Preparing for Adversity

The speaker discusses the topic of adversity and how to prepare for it. He shares a personal story about a friend named Marco who faced persecution from his wife for his faith. They found solace in the scripture that encourages finding joy in trials. The speaker believes that Christians are promised challenges and tough times in life. He shares three suggestions from A.W. Tozer on how to deal with adversity, including detaching from earthly possessions. He also discusses the parable of the sower and emphasizes the importance of not being consumed by cares, riches, and pleasures of life. The speaker encourages a change in perspective on possessions, recognizing that everything belongs to God and should be used to serve others. Good morning, and as always, I want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak this morning to our fellowship, all those who are listening. I really feel like, as always, I'm preaching to myself more than anybody, and I hope this lesson will be an encouragement to you. So the title of today's lesson is Adversity, Something You Need to Prepare For. Let's turn to James, Chapter 1. In James, Chapter 1, it reads, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish the work, so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. For those of you who've known me for any long period of time, you know this is one of my favorite scriptures from my past. I call it the Marko story. For those of you who've heard the story before, I apologize. I am a repetitive, repetitive teacher. Anyways, the Marko story goes like this. I was a young Christian. I was going to CSUN, and I was working at a grocery store on Sepulveda and Sherman Way. And one of my coworkers was a guy named Marko, and I shared my faith with him. And he came out to church, and he really wanted to become a Christian. And he began studying the Bible. He was very excited, very eager to become a disciple of Christ. But what made his situation a little different is he was married and had two little kids and one on the way. And his wife was a devout Catholic. And none of this was a problem for him. However, his wife felt like he was betraying her and their faith and the Catholicism he was coming from. And so she began to persecute him. I'll never forget, he would tell me stories about, you know, her chasing him around the block while she's, like, many several months pregnant, trying to prevent him from getting in his car to go to church, throwing the keys out the kitchen window so he can't make it to church. There was always some little story, you know, some difficulty for him because she was constantly persecuting him. She even took it to another level. She came to our work and started spreading rumors with our bosses that Marco and I were having an affair together and that we should be, you know, separated or punished or I should be fired, you know, because I'm causing Marco distress. So anyway, there was all sorts of, you know, stuff like that happening. And Marco, I remember, you know, I was a college kid and he was a married guy and he'd always come to me like, man, what do I do? And I remember feeling so hopeless to help him because, you know, what do I know? And I found this scripture and I was driving him home one day and I said, Marco, we've got to have pure joy when we face trials. But that's not easy. We've got to retrain our brain. This world doesn't teach us this. This world teaches us the opposite. Let's get in the car. So we got in my car and we drove down the road and we said we're going to say pure joy over and over and over and over and over until it becomes what we really believe. And that's what we did. We said it in funny voices. We screamed it. We yelled it. And by the time we got to his house and I was taking him home, we were laughing and having fun. And that was our thing from then on. You know, while he studied the Bible, I'd always be like, how are you doing? And he'd be like, pure joy. And so we would meet each other, you know, throughout the grocery store and we nicknamed each other PJ. And he became a Christian. And it was an amazing experience to watch as he went through trials and adversity with his wife and those problems continued, but he stayed faithful. And I'm very passionate about pure joy facing trials. But how do we have that heart? How do we respond? How do we train our hearts to respond with pure joy? For many of you who know, first off, why do we face adversities, face trials in our lives? The answer to that question is we're promised. In John 16, 33, Jesus says, These things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. And then in Acts 14, verse 22, it reads, We must, through many tribulations, enter the kingdom of God. So Christians, every human being, we are promised to have challenges, tough times in our life. I believe, though, we can have this pure joy heart. I believe we can be better prepared for adversity if we start taking some advice from spiritual people of the past. A spiritual person who I've been seeking input from who's long passed away and is in heaven is A.W. Tozer. And Tozer had a firm belief that there were three suggestions, three beliefs that he took on that helped him deal with adverse times in his life. And I'd like to share those suggestions with you today. Turn with me to Matthew chapter 19. In Matthew chapter 19, we're going to start in verse 16. It says, Now behold, one came to him and said, Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? So he said to them, Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, and that is God. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments, he said to him. Which ones, Jesus said. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these things I've kept from my youth, what do I still lack? Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you'll have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me. When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful for his great possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, Surely I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. When his disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished. Who then can be saved? But Jesus looked at them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. There we have a rich man. And who is this guy? He's a righteous person. He is a follower of God. But what's his problem? He has many possessions. He's rich. Suggestion number one from Tozer is get thoroughly detached from earthly possessions. Turn with me to Luke chapter 8. In Luke chapter 8, we'll start in verse 1. It says, Now it came to pass afterward that he went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him. And a certain woman who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, one of whom had had seven demons, and Joanna, the wife of Jesus, and many others had provided for them for their substance. And when a great multitude had gathered, they had come to him from every city and spoke a parable. He said, A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell upon the wayside. And it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on the rock, and as soon as it sprung up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold. When he said these things, he cried, He who has an ear, let him hear. Then his disciples asked him, saying, What does this parable mean? And he said, To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand. Now this parable of the seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear. Then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, that they should not believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root, who believe for a while, but in temptation they fall away. Now the ones who fell among the thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures in life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones who fell on the good ground are those who have heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it, and bear fruit with patience. See, the first question any time you read this parable is, What kind of soil are you? Right? The one we're going to focus on is the third one, which is those that are surrounded by thorns. And the thorns represent the cares of the world, riches, and pleasures of life, causing Christians not to be fruitful. It doesn't say these people weren't, you know, didn't, they fell away, but it says they're not fruitful, they lack maturity, because they're so consumed. Today, are you attached to your possessions? Is it wrong to have possessions in the first place? I don't believe so. But I think we have to change our perspectives on possessions. Let me read you a few scriptures to help you with that. Psalm 104, 24. O Lord, how many are your works? In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your possessions. First Chronicles 29. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and glory, the victory and majesty. For all in heaven is earth as yours, and kingdom of Lord. And you're exalted as head over all. Both riches and power come from you. And you reign over all in your hand, power and might. Your hand is to make great and to give strength to all. James 117. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and come down from the Father of lights, in whom there is no variation of shadow of turning. And lastly, 1 Peter 4.10. Each of you should use whatever gift you've received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in various forms. See, what we need to realize as Christians is that everything is God's possession. All possessions that we've obtained have been gifts from God because of his grace. And we need to use those possessions to serve the Lord. But they're not ours. We're just taking care of those possessions on behalf of God. If we want to be prepared for challenging times in our lives, which are promised to come, we've got to detach ourselves from possessions. That's suggestion number one. Let's talk about suggestion number two. Turn with me to Romans chapter 12. In Romans chapter 12 it reads, we'll start in verse 1. So, therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you'll be able to test and approve of God's will, his good, pleasing, and perfect will. For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you, do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment. In accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not have all the same function, so in Christ we, through many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the other. We have different gifts according to the grace. Each member belongs to all the other. We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith. If it is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. If it is encouraged, then give encouragement. If it is giving, then give generously. If it is to lead, do so diligently. If it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Verse 9, love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourself. Never be lacking in zeal, but keeping the spiritual fervor, serve the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Blessed do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay another evil for evil. Be careful and do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written in his mind to avenge. I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will keep burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Tozer's suggestion number two, break the grip of worldly philosophies in your life. What patterns do you follow in this world? Do you follow worldly philosophies or godly? The pattern of this world is completely opposite of the patterns in the kingdom. Some of you may be wondering, well, what are the different patterns of the world? Basically, opposite of everything Romans 12 just read. What I just read in Romans 12, look at everything he talked about after he mentions not following the patterns of this world. Blessing those who persecute you. Practicing hospitality. Feeding your enemy. Overcoming evil with good. Honor others above yourself. These are the patterns. These aren't worldly patterns. These are God's kingdom patterns. See, in the world, we're taught to look out for number one. If someone does something bad to us, we're going to do something bad to them. Talks about our world teaches that we are to, you know, our heroes are the ones who are reaching and strong and pushing others down to get to where they need to get. But God's kingdom is different. And if we want to be prepared to face challenges in our life, we need to follow the patterns of God's kingdom and not the patterns of this world. Lastly, suggestion number three. Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 11. In Hebrews chapter 11, give you a little context for this passage. Many of us have read the scripture many times. It talks about the faithful, the men and women of faith. And the writer of Hebrews concludes with Hebrews 11, starting with verse 13. He says, They all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, for assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had the opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Suggestion number three for Tozer on how to prepare for adverse times in your life. Accept your status as a pilgrim in this world. Turn now to 1 Peter. If you ever read through the book of 1 Peter, there are several references to this idea of being a pilgrim. In the very first verse, he talks to the different countries that he's specific letters written to. He calls them strangers. In verse 17 of chapter 1, it reads, If you call on him as father who judges impartially according to each one's needs, conduct yourself with fear throughout the time of your exile. I'm reading from the ESV version. And then in 1 Peter 2.9, the Torah will pick it up now. It says, But you, our chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Verse 11, Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God on the day of his visitation. See, Peter here, and a writer of Hebrews, talks about how we need to accept a life of being a pilgrim in this world. This isn't our home. We're not a part of this world, and we're just visiting. You know, what's interesting is Peter uses two different words in the book, when he talks about being a pilgrim. One is parokia, and one is parodimos. Both refer to being a sojourner or a pilgrim or even an exile in a foreign land. What's even more interesting is that the countries he talks to at the very beginning of the chapter are all from the former empire of the Babylonian Empire. For those of you who know the Old Testament, the Babylonians, they conquered Israel, and they brought them into exile. And not only did they conquer them and bring them into exile into Babylonian, but they also tried to assimilate them. See, by taking their leaders and changing, tried to assimilate them with the patterns of Babylonian. They tried to make them a part of their empire when they really weren't. And that's what our world does today. Our world strives to assimilate us with its patterns. But we don't belong to this world. We're pilgrims. We're sojourners. This isn't our home. Our home is in heaven. And again, as we conclude, I'd like to read a prayer of David as he commemorated or prepared his son to build a temple. Today, as Christians, we are the temple of the living God. And I pray that you'll hear the words of this prayer and realize that these suggestions of Tozer are how we need to live our lives. Let me read it to you in 1 Chronicles chapter 29. Starting in verse 10, it says, Therefore David blessed the Lord before the assembly. And David said, Blessed are you, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, and the glory, the victory, and the majesty, for all that is in heaven and is on earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from you and your reign over all. In your hand is power and might. In your hand is to make great and to give strength to all. Now, therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name. But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and your own we have given you. For we are aliens and pilgrims before you, as were all our fathers. Our days on earth are a shadow and without hope. O Lord God, all the abundance that we have prepared to build your house, for your holy name is in your hands and is all your own. I know also, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me and the uprightness of my heart, I have willingly offered all these things. And now, with joy, and I have seen your people are present here to offer willingness, the intent of the thoughts of the heart of your people to fix their heart towards you. And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep your commandments and your testimonies and your statutes. To all these things and to build the temple for which I have made provisions. Then David said to the assembly, Now bless the Lord your God. So all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the Lord and the King. Brothers and sisters, we're going to face challenging times, adverse times, and I hope you'll be able to face those times with pure joy. I believe these three suggestions of Dozer. One, disconnecting from the possessions of this world, realizing all our possessions through God. Two, living as pilgrims in this world, and three, not living by the powers of this world. I believe these can help us prepare for adversity in our lives. Thank you.