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PART ONE: What We Can Learn from Paul's LifeACTS 20:17-211. "humility and tears"=BROKENESS...but not resignation...2. In the face of "severe testing," Paul doesn't GIVE UP. It's the challenge of giving in but not giving up. It's the counterintuitive power of the cross.2 CORINTHIANS 12:10Why Paul? How can you say this? Because the more you don't trust YOURSELF, the more you trust GOD, the STRONGER you are!3. "anything that would be helpful"...not HAPPY-FUL. Not everything that's helpful will make you happy. Sometimes what is helpful is hurtful. But often we need people in our lives who will tell us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear.HEBREWS 12:114. "repentence and faith"...back to BROKENESS and TRUST. To me, this is the simplicity of--and the biggest challenge--of following Jesus.5. Paul's life is not ruled by UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.ACTS 20:22-23Paul's life is not ruled by unrealisistic expectations, because he has ETERNAL expectations. His life is totally grounded in his relationship with God, and that gives him a great sense of peace no matter what happens. His relationship to God drives him, compels him to complete the task.ACTS 20:24PART 2: What Paul Teaches Leaders--and You and Me1. Being safe and happy isn't a bad thing, but it's better to be COURAGEOUS.ACTS 20:252. We need the whole counsel of God, not just bits and pieces, fragments, proof texts and sound bites. To me, this is how important it is to see the BIG PICTURE of God and life.ACTS 20:26-27 and 1 John 2:143. You can't help others if your life isn't together. So in a certain sort of way, life really is all about you!ACTS 20:28So why is it all about you? Because God wants your life to be full of love for the people around for whom Jesus gave everything. Jesus didn't just die for you, he died for them.ACTS 20:29-314. You can love people, but you can't fix them. You can't change the. But under the Lordship of Jesus, you can change. You can't change the future either, but we know that God's GRACE will always be sufficient.ACTS 20:325. As hard as it is, giving money is easy compared to giving your life for others. But this is why Jesus came, and it's why you are saved, why you are here. It is more blessed to GIVE than to RECEIVE.ACTS 20:35-38

"Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." Psalm 23:4 NLTWith God, adversity leads to:1. An Enlarged STRENGTHRomans 8:26-27 NLT2. An Enlarged PURPOSE"Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope." Rick Warren: The Purpose Drive LifeRomans 8:28 NLTRomans 8:29-30 NIV1 Peter 4:1-3 NLT1 Peter 4:4-5 NLT3. An Enlarged CONFIDENCE"The most important thing for me is having a relationship with God. To know that the owner, the creator of the universe loves you, sent His Son to die for your sins; that's very empowering. Knowing Him and knowing that He loves me gives me encouragement and confidence to move forward."-Ben CarsonRomans 8:31-32 NIVPsalm 27:3 NLT4. An Enlarged LOVERomans 8:35, 37-38 NLTAPPLICATION:1. We all face challenges and hardships throughout our lives.2. But we don't have to face them alone.3. God alone has the strength to help us overcome our greatest difficulties.4. He is willing and desiring to be our rock and stability during these most difficult times.5. Make the choice today to trust Jesus and allow Him to calm your storms and enlarge your faith.PRAYER: God, I am a sinner who needs YOUR forgiveness! I am unable to overcome the adversity of life on my own. I need You to be my strength and my rock through these difficult challenges I am facing. So I am making a decision today to place my faith in Jesus. I confess that Jesus Christ died for my past, present, and future sins on the cross of Calvary. I believe He rose from the dead on the third day just like the Scriptures foretold. I choose to follow Christ in the fellowship of His church. Amen

"There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging all around, you'll stand firm if you stand on His love."-Charles StanleyJeremiah 17:7-8Adversity allows us to dvelop confidence in the God who sustains us through life's greatest challenges.Ten examples of men and women of faith who were established through adversity!1. NOAHGenesis 6:22 NLT2. NEHEMIAHNehemiah 2:20 NIV3. JOBJob 1:22 NLT4. JOSEPHGenesis 50:20 NIV5. RUTHRuth 1:16 NIV6. ESTHEREsther 4:14 NIV7. DANIELDaniel 6:10 NIV8. ELIJAH2 Kings 1:159. PAULActs 9:15 NLTActs 21:10-14 NIV10. PHILIPActs 8:25-40 NIVAPPLICATION:1. Adversity allows us to develop confidence in the God who sustains us through life's greatest challenges.2. The Bible encourages us to consider it pure joy when we face the difficulties of life.3. For in these difficulties, God will establish a mature man or woman who will find encouragement in Christ and not live a discouraged life.4. Whatever you're going through--you can have assurance that God will give you the strength to prevail.5. I invite you to give your life to Jesus Christ and receive God's forgiveness by praying: God, I am sinner in need of YOUR forgivenss. I have tried to overcome the adverisy of life on my own and today, I admit--I need YOUR help, God! I am reaching out my hand to YOUR hand of comfort and strength. I acknowledge that I need to turn from my ways and receive YOUR forgiveness. I confess that Jesus died for all my sins (past, present and future). I believe HE was raised from the dead on the third day, just like the Scriptures foretold. Today, I am starting a new chapter in my life with Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Amen.

"There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging all around, you'll stand firm if you stand on His love."-Charles StanleyJeremiah 17:7-8Adversity allows us to develop CONFIDENCE in the the God who sustains us through life's greatest CHALLENGES.Ten examples of men and women of faith who were established through adversity:1. NOAHGenesis 6:22 NLT2. NEHEMIAHNehemiah 2:20 NIV3. JOBJob 1:22 NLT4. JOSEPHGenesis 50:20 NIV5. RUTHRuth 1:166. ESTHEREsther 4:4 NIV7. DANIELDaniel 6:10 NIV8. ELIJAH2 Kings 1:15 NASB9. PAULActs 9:15 NLTActs 21:10-14 NIV10. PHILIPActs 8:25-40 NIVAPPLICATION:Adversity allows us to develop confidence in the God who sustains us through life's greatest challenges.The Bible encourages us to consider it pure joy when we face the difficulties of life.In these difficulties, God will establish a mature man or woman who will find encouragement in Christ and not live a discouraged life.Whatever you are going through--you can be assured that God will give you the strength to prevail.You are invited right now to give your life to Jesus Christ and receive God's forgiveness by praying: God, I am a sinner in need of YOUR forgiveness. I have tried to overcome the adversity of life on my own and today I admit-- I need the help of God! I am reaching out my had to YOUR hand of comfort and strength. I acknowledge that I need to turn from my ways and receive YOUR forgiveness. I confess that Jesus died for all my sins (past, present and future). I believe He was raised from the dead on the 3rd day just like the Scriptures foretold. Today, I am starting a new chapter in my life with Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Amen.

"Sometimes, God brings His greatest rains with a storm. Sometimes, God brings His greatest blessing with your difficulty."-Alisa Hope Wagner, "Eve of Awakening".We learn OBEDIENCE through the things we suffer:1. You'll never learn to truly love the UNLOVABLE until you've experienced HATE.Matthew 5:43-44 NIVMatthew 5:11-12a NIVEphesians 4:20-24 NASB"How many of us have conflicts with someone else --and how many of us pray for that person? We have individulals with whom we are competitive; or whom we dislike or have a quarrel with; but very few of us have true enemies in the martial sense. And yet if Lincoln could pray fervently--and contemporary reports indicate he did--for the people who were oppsing him, how much more can we do for someone we just find a little irritating?"-Coach John Wooden2. You'll never learn COMPASSION until you've witnessed ANIMOSITY.Matthew 9:36-37 NASB"No matter how low down you are; no matter what your disposition has been; you may be low in your thoughts, words, and actions; you may be selfish; your heart may be overflowing with corruption and wickedness; yet Jesus will have compassion upon you. He will speak conforting words to you; not treat you coldly or spurn you, as herhaps those of earth would, but will speak tender words, and words of love and affection and kindness. Just come at once. He is a faithful friend--a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."-D.L. Moody3. You'll never learn to FORGIVE until you've been OFFENDED.Luke 23:35-36 NLTMatthew 27:46 NASBLuke 23:24 NLT"You will never forgive anyone more than God has already forgiven you."--Pastor Max LucadoAPPLICATION1. Jesus learned OBEDIENCE through the things He suffered.2. Our adversity and our challenges are a classroom that teachers to walk in the OBEDIENCE of Christ.3. We will never be able to accomplish this in our own strentght, but God has provided us with the Holy Spirit to empoer us and grow in our OBEDIENCE daily.4. When we are challenged by hatred, we can learn to love.5. When we are mistreated, we can learn to have compassion.6. When we are offended, we learn to forgive.7. This week, embrace the teaching of adversity and allow the MASTER teacher, Jesus, to lead you into His victory and peace.

IN OUR ADVERSITY WE NEED TO:1. Stop TRUSTING in the gods of your past and start trusting in the God who can CHANGE your future!Genesis 12:1Hebrews 11:8-102. Believe God CAN and stop believing God CAN'T.Genesis 15:1-6Matthew 13:57-583. Stop believing it's our TIME and trust and wait for God's TIME.Genesis 18;9-14Hebrews11:11-12APPLICATION:1. Adversity is not our enemy...it's a training instrument that will prompt us to have faith in a God who is bigger than any challenge we are facing.2.. Whether it is marital, financial, emotional, physical, sibling, work-related or school related challenge--it's not too big for GOD.3. Place your faith in GOD...and quit magnifying your challenges!4. Don't live another day without placing your trust in Jesus who will make you more than a conqueror! Give your heart to Him. 5. If you need to recommit your life to Him, do it today as well.

"Adversity introduces a man to himself."-AnonymousWEEK ONE: FAITHFULA look at Psalm 118 will help us see the truth of God's provision in times of distress:1. God will love you even when you feel UNLOVABLE!Psalm 118:1-4 NLTJohn 8:1-11 NLT2. God will not ABANDON you in your most difficult times!Psalm 118:5-8 NLT"Often times God demonstrates His faithfulness in adversity by providing for us what we need to survive. He does not change our painful circumstances. He sustains us through them."-Pastor Charles Stanley3. You will OVERCOME with God's help!Psalm 118;10-16 NLT"When a man has no strength, if he leans on God, he becomes powerful."-D.L. MoodyAPPLICATIONEveryone faces Adversity!When we face it alone and independently of God's help, it will seem unbearable and will cause us a lot of stress and hardship.When we face it with God--He will give us His peace and we will witness His love and strength through every challenge.He is faithful and will get us through the most challenging times of our lives! Trust Him today!

We carry with us ALL sorts of attitudes. Attitudes matter. They influence how we see the world and how we engage with it. QUICK-Can you name five things you are grateful for?"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18GRATITUDE is a MUST...it's part of God's will for you.TRUTH: More GRATITUDE isn't generated from more acquistions; rather more from the AWARENESS of God's presence and goodness. James 1:17, Luke 17:11-17God's love is always reaching beyond...AND God desires our love to REACH BACK.God is interested in a relational connection with us, not just religious COMPLIANCE by us."Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be richer for having made it."-A.W. TozerBottom Line: GRATITUDE is fuel for an active and GROWING FAITH with Jesus.Gratitude grows best within a posture of HUMILTY.The bigger our sense of ENTITLEMENT is, the smaller our sense of GRATITUDE.APPLICATION: Write a THANK YOU note to GOD this week. (Take 10 minutes to grow your gratitude.) Read Psalm 100.

"There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "thy will be done." All who are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice, there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock, it is open." C.S. Lewis, "The Great Divorce"Two words that desribe the effect of sin and our great need for salvation:1. BLAMEGenesis 3:11-12 NIVPsalm 51:3-4Genesis 3:13The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions."-Dwight D. Eisenhower2. CONSEQUENCEGenesis 3:14-15Genesis 3:16Romans 6:23Genesis 3:22-24THERE is HOPE in the story:Genesis 3:22-24APPLICATION:God has gifted us with Free Will.We have the CHOICE to FOLLOW God or RUN from God.Sin will lead us away from God's love and point us to blame others and God for our mistakes.Jesus in His mercy has come to cleanse us of our wrong doings and restore our broken relationship with our Heavenly Father.Make the good choice today! Choose Jesus by opening your heart and life to His love and grace.Prayer for today: God, I am a sinner who needs Your forgiveness. I realize that I have sinned against You and You alone. I am tired of putting the blame on others and especially sorry for blaming You for my circumstances. I choose to turn from my ways and receive Your way! I confess that Jesus died for all of my sins--PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE on the cross at Calvary. I believe that He rose from the dead on the third day just like the Scriptures said He would. Thank You for Your comlete forgiveness and restoration through Jesus. Amen.