

I'll admit that I'd never equated humility with handling adversity, but upon studying this relationship I've discovered that it is critical. Uni-Adversity is, like any academic institution, all about education. It uses the school of hard knocks to get us there, and as we go through the various assessments, we learn, we grow and we become more like Jesus.

 

So before I go through the steps you need to take to turn adversity to advantage, I want to mention 4 aspects of your lifestyle you need to carefully watch in order to stay humble as you learn and graduate the University of Adversity.

 

1.     WATCH YOUR HEART

 

In adversity it is tempting to become hard hearted. When people tell you to “Toughen up, Princess,” they are referring to your resilience, not your heart. Hard hearted people resist being taught, resist forgiving others and face dire consequences in the future because of their hard heartedness…

 

Romans 2:5

But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

 

So as you face adversity, keep your heart soft, towards the Lord and towards those who hurt you.

 

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

 

2.     WATCH WHAT YOU SAY

 

In adversity we must guard our tongues, because when you're down you tend to lash out under pressure and speak negatively over everything. Even the positive things in your life. Just a twist of a word, a cynical, negative  statement, a subtle tone of voice or the dreaded silent treatment will provoke our adversaries, and drive away our supporters.

 

Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

 

3.     WATCH WHAT YOU REMEMBER

 

Memories have to power to influence our actions now if you let them, especially negative memories. Past failures in your own life drag you down, and when you see them in the lives of others they have the power hurt them and make them attack you more.

 

Isaiah 43:18-19

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

 

Let the past be past at last.

 

4.     WATCH WHAT YOU PRONOUNCE

 

In the middle of adversity and attack it is tempting to say, “I told you so!” This is especially true when those causing your adversity seem to take a fall. I

 

If you want to be humble and learn to become like Jesus, do not pronounce negative judgement on others, and do not pronounce positive boastings about yourself.

 

Proverbs 24:17-18

 

Do not gloat when your enemy falls;

when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,

or the Lord will see and disapprove

and turn his wrath away from them.

 

Be humble, learn, serve and bless others, even your enemies, and you are set to graduate this class at Uni-Adversity.

 

So how can we turn it all around?

 

TURNING ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE

 

Adversity does not need to be negative. In fact, it can become a great advantage in your life. If you humbly listen and humbly learn the lessons in Uni-Adversity then what you currently face and what is causing you pain can become your springboard to success in life!

 

Failure is not the opposite of success, it is part of success!

 

Here's the steps you can take to turn adversity into advantage in your life...

 

 

1.     KEEP A TRUE PERSPECTIVE

 

In the middle of your trials and tests, step back and see the big picture, and especially see if from God’s point of view. 

 

In times of adversity, your problems tend to dominate you and become an all consuming part of your life. It is all you think about, all you talk about, it is ever present and controls every aspect of life. You begin to think that stopping the pain or dealing with the immediate problem is all that matters.

 

Perspective is seeing things in a different way. True perspective is seeing things God’s way. His way is the long term goal, and He is prepared to use adversity in your life to achieve His long term plans to prosper you and not to harm you.

 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

As you face adversity, you have limited time and energy, so you need to work smarter not harder  to overcome it. If you step back and see the big picture over years, not the crisis right now, then you will be able to major on the big things, and minor on the things that long term will not count for much.

 

2.     ADMIT THAT YOUR CRITICS MAY BE RIGHT

 

As you struggle through adversity, you are sure to face criticism about what you have done and how you have done it. Don't assume all critics are wrong, or that they are against you.

 

Growing through adversity means being humble enough to weight up the opinions of a critic and change where necessary.

 

As I lead this church I have a number of critics. I have been criticised for many things, some justified, some not so. I am even criticised by leaders in my denomination, but I choose to call them mentors, not critics!

 

Proverbs 19:20

 

Listen to advice and accept discipline,

and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

 

 

 

3.     LOVE THE CHURCH

 

 

As I mentioned last week, oftentimes when we are going through adversity, we isolate ourselves and pull away from church. I see it all the time in this church, people struggling, in crisis or in sin, and they pull away not towards a church family that loves them.

 

It is a foolish idea. When you are down, when you are under the hammer, that is when you need friends who stand with you, love you and support you through the tough times.

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

 

Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down,

one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

and has no one to help them up.

 

4.     CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES

 

If you try and fight everything, every time, you will exhaust yourself and collapse. Wisdom is knowing which battles are truly important, and which you can let go through the to the keeper.

 

“You need to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run,” says Kenny Rogers.

 

Proverbs 29:22-23

 

An angry person stirs up conflict,

and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

Pride brings a person low,

but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

 

If you fight every fight you stir up conflict for yourself, and make life a misery for everyone around you. Some fights you do not need to fight.

 

So how do you decide which battles are important in the long term? Ask God, and then be obedient to Him…

 

I was once dragged before the Optometry registration board because another professional had lied about me. My future hung in the balance. I knew I had done nothing wrong (except been good at what I was doing), but a spiteful, angry psychologist had taken exception to my success with children with learning problems. I stewed for months leading up to the hearing, and God gave me this verse…

 

2 Chronicles 20:17

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

 

When I stood before the panel, they said I was doing a great job, they were pleased to meet me and keep up the good work. I said nothing … I didn't have to! God did it!

 

Decide ahead of time which battles need to be won, and concentrate on them. If your child seems rebellious, do not try and win every battle. I have seen parents fighting to get their child to not watch a certain movie, then let them go out partying and doing drugs. Pick your battles, and choose the ones that long term really matter.

 

5.     RECOGNISE THAT YOU WIN SOME AND YOU LOSE SOME

 

In life you can't win everything every time. No one does.

 

A failure is never a loss when you learn from it. It is a gain when you decide to learn and not repeat the same mistake.

 

Thomas Edison invented the light globe and significantly impacted the lives of everyone on the planet. He tried thousands of metals as filaments, and was criticised as failing.  His famous quote was, “I have not failed 10,000 times, I have successfully found 10,000 ways it will not work.” Needless to say, he found the right filament and changed the world.

 

Psalms 73:26

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

 

So in your trials and adversity, do not be so hard on yourself! It's ok to struggle, and it is ok to fail. Ask God to teach you to rely on Him, and it is lesson learned!

 

From God’s viewpoint, your failure, your weakness is His opportunity to give you victory. When you figure out you cannot do it all yourself, when you are driven down to your knees, you realise that it's not about you, it's never been about you,it's always been about Him.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

If you fail, if you struggle, if you feel weak, weary and over it… Rejoice! You are exactly where God wants you to be!

 

 

 

6.     CHOOSE TO SEE THE GOOD

 

Negative thoughts beget more negative thoughts, and pretty soon you are so cynical you don't believe anything good about anything or anyone!

 

Philippians 4:8

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

 

When something bad happens, choose to see the good. When someone attacks you, choose to see the good in them. When the road is long and hard, when there seems no way out, when you are weighed down and weary, do not just choose to see the good… Choose to see the God in everything!

 

 

7.     BE OBEDIENT TO GOD

 

God honours obedience above any religious thing you can do. He does not want organised religion, he does not want rituals, tall steeples, bells and smells… He wants obedience. If you are ever to graduate the University of Adversity, you need to learn to obey the Lord and learn from Him.

 

Deuteronomy 28:1-2

 

If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

 

1 Samuel 15:22

 

But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as in obeying the Lord?

To obey is better than sacrifice,

and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

 

Since taking on the senior pastor position at this church, I have found myself attacked by many people. I have attracted a host of people who disagree with various ways the church is run, it's direction, it's emphasis. 

 

There are so many voices in my ears, I don't know who to listen to… And so I turn to God. Every time I have considered where the church is going, I turn to the Lord. Every time I have been hurt, I go to God, read His Word, and seek the advice of godly advisors. I listen, weigh things up, then obey.

 

In all things my burning desire is to obey.  Not to obey you, someone’s theological slant or opinion or even my own desires. I desire to obey the Lord, in all things, because to obey is better than sacrifice!

 

 

8.     PRAY, AND ASK OTHERS TO PRAY TOO

 

God wants us to pray, in fact, He wants us to live in a constant state of prayer, that's why He says,

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17

pray continually,

 

We are urged to pray, not only for ourselves but also for each other...

 

Ephesians 6:18

 

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

 

I have a team of prayers in this church who pray and receive words from God for me, and I value them. Their prayers and support, your prayers and support are vital. It is like a prayer field, a force field that surrounds and protects.

 

When you face adversity, you need to pray, and you need to be bold enough to share with others and ask them to pray for you. Prayer changes things. Prayer changes you!

 

9.     READ THE WORD DAILY

 

There is no substitute for reading the Word of God. You can come to church, listen to Worship music, watch Christian TV… All are good but none of these is an alternative to reading the Word of God daily.

 

That is why we have prepared our reading plan. Many of you are doing it, and have been amazed at what you have learned as you have read the Bible.

 

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

 

This powerful Scripture achieves little in your life if the Bible remains on the shelf. It collects dust, that is about all.

 

The power starts to come when you read it. The power really comes when you read and obey it.

 

James 1:22

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

 

As you face a crisis, as you seek to learn from adversity, the Bible is the key. I take time every day to sit and read from the Word of God, and I have truly found that,

 

Psalms 119:105

 

Your word is a lamp for my feet,

a light on my path.

 

The Bible is your text book for the University of Adversity. Without it you experience all the adversity without explanation, without knowing how to learn or understand, without learning how to respond to the various trials life throws at you.

 

If you ever want to grow, you need the place the Word of God into your heart every day. Not once a week, not randomly opening the Bible and stabbing at a random verse… Follow a plan, and see if the Lord doesn't speak to you day after day.

 

I cannot lead this church without prayer or without the Word of God. And it is better in my heart than on a shelf.

 

Hebrews 4:12

 

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

 

 

10.  STAY FOCUSSED

 

In your time of adversity, when things are tough, when you are in pain, that is when you need to focus. But what do you focus on?

 

2 Timothy 2:4-5

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules.

 

Soldiers concentrate on their missions. Athletes focus on and give their all to their events.

Servants of Jesus need to focus and concentrate on serving the King.

 

When you are in adversity, so many things run through your head. So much fills your mind. The bills, what he or she said, what they did, what may or may not happen. Every night you put your head on the pillow and this massive array of thoughts parade through your head. You can't seem to switch them off. You try and try, and the worry and anxiety controls your thought patterns, dreams and your whole life, right?

 

2 Corinthians 10:5b

and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 

In adversity you need to take this type of thinking captive, and focus on what is truly important. You need to set your mind on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2).

 

Hebrews 12:1-2a

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

 

Focus on Jesus. Read the Word, pray, and focus on Jesus.

 

As you may know, I am an Optometrist. I have studied the workings of the eyes and the brain. It is a physical fact that, if you concentrate on a single point, your peripheral retina begins to shut down. Your peripheral vision closes in.

 

I once was invited to lecture helicopter search and rescue crews on how to search from the air. All sentries, all searchers need to realise that you must keep your eyes moving. If you stop, you will focus one the one point, to the exclusion of your wider vision.

 

But when you focus on Jesus, something amazing happens. Everything else comes into perspective. Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you (Matthew 6:33).

 

 

Today I want to pray with for something very specific. For those struggling with adversity, whose minds are filled with worries and anxieties. I want our prayers to pray with you about clearing your mind of this debris and having you focus on Jesus.

 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

Uni Adversity 3- Dealing with Depression

We've learned over the last few weeks that we can learn so much at Uni-Adversity, but it can be hard, discouraging and even soul destroying facing the adversity.

 

Depression is a very clear and present danger when it comes to Uni-Adversity. Why? Because when you face adversity, you often find that it becomes too much to bear. It becomes overwhelming, depressing, discouraging, crushing and that’s when the devil attacks and plunges you into depression!

 

Depression causes you to act in a way you normally wouldn’t, say things you normally wouldn’t, make decisions and give in to temptation that you later regret. Depression makes life miserable, for you and everyone around you, and if you let it depression can control your life, your relationships, your future and fuel your addictions.

 

No one is immune to being depressed, and when you face adversity after Adversity, it’s tempting to fall into depression and never get out!

 

Usually we try and hide it. We look ok on the outside, we seem to have it all together, but inside we are a mess, we are struggling to cope and we are faking life. Depression is a lonely place to be, and many here fight this fight alone behind closed doors every day.

 

There is also very much a physical side to depression. When you are tired, sick, stressed or if you have an underlying medical problem you are far more prone to the effects of depression.  According to beyondblue.com.au, there is often no single cause of severe depression, so medical and psychological  advice can form part of a treatment.

 

But many times feelings of depression occur simply because you’ve struggled with your Adversity for too long. You’re tired, you’re down, but ours sick of it, you’re over it!

 

Some of you feel like you’ve been smashed and kicked around a time or two, and this message is for you.

 

You may not know this, but the Bible actually holds some great keys when it comes to dealing with Adversity, and the overwhelming depression that it often gives rise to.

 

And when it comes to dealing with a University of Adversity magnitude depression, we can examine the life of one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, and man who stood for the Lord against incredible odds, triumphed over overwhelming adversity, but sunk into unfathomable depths of depression.

 

Enter the prophet Elijah.(1 Kings 17-19)…

 

MAXIMUM PROPHETS

 

Every investor wants maximum prophets, and among all the prophets, this guy is the one of the maximum prophets!  In 1Kings 17, Elijah predicts a horrific  and debilitating famine that sweeps across the nation.

 

Later on in 1 Kings 18:44, at his word, the drought is broken. Incredible, even the weather is obedient to the word of this man of God!

 

Elijah is most famous for challenging and defeating the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. At his word fire reigned down from Heaven and consumed the sacrifice,

 

1 Kings 18:38-39

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”

 

Elijah was so amazing, he is one of only two people recorded in the Bible to not pass through death.

 

That’s pretty special, right?  But we are not going to look at his victories today so much as the depths of depression Elijah found himself in. If you are feeling overwhelmed and depressed by the Adversity you face, be it in your health, business, relationships or anything, then be encouraged because you are in good company. It doesn’t make you less spiritual or less godly, it makes you normal, it makes you human.

 

It simply means you need Jesus!

 

And it means we don't ignore the signs of depression and try and fake it on our own. It means seeking God, turning from depression and seeking help to be an overcomer.

 

It also can make you a more powerful person of God in the future. It helps you understand when others are depressed. So for your lessons today at Uni-Adversity, let’s do a case study on the amazing prophet Elijah, and let's see what we can learn about overcoming depression and adversity.

 

Here's a few things you need to know about depression...

 

 

1.     OFTEN WE FEEL BLAMED BY OTHERS

 

 

When people face adversity, they often blame God or others around them. So, especially when you are hurting and feeling down, you will find some other hurting person attacking you, often someone you love or are close to.

 

In Elijah case, it was someone whom he had previously blessed in his ministry… In fact, he’d saved her and her son’s lives. The miracle was a jug of oil that refused to run dry, which saved the widow and her son from certain death in the drought…

 

1 Kings 17:16

The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

 

So having worked a miracle to save the widow and her son, you'd have thought he would have been thanked, right? You certainly wouldn't expect  she’d turn on him.  But the very next verse says this…

 

1 Kings 17:17-18

After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!”

 

In her grief, in her hopelessness, she lashed out at the one who had previously sustained her Life!  Sounds unfair, right? It wasn’t Elijah fault, but he bore the brunt of her anger!

 

So Elijah went to prayer. Elijah prayed to the Lord, laid 3 times on the boy…and once again God moved and vindicated his servant… And the boy  was healed!

 

1 Kings 17:22

And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.

 

Nevertheless, when people attack you it can wear thin quickly, especially if you're feeling down to start with.. I personally have been hurt many times since taking on the church, but like Elijah I decided to just keep on ministering. And so should you, even when it hurts. You’re in Uni-Adversity. Keep going, keep serving be encouraged that God is using you to bless others and learn the lessons God wants you to learn.

 

2.     DEPRESSION  OFTEN HITS  AFTER A HIGH

 

Life has highs and lows, peaks and valleys, just like a mountain range.  And as in a mountain range or a roller coaster, the lows often come right after the highs. We may scale the heights of spiritual victory only to soon find ourselves in the dark valley of depression.

 

Elijah had experienced perhaps his greatest triumph, on Mount Carmel, when fire came from Heaven and consumed the sacrifice.  One of the greatest acts of God caused by any prophet in the Bible, but immediately after this incredible victory Elijah crashes into the Great Depression! How many of you know that when prophets fall dramatically, it's a Great Depression?

 

I can relate to this. I would often return from ministering before tens of thousands of people in a stadium somewhere and find life at home or at work under attack.  I routinely found myself depressed in the first few days after ministering. Once I recognised this, I could adjust appropriately. I could say, “I feel down… Yes, that's normal and it will be gone soon.”

 

Even here in this church. We had the high of a mighty offering, followed by a difficult week when you want to just give up and walk away. What Elijah experienced I also experience!

 

After the high of faith defeating the prophets of Baal, then this…

 

1 Kings 19:3

 

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness.

 

So powerful, so anointed, he ran from a woman called Jezebel because he feared for his life. He escaped to his man cave, literally, to be fearful, miserable and alone.

 

But

 

2 Timothy 1:7

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

 

When fear comes in like this, you know it's not God. But even a great man like Elijah feared and ran. He was down.... He was defeated…. He was running scared and he was alone…

 

3.     ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?

 

Stress does nasty things to people, and is one of the triggers for big time depression. And Uni-Adversity can be high stress at times!

 

Stressful situations can drive us to inappropriate responses, and make us experience feelings that are not really true. Under pressure we often make bad decisions, and that's what Elijah experienced. Under pressure from the godless Jezebel, fearing for his life, after seeing the promises of God enacted before his eyes and at his very word, he panicked, fled and got depressed!

 

He also felt so alone, and he complained about it…

 

1 Kings 19:10

 

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

 

But God set the record straight…

 

1 Kings 19:18

Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

 

Under intense stress, Elijah collapsed and felt alone. But God ministered to him and told him the truth, and God will do that with you also if you come to Him. God changed Elijah’s perception of events, and God can change yours also.

 

Here's the thing… When you are here at Coast Church, you never need to face life alone!

 

4.     DEPRESSION AMPLIFIES THE NEGATIVE

 

If you have ever been depressed, you will recognise that one of the chief characteristics of depression is that it makes everything seem worse. Good things in your life suddenly seem bad, and the worst things seem worse than ever!

 

This is how depression operates, and because each negative is made more negative, you can create a gigantic negative feedback loop and ultimately the perfect storm of misery. Everything bad seems to escalate, and everything good loses its goodness. David said,

 

Psalms 38:6-8

I am bowed down and brought very low;

all day long I go about mourning.

My back is filled with searing pain;

there is no health in my body.

I am feeble and utterly crushed;

I groan in anguish of heart.

 

Physically debilitating, bone weariness, crushing anguish… This is depression, this is how it feels.

 

Consider Job, who had everything in the knew taken away from him. He was crushed, depressed, in despair and cursed the day he was born

 

Job 3:11

 

“Why did I not perish at birth,

and die as I came from the womb?

 

He said of mankind,

Job 5:6-7

For hardship does not spring from the soil,

nor does trouble sprout from the ground.

Yet man is born to trouble

as surely as sparks fly upward.

 

Recognise that when you're down, everything looks bad, tastes bad and smells bad. Depression amplifies the  negative, and ultimately can lead this...

 

5.     THE DARK NIGHT IF THE SOUL: AT THE POINT OF GIVING UP

 

Secular writers call it, “The Dark Night of the Soul,” but believers are not immune to going through such depression, especially when facing adversity.

 

In fact Elijah was so down he was on the point of taking his own life. Have you ever felt so depressed that suicide seemed like a good idea? Have you ever felt so low that you despaired even of continuing to live? Are you there right now, so depressed that you just want the pain to stop?

 

1 Kings 19:3-4

 

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

 

It can be extremely disheartening to endure many challenges and setbacks. It can be soul destroying to sit in the University of Adversity and not be able to grasp the lessons. Sometimes it's just all too much and it's at those moments we think of ending it all.

 

However, though we know disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice. We don’t have to give in to defeat. But hey, if you're struggling right now, you're in good company with Elijah! Even the great Apostle Paul experienced this…

 

2 Corinthians 1:8-9

 

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death.

 

Thoughts of suicide are real, but you must never act on them. I had to bury my own brother-in-law who took his life, and he was a Christian, so I know the pain it caused, and the reasons why, but I'm telling you know that suicide is never God's way.

 

Suicide is at best a permanent solution to a temporary problem. The reasons why people do it are many and varied, sometimes selfish, many times just to try and stop the pain. If you're feeling this way, then let me share what God thinks about you, your pain, your adversity and your thoughts of ending it all…

 

 

Psalms 34:18-19

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The righteous person may have many troubles,

but the Lord delivers him from them all;

 

If you're  discouraged and depressed today, the Lord knows that this is when you need Him the most, and He wants to comfort you. His strength and courage are always available to those who come to Him. He will see you through the adversity and doesn't want you checking out early.

 

Bill Newman tells the true story of a couple on the point of divorce, who went away for one last weekend because the man had a conference in another city. While he attended the convention, she stood before the open window in their high rise condo and was about to throw herself out when he unexpectedly returned, stopping her actions. That evening they were invited to a tent crusade that was visiting the city. They both walked forward and accepted Jesus as their Saviour and she later said, “I'm glad I checked in with Jesus before I checked out of life!”

 

Whatever you face, however hard or overwhelming, the Lord loves you, is close to you and will carry you through it. Ask Jesus into your life today and experience it for yourself.

 

Psalms 55:22

 

Cast your cares on the Lord

and he will sustain you;

he will never let

the righteous be shaken.

 

A PRESCRIPTION FOR OVERCOMING DEPRESSION

 

 

Firstly, let me reiterate that if you suffer from long term clinical depression you need to seek the advice of a doctor, psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor. As a Christian, this is not a lack of faith, it is a wise thing to do.

 

No matter what Uni-Adversity throws at you, no matter what you are facing right now, here's a prescription for triumphing over depression, discouragement and adversity…

 

1.     TAKE CARE OF THE PHYSICAL- R n R

 

The first thing to do is to deal with the physical stressors you face. Depression is characterised by lack of sleep, anger, weight loss or gain, loss of energy and recklessness. Before you delve deeper into your depression, meet the physical needs.

 

God did that with Elijah. God knew he was exhausted, discouraged and hungry. He had physical needs, like any other man. He lost his appetite; his thinking was disturbed; he withdrew from everyone. During this dark period, he curled up under a tree, wanting to die. He was weighed down by life

 

Proverbs 12:25

 

Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

 

So what did God do? Chastise him? Rebuke him for lack of faith? No, God loved him and first met his physical needs…

 

1 Kings 19:4-6

He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

 

If you are depressed, don't add guilt at being depressed to your depression! God does not condemn you this morning, He loves you, He has plans for you and He is here to lift you out of the pit you find yourself in.

 

Matthew 11:28-30

 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

2.     SHARE THE LOAD

 

Depression almost always means isolation, and it's in isolation that the devil can pick you off at will. You may feel alone as Elijah did, but the truth is like him you are not alone.

 

1 Kings 19:18

Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

 

Whatever you face today, don't do it alone! We have people here who will stand with you, cry with you, pray with you and work with you to help God lift you out of depression.

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

 

Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down,

one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

 

The three strands are you, your supportive friend and Jesus!

 

3.     SPEND TIME WITH GOD

 

God loves you and walks with you through your depression. He is always there, waiting for you to turn to Him. He says,

 

Psalms 34:18

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 

If you want to triumph over depression and graduate from the University of Adversity, reading His Word is essential. The better you know Him, the better you will be, so take our reading plan and read the Bible every day.

 

And don't miss church. Many people isolate themselves when they get down, but it is when you are feeling down that you need to be at church, especially this one. Join a connect group, arrange coffee with someone, get involved, because it brings you closer to God, and can help to lift the burden from your shoulders.

 

4.     LISTEN TO GOD’S VOICE

 

 

It is not always easy to hear the voice of God, but as you fellowship with Him you will learn to distinguish his voice. We live in a crazy busy world, so you need to be quiet before God and really listen.

 

Most often in our down times God speaks quietly, He doesn't scream at us!

 

1 Kings 19:11-12

 

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

 

 

If you can't hear Him, ask someone here who can to share with you. Whatever you do, don't go through your depression alone, because we have people here who long to share the journey out of depression with you.

 

DECIDE NOW

 

The first step towards healing is to decide that you've had enough of being like this. Almost all of us pass through valleys, but some of us decide to set up camp there. Don't stay in the valley when the heights are calling you…

 

Psalms 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

 

If you are in the valley of the shadow of death today, God is right there with you, and we are right here for you. Here's a famous poem that really illustrates this...

 

Footprints in the Sand - by Mary Stevenson

 

One night I dreamed a dream.

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

 

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

 

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.

But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

 

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."

 

Do you know Jesus? Are you in the valley right now?

 

 

Uni-Adversity 2- Training and Equipping

Adversity, as we have seen comes to us all. If you are struggling or facing tough times today, you are not unique and you are not on your own.

 

We have learned that the question is not whether you will face trials, because we all will, but rather how you will face them. Can you face them with joy, and can you trust your Heavenly Father to do the right thing by you?

 

OUR PAIN, HIS PURPOSES

 

If you want God’s best for your life and if you truly desire to be used by Him, at some point you will have to travel the road of adversity. All sunshine makes a desert, hard crusty and unproductive. Rain and storms are what produces lasting fruit in your life for Jesus.

 

This means that God can and will use adversity in your life for a good purpose—and yet, sadly, many people view adversity as only negative and defeating. You don’t have to be among them!

 

In the presence of trouble, some people grow wings; others buy crutches.—Harold W. Ruopp

 

 

Perception is how you see things, not just what you see. So when you face Adversity, do you just see the Adversity itself, the pain, the hurt, the hopelessness? Or do you see what God sees?… That He is using tough times to train and equip you for greater and more powerful service in times to come!

 

Romans 8:28

 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

God has designed adversity, regardless of its source and irrespective of the pain and discomfort it causes, to become a turning point from which you will take your greatest leaps forward in spiritual growth. His aim is spiritual growth and maturity, and He is not afraid to break a few eggs to make a beautiful Omelet.

 

If you face trials right now, I want to offer you wonderfully encouraging news… They are not without restriction, but fully controlled by God.  He allows adversity into your life only as long as it takes until He accomplishes His purpose in you. He will not keep it in your life one second longer than is necessary.

 

ONLY AS LONG AS IS NECESSARY

 

In 1 Samuel 30 David, on the run from King Saul, faced a tough situation. Amalekite raiders had attacked his camp, carrying off all the wives and families of the men, including his. The men were not so merry and turned on David, so David turned in his adversity to the Lord...

 

 1 Samuel 30:6

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

 

If you look at Christians facing trials, you will see different types. Some people are almost wiped out by trials, while others learn to stand in the confidence of God’s faithfulness. Some blame God, or at least whine and complain about the situation, while the others have an overwhelming sense of stability and immovable strength.

 

Some run from the storm, refusing the learn from their adversity, lurching from crisis to crisis. Others weather the storms, heads held high, confident, bold, and not discouraged by any obstacle that comes along.

 

Graduates of Uni-Adversity feel absolutely certain that God is going to see them through the heartache and bring them out whole, joyful, and more mature on the other side. Look around at Christians you know who have persevered through adversity, you'll see the maturity. If you see a Christian that you admire, I guarantee you that they have faced more then their share of Adversity, pain and heartache.

 

Adversity has an unusual habit of showing us where we stand in our faith.

 

Do we doubt God? Do we thank Him for His faithfulness during the stressful, heart-wrenching times? Do we trust that He will never leave or forsake us? Do we trust that He knows best, even if it is beyond what we think we can bear?

 

Adversity is God’s most accurate measure of our faith—it reveals our endurance level. It clearly displays our trust, or lack of it, In Him. None of us knows how much difficulty we can withstand until we are tried. Like an athlete in training, we must learn to push through the pain if we are to one day stand on the winners podium.

 

Quitters never win, and winners never quit!

 

TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT ONE MORE TIME

 

Right now, whatever you face, however overwhelming your adversity, remember this: God has put a limit on all adversity.

 

Because you are a child of God, the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, and He knows how much you can bear. The psalmist said:

 

Psalms 34:19

 

The righteous person may have many troubles,

but the Lord delivers him from them all;

 

He won't push you too far, and He won't let you suffer longer than is necessary. If you can trust Him in this one, simple point, you can trust Him for everything in your life!

 

When we learn and mature in the midst of tremendous adversity, God is pleased because He sees His purpose being fulfilled in us. Every difficulty we face, He sees our destiny rolling out ahead of us. We are growing spiritually, becoming stronger in areas of weakness, and increasingly being conformed to the likeness of Christ. We learn the secrets of ministering to others who might be in pain. We are being equipped and trained for service.

 

In short, God is thrilled when we respond correctly to adversity!

 

WHAT CAN WE LEARN AT UNI- ADVERSITY?

 

Here's  principles we can learn when we are trained and equipped through our adversity: and remember, learning these correctly will limit the time we have to spend going through the tests!

 

1.     ADVERSITY BUILDS YOUR CHARACTER

 

Adversity is God’s and tool of choice for building godly, spiritual character. Until we experience heartache, disappointment, and pain, we are not properly equipped for service He uses adversity to mould and shape us; He does not bring it into our lives without purpose.

 

Romans 5:3-4

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

 

Whatever struggles you face, the prize is not relief of pain. The prize is persevering and winning, whatever the cost, and that is the character God seeks.

 

Rick Warren says, “Every problem is a character- building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fibre.”

 

2.     ADVERSITY INCREASES YOUR AVERSION TO SIN

 

When we face adversity we often also face our own human weaknesses, and this causes us to realise how sinful we are. Many times the difficulties are of our own doing, maybe something we have said or done, so our sin is again exposed to us.

 

In a crisis, even many sinful people decide to get right with God in the midst of their adversities. Some remain angry, sure, but many want to connect with a God they know is in control of things.

 

When we face trials and tests they produce pain and sorrow. We must make sure that the sorrow we feel is Godly sorrow which turns us from our sin, not worldly sorrow, which makes us self-centred, depressed and draining.

 

2 Corinthians 7:10

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

 

3.     ADVERSITY OFTEN HITS YOU WHERE YOU FEEL MOST CONFIDENT

 

Adversity often comes in the areas where we feel the most confident. God wants to break our self reliance, and build our absolute trust in Him.

 

Psalms 9:10

Those who know your name trust in you,

for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

 

He made us for a loving, intimate relationship with Himself, and He uses adversity to remind us of the fact that we must be fully dependent upon Him.

 

And the more we know Him, the deeper our trust will be. That's why I have you reading the Bible reading plan. To know Him is to trust Him. To trust Him is to not rely on yourself, but to follow Him where ever He goes, whatever He asks and however much He decides to put us through.

 

Knowing Him intimately makes you realise that you can trust Him, even where pain is involved. As you grow closer to Him you realise that He will never, never leave you!

 

4.     ADVERSITY REMOVES PRIDE AND SELF-CENTREDNESS

 

Paul writes,

2 Corinthians 1:8-10

 

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

 

Paul clearly says that the Adversity was great to teach them not to rely in themselves, but on God. This was the  Apostle Paul, one of the humblest men eve, who speaks as though he was full of pride. He had learned the lessons of UNI- Adversity in this case!

 

All the water in the world

However hard it tried,

Could never, never sink a ship

Unless it got inside.

All the hardships of this world,

Might wear you pretty thin,

But they won't hurt you, one least bit

Unless you let them in.—Author Unknown

 

Doing things in life our own strength is like letting the water in. Doing it in God’s strength is the way to conquering your Adversity!

 

5.     ADVERSITY DEMONSTRATES GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

 

We sang the song earlier, but what a tremendous lesson to learn…

 

Lamentations 3:22-23

 

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

 

That’s the thing. You face trials, and you recognise you cannot stand on your own, you need to fall upon the limitless and awesome faithfulness of God. And here’s the thing… Every time you do this, you learn more and become utterly convinced that God is faithful,… He is totally dependable, He will never let you down.

 

This is my testimony, after facing our adversities… God is faithful, He has never and will never forsake me… Or you, if you walk with Him.

 

Psalms 37:25

 

I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.

 

You can’t tell me any different, because I just know! That is faith!

 

6.     ADVERSITY ENABLES YOU TO COMFORT OTHERS

 

When you have a revelation of how faithful God is, when you have been through Adversity and out the other side as a victor in Christ Jesus, then you can help others who face the same thing. Your pain opens the door to help you minister to others in their pain.

 

2 Corinthians 1:4-5

who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

 

So when we learn the lessons of UNI- Adversity, we in turn can be used of God to teach others. Maybe we should pray not for God to remove affliction from us, but to empower us by affliction, that we might minister to others.

 

In this room many people have suffered or are suffering. I believe God will use this suffering to empower you, and this church is committed to making a way for you to bless others in and through what God has taught you in UNI- Adversity!

 

 

7.     ADVERSITY IMPROVES YOUR SERVE

 

If you want to become an effective servant, and this is one of the key aims of my entire life, then adversity is God’s way of moulding you into a mature and effective servant.

 

When you know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, God sees you as a son or daughter.  You might struggle at times, sometimes falling, but He sees you as  justified, redeemed, forgiven, and reconciled to Him.

 

When God looks at you He sees someone full of His unconditional love, indwelt by His presence, sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

 

And He also sees all of your potential—all the good you could accomplish for His kingdom.

 

 Romans 5:3-4

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

 

So take comfort—adversity won’t take up permanent residence in your life. But when it’s present, it can develop good things if you’re willing to trust Him. Therefore, no matter what dark moments you may walk through, be confident that He’s going to bring you into the light. And when He does, it will certainly be worth it.

 

 

8.     ADVERSITY GETS YOUR ATTENTION

 

 

When adversity comes against you, you most often cannot choose how it happens or through whom it happens, but, you can choose how you respond.

 

So many people face adversity, and all they do is focus on the trial and the pain. People in pain tend to be very self centred and self focussed, because this is what pain does to you. It fills your mind, it takes over your life, and you feel like no one understands what you are going through.

 

You can choose to get discouraged, you can choose to give up. You can choose to be angry at a person, or God or both. You can choose to fight hard or curl up into a ball and cry. Or you can choose to trust God and discover what it is that He wants from you in this situation!

 

You can choose what gets your attention. So what do you focus on when you face tough times?

 

Colossians 3:2

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

 

 

God’s ultimate design is not to give you a comfortable, wonderful life, but to conform you to the likeness of Jesus. Through adversity, God develops the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22, 23)—in us.

 

A traveler in Africa saw one of the large butterflies of the tropics struggling to free itself from the cocoon. He took pity on its struggles and with his knife cut the cords at which it was straining, and it came safely and easily out. But all the brilliant colouring was gone! The anguish of the struggle was necessary for that. The beautiful colours of the soul are won in the struggle with, and the victory over, trial and adversity.

 

So if you are facing pain today, physical, emotional, relational, or financial, it’s time to take your eyes off the Adversity and place them firmly on Jesus…

 

Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and Grace!

 

 

Today, as you face Adversity, what are you looking at! If you’re in the middle of trials, tests and pain it’s so hard to drag you focus off your troubles. But if you learn these lessons, you will be blessed beyond measure, made mature and complete and become a blessing to many.

 

Uni-Adversity- How God Uses Adversity to Train Us

Adversity comes into your life, but God has a purpose for you. His primary aim is not to make you happy. Not to make you comfortable. Not to give you success in business, in your family, in your ministry or finances. His aim is that you grow spiritually continuously your entire life. He never intends for you to arrive. He continually trains and equips you for the future, and He uses 2 main tools to do this...His Word and circumstances…

WELCOME TO UNI-ADVERSITY- The University of Adversity!

God’s purpose for us is that we grow and become more like the Lord Jesus Christ in our daily lives to reflect more of Him and less of us.

This is Uni-Adversity, where God uses adversity, trials, and tests to educate you and complete your education, to make you Christ like!

Today’s message is like the course overview, the orientation as to what God is going to do over the next several weeks.

Let's face it, sometimes we plateau, we hit a glass ceiling in our spiritual growth. We get mature and think to ourselves, “I no longer have a need to grow or go any deeper in my walk with God.”

God will allow adversity to come into our lives to move us forward in our walk with Him and cause us to grow in the things that really matter.

How we respond to our trials will either make us or break us. If we will submit ourselves to God during times of adversity we will discover something about our God and ourselves.

If we fight Him, we are in for a rough ride and a whole load of pain, and probably a lot longer course too.

It's in our interests to pay attention in class at Uni-Adversity. I'd rather not have to resit some of the exams to be honest, especially the painful ones. No one wants to take 20 years to do their bachelor degree, do they? If you learn fast it is to your advantage.

The brook would lose its song if we removed the rocks. So here's your chance to learn how to make the best song of all!

So let's start Uni-Adversity right now. Turn to James 1:1-12,

But before we look at James, lesson 1 is clearing up something right at the start…

LESSON 1: THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR OUR ADVERSITY

I have often heard it said, and preached, that God is a good God, and He would never let anything bad happen to you. All you need to do is positively confess and believe, and nothing bad will ever happen. If something bad does happen, then you are either in sin or lack enough faith.

This view is wrong. Bad things happen to good people in our fallen world. It's that simple, and if you don't face some sort of adversity or testing, check your pulse to see if you're still alive!

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to live a life where nothing ever goes wrong. But the problem with this doctrine is that, by extension, if something does go wrong, then you must be in sin, or at least have a lack of faith. This is where something in me rises up, because I believe this is one of the most destructive and hurtful doctrines in the church.

I was sharing with some young people recently about meeting Joni Erickson, a quadriplegic from age 16, and one of the greatest alumni of the University of Adversity. I saw a man pray for her healing, she didn't walk, and he accused her of not having enough faith. She said she did, perhaps it was him who did not have enough. Good answer!

Only once in Scripture do we ever see into the inner workings of God and Satan. It is in the book of Job.

Now some say that the reason all those bad things happened to Job is that he lived in fear…

Job 3:25

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.

But that is taking one verse completely out of context. He lived a holy life, and still all this bad stuff happened to him. So why did his finances, family, health and whole life fall apart.

The Bible clearly tells us why. The devil didn't start it, God did!

Job 1:8

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

God allowed Satan to have his way with Job, but God set limits. If you are facing tough times right now, don't blame yourself, and don't blame God. Satan is the guy who does this, but only if the Lord lets him, and only as far as God lets him. God never loses control, but He can and will use Satan to try your faith, teach you to trust and create Christ like character.

LESSON 2: THE REALITY OF ADVERSITY

Adversity, hard times, disappointments, discouragement… They’re going to come. You cannot simply wish or positively confess your way out of them.

TRIALS ARE INESCAPABLE

James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

Not if you face trials, but whenever you face them. There is an implied certainty about that. You're going to face them, time and again, so don't think you're  immune. If you don't have problems, check your pulse and make sure you're still alive and breathing.

1 Peter 4:12

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

So if you are facing trials right now, don't be shocked! Be joyful. Yes, be joyful and be thankful, because God is training you to become someone greater than you already are!

TRIALS ARE UNPREDICTABLE

Secondly, trials are not easily predicted. The Greek word used in the verse for face literally means to fall into, and you know when you slip and fall it's totally unpredictable. The same word is used of the man who falls into the hands of thieves in the Good Samaritan parable.

And trials are like that, right? We don't see them coming, and we don't expect them to escalate. You don't predict a flat tyre, or a breakdown. You cannot plan out when an appliance is going to blow, or what another driver will do. You can't choose when you want to get sick or when your child comes home crying. Trials are random.

TRIALS ARE MULTICOLOURED

Problems in life come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Some are minor inconveniences, some are major dramas. Some are short lived, others last years. Some you don't even recognise until you're in it, and some you construct yourself.

The Greek word used in James 1:2 for many kinds is literally multicoloured.

Have you ever tried to match colours at a paint shop? This bewildering variety of trials you face is a pretty good description.

LESSON 3: THE REASON FOR ADVERSITY

But why do we face trials like this in life. Can't we just come to the Lord and disappear to heaven, never to face another trial, problem or drama again?

Here's the thing… God has not saved you for your comfort. His highest priority is not giving you a comfortable, cushy life, free from problems, pain, sickness and trials.

James 1:3-4

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

This pain, this adversity you face, it has a purpose. God has a reason… He is working a mighty work within you.

He's making you mature and complete!

Pain can produce positives. Pressure can produce perseverance. Suffering can create something positive and wonderful.

No adversity happens to you except with a purpose in mind… Your maturity of character, your completeness in Christ likeness. You are not facing trials and pushing though pain for no reason, for God’s amusement or pleasure. No, He always has a reason. Welcome to Uni-Adversity.

The Eucalyptus and Banksia, have serotinous cones or fruits that are completely sealed with resin. These cones/fruits can only open to release their seeds after the heat of a bushfire has physically melted the resin. No fire, no heat, no seed, no fruit. And it's the same with you.

OK, so what possible reason can God have for putting me through what He's putting me through?

1. Problems purify your faith.

James uses the words “trials and testing”. These are the same words to describe the process of purifying gold. You heat the gold to the point where the impurities – the dross – are burned off.

Zechariah 13:9

This third I will put into the fire;

I will refine them like silver

and test them like gold.

Trials test us, sure, but they refine us, they purify us, they make us more mature and give us more character.

Christians should be like tea bags. Their true colour comes out in hot water.

When faced with a very adverse situation in the purchase of our building, your leadership decided to step up and believe God. We could have collapsed and cried woe is me, but we didn't. It's a test.

Now most often you cannot choose the test, but you can always choose the response!

2. Problems produce perseverance.

When you face trials and decide to see things through, you produce perseverance. You learn persistence, staying power, a never give up attitude.

You discover hidden reserves of strength you didn't know we're there. You find an endurance you previously never though possible. You see it through, keeping your eyes on the goal and then discover the incredible feeling of triumph that only perseverance gives.

3. Problems help us mature.

Age is inevitable, but maturity is optional.

Trials and adversity help us to grow and mature into the people God wants us to be. We can become mature and complete, not lacking anything.

And strangely, God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. He wants to produce maturity not a meal ticket. He wants you complete, not conveniently cushioned.

Through the Word of God and trials we are matured. And you need both. You can't get away from one, so you'd better start reading the Word or you won't mature as well or as fast as God intends.

Trials don't mean that God doesn't love you. They mean He really loves you, so much He wants to make you something mature and amazing! He has a plan for you. God’s long range goal goes way beyond your comfort.

LESSON 4: THE REACTION TO ADVERSITY

This one is a hard one. Our response to our trials will either make us or break us. What does the Bible say?

James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

Hang on a minute… What do you mean joy? That's not the normal way people respond to adversity! Most often the response to adversity is to get angry, at whoever is doing it, or at God, or both! The next response is to collapse and say, “Why me, Lord? It's not fair!”

Ok, joy… I guess that means to paint on a happy face and pretend that everything is peachy when inside our life is falling apart, right? Positively confess? Fake it till you make it?

The Greek word for consider is hegeomai, which means to consider, govern or account for… Hence some translations say count it all blessing.

Accountants add things up and balance the books. Sometimes our trials and adversities just don't seem to add up or make sense. But counting it as blessings means that, no matter what the trials are, we can add them up to joy and something positive in our lives.

Joy in the Greek means gladness, calmness, happiness. It's not saying get deliriously happy because the trial is so hard, but rather have a quiet sense of joy, not that you face the test, but that you face the test knowing the teacher, and knowing the test is going to yield a great result.

You may not feel any joy, but if you know the teacher, and know that the teacher is on your side and not out to fail you, there is a sense of joy. I'm not glad that our church faces a more difficult financial situation to get this building, but I am glad that this trial is already producing amazing fruit in the lives of leadership and church members alike.

LESSON 5: THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO ADVERSITY

Rather than react, how do we respond to the trials and tests we face?

In the midst of pain, suffering and adversity, how can you genuinely respond with joy? Pray and ask God for wisdom… and you will get it when you need it…

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Ask the Lord, is there something I need to be learning here? Ask for wisdom, don't try and fake it on your own. Say, “Show me how to respond to this trial in a godly way.”

I recommend immersing yourself in the Bible. Pray, ask God for wisdom then ask for a word in season, directly from the Bible. In my hour of need, He just delivers in spades from His Word.

God promises that these trials and tests will not be beyond what you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). They might seem too hard, but He knows you better than you even do. And He will not prolong the pain any more than is necessary to achieve the purpose He has, which is to develop your character.

So the right response to adversity, the fast track through Uni-Adversity, is not just to be faithful, but to be joyful…

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

LESSON 6: THE REWARDS FOR ADVERSITY

The reward for attending Uni- Adversity is not just intellectual knowledge but practical and applied experience that provided 3 fantastic rewards…

 

1. Personal growth and maturity

You get to learn from the trials you have triumphed over, or if you flunked out badly, you get to sit the exam all over again. Either way, you gain valuable knowledge that is practical, powerful and applicable to every aspect of your life. You gain maturity.

Romans 5:3-4

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

The Greek word here for glory means boasting or pride. Now normally these are not good traits to have, but in this context it means the satisfaction of knowing it's been a job well done. You feel good, feel triumphant and begin to feel more mature in Christ. Combine this with reading the Word every day, and you have the double whammy, you have the 2 proven tools that yield great maturity.

In good times we can survive with a shallow root system, In tough times our roots must go deep. In good times we can stand alone, but in tough times we need to interlock our root systems and send them down deep!

As Christians face the winds of adversity and the storms of trouble, they rise like the skylark. They are like the trees that survive the storm because their roots are driven deep. They are like the trees that grow on mountain ridges—trees battered by winds, yet, trees in which we find the strongest wood.

The skylark, the flowers, the trees—all these illustrate Job’s words: “When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (23:10 NIV).

The Christian who understands this aspect of God’s nature can find comfort in his suffering and peace in his pain.

Job 5:17-18

“Blessed is the one whom God corrects;

so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

For he wounds, but he also binds up;

he injures, but his hands also heal.

Growth and maturity means not blaming God, but staying close to Him and learning the lessons of Uni-Adversity!

2. The Ability to Help Others

Experiencing trials and adversity gives you empathy with what others are going through. But graduating and  triumphing in your Uni-Adversity course gives you powerful, proven strategies to help others in their hour of need.

I didn't enjoy losing all out money and nearly going bankrupt in the GFC. I certainly did not enjoy losing out family home. But we kept trusting God, and I am really rejoicing in what this has done in my life, Fiona's life and even our finances. God is so good!

Thus when the church fell short financially, I had no hesitation in encouraging the eldership that God will do this for us!  I can face our financial future and the future of Coast Church with real confidence, because I've been there, done that, got the T Shirt and have experienced God coming through when we needed Him most.

Jesus does the same with us. He suffered, understands, empathises and can show us strategies to triumph too…

Hebrews 2:18

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

3. Eternal Rewards

James 1:12

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Make no mistake, every time you face tough times and trials, when you triumph you are building a reward in heaven. You are laying up treasure that lasts eternity…

Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

CONCLUSION to University of Adversity

In this series I pray that you will find the reason for the trials you face, the response and the reward that will bring you through to true spiritual maturity.

God has a purpose for every trial that comes into your life. Nothing happens to you without His  approval or purpose. He has the power to work things out to your good, regardless of the circumstances you are facing.   God’s perspective is not the same as yours. God sees the end point clearly, the purpose and outcome of your trial, while all you and I see is the pain and the problem. He sees the future while all you and I see is the present.

So what do you seek? God’s command or your comfort. Spiritual maturity or sensual monotony? At Uni-Adversity, God is going to develop a people that have been tried and proven, who have learned to grow through adversity and are willing to follow Him and change whatever is necessary to graduate.

I know some of you face terrible trials right now, and we as a family want to support you and face them with you. If you face trials that seem big, ugly and unassailable, come forward and let us stand with you!

Specifically, if you face health trials come forward. If you face financial trials, come forward. We are going to pray not that God takes them away, but that God accomplishes what He wants to do in your life through them.

Foundations

An exciting message by the ever popular and challenging Pastor Marie Cartledge.  Coast Church was challenged by her word, and blessed, and I'm sure you will be too!

Run to Win

Here's a special message from one of our favourites at Coast Church, Pastor Keith Heale

Whispers of Love

A young child tries to walk… Takes a couple of steps, then falls awkwardly. Dad picks her up and whispers words of encouragement to her. She tries to walk again.

 

A mother and her young son are sitting on a train. The train enters a tunnels, and suddenly everything goes black. The boy cries out for his mother, and she whispers, “I'm right here sweetheart.”

 

A man holds the reins of a horse and leads him through the undergrowth. Suddenly a twig snaps, and the horse reacts by pulling back and rearing up, fear in its eyes. The man calms the horse, and whispers gently to it, and the horse begins to settle.

 

A couple walk along a beach at sunset. They stop and embrace, and whisper in each other’s ear, “I love you.”

 

These are whispers of love.

 

In the noise and pace of our modern society, we mostly don't hear whispers. They are swamped by the racket of living in the 21^st century, but they're still there, still being whispered, but not often being heard.

 

We have the horse whisperer, we have the dog whisperer, but where oh where is the person whisperer?

 

THE STILL SMALL VOICE

 

1 Kings 19

Elijah was a powerful prophet of God. He stood against the wickedness of Jezebel and King Ahab, and proclaimed holiness when his life was in great peril. He had a huge victory over the bad guys on Mount Carmel, but coming down off that huge high, he ran in fear of his life.

 

Down, discouraged, miserable, he fled to a cave in the mountains, and God sought him out and found him there. He needed God to connect with him at the lowest point in his life.

 

If you're down and low today, you need God to connect with you. If you're discouraged, overwhelmed by life, wishing you could run away, then guest what, you're in good company, because you're just like the prophet Elijah.You need to hear a whisper.

 

Let's look at his encounter with God…

 

 

1 Kings 19:11-13

 

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

 

 

All the noise, the clamour, the earthquakes, the fires, the thunder and lightening… And where do we find God? In the still, small voice, in the quietness, in the gentle whisper of love.

 

Whispers are there, all around us, if we can quieten our hearts enough to hear them. But are they always God, and how can we be sure?

 

CARELESS WHISPERS

 

Some whispers don't encourage you, they discourage you. Who among us has never been the victim of gossip like we read about in these passages…

 

Psalms 41:7-9

 

All my enemies whisper together against me;

they imagine the worst for me, saying,

“A vile disease has afflicted him;

he will never get up from the place where he lies.”

Even my close friend,

someone I trusted,

one who shared my bread,

has turned against me.

 

Or this…

 

Lamentations 3:62

what my enemies whisper and mutter

against me all day long.

 

How do you feel when they whisper about you, then stop why you get close? Sometimes whispers can really hurt, if you're not in on the conversation.

 

As Errol Flynn said, “It's not what they say about you, it's what they whisper!”

 

Another whisper is really creepy. I believe in God and the devil, I believe in angels and also demons. Job describes an incredible encounter with a demon…

 

Job 4:12-17

 

“A word was secretly brought to me,

my ears caught a whisper of it.

Amid disquieting dreams in the night,

when deep sleep falls on people,

fear and trembling seized me

and made all my bones shake.

A spirit glided past my face,

and the hair on my body stood on end.

It stopped,

but I could not tell what it was.

A form stood before my eyes,

and I heard a hushed voice:

‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?

Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?

 

I have experienced this phenomenon. It's absolutely terrifying, you cannot move and the terror that runs up and down your spine is beyond the worse horror movie you've ever seen. You have no doubt that this is not from God, because the evil presence is palpable. Demons are real, but the Bible says,

1 John 4:4

the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

 

So not all whispers are the Lord, not all whispers are of love, some are just, to quote George Michael, careless whispers.

 

IT’S THE WHISPER

 

The Hebrew word for whisper used in the Isaiah passage means a voice… It could be a loud, commanding voice, a whisper, a crying out. But the word is preceded by a Hebrew word literally translated as thin, gaunt or dwarfed. So the voice of God here is not a commanding thunder,but a thin, still small voice. Why? Because the quiet whisper is a sign of affection.

 

Whispering doesn't work very well if you're speaking to someone who's standing on the other side of the room. God doesn't want a long-distance relationship; he wants a close, intimate one.

 

Christianity is not a religion, it's not a set of rules, it's not the Ten Commandments or fire or brimstone… Christianity is relationship, between God and you, one on one, intimate, close, loving, special.

 

HOW TO HEAR A WHISPER

 

How do you begin to hear and recognise God's voice? In the noise and hustle and bustle of life,how can you hear the whisper of God? 

 

1.   SEEK GOD

 

To hear the gentle whisper,you need a heart that's seeking God.

 

I bet that's you, right? I mean, why are you here at church? Why do you come back? What is it that draws you here? Is it so you can meet friends, so you can have our awesome morning teas or coffee, or are you seeking the Lord?

 

Do you have a seeking heart?  In the Old Testament, David had this kind of heart. He once wrote, "In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert" (Psalm 63:1, CEV)

 

If you want to hear God's voice, you need to seek him like David.

 

Seeking God is about being honest with him. Tell him any frustrations, fears or doubts you may have about hearing from him. Ask him to give you ears to hear and eyes to see the ways he is speaking to you. Ask him for the ability to recognise the difference between his voice and your thoughts.

 

Don't  be a fake. Some people believe in the power of positive pretending. Fake it till you make it.

 

Listen, God doesn't honour lying, to someone else or to yourself. Don't try and fake faith, don't try and talk yourself into what you want God to do for you. If the Lord says it, you can believe it. If you tell the Lord what He's going to do, if you think God is just there to do your bidding, then you're  in for major disappointment. Don't try and conjure what's not there, for goodness sake, just be honest with yourself and with God.

 

Here's a promise:

 

Jeremiah 29:12-13

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

 

That's His promise… Seek Him, and you will find Him!

 

2.   READ YOUR BIBLE

 

 

If you want to hear the whisper of God, you need to learn His language. When you study the Bible, you open yourself up to the very heart and personality of God. It's like learning to speak a heavenly language. God will speak to you from His Word.

 

As you study the Scripture, keep your eyes open for teachings and stories that reveal who God is and what He's like. Ask Him to help you understand and apply what you're reading.

 

Isaiah 55:11

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 

God speaks to me nearly every day from His Word. As I read from the Bible Reading plan, you would be amazed at how many verses jump off the page at me… Every single day!

 

3.   PRACTICE LISTENING

 

To hear a whisper you need to be a good listener. Hearing God's voice requires you learning the skill of listening.

 

This may sound easy, but actually making time to sit still and listen in your heart can be a challenge in our super-busy world. It is hard to get quiet and even harder to stay that way.

 

How often have you tried to wait on God, only to be interrupted by a "hold on a sec …" because the phone rings, a Facebook message pings, or someone's at the door. What keeps you from really stopping and waiting on the Lord. The phone? Facebook? The TV?

 

You can also practice hearing the Lord all through the day

 

Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

 

That small voice. That little prompting. That tiny though that pops into your brain, that you know is not you. The more you practice listening, the more easily you will hear His voice. The more you know Him, the more you recognise His voice, and the more you are ready and willing to trust Him and obey.

 

Hearing from God is about more than just turning off the cell and closing down your Facebook app. It requires a quiet heart. Settling those thoughts, putting aside the urgent things of the day. It means becoming still enough on the inside despite the craziness on the outside.

 

4.   LEARN TO BE PATIENT

 

Hearing the whisper of God takes time, effort and patience. Learning to hear, recognise and understand the ways God speaks, like the shampoo commercial, doesn't happen overnight,  but it does happen.  

 

It may take several years of practice, and patient waiting on God, before you're completely comfortable with hearing and recognising God's voice. No matter how long it takes, be confident that he has heard your prayers and will respond.

 

Being that close to God is worth the wait!

 

Waiting is a different concept for God. It does not mean sitting, wasting time, bored and twiddling your thumbs.

 

Psalms 27:14

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

 

Waiting in God’s dimension means being strong, taking heart and continuing to do what you do until God steps in and makes it happen. Waiting to hear the whisper is like that… Be strong, take heart and keep listening, waiting and seeking God. He will not let you down. He promises He will answer.

 

5.   ALWAYS BE OBEDIENT

 

Hearing God’s whisper doesn't mean much if we don't obey. Many people constantly wonder if what they hear is really from God, and this constant wondering paralyses them, so they never take action.  This keeps them from taking action. The fear of being wrong prevents them from ever having the opportunity to be right.

 

Remember, God looks at the heart. When he sees you stepping out in faith—even if you're heading in the wrong direction—he can lovingly correct you, pointing you in the right direction. It's easier to steer a moving ship, so step out, be obedient and take action about what you believe God is whispering to you.

 

If God whispers to you to buy a coffee for a homeless man, or ask a guy at the bank if you can pray for him, why not step out and listen and be obedient?

 

Ultimately, far more important than your religious devotion, your going to church or your Christian jargon is your obedience.

 

1 Samuel 15:22b

 

To obey is better than sacrifice,

and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

 

As you're obedient in small things, so the Lord will lead you into greater things.

 

Luke 16:10

 

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

 

Through a pattern of obedience, you begin to develop a confidence and assurance that you really have heard from God. You can't really explain it. It's internal. Someone may ask how you know you're supposed to do something in particular. You respond, "I can just sense it inside. I just know." You have learned to hear the whisper of God.

 

You should always have a yardstick concerning what you hear. The Word of God is our yardstick, against which we measure and judge every whisper. God will never whisper something that contradicts His revealed will in the Bible. He just won't!

 

CHINESE WHISPERS

 

We've all played this game at some time. You start with a whisper, and the further along the line it gets, the more twisted and crazy the whisper becomes.

 

And that's often what it's like hearing the whisper of God. The further away from the source you are, the less distinct the voice is. If you only ever hear God in a sermon, in a you tube clip or from your friends, then you are missing out.

 

You need to be able to hear His whisper, and even more than that, to recognise it, to be familiar with it. Then you need to obey it, to be ready to act upon what the whisper says, and to live moment by moment in constant communication with God.

 

John 10:3-5

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.”

 

The Greek word used in this passage for voice is the word phone, from which we get the English word phone. So when His sheep hear His voice, it's like a personal phone connection between you and God!

 

Can you recognise the whisper of God? Do you live in His presence moment by moment? Do you want to?

 

 

PRACTICE THE PRESENCE- WHISPERS OF LOVE

 

It is not enough to hear on occasions, when we have a need or a problem o face. We need to have an open line to the throne of God every moment. We looked earlier at this verse from Isaiah…

 

Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

 

I you can tune your heart to that still, small voice, if you can live moment by moment in communication with God, sensitive to His every whisper, then your entire life will change. You won't approach decisions, business, family or anything in the same way. You will start to see everything God’s way, and you will begin to walk in victory every moment!

 

CS Lewis once said,, “Prayer doesn’t change God; it changes me.”

 

How profound and true that is! Your communication with God is your intimate connection with Him, it's your lifeline direct to the Father who loves you, who whispers His love to you.

 

Then, when you are getting closer to Him, He allows you to participate in the work that He is doing and even to see His actions in relationship to your prayers. God hears and answers every prayer, but His purposes in prayer go far beyond giving you the answer that suits you!

 

God wants to transform your life through the process of prayer, through the familiarity of hearing and recognising and obeying His holy whisper.. Your personal relationship with Christ is deepened and enlarged when you spend time talking to Him, and listening to His voice.. As you come into His presence with reverence and a quiet heart, ready to listen, He begins to purify your heart, change your perspectives and sift your priorities. You develop a passion for obedience to God, and you begin to see Him as the Provider for all your needs.

 

Most important, you experience the peace that comes from knowing God is in control (Phil. 4:6-7). Your anxiety melts away as you learn to trust Him. These are just some of the ways God uses prayer to change your heart. The more you pray, the more transformations you’ll discover. The more you recognise God’s whisper, the more you obey His still, small voice, the more you will live in the peace that only comes from being at the centre of His will and purpose.

 

Hebrews 4:7

 “Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your heart

Poison 9- The Poison of Passionlessness

Thefinal poison we will look at is really pivotal for your Christian life. Infact, if you get this one right, many of the other poisons are renderedpowerless… It's the poison of passionlessness.

 

Thisis another poison that just slowly but surely kills you. Little by little youwill find that your life fades away into mediocrity, and before you know it youwon't even recognise the person you once were.

 

Thepoison of passionlessness turns on fire Christians into smouldering wicks, fullon believers into quiet backsliders and Holy Spirit filled powerhouses for Jesusinto dull, lifeless, boring religious bigots.  

 

You see, Passion is what energises your life. It turnsthe impossible into the possible. If you don’t have any passion in your life,every aspect of your life will become boring, dull, routine and monotonous.

 

In fact, if you don’t have passion in your life youare not living. You are just existing.

 

God made you to live a passionate life and to serveHim and His people with vitality. With vibrancy. With energy. With enthusiasm.He wants you to have this in your life.

 

In John 10 Jesus said “My purpose is to give life inall its fullness.”  God wants you to livea full life and a fulfilling ministry, which is the basis for a fulfilling life.If that’s true, the kind of life God meant for us to live is meant to beenjoyed, not merely endured, to be fulfilling, not just filling in time.

 

Sadly, however, countless thousands of Christians,even those in ministry and leadership, are simply enduring, holding on for theride and hoping to survive until they reach eternity without blowing it toobadly.

 

 

CAUSES OF THE POISON OFPASSIONLESSNESS

 

Passionlessnessis not something you pursue, it's something that pursues you by default. Tobecome infected with this poison, all you have to do is… Nothing!

 

Theloss of passion is the natural way any relationship goes, unless you decide tomaintain the passion. If you won't service you car, if you don't maintain yourhouse, if you never clean out your computer hard drive, trust me, none of theseis going to get better! They all run down over time, and so does anyrelationship if you don't actively work to sustain the passion.

 

Thisis often seen in long term marriages, where the passion died slowly as they ageand the couple is left with just living in the same house, going through thesame motions. I don't want to live like that. No one does, but it just kind ofworks out that way sometimes. I'd rather stay a newly wed all my marriage life,wouldn't you!

 

Inthe Christian life, just like in a marriage or friendship, passionlessness is causedby you just not valuing your relationship with God enough to maintain thepassion, but this loss of passion is hastened by a number of things…

 

 

 

1.                 SIN

 

Psalms66:18

If Ihad cherished iniquity in my heart,

theLord would not have listened.

 

Unconfessedsin will block your relationship with God. It's like putting a soundproof wallbetween you and Him, so you can't hear His voice any more, and He doesn'tlisten to your prayers.

 

Themost miserable person in the world is a backslidden Christian. You can't enjoyGod as He intends for you to do, and your conscience won't let you even enjoythe fleeting pleasure, the momentary fun of sin.

 

Beinga believer and choosing sin over God makes you miserable. No joy, no peace anddefinitely no passion. No future as well, so you don't want to be this personat all!

 

2.                 TOUGH TIMES

 

Mark4:16-17

Andthese are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word,immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, butendure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account ofthe word, immediately they fall away.

 

Whilesome people find persecution deepens their relationship with God, others fallaway and get mad at God for what He's “allowed to happen” in their lives.

 

Howdo you react when you face difficult circumstances? Do you collapse and screamout, “Not fair, Lord”? Do you feel like life, people, lousy circumstances andbad luck affect you and you demeanour?

 

I asksome people how they're doing, and they say, “OK under the circumstances.” Ithen ask them what they're doing under there! We should live above thecircumstances, right? Some people decide to constantly live in victim mode, andpassion dies.

 

 

3.                 WORRIES

 

Mark4:18-19

Andothers are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, butthe cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires forother things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

 

Caresof the world, worries about the future, the desire for riches or things, thesecan choke the joy and life out of you. They can suck the passion you have forGod right out of you, because they make you look away from Him and towardsthings, money or fears!

 

 

TheBible says

Philippians4:6

donot be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplicationwith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 

Whydoesn't God want you anxious? Because it is lack of trust in Him, and itpoisons you with passionlessness!

 

 

4.                 DISTRACTIONS

 

1Corinthians 7:35

I saythis for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promotegood order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

 

Thatword undivided in the Greek means “without distraction”.  So many things in our modern life distractus, even if they are not bad in themselves. TV is a distraction, the Internetis a distraction. Facebook, football, mates or Mills and Boon, anything candistract you from what is really important. If it distracts you from the Lord,the passion dies.

 

Andthe crazy thing is, while we don't get passionate about God, we get reallypassionate about theses distractions. Look at football, for example, or whatabout watching your favourite show… Nothing deters you from this, and weusually choose the idiot box over spending time with the living God!

 

Remember,the poison of passionlessness is passive, meaning you don't have to do anythingto become infected by it, you just have to do nothing and it will seep intoyour heart. 

 

Butyou have passion within you, and if you get overly passionate about the wrongthing, the passion for the right thing is overwhelmed. Choose what you arepassionate about, and how.

 

5.                 OVERWORK, OR OVER-MINISTERING!

 

Luke10:40-42

ButMartha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said,“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her thento help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious andtroubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen thegood portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

 

Thold saying was, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, in other words,work makes people passionless.

 

Workcan also fill you with passion, if you are doing what you love. But work, evenin the church, can suck you dry of your passion, especially if you're doing itbecause you feel you have to rather than because you love it. In fact, this isone of the major sources of the poison of passionlessness and it is so sinisterbecause you feel like you're actually serving the Lord, even  though you hate what you're doing!

 

Jesusdidn't say Martha was wrong or in sin, he said she was troubled and anxious, andhad chosen the lesser way. Spending time with God is the better way.

 

Nowof course, Jesus was not saying that no work needs to be done, because thereclearly is much to do in the Kingdom of God. He was simply saying that spendingtime with God should be your priority, not working yourself into the ground andworking yourself into a tizz, getting cranky at all the people around you whoare not working as hard as you!

 

Ihave experienced this, as has Fiona. We call it burnout! It can affect anyonewho works hard or serves the Lord in any area, and it can crash your entirelife. It even leads to changes in your personality. You become lethargic,uninspired and without passion for anything in life!

 

Overwork,burnout and being too busy is a sure fire way to allow the poison ofpassionlessness to infect your heart, and ruin your life and ministry.

 

 

 

 

6.                 RELIGION

 

Isaiah29:13

 

TheLord says:

“Thesepeople come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips,

buttheir hearts are far from me.

Theirworship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

 

Religionis rules, and it's pretty hard to get passionate about rules. Some do though,and some of the great injustices in the world are currently being perpetratedby religious zealots like ISIS.

 

Listen,religion kills you, but relationship fulfils you!

 

Beingzealous about some religion is not the same as being in love and passionateabout a person. Don't confuse the two please! Zealous Religion, even Christianreligion, is not Holy Spirit inspired life, it's just not!

 

Youcan be as religious as you like, go to church twice on a Sunday and to Biblestudy midweek, and still go to hell! You can sound like a Christian, speak theright words and live a pious life. You can become a monk, live in the desertand eat Wild locusts with honey on toast and still not be saved. You can beultra religious and super nice, and you'll be the nicest guy in hell!

 

Salvationis not about rules, it's not about obeying a list of dos and don’ts… It isabout relationship, your relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

Goingto church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makesyou a hamburger!

 

Sayingprayers won't save you, otherwise prayer wheels would be all the rage. Beingkind to others won't even save you.

 

Onlya living, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ, having Him as your Lord andSaviour, living a life filled with the Holy Spirit, can save you. It's nothingyou do, it's someone you know.

 

Titus3:5

hesaved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit

 

7.                 TIME

 

Timeallows the poison of passionlessness to sneak in. This is far more common thanwe acknowledge and if affects us all. Time, that's all, simply time. We don'tdo anything, we don't change anything, we keep going to church, being involved,working hard, serving the Lord and our brothers and sisters… But time takes itstoll.

 

Beware,each of you, especially as the years roll on. When you've know the Lord for along time is dangerous. Let me ask you, is each year you spend with God gettingbetter, or are you looking back on the good old days?

 

(KJV)Habakkuk 3:2

OLord, revive thy work in the midst of the years,

inthe midst of the years make known;

inwrath remember mercy.

 

Thedanger time is when we have been saved for years.  You don't walk away, you don't deny Christ,you don't stop loving God, you keep going to church, but you just grow cold.Church is mundane, the Same ol, same ol, stuff.

 

Thisis what I love about some of our seniors here… They don't retire, they refire,and that's the passion Jesus is looking for.

 

REMEMBERYOUR FIRST LOVE

 

InRevelation, Jesus says this to the church at Ephesus…

 

Revelation2:2-4

Iknow your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannottolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles butare not, and have found them false.

Youhave persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grownweary.

Yet Ihold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.

 

Doyou remember your first love? I remember meeting Fiona for the first time. Howexcited I was about pretty much everything about her. The way she looked, theway she spoke, the things she did. That passion, that excitement, that firstlove…

 

Thetruth is that, over time, with all the ups and downs of life, it's easy to loseyour first love. It's hard to maintain the passion in the humdrum monotony oflife, but that's exactly what Jesus addressed the church at Ephesus about!

 

Thischurch was a faithful church, right in the heart of a city devoted to idolworship; a hard working church, a persevering church, one that on the surfacewas successful and doing everything right.

 

Youare probably just like that, attending things, involved, calling yourself aChristian. Doing everything right, and looking the goods for Jesus, but…

 

HAVEYOU LOST YOUR FIRST LOVE?

 

Haveyou, like the Ephesians, lost that intense, enthusiastic love for Jesus. Intheir church, after 30 years of diligent service, they had seen intense lovegive way to orthodoxy, religion and ritual.

 

Bill Newmanoften talks about 4 stages of church movement:

Man,movement, machine, monument,

 

Wholechurches become infected with the poison of passionlessness, just as any of uscan as individuals.

 

TheEphesians had not yet departed from their love for Christ, but they were well onthe way, and Jesus knew it! They were infected by the poison of passionlessness,and Jesus loved them enough to rebuke them.

 

Inthe Greek the word used for forsaken means to leave, let go of, disregard, omitor to keep no longer.  Tellingly, it isthe Greek word associated with divorce, a man leaving his wife. Forsaking yourfirst love is tied to divorce and separation, as many will attest.

 

Myexperience is that, if you keep the first love, the passion, the joy of yourlove alive, no one is thinking about separation or divorce.

 

Andin marriage this seems to be harder as you grow older. Your partner gets wrinklier,chubbier and more familiar (and by the way, so do you!) Little irritationsstart to really get to you… They way he hangs his clothes up on the floor, theway she lets the washing pile up, the way he hogs the remote.  Sometimes you don't feel as passionate.

 

Inmarriage you have to work hard to keep the passion alive. It's the same withyour walk with God. As you mature in Christ, as you work and serve in thechurch, you must not neglect the better way, the way of true relationship.

 

There'sno point serving the Kingdom and neglecting the King.

 

Jesuswas so serious about this with the Ephesians church that He told them “If youdo not repent I will remove your lamp stand from its place.” Revelation 2:5

 

Todayno church exists and Ephesus itself does not even exist, except as anarcheological site. They were infected by the poison of passionlessness, andthey lost everything. It's a sobering thought isn't it?

 

THEANTIDOTE FOR THE POISON OF PASSIONLESSNESS…

 

I'mgoing to take that passage in Revelation and reveal the antidote to the poisonof passionlessness..

 

Revelation2:4-5

 

Yet Ihold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Considerhow far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you donot repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

 

1.                 REMEMBER

 

Rememberthe life you once had...

 

 Remember the Feelings:

Don'tdeny your feelings. In church we often think feelings are unimportant, butwe’re wrong if we think that. Feelings are good and necessary, and they arepart of not a religion but a relationship. However, I challenge you to compare yourfeelings in a football match, or a chick flick to the feelings you probablydon't have in church.

 

 

 

Rememberthe Memories:

Memoryis a luxury only good men can enjoy.

Doyou remember when you were saved?

Isyour love today colder, more indifferent, is it self sufficient, sophisticated,is it a veneer, and if so, what is really underneath?

 

Weneed to remember our first love, our original passion, the passion that wasonce there when we first came to know the Lord. How grateful we were foreternal life, how the Bible came alive as we read, how we made great friendsand actually looked forward to and enjoyed Bible study or church

 

 

Rememberwhat you did:

Howyou spoke, how you read the Bible, how you told your friends... Is it still thesame?  Is it still a thrill?

 

Fionaand I still go on dates. We still hang out, she is my best friend, but we haveto fight for it! I have to make sure I keep the passion alive for her, becauseover time everything breaks down and gets worse.  You start with remembering what is use to belike once upon a time.

 

2.                 REPENT

 

Repentingmeans to turn around 180 degrees. Jesus calls us to repent, which means youneed to decide now to rekindle that first love again, the excitement, therichness, they joy of deep relationship with Jesus.

 

Repentingis making a decision to turn around. It's not veering to one side or the other,it's doing a 180. It's a decision I hope every one of you makes this morning toreignite your life for Jesus.

 

Acts3:19

Repent,then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times ofrefreshing may come from the Lord,

 

Timesof refreshing means joy, passion, being in love!  But it is not enough to just repent, we needto finish the antidote properly with actions...

 

James2:17-18

Inthe same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 But someone will say, “You have faith; I havedeeds.”

Showme your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

 

3.                 DO THE THINGS YOU DID AT FIRST

 

Thisis the key to defusing the poison of passionlessness… It's not enough to justfeel like you love Jesus, not enough to to make a great decision, you need toback that up with actions, because actions speak louder than words, and faithwithout works is dead!

 

Whatsort of actions neutralise the poison of passionlessness? Let me finish withsome practical steps to regaining your first love and being passionate forJesus again…

 

1.                 Make a decision today.

 

Decideright now that you want to be on fire for Jesus.

 

2.                 Commit to Studying the Word Daily

 

Commityours of to studying God’s Word every day. We have a Bible reading plan, it'sfree, and if I you follow it as many of us here are doing, it will transformyour life.

 

Forthose of you following the reading plan, keep up or catch up.  Don't get slack. It's half way through theyear. If you're too far behind, just start afresh at today's reading. The planis there to help you, direct and guide you through the the entire Bible, notmake your life miserable!

 

3.                 Pray Daily

 

Youshould be praying every day, many times a day. Don't just say grace and thinkyou're being faithful, but live in the moment with the Lord… Pray continuously

 

4.                 Fellowship

Don'tneglect coming to church, whether you like it, love it or loath it. So manyChristians stop going to church, and in my experience it almost always drawsthem away from God, not towards God.

 

Hebrews10:24-25

Andlet us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, notneglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

As sinfuland incomplete as we are, the Church is God’s answer for a hurting world. Thischurch is your family, your friends.

 

It'sthe middle of the year, mornings are cold, life's busy, church is church, kidsare whining… I get it! I know some of you have other stuff on and church is alower priority. But I'm urging you to make fellowship a priority, because noman is an island, and together we can encourage and spur one another on towardslove and good deeds.

 

Find people in the church who are on fire for God andget with them so that they can inspire you and rub off on you. Don’t allownegative people to pull you down. Pretty soon, you’ll find yourself starting tothink like them. Hang with those who are contagious for Christ, and before youknow it, passionlessness will be a thing of the past.

 

But it all starts with you making the decision to rediscoveryour first love, to be on fire for Jesus, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, tobe passionate about the Lord.

Poison of the Pilgrim 8-The Poison of Poverty Mentality

The next in our series of poisons of thepilgrim is another subtle one that is so sneaky, you actually can feel totallyjustified when you allow this poison in. It's the poison of poverty mentality,and it will keep you powerless and poor for your entire life if you let it. Itdoesn't hit you in a rush like last week’s poison, but it is a slow,frustrating, uncomfortable death none the less.

 

PROSPERITYDOCTRINE- RECIPE FOR DISASTER?

 

Prosperity teaching has been common for along time, however it has to some degree lost many of its followers. What isit, and I wonder why?

 

Prosperity teaching says that you are achild of God, and God wants to bless you with financial prosperity. The thought is that,if you do the right things, pray the right prayers and if you can generateenough faith, God will make you a millionaire.

 

3 John 1:2 (KJV)

Beloved, I wish above all things that thoumayest prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

 

Yep, I'm in, sounds great. What's thecatch? Is there even a catch?

 

There is. The catch is that God is God, andtherefore He has a plan for your life, which may or likely may not involve youbecoming a multimillionaire. The trouble is, if God hasn't and you believe Hehas, you are in for a lot of heartache and disappointment.

 

In fact, many people who believe thisteaching finish disillusioned and turn away from God. Grossly unfair towardsGod, given that they decided He was going to prosper them and make them millionaires and then they expected Him to follow through and do their bidding.If God promises you, and you have things like Scripture, prophecies and a wholestack of things to confirm this, then fantastic. But don't decide what you wantand get upset that God doesn't do it your way. Last I saw, He is Lord, not youand not me!

 

WHAT IS THE POISONOF POVERTY MENTALITY?

 

The poison of poverty mentality is notabout how much money you have, or haven't got. In fact, if you have a povertymentality, you could have a million dollars and it would make absolutely nodifference at all.

 

The poison of poverty mentality is aboutfear and lack. If you have a poverty mentality then you will believe you arenot good enough to be blessed so you will cling on to what you have in case youlose it. God wants to deal with that in our lives.

 

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord JesusChrist, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that youthrough his poverty might become rich.

 

So poverty mentality is not about what youhave or haven't got, it's about how you see yourself. It's about what you thinkyou deserve. And if you start to believe that verse I just read to you, thenyou are already starting to neutralise the power of this poison.

 

That verse talks about Jesus giving up theriches of Heaven and all that entails to become a lowly man. He did this so wecould become rich, and not just in monetary terms.

 

Being truly rich is way beyond money. It'sbeing rich in the things of God’s Kingdom: rich in anointing, power, authority,everything He has. Money is nice,but not necessary to become truly rich

 

Jesus gave up heaven so that we could haveaccess to heaven – so that we could bring heaven to earth. And we need to berich in every way if we are going to do that: in the anointing, in wisdom, inknowledge and understanding of the Word of God; in power and authority and inthe gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 

That's our calling! That's our destiny, butthere is one poison that will keep us from all that. It is having a povertymentality.

 

God wants to break this poison off us. Hewants us to understand that we are are sons and daughters of the King. God isnot a stingy Father, He's not reluctant to bless His children, to see usprosper, to see us succeed in all He has planned for us to do.

 

The poison of poverty mentality tells usnot to believe this, tells us we are unworthy, that we are not able.

 

Today is the day we allow God to break thepoverty mentality off us and cast it aside. It is time to remove the povertyspirit from its throne!

 

WHAT’S GOD’S WILLFOR YOUR LIFE?

 

We’ve got to understand that poverty is notthe will, not the requirement nor the proof of a Godly life. There's nothingglamorous about being poor! Some church traditions teach or imply this, equatingpoverty with humility. We know God wants us to be humble, but does that meanthat we have to be poor as well?

 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,”declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give youhope and a future.

 

Have you got hope? Have you got a future?Or are you living in a poverty mentality?

 

Australia is poisoned by poverty mentality.Our social security system is amongst the best in the world, but it breeds amentality of lack, of an ungrateful spirit and a poverty mentality that expectsnothing more than the worst thing possible. We get content in ourcircumstances, comfortable in poverty, safe in our sicknesses, living a life oflack and expecting no better.

 

God is rich, the devil is poor! Heaven isabundance, hell is poverty-stricken! Whose kingdom are you in and who has beenleading you? Do you live by a poverty mentality manifesting as fear, worries,struggles, hard work, and self-dependence? Or do you live by the “Truth andGrace” that comes through Jesus Christ, a life full of His leading and Hisprosperity?

 

Can you believe that your Heavenly Fatherwants the best for you? Can you believe this even if it doesn't involvemillions of dollars, luxury cars and houses or worldly success? Prosperity ismore than money, it's a way of life and it is measured not in the presence ofmoney, but in the presence of The Spirit of God!

 

 

TESTS TO SEE IF YOUHAVE THIS POISON

 

Here are some tests you can apply right nowto see if this sinister poison is operating in your life…

 

Test1: Constant Money Fixation -

 

What do you think about money? When you dothink about it, are you concerned about how much of it you lack, or how muchyou can manifest? Have you ever thought about why you want to manifest money inthe first place?

 

Do you talked about money despite nothaving much?  Do you make snide commentslike, “I'm not a Myers person, I'm a K Mart kind of guy?” Do you always chosebased on price? Will you do nearly anything to get money?

 

Ecclesiastes 5:10

He who loves money will not be satisfiedwith money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

 

Most poor people spend all their timethinking about money (or more specifically, their lack of it). When I was atUniversity and broke, that’s what I did. At times I was fixated on money. I thought aboutall the things I didn’t have and couldn’t get. And at times I was jealous ofthe people who had them. 

 

Test 2: "IHate Rich People!" -

 

Being jealous of all the things otherpeople have that you don't have will not help matters. Because jealousy soon turns tohate, so before long You find yourself hating all rich people because they havewhat You want -- nice homes, exotic cars, expensive clothes.

 

As Aussies, we have the tall poppy syndromewhere we try and cut any successful person down to our level. “"He's notthat great”, “"She's not that pretty”, “"He has more dollars thansense!”, etc.

 

James 3:14-15

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is notthe wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

 

That’s the real joke, because as much asYou might hate rich people, you are working hard every day trying to become one! So there's awhole bunch of internal conflict going on.

 

With this mentality you end up surgingforward to success, only to sabotage yourself every time You get close tosuccess. You tend to be so obsessed that you'll try anything, including gettingripped off time and again trying to get rich quick. Millions of people doexactly this, because they obsess about money and are jealous of those who haveit.

 

You might think you are programmed forsuccess, but you may be actually programmed in your head, in your mentality forpoverty.

 

Test 3: Fear-BasedDecision-Making -

 

Making decisions based on fear of loss orfailure never leads you towards prosperity. In fact, fear-based decision-makingcan rob you of any sense of happiness or joy of success, and distort yourbehavior.

 

 2Timothy 1:7

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but ofpower and love and self-control.

 

Have you ever seen someone experience moreanguish at losing $10 than earning $100? Ever seen someone drive around aparking lot for 10 minutes to avoid a one-minute walk to the store? Have youever not given your offering at church because it's been a tough week andyou're worried you won't make it through?

 

These scenarios are fear-based, notprosperity driven. The decisions are not made on what the possible benefitsare, but made in order to avoid a possible negative outcomes.

 

When something adversehappens to you, do you immediately see the worst possible outcome, or see the immensepossibilities opening up before you?

 

Check your heart now… Do you make decisionsbased on moving towards God’s blessing for you, or based on moving away fromfear?

 

So how do you make decisions, especially big ones?What's in your heart? I'm not saying you need to unrealistically overlook anynegative possibly, I'm not saying to throw your brain away and trust God (Henever asks us to do that!), but what is it that you concentrate on?

 

HOW THE POISON OFPOVERTY MENTALITY POISONS YOU

 

As I said at the start, this poison isinsidious. The enemy uses TV shows, movies, songs, books and generalconversation to infect you with a poverty mentality, to make you think that, toquote Jack Nicholson, “Did you ever think that maybe this is as good as it gets?”

 

Social security won't necessarily but caninfect you with the poison of poverty mentality. If you don't work or take achance to get something, if it's just given to you, you tend not to truly valueit. I use to give away eye exercises for kids, and no one did them. As soon asI started charging even a small amount, everyone started doing them. It's humannature.

 

And if you are given something for nothing,after a time you start to expect it, demand it, treat it like it's your Godgiven right! Many on government benefits have this attitude, but of course many are grateful andcareful with what they receive.

 

This poison also attacks your faith. Itmakes you doubt God, doubt His plans for you and even makes you mad at God forwhat has befallen you, even if it isn't His fault!  How often have you made bad, selfish, dumbdecisions, seen things go wrong and then blamed God?

 

The poverty mentality always blames someoneelse, it never steps up and accepts blame for any failure.  Talk to most Australians going through atough time, and nine times out of ten it will be someone else's fault…  “I'm in this predicament because of myupbringing, my ex, how I was treated at school, bad luck, anything but my badjudgement or bad decisions!”

 

The constant cry of poverty mentality isthat life's not fair. You know what? Life isn't fair. It's hard, evil sometimesseems to triumph, bad guys win and nice guys finish last!

 

You're probably thinking at times, “God’snot fair.” To this I say, thank God He's not fair. If He gave us all what wedeserved, not one of us would be left standing. We all have sinned, we alldeserve death (Romans 3:23, 6:23), but by God’s grace we don't get what wedeserve from Him.  Thanks, Lord, for notbeing fair, but being gracious!

 

The poison of poverty mentality constantlycries out that it's not fair, it's someone else's fault and “ Why does thisalways happen to me!” 

 

Habakkuk felt the same way…

 

Habakkuk 1:2-4

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, andyou will not hear?

Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will notsave?

Why do you make me see iniquity, and why doyou idly look at wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me;strife and contention arise.

So the law is paralyzed, and justice nevergoes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous; sojustice goes forth perverted.

 

Job was another who could have had apoverty mentality when everything he's worked for his whole life was taken awayfrom him. I know how that feels. We worked for over a decade to amass a milliondollar investment portfolio, and watched it be taken away in one week.

 

But what did Job say? His wife said 

 

Job 2:9

Then his wife said to him, “Do you stillhold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”

 

But Job said this…

 

 Job1:21

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother'swomb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;blessed be the name of the Lord.”

 

He didn't get mad at God, he didn't say woeis me, he didn't blame and curse and think this was as good as it's going toget from now on. No, he trusted God, because his treasure was not in people andthings he had, but in God!

 

THE ANTIDOTE TO THEPOISON OF POVERTY MENTALITY

 

The antidote to the poison of povertymentality is a multiple step antidote…

 

1. STOP BLAMING

 

Stop blaming God, others, family, previousbosses, the government, the church or anyone else for the way your life isright now. They may have played a part, but your situation is the result ofyour decisions to a large part. Poverty mentality blames others, so the firstpart of the antidote is to accept responsibility yourself.

 

Ezekiel 18:20

The one who sins isthe one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, norwill the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of therighteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will becharged against them.

 

Ultimately you and youalone are responsible for your sin, and for the circumstances in which youlive. And at the judgement, you stand before the Lord alone!

 

2. HOLD EVERYTHING LOOSELY

 

Corrie Ten Boom said,“Hold everything lightly, otherwise it hurts when The Father prices yourfingers loose and takes it from you.”

 

Cars, houses, friends, family, job, church;the second step is to loosen your hold on all of these things. If your joy isin them more than in your relationship with God, then if they are removed youlose your joy. Your treasure is in the wrong place.

 

 

Matthew 6:20-21

But store up foryourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and wherethieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heartwill be also.

 

 

 

3. RECOGNISE YOURRICHES- BECONTENT

 

We live in a societyconstantly demanding more, but the Bible says this…

 

Philippians 4:12-13

I know what it is tobe in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret ofbeing content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whetherliving in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives mestrength.

 

Are you content withwhat God gives you? I'm not saying don't strive to get ahead, but I am sayingdon't live to get. Winston Churchill said, we make a living by what we get, butwe make a life by what we give!

 

No matter what you have, no matter who youare, my Bible says that if I accept Jesus Christ as Lord of my life, I become ason or daughter of the King of Kings.

 

That makes you a princess, or a prince… Itmakes you royalty. Isn't it about time you started acting like it?

 

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meetall your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

 

His riches become yourriches. Your riches ultimately are worthless next to His anyway, right?

 

It also gives us access to the incredibleriches and resources of Heaven. Divine power to live a holy life? Check! Divineprovision for all our needs? Check! A hope that shines in the darkest place andlasts for eternity? Check!

 

 

Romans 11:33

Oh, the depth of theriches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable hisjudgments,

and his paths beyondtracing out!

 

 

 

4. WALK IN YOURROYALTY

 

If you are a prince of a princess, you getmany blessings and benefits, but you are also expected to behave and think likeyour Royal station demands. You don't do things that bring disrepute on theKing, you speak the words He wants you to speak as His representative.

 

1 Peter 2:9

 

But you are a chosenpeople, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that youmay declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderfullight.

 

And you can start by changing how you seeyourself, others, money and everything else. That's one step. Staying close toHim is part 2, reading His word, praying, being fully engaged with the Father.That's the key to overcoming a poverty mentality.

 

The opposite of poverty mentality is faith. You cannot havefaith in someone or something you don't know. The better you know someone, themore faith you will have in the them.

 

This week we faced a huge hurdle in thepurchase of this building. Unbeknown to us, the goal posts were moved bycouncil and despite all that we have seen over the last few months, we look inthe natural we are around $30,000short, and without this we are unable to proceed withthe purchase. But I talked to the board and we have agreed that, despite whathas been done, we trust God, not man, not council and not the current owners.

 

I said to the board, as pastor I refuse tohave a poverty mentality over this. My God is able, He is leading us, He willmake a way! I refuse to blame others, blame God, cry unfair or collapse inmisery. If we truly think exceeding abundance (Ephesians 3:20), then this is agreat time to stand up and be counted! The board unanimously agrees, and wewill trust God to open doors that appear shut, because He is the King, we areroyalty, and the King has our destiny in His hands!

 

It's this situation in mind, let me finishwith a verse God gave me this week in my quiet times. This verse sums it up.This is the antidote to the poison of poverty mentality. It comes from the sameHabakkuk who complained about the bad guys winning all the time, and it's howhe finishes his book.

 

You see he didn't stay in his complaint, hedidn't whine and camp there, he let God know how he felt, then pressed into Godfor an answer…

 

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree should not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail

and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold

and there be no herd in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

God, the Lord, is my strength;

he makes my feet like the deer's;

he makes me tread on my high places.

Poisons of the Pilgrim 7- Perversion and Promiscuity

Thus far in this series we have touched on some pretty sensitive issues, but of all the poisons we will discuss in this series this will surely be the most awkward, especially for the guys!

 

I will be speaking plainly about some things, so if you have a child you don't want to hear this, please pop outside for a little bit. I am not trying to offend, and will be as candid as possible, but there are people in this room who need to hear this message. 

 

WE NEED TO BE HOLY

 

As believers, we need to be holy. We need to strive to be holy and fight unholiness…

 

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

 

The poison of perversion and promiscuity is without doubt one of the most serious attacks on the church in the 21st century. Sexual perversion of every kind is rampant in our society today, and our modern culture tells us that it is all ok, everyone can choose to do what they want, as long as they don't hurt others. But deep down, despite what some may say, we know what us ring and wrong!

 

Don't let our society’s approach pervert what God says about this dangerous and important poison. I was once discussing the issue of gay ministers with a Christian from… well let's say another, more permissive denomination. He attacked me and accused me of looking at society through the Bible rather than the Bible through society. I thanked them as that was a huge compliment for me. 

 

If you look at the Bible through society, every law, every precept and everything Jesus taught will change like shifting sand, depending on the prevailing moral lack of the day. If we view society through the Bible we have a standard for holiness that does not change.

 

The Bible says…

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.IP

 

My Bible says He loves me, but it does not give me permission to do whatever twisted, perverted sexual activity I can conjure up! Culture changes, governments change, but deep down we know what is right and what is wrong, because we have a conscience. Here’s what happens if culture rules Scripture… 

 

What used to be called chastity is now called neurotic inhibition.

What used to be called Christian discipline is now called unhealthy repression.

What used to be called depravity is now called creative self-expression.

What used to be called disgusting is now called adult.

What used to be called ethical anarchy is now called theology of liberation.

What used to be called moral irresponsibility is now called being freed up.

What used to be called living in sin is now called a meaningful relationship.

What used to be called modesty is now called a hang-up.

What used to be called perversion is now called alternate lifestyle.

What used to be called self-indulgence is now called self-fulfillment.

 

If God doesn't punish our country for its sexual sin He will have to apologise to Sodom and Gomorrah!

 

The poison of perversion and promiscuity is everywhere, and I for one am going to speak about it and challenge all of us, myself included.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

 

In this difficult message I am going to expose this poison and stand against  the perverted standards of this world head on. This will not be my opinion, it will be God’s opinion, and for that we must look at some uncomfortable Scriptures…

 

ARE YOU GRAFFITIING THE TEMPLE?

 

Would you enter this church and scrawl graffiti over the walls, and think it's OK. Would you smash it up for fun, or burn it to the ground, and say you just expressing yourself. If you fear God at all, no one in their right mind defaces a temple.

 

Lust is an all consuming passion, and the basis for the poison of perversion and promiscuity. People throw their families away, their reputations and even commit murder because of this poison.  Some think it's just a bit of fun, they think it's satisfying a normal bodily craving, but it is way more than that.

 

 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

 

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

 

All sin separates us from God, but sexual sin can deeply damage human character. Sexual sin is the atomic bomb of sins, causing greater and wider destruction than almost every other sin. It's not worse than other sins, because sin is sin and separates us from God, but it is more damaging and far reaching than most others.

 

Though someone may say what he is doing will not hurt anyone else, the truth is that it does. The poison of perversion has a ripple effect that is broad and far-reaching. It destroys relationships, it ruins reputations, it opens you up to fatal disease and it ruins how you see yourself and members of the opposite sex.

 

Ultimately sexual sins, great and small, exposed and hidden, acknowledged or tolerated, will hinder us from being the whole, courageous, powerful witnesses God created us to be. You were bought with a price… Act like it!

 

Let me also point out that Sex is not evil or perverted, it was created by God and is good. I for one am a big fan of it! He made it to be between marriage partners, a man and a woman, and the Bible clearly teaches that. It's Satan that perverts it and turns it into a weapon of mass destruction, especially for men. 

 

THE PATH TO POISONING YOURSELF (AND THOSE YOU LOVE)

 

No one sets out to ruin his life and throw his family and reputation away. It's the Little foxes that start the whole thing off, and most of those happen secretively.

 

Song of Songs 2:15

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes

that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

 

Samson didn’t turn toward sin in one huge, ridiculous decision. A lifetime of little choices resulted in Samson’s demise. Similarly, it isn’t the politician’s final bribe, but rather his early career decisions to bend the rules, that leads to his downfall. It isn’t the public moral failing of the religious leader, but the many unconfessed sins that preceded it, that brings him down. It’s not the addiction, but the little indulgences that fed the addiction, that kills a family.

 

I heard about a man who was losing his hair, and had one hair left. He use to comb it over and take care of it. One day he woke up and there is was on the pillow, and he exclaimed, “"Oh my, I've gone suddenly bald!” Here's the thing, it had been happening for ages, and so it is with the poison of perversion.

 

This principle also applies to our marriages. Most Christians don’t wake up one day and decide to throw their marriage and family away with one grand affair. No, the whole process starts quietly, secretively, subtly.  A bit of seemingly innocent flirting at work, a porn site that pops up randomly, sending an innocuous email to an old friend or confiding a bit of unhappiness with one’s marriage to a sympathetic friend of the opposite sex.

 

So small, not important, just a bit of flirting, just a glance, just a look, just a website, just a touch. The little foxes.

 

PORN TO BE WILD

 

Interestingly, the Greek word used in 1 Corinthians 6 for immorality is “porneia”, and that's where we get the word pornography from.

 

In our society, pornography is the starting point for many people, even those in the Church. Prostitutes, sex and strippers have always existed, so why is this suddenly a problem for us?

 

Accessibility, that's why! Back in the day you'd have to walk to the Newsagents, buy or steal a Playboy, hide it from your mum, etc. a big project, with big risks of being caught, running the risk that your mum checks under your mattress, right?

 

Today it's on your phone. 24/7, right there. In colour, in print, in movies, insatiable! Your favourite TV show probably has something close to porn in it at some point, and certainly reflects the twisted morals of our sex soaked society.

 

Latest figures suggest in excess of 700 million pornographic websites out there. And we’ve got a whole generation coming up, many to be married soon, who have been gathering strange, unholy and unhealthy ideas about sex from the net.

 

The average age of first exposure to Internet porn is 11. The largest consumers of porn are between 14-18 and 35-49 years of age.

 

Porn is free and easy to access. Even if someone is not looking for it, it can easily find them.  It’s highly addictive and is capturing men and women, boys and girls. Porn is putting its hooks into people all around us and we are often oblivious. 

 

Don’t think your “good Christians kids”, your “good Christian adults” or even your “good Christian leaders” are immune. Statistics show porn addictions are crossing all statuses and demographics. If you are male and don't feel tempted, your either superman or dead. We all face it.

 

This poison is out of control, across the world and sadly, across the church. And you can hide it! So you look good at church but inside you are being eaten up by it.

 

Chuck Colson has called Internet pornography “Spiritual Crack Cocaine,” because of how quickly people can become addicted to it and because of how destructive it is to the human soul.

 

Porn is causing such brokenness, that we often try to ignore.

It causes brokenness in our humanity, as people are seen and treated as objects for our gratification instead of being valued as God’s creation.

It causes brokenness in our relationships, as it skews our view of intimacy, of sexuality and of healthy relationships between the sexes.

It causes brokenness in our own brains. It acts like any other addictions in the brain, lighting up the same reward centres and releasing neurochemicals that make you crave more and more.

 

In fact, one recent Australian study suggests that young men who access porn sites are far more likely to grow into abusers of women. Why? Because their value of women is degraded by their exposure to porn. 

 

If you’re a Christian, porn creates a double life.  You have to keep it secret.  You go to church and feel distance in your relationship with God.  You wonder if your spouse will find you out.  You wonder what your pastor would think if he found out.  You are constantly looking behind you.

Porn will destroy your marriage.  And/or your future marriage.

 

ARE WE PORNS IN SATAN’S GAME?

 

I know in this room many people, men and women, will be grappling with this poison. You need to confront this giant and beat it, or else you will become a pawn in Satan’s game, controlled by the poison of perversion and promiscuity until he is ready to throw your life away. Once you go with this poison and give in to it, porn is just the thin edge of the wedge. Frequently pornography leads to fornication and adultery, where the devil, after capturing our eyes and our hearts by the images and thoughts of impurity, steps it up and ensnares us in the physical act. And he will throw situations in front of us where we will be tempted to fall. It happens to pastors, TV evangelists, football players, students, businessmen, housewives… No one is immune! 

 

Those little foxes are killers!

 

Some of you might say, well I have not committed adultery. Good for you, that's great. I too can say that. But don't get too cocky, because Jesus’ standard is way higher…

 

Matthew 5:28

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

 

Whatever age, whatever sex you are, we must all be on guard against the poison of perversion and promiscuity. It starts with a look, and if we're honest those thoughts have crossed our minds at times. It's within all of us…

 

Mark 7:21-23

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

 

THAT’S A BIT PRICEY!

 

Before making what appears to be a harmless decision, stop and evaluate the cost. Success is less about having the right stuff than it is about choosing the right way. A lot of little choices done God’s way will add up to a lifetime of purpose.

 

Destiny is a series of choices, blessing or cursing, life or death. Now choose life!

 

Here's the true test of whether God wants you to do something.

 

God always says count the cost. 

Luke 14:28

 

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

 

The devil is like Nike, he says “Just do it!” Buy now, pay later. Play now, pay later, but we enjoy playing now with sexual sin without even asking what the eventual cost will be!

 

Step back, take a good look, and count the cost. Is it worth the price?

 

If I indulge this poison. I get a few moments pleasure, but it potentially costs me my wife, my kids, my reputation, my career, most of my friends, possibly half my fortune.  It will adversely affect my health, my sleep and especially my Christian walk. It's a poor bargain for a bit of pleasure.

 

However good she looks or feels, however sexy or nice he seems, however many times he promises he’ll love you, it's a poor bargain! 

 

Hebrews 11:25

choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

 

No one is saying that sex isn't pleasurable, I mean, that's why we do it! But is that moment of pleasure worth the price tag? Probably not!

 

So why does God not allow us unbridled sexual pleasure? Is He some cosmic killjoy trying to make our lives miserable and stopping what the world tells us is fun? Not at all!

 

God wants to protect us, and our loved ones, from the fallout of our sexual sin. 

 

He is not being cruel when He commands you to refrain from immorality. On the contrary, He wants to free you from the sin that entangles you and prevents you from being all that He has called you to be. Instead of being controlled by your sinful desires, look to Him to meet all of your deepest needs and give your life meaning and significance. 

 

Sex is great in the right context, but sex alone doesn't bring fulfilment. If it did, the most satisfied people in the world would be prostitutes, and my understand is that they are not the most fulfilled group in society… In fact they are probably the least fulfilled and most miserable!

 

And the young p pole, don't believe the ridiculous hype the world peddles! 

 

Young people and singles, anyone who commits fornication (from the Greek Porneia, illicit sexual intercourse before marriage) takes what could lawfully be his or hers as a gift from God, and corrupts it. You'll be like a child who one night steals a crisp, new twenty-dollar bill from his father's wallet, not realizing that his father intended to give it to him as a gift in the morning.

 

Wait, do it God’s way and I promise you you won't regret it! 

 

THE ANTIDOTE TO THE POISON OF PERVERSION AND PROMISCUITY 

 

So how do we deal with this potent poison? In a world where we are constantly asked to compromise, when this stuff is thrown at us on TV screen, in songs and at the movies, where everybody's mantra is “If it feels good and no one knows, just do it because it's natural,” how do we remain pure and holy? How do we keep the temple of our bodies clean?

 

RUN!

 

I can give you all sorts of advice, I can tell you that no temptation will be beyond what you can bear, and that's all true. But listen, nothing is better than fleeing this sin. If you sense the poison of perversion, run like crazy!

 

2 Timothy 2:22

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

 

1 Corinthians 6:18

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

 

In my life the most effective way I have found to stay pure in this area is flee. This is what the Apostle Paul recommended the Corinthians… flee sexual immorality. They are not to dabble with it, trifle with it, study it, or even talk about it. They are to flee from it! 

 

A beautiful Bible illustration of this is found in the account of Joseph when he was tempted to sin by Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39). While there may be safety in numbers, sometimes there is more safety in flight! Joseph fled, and remained righteous before God.

 

Hebrews 13:4

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

 

The grass is not greenest on the other side, it’s greenest where you water it. So water your marriage, and set your mind in things above, not in earthly things (Colossians 3:2). Embrace the grass you’ve been given.  Invest in it.  And be amazed at what happens.

 

But remember, this sin, this poison of perversion, starts with your eyes. What you look at will control you. 

 

1 John 2:15-16

 

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

 

And Jesus was so concerned about the sin your eyes will lead you into a he said, 

 

Mark 9:47

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,

 

 I especially love what Job had to say about this subject…

 

Job 31:1

 

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.

 

I love that… He made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully. Now, we all have to look if your eyes are open, but you can see a woman and not look lustfully at her. You're not going to stop seeing women, but you can stop seeing them as sex objects. Why not make that covenant with your eyes.

 

There are some places like bars or brothels where women are only sex objects, and these you need to be strong enough to say no too every single time. Websites where women are sex objects… I refuse to even look, even glance. Gentlemen, I cannot afford to look at those things, the cost is to high to my marriage, to my health and to my walk with the Lord.