Adversity: Trouble, affliction, opposition, pressure, chastening, anguish, testing, or tribulation. It is greater than our ability to resolve. It usually comes in multiples, one

test on top of another. (When it rains, it pours.)

There are two different types of testing.

Dokimazo – The act of testing someone or something for the purpose of approving it.  1 Corinthians 3:10 – 15 – (gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw tested by fire); 1 Corinthians 11:28 – called to self-examination before receiving communion; Ephesians 5:8-10 – live as children of the light...find out what pleases the Lord.

(generally used by God, never used by Satan.)

Peirpzo – To try to test intentionally with the purpose of discovering what good or evil is in a thing.

(it is used at times by God, i.e. Genesis 22; 1 Corinthians 10:13. It is, in a negative sense, used by Satan, Matthew 4; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:5- …Tempter may have tempted you and our efforts have been in vain )

The question we will be exploring over the next few weeks is this. What is God’s reason for allowing us to experience adversity? The answers are found in seeing:

Adversity Is God’s Way of Getting Our Attention

Adversity Is Our Assurance of His Love

Adversity Is God’s Call to Self Examination

Adversity Is God’s Way of Conquering Our Pride