Last week we studied Acts 28 together in the office.
The chapter picks up with Paul washing up on shore after being shipwrecked off the coast of Malta. The situation goes from bad to worse as he helps build a fire to warm up and dry out and he is bitten by a snake.
When we face adversity it feels uncomfortable and often we act accordingly. Too often I allow my emotions to dictate my perception and therefore selfishly reduce God simply to some sort of genie in a bottle, asking questions like “why do bad things happen to me” or “how long do I have to endure this and things become more comfortable.”
However the apostle Paul’s moment of adversity became a gateway to breakthrough. Waiting for him to swell and die, when he didn’t the native islanders eventually decided there must be something special about him and so he was invited to the local governors house, where he healed his Father in law. Hearing what happened the islanders brought all their sick and unwell friends and family to Paul and together with his traveling companions they also healed them all.
Please don’t confuse what I am saying, I don’t necessarily think God sends adversity in our direction in order for us to carry out His hopes and purposes, but more that He meets us in our contention with adversity that comes through living out our faith in a broken world. Not only does He meet us as we contend, but, as we persevere giving away what He has gifted in our life He adds supernatural multiplication to our efforts.
It’s never a popular prophecy, but lets be honest, many of our friends, family and neighbourhoods will face adversity at various points this year. The significant silver lining of that regrettable fact is, if we help them navigate those moments with courage, perseverance and grace many will also find their adversity becomes a gateway to breakthrough. They will find that God meets them in their struggle and turns their mourning into dancing, their ashes into riches and lays a table for them in the presence of their enemies.
So as carriers of hope I’d love to hear your practices/processes for the following;
* Showing we care
* Deepening others perception of who God is
* Inspiring courage and tenacity.
Please share your ideas below, as they may help each other as we disciple our communities this year.
Long may our world come alive as we push through adversity into breakthrough.