Seeking After God

On Sunday evening, I had the privilege of hearing a missionary preach at my church. His sermon title was "Responding to Adversity and Affliction in the Christian Life." What he had to say through God's Word was so encouraging to me. I thought I'd share a few of the notes I took.

So many times when I go through a difficult time, I wonder why I am having to go through that problem. Here are some answers to my question. :-)

Conformity. God brings trials in our life to conform us to Him. Romans 8:28,29. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Dependence. Trials bring us to a place of dependence upon God. II Corinthians 12:7-10. "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore take I pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

Patience. Trials make us more patient. Romans 5:3 "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;" James 1:2,3 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."

Ministry. God allows affliction to prepare us to minister to others. II Corinthians 1:3-5. "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."

Restoration. Sometimes God sends us trials to restore us, to 'straighten us out'. Psalm 119:67 "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word." Psalm 119:71 "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."

Godliness. Hebrews 12:6-11. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, if we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall not we much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

Reward. Suffering will bring us reward. I Peter 1:6,7 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"