How to overcome adversity
Hos do we deal with adversity, is it something to be avoided, do we strive to get through it waiting patiently for better times? Living like this severely limits our lives and wastes countless opportunities for growth, joy and peace. Instead, we can follow the example of Scripture and overcome Adversity by Assembling, Acknowledging, Accepting, Asking, Anticipating and Advancing. Overcoming means more than making it through, it means making it work for God’ glory and His purpose.
Scripture
Acts 4:23-31 ESV When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. [24] And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, [25] who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? [26] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— [27] for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, [28] to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. [29] And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [31] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Bible Study Questions
Adversity comes
Contrary to what we are lead to believe or would like to believe, times of difficulty and suffering do come to all Christians. The source of the suffering ultimately comes down to our sin and the work of our adversary, but the source isn’t all that important. What matters is how we overcome it. Overcoming isn’t surviving adversity it’s benefiting from it. Who has already overcome all adversity that we could ever face, and what does that mean for us?
Acts 4:18-22 ESV So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, [20] for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” [21] And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. [22] For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
John 16:33 ESV I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
1 Peter 5:8 ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. [10] And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. [11] To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Assemble don’t Isolate
Like a lion tries to isolate a single victim from a herd, we can also be tempted to isolate when we face adversity. When facing adversity we need to keep in the herd, we should not give in to temptation to isolate or leave the herd in search of another source of comfort. Who is our herd?
Acts 4:23 ESV When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty
One of the deepest doubts that strike our hearts when adversity comes, is whether God knows, whether He cares and whether He’s in control or not. Answering this doubt with Scripture needs to be high on our priority list when facing adversity. What does Matthew 10:29-31 tell us about whether God sees, cares and is in control of all things all the time?
Acts 4:24 ESV And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
Matthew 10:29-31 ESV Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. [30] But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Accept what God has allowed for His plan and purpose
Having acknowledged God’s sovereignty, and praised Him for His power and love in and over all situations, we need to surrender and accept His will rather than our own. When we hold onto our own will and desires we withdraw from Him. Look how the disciples accepted that the persecution of Jesus was never inflicted apart from the power, foreknowledge and purpose of God Almighty. Jesus’ Gospel is the key to accepting adversity. How did this help them to accept their own suffering?
Acts 4:25-28 ESV who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? [26] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— [27] for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, [28] to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
John 15:18-21 ESV “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [20] Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. [21] But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
Ask for His power to witness
Once we have peace from accepting God’s sovereign will and trusting in His purpose, we still need the humility to accept that only He has the power to overcome our adversity. Overcoming means more than making it through, it means making it work for God’ glory and purpose. The disciples don’t ask for God to take away the adversity, what do they ask for and how does that relate to the promise of Jesus recorded in the first chapter of Acts?
Acts 4:29 ESV And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
Acts 1:6-8 ESV So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” [7] He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. [8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Anticipate His Glory with Joy
The disciples trusted Jesus’ promise of power in order to be His witnesses, but they also recognised that Jesus must be glorified through the supernatural Acts that He delights to use to bring people repentance. They’ve asked God to empower them to do the simple things, telling the world about what they had seen, heard and learned from Jesus, now they ask Him to do the things that only He can do. Are we trusting Him to do great and powerful things for His Glory?
Acts 4:30 ESV while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
John 11:3-4 ESV So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” [4] But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Advance, don’t stall
In Matthew 24 Jesus warns His disciples of the suffering and circumstances that will occur before His return. He states His purpose in making this known - so that we will not be deceived or distraught, but ultimately that we will not be distracted from doing the work that Jesus gave us to do. What did God do with the persecution that the disciples faced, how did that persecution end up affecting them?
Acts 4:31 ESV And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Matthew 24:44-47 ESV Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. [45] “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? [46] Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. [47] Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.