THE MYSTERY OF ADVERSITY (1)
Gen 8:22, Sunday, 17th January, 2016
In demystifying adversity, two questions are germane; first, “Why do adversities come, even to the so called believers?” and next “What does the devil want?”
What is adversity? Adversity is a state of mental or physical discomfort. It ranges from simple dissatisfaction to affliction of different kinds.
The first thing you must understand about adversity is that so long we live in time and in cosmos, adversity is inevitable. The major problem is not adversity but mindset; the torment of adversity is 90 percent mindset.
The above propositions are very controversial but you must let Holy Spirit minister to you.
Genesis 8:22 says, so long the earth remains, seedtime and harvest shall not cease. Between seedtime and harvest is a period called growth time.
Once harvest time comes there is an adjustment in status called ripeness which is simply a season of decay. If such produce is not harvested it rots and that is the end of the fruit. However, if the fruit is sown, instead of extinction, it multiplies. Now is ripeness a curse or a blessing?
Ripeness is what we call adversity. In pregnancy it is called travail or labor. In time it is called night. It only announces the end of a phase, a declaration of exhaustion, and a cry for a higher level.
No time is tied to adversity; it is simply determined by the victim, how soon he contends for higher knowledge, or how fast he can turn the night to day by finding not just a way out, but a system of living above the past level. As soon as he does, the old fades for the new.
Now in adversity the devil sows doubt while God sows faith. Faith pushes man to the next level but doubt complicates adversity. Times of adversity should be times of retreat, declaration, preparation, examination, education, waiting, etc.
A pregnant woman does not just cry in travail, it is okay to cry in travail, however, she prepares for her child in diet, in shopping for needed items and all. Imagine a woman delivers without milk in her breasts, or without a cloth to wrap the child, the child dies and her travail multiplies, except by external intervention.
Trouble announces the coming of a next phase. It did for Joseph when he was sold, it did for the Israelites in Egypt, it did for Jesus when he went to the cross. The above men took advantage of the transition moment and they ascended into realms of greater glory.
SELAH: Trying Times are only Transcending Times, act right!
Shalom!
