ADVERSITY- GODS PURPOSE
Author: Jason Joseph Ariyappallil
Category: Popular Read
Publish Date: Dec 10, 2010
Views: 24088
John Bunyan (1628-1688) the author of Pilgrims Progress grew up in adversity. As a young man, he struggled with feelings of not being forgiven by God. John was tortured by visions of eternal punishment. His devout wife helped him to overcome his fear, but then, while still in her twenties died of sudden illness. In his grief, Bunyan devoted himself to preaching. The English government however, repeatedly imprisoned him for preaching without license. On one occasion, Bunyan was sentenced to three months in prison. When he told the officials that he intended to go on preaching, his sentence was extended to 12 years. Like Joseph from the Bible, John Bunyan experienced Gods presence in a special way while he was in prison. In fact, it was in the prison he penned his enduring classic, the Pilgrims Progress. This book has inspired millions of believers around the globe. The book was written while he was getting refined by the fires of adversity. Bunyan did not consider his adversity to limit himself. But he chose to be used by God. God often takes us through adversity to get our eyes off our own limitations so that we can see His limitless power.
Adversity brings in humbleness. It brings you to a place of total nothingness. As if, you are in a black hole. Its the time in our life when God removes all our resources and supports that we normally rely on to feel secure our careers, finances, friends, family health and so forth. This is how Joseph must have felt when he was put in bottom of the pit by his own brothers, with no way of escape. His despair deepened when his brothers sold him to Midianite slave traders who bound him in chains and forced him to march across the desert. Later, when he was convicted for a crime that he did not commit and while he was in the Egyptian jail, he wondered why God gave him the dreams of a bright future only to abandon him to a terrible fate in an alien land. God was taking Joseph through a path of humbleness. In Deut (8:1-5), Moses explains to people of Israel why God had led them to the desert. Here he reveals five reasons why God brought the people of Israel to a desert place. First, God led them to humble them. Second, God led them to test them. Third, God led them there so that they could experience his miraculous provision by receiving manna, the food of heaven. Fourth, God led them there to focus their minds on spiritual things- to teach them that human beings does not live by bread alone but on Gods own Word. Fifth, God led them there to lovingly discipline them, just as a parent disciplines a child. God was taking the people of Israel from the state of child hood to a state of maturity. He did so by leading them through the desert place and humbling them. In James1:9 we read The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. In fact God humbles us to make us realize that life and wealth are transitory.
Adversity is a training ground in desert like experiences. For Joseph, it was a thirteen year desert like journey through desolation and despair. That experience served to break his self will and self confidence. It taught him he could not control anything but he had to rely on God to manage the events in his life. Moses spent forty years in the wilderness of Midian before God called him. He learned humbleness, obedience and faith. Numbers 12:3 says Moses was a humble man, more humble than anyone in the face of this earth. For David, after becoming the King of Israel in his very young age, he was still a shepherd. He did not become a king all of a sudden. He had a training ground to cover. Part of his training included to combat with wild beasts like bear and lion. Psalms 14 4:1 David sings Praise be to the Lord my rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. Elijah learned the principles of spiritual leadership in the wilderness of Gilead. Lord Jesus was tempted and tested for forty days in the before he began to preach. Paul had to be trained in the deserts of Arabia and Damascus (Gal 1:17) for three years before he started his ministry.
In the desert like experiences, God teaches us an entirely new paradigm about his PROVISION. When we are no longer able to earn a living for ourselves, we discover what it means to live by faith. We can no longer defend ourselves, we find out what it means to let God be our strength and shield. In the desert we learn an important truth that cant be learned in any other place in life: JEHOVAH JIREH- God is our provider. We can never know Gods faithfulness in material things in life until we are forced to rely upon him. We dont really learn to trust him until we reach a desert place in our life. God provided Moses and his people with manna. He provided their clothes and sandals not to wear out and he gave them pillar of cloud by day to protect them from scorching heat and pillar of fire by night. Apostle Peter reminds us that our Lord is faithful (1 Pet 5:10) And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Adversity ushers in Perseverance and Godly Character. Perseverance is the key to every great accomplishment because nothing of lasting value has ever been achieved without adversity. Industrialist Henry Ford is one of the greatest success stories of American History, he failed five times before he succeeded. Perseverance Paul says is the virtue God uses to build our character in times of adversity. And we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Rom 5:2-4). When we persevere through adversity we win the approval of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the book of Revelation, Church of Ephesus got that commendation. (Rev.2:2-3) I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. Perseverance is refusal to quit. Peter reminds us seven times in his first letter and he uses the word suffer or suffering. (1:11; 2:21, 23; 3:18; 4:1,13; 5:1). And that in 2:21 he writes To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps We need to remember that perseverance is not forcing the door to open; its standing in the front of the doors as long as God opens them. Finally James, the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us in Chapter 1:3-4. The testing of your faith develops Perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may become mature and complete, not lacking anything. When God tests us through Adversity it brings in maturity and completeness
Adversity brings in humbleness. It brings you to a place of total nothingness. As if, you are in a black hole. Its the time in our life when God removes all our resources and supports that we normally rely on to feel secure our careers, finances, friends, family health and so forth. This is how Joseph must have felt when he was put in bottom of the pit by his own brothers, with no way of escape. His despair deepened when his brothers sold him to Midianite slave traders who bound him in chains and forced him to march across the desert. Later, when he was convicted for a crime that he did not commit and while he was in the Egyptian jail, he wondered why God gave him the dreams of a bright future only to abandon him to a terrible fate in an alien land. God was taking Joseph through a path of humbleness. In Deut (8:1-5), Moses explains to people of Israel why God had led them to the desert. Here he reveals five reasons why God brought the people of Israel to a desert place. First, God led them to humble them. Second, God led them to test them. Third, God led them there so that they could experience his miraculous provision by receiving manna, the food of heaven. Fourth, God led them there to focus their minds on spiritual things- to teach them that human beings does not live by bread alone but on Gods own Word. Fifth, God led them there to lovingly discipline them, just as a parent disciplines a child. God was taking the people of Israel from the state of child hood to a state of maturity. He did so by leading them through the desert place and humbling them. In James1:9 we read The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. In fact God humbles us to make us realize that life and wealth are transitory.
Adversity is a training ground in desert like experiences. For Joseph, it was a thirteen year desert like journey through desolation and despair. That experience served to break his self will and self confidence. It taught him he could not control anything but he had to rely on God to manage the events in his life. Moses spent forty years in the wilderness of Midian before God called him. He learned humbleness, obedience and faith. Numbers 12:3 says Moses was a humble man, more humble than anyone in the face of this earth. For David, after becoming the King of Israel in his very young age, he was still a shepherd. He did not become a king all of a sudden. He had a training ground to cover. Part of his training included to combat with wild beasts like bear and lion. Psalms 14 4:1 David sings Praise be to the Lord my rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. Elijah learned the principles of spiritual leadership in the wilderness of Gilead. Lord Jesus was tempted and tested for forty days in the before he began to preach. Paul had to be trained in the deserts of Arabia and Damascus (Gal 1:17) for three years before he started his ministry.
In the desert like experiences, God teaches us an entirely new paradigm about his PROVISION. When we are no longer able to earn a living for ourselves, we discover what it means to live by faith. We can no longer defend ourselves, we find out what it means to let God be our strength and shield. In the desert we learn an important truth that cant be learned in any other place in life: JEHOVAH JIREH- God is our provider. We can never know Gods faithfulness in material things in life until we are forced to rely upon him. We dont really learn to trust him until we reach a desert place in our life. God provided Moses and his people with manna. He provided their clothes and sandals not to wear out and he gave them pillar of cloud by day to protect them from scorching heat and pillar of fire by night. Apostle Peter reminds us that our Lord is faithful (1 Pet 5:10) And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Adversity ushers in Perseverance and Godly Character. Perseverance is the key to every great accomplishment because nothing of lasting value has ever been achieved without adversity. Industrialist Henry Ford is one of the greatest success stories of American History, he failed five times before he succeeded. Perseverance Paul says is the virtue God uses to build our character in times of adversity. And we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Rom 5:2-4). When we persevere through adversity we win the approval of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the book of Revelation, Church of Ephesus got that commendation. (Rev.2:2-3) I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. Perseverance is refusal to quit. Peter reminds us seven times in his first letter and he uses the word suffer or suffering. (1:11; 2:21, 23; 3:18; 4:1,13; 5:1). And that in 2:21 he writes To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps We need to remember that perseverance is not forcing the door to open; its standing in the front of the doors as long as God opens them. Finally James, the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us in Chapter 1:3-4. The testing of your faith develops Perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may become mature and complete, not lacking anything. When God tests us through Adversity it brings in maturity and completeness
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Well versed, precise, up to the point, and beyond the point. It was indeed interesting to know that, once upon a time there was a man "John Bunyan" who struggled in life with adversities, disparities and imprisonments and even more heartening to know that the early 'set backs' in John Bunyan's life did not 'set-him-back' but rather 'set-him-up' in his love for God and preaching the 'gospel' ! Moving story !!!