INTRODUCTION

Strength is not tested or demonstrated during times of ease. Rather, it is during times of adversity that one finds out just how strong he is (or how weak he has become). According to scripture, a man who faints in the day of adversity is a man who already possessed little strength. God does not require man to always be at the peak of strength, but God does ask that man to stay in the fight and to refuse to quit (Galatians 6:9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
See All...). Only those who endure hardness and fight through adversity will enjoy the rewards promised to them. If one considers fainting, he need look no further than the Lord Jesus Christ, who “endured such contradiction of sinners against himself” (Hebrews 12:3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
See All...), but pressed forward for the souls of men.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): How did these men faint: Peter (Luke 22:31-34 [31] And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: [32] But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. [33] And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. [34] And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
  See All..., 54-62); Aaron (Exodus 32:1-5 [1] And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. [2] And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. [3] And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. [4] And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [5] And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
  See All...); John Mark (Acts 15:36-39 [36] And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do. [37] And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. [38] But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. [39] And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
  See All...)? Consider these who remained strong: Esther (Esther 4:16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
  See All...); Paul and Silas (Acts 16:23-25 [23] And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: [24] Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. [25] And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
  See All...); Stephen (Acts 7:51-54 [51] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. [52] Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: [53] Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. [54] When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): How do you fare in days of adversity? Is your strength sufficient for the winds of trouble and the storms of doubt? Do you remain stedfast and loyal to the Saviour during troublesome times?
• Can you think of any examples in scripture of individuals who remained strong in days of adversity? Can you think of any individuals who demonstrated small strength?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to help strengthen you ahead of the days of adversity.
• Ask the Lord to preserve you through whatever comes your way.

HYMN

WE HAVE AN ANCHOR

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