A Model for Facing Adversity

Peter Fitch, St. Croix VineyardSunday, August 19, 2012

Last 2 Weeks

• 2 weeks ago—talk on weakness• Last week—early preparation of this talk gave

way to a different kind of service as Mike Safford shared stories and worship was very compelling . . .led to some important prayer times

• This week—experiences of adversity (stove, roof, some things with loved ones . . .)

Key Texts

• Isaiah 37:1-7• Isaiah 37:14-20

Isaiah 37

• Assyrians are coming in huge numbers (185,000) against your city—they counsel surrender

• What will you do?• Fortunately, there is a prophet, Isaiah, that

you can ask to pray on your behalf• The king, Hezekiah, chooses to accept the

word he receives and, in spite of the circumstances, he stands on it

Basic Model

• Hezekiah reaches out for help to someone he recognizes as having walked further into God’s Presence than he has

• He receives the message that comes back into his heart and stands on it, even when the circumstances get worse

• This propels him into God’s Presence himself, deeper than he has ever gone before (check the change in pronouns!)

Basic Model

• The tide begins to turn—first, an inner confidence begins to grow

• Next, circumstances actually change• More light is given and the path goes forward

Questions & Thoughts

• Do you have an Isaiah in your life?• Could you become this person for someone

else?• Like Jonathan to David• Like the Book of Job• How do you know the prophet is worth

listening to?

More on Isaiah

• What we learn from Ch. 6-8• What we learn from Ch. 20• What we learn from Ch. 36-39

The Real Model: Isaiah

• The point is not to have a formula for trouble• Rather, the point is to become someone who

knows God well• Isaiah has the kind of relationship with God

that allows him to face anything in life• Hezekiah grows in this direction• So should we

James 1:5-8

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Authenticity

“The ultimate Christian message is a person. And anything that reduces that message to mere verbalization is unworthy of the message.”

Charles Kraft, Communication Theory for Christian Witness

Humility

“When shall we learn to come into a crowd dressed as Jesus used to dress, as Francis dressed, instead of for a fashion parade, impressive and glittering like the priests in the courts of the Temple in Jerusalem?”

Carlo Carretto

Authority

• Ex—ousia (out of, being)• Humility that does not tend toward apology;

confidence that does not tend toward arrogance

• Brian Doerksen’s 4 steps in the development of a leader