"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.