The Blessings Of Adversity

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

One dictionary meaning of adversity is difficult situation or condition: misfortune or tragedy. Simply put, adversity implies a bad situation. The reality, in God, is that good can come out of the bad. Samson said, “Out of the eater came forth meat…” (Judges 14:14, KJV). There is some advantage in adversity: Gain in pain, and glory in shame. This may seem paradoxical; but God always has a good purpose when He allows His beloved to go through suffering. Below are some truths to consider:

Adversity can force repentance: In Luke 15:11-24, when the prodigal son was confronted with abject poverty, shame and ridicule, he was forced to reconsider going back to his father. In affluence and ease, he rebelled against his father’s wish and left home; but when adversity struck, “he came to his senses” and returned home to reunite with his loving father. Any situation that causes genuine repentance in a person, in Heaven’s reckoning is a blessing in disguise (2 Corinthians 7:8-11). Heaven rejoices when a sinner genuinely repents.

Adversity forces us to turn to God:  King Hezekiah was very sick close to dying. God told him through Prophet Isaiah that he will die, so he should put his house in order. After receiving this gloomy prophecy, the king turned his face to the wall and prayed, and wept bitterly to God (Isaiah 38:1-5). His devotion and prayer life changed suddenly because of the adverse situation that had befallen him. He was spared as a result. Any situation that will engender total dependence and focus on God, in reality, is a blessing (Deuteronomy 4:30, 31).

Adversity can lead maturity: The latter part of our opening text talks about perfection and completion, which imply maturity. Joseph was the favorite of his father among his 11 brothers; but after he was sold off into slavery, he quickly transformed from a mindset of entitlement to a mentality of a servant leader. He grew up overnight from a daddy’s boy to a dependable man of God. Adversity produces fortitude (inner strength) which develops maturity of character (Romans 5:3-4, AMP).

Adversity proves our faith: Any faith that is not tested can’t be trusted. To test something is to prove its worth, reliability and dependability; it is to confirm, affirm and strengthen.  The Bible says the word of the Lord tested Joseph. He had to be tested and proven because of the enviable destiny of being the savior of his people at that time (Psalm 105:16-19). Joseph was squeezed by God so that the milk of human kindness and compassion will flow from him (Job 23:10).

Adversity makes us a blessing to our world: “…Who comforts us in all our tribulation,that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4). No experience of ours is wasted by God. Out of our mess comes a message. We are sometimes afflicted for other people’s consolation and comfort. The greatest ministries are those borne out of adversity.

Conclusion

Please note that adversity isn’t meant to be permanent. Apostle Paul said they are light and momentary (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18). Bible scholars tell us Job’s travails lasted just 9 months. So if your adversity lasts longer than usual, check yourself and realign yourself back to your Maker. How is your standing with Jesus presently?

Transformed By Grace

Grace is divine supply to the child of God. Every child of God stands by grace (Romans 5:2). We are justified by grace (Romans 3:24); we are instructed and trained in righteousness by grace (Titus 2:11-13); we are ultimately saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9); our hearts are established in God’s righteousness by grace (Hebrews 13: 9); we overcome sin and our carnal desires by grace (Romans 6:14); the nation of Israel are God’s elect by grace (Romans 11:5); we excel and are able to labor diligently by grace (1 Corinthians 15:10); and we receive His blessings and inheritance by grace (John 1:16).

Below are some reasons why genuine transformation of life is brought about through the work of grace:

God forgives in advance and in totality: “I, even, I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). Forgiveness and acceptance by God of the born-again Christians is the crux of Christianity. Our debts are forgiven because Jesus paid the debts with His blood on the cross of Calvary. A realization and acceptance of this truth leads to some impartation of divine grace on the soul of a person. This same saving grace emboldens us to humbly walk with God, an experience which results in the transformation of our mind and destiny.

Rest in the love of God: Apostle Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus that they will have a revelation of the vastness of God’s love, and be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19). A clear understanding and experience of God’s unconditional love never leaves the recipient the same. Though, at times, this divine love may be tough, it still has so much tenderness. “For He bruises, but He binds up” (Job 5:18). He breaks and molds, effecting transformation through His dealings.

Abide in Christ: The branches of a tree shoot out fruits effortless because they are connected to the nutrients flowing through the vine of the tree. Any branch that is detached eventually will die off because nothing is flowing into it anymore. As long as we are connected to the Vine, which is Jesus Christ, we will produce fruits that are consistent with the nature of the tree. As long as we continue to behold His glory with an unveiled face, we will be transformed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Christ is the Focus: “For while the law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). A proper focusing on Christ entails embracing His truth and grace. Embracing His truth alone makes us judgmental and unattractive to nonbelievers; while embracing His grace alone, without His truth, may make us anomic. However, when we embrace His truth and grace all together, we get transformed and become sweet aroma of His presence in this world.

Excel in Grace: Apostle Paul became the greatest apostle of all times because he maxed out the grace of God on his life. When grace is in operation, seemingly impossible things become achievable. To excel in grace means to be an overcomer in all circumstance through divine enablement (1 Corinthians 5:10). Those who excel in grace carry the mentality of grace all the time (Philippians 4:13). A grace-full Christian is an all season winner (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Conclusion: Transforming grace has to do with Jesus Christ. How is your relationship with Him? Receive fresh grace in this new month to run the race set before you. Have a blessed new month.!

The Ability To Dream

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. (Psalm 126:1)

 
A dream is an imagination of the heart that looks impossible. In the above text, the Israelites were just released from captivity and were restored back to Jerusalem. Their deliverance was something that looked impossible at the time. When Martin Luther King was alluding in his “I have a dream” speech in the sixties that racism will become a thing of the past, it was a tall order. A dream is a mirage, something that one hopes for but seems unattainable.
 
One of the ways mankind was made in the image and likeness of God is the ability to envisage or conceive the future and bring it to pass. Below are ways to dream successfully:
 
Dare to dream: Daring to dream is being able to think unconventionally and out of the norm. In 2 Kings 6:1-6, we read the story of Elisha retrieving an iron axe head that fell into the River Jordan with a stick. The servant who mistakenly dropped the iron axe head in the river cried out to Prophet Elisha in despair. While the servant saw nothing but impossibility in the situation, the prophet envisioned with the eyes of his spirit that the situation was redeemable. Hence, the prophet threw a stick in the river, and then the iron axe head emerged from the river and stayed afloat on its surface.   It wasn’t recorded that God told Elisha to do what he did, but by using his God-given ability of envisaging possibilities, even in dire situation, he was able to produce a desirable result. God likes dreamers because they take the limits off Him.
 
Renew your mind: Heaven’s thinking is different from natural thinking. Part of renewing one’s mind is to think Heaven’s thoughts. God, in Deuteronomy 8:6-16, was painting a picture of the Promised Land in the minds of the Israelites. He also instructed Moses to send 12 leaders from among them to spy the land. God wanted them to conceive and internalize and dream about the land flowing with milk and honey. But this thought was too high for the Israelites and they couldn’t enter God’s promises. The Bible is to instruct us and also to shape our thinking after Heaven’s perspective. The Bible is a great dream book!
 
Engage diligence: The Bible says diligence is man’s precious possession (Proverbs 12:27). The diligent man is the one who makes the best use of resources. He is the guy with the five talents who uses his talents and gains five more. The diligent is like Joseph who never trifles with opportunities or wastes experience. Anywhere Joseph found himself, whether in Potiphar’s house or in the jailhouse, he engaged discipline, focus, and hard work. The diligent, sooner or later, will always live their dreams.
 
Align with other dreamers: A popular quote says, “if you are an eagle, don’t flock with chickens.” Chickens don’t fly. Anyone who intends to operate in a dream frequency shouldn’t be found in the company of dream killers. A major reason the Israelites couldn’t enter the Promised Land was because their influencers (the 10 spies) told them it wasn’t possible. Joshua and Caleb were almost killed literally because they had a different opinion. Martin Luther King drew inspiration from Rosa Park’s refusal to boycott her seat for a white person. This made him launch the massive boycott by black folks of Montgomery public buses that eventually ended segregation on Montgomery buses. Though eagles don’t flock, they draw inspiration from other eagles.
 
Manifest greatness: Great people are great because they are dreamers and also risk takers. They challenge the norm and status quo always by dreaming. They manifest greatness by daring to put into action the dreams of their hearts. They are what Americans will call crazy people because they have fear in its proper place. Because they are constantly dreaming, they are constantly producing and always on the cutting edge and on top of their game.
 
Conclusion: “Then he (Joseph) dreamed another dream…….” (Genesis 37:9). It is time to DREAM again. Have a blessed month!

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