TRANSFORMED BY MISFORTUNE BY PR. KALUNGI DENIS

KIREKA CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP                                           

God has a purpose behind every problem, he uses circumstances to develop our character. In fact, he depends more on circumstances to make us like Christ Jesus than he depends on our reading the bible {2 Corinthians 3:17-18}.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need {Hebrews 4:15-16}

The reasons are obvious: you face circumstances twenty-four hours a day.

Jesus warned us that we would have problems in the world, no one is immune to pain or insulated from suffering and no one gets to skate through free problem life.

John 16:33-“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”

Jesus, in preparing His disciples for His death, resurrection, and departure back to the Father in heaven. He told them that "after a little while, He will no longer be with them physically." He also warned them that they WILL suffer tribulation because of Him, but, even in the midst of suffering they can have His peace because He has overcome the world.

Life is a series of problems, every time you solve one another is waiting to take its place. Not all of them are big but significant in God’s growth process for you and me.

Peter assures us that problems are normal. 1 peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange was happening to you.

God uses problems to draw you closer to Him. The Bible says. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit Psalm 34:18

Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days.

1, When your heart is broken

2. When you feel abandoned

3. When you're out of the options

4. When the pain is great

It’s during suffering that we learn to pray our most authentic, heartfelt, honest prayer to God. When we are in pain we don’t have the energy for superficial prayers.

When life is rosy, we may slide by with knowing about Jesus, with imitating him and quoting him and speaking of him. But only in suffering do we get to know Jesus, we learn things about God in suffering that we could not learn.

1, God could have kept Joseph out of jail but he did not.

2. Kept Daniel out of lion’s den but he did not

3. Jeremiah from being tossed into a slimy pit but he did not

4. Paul from being shipwrecked three times but he did not

5. The three Hebrew boys from the furnace of blazing fire but he did not. He let these problems happen to them and inthe the end, all the people were drawn closer to God.

Problems force us to look to God and depend on him instead of ourselves. Paul testified to this benefit, We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead 2 corinthians 1:9. You will never know that God is all you need until God is all you have:

1, We remember God after getting contracted with HIV

2. We remember God in our distress

3. We remember God in our lack

4. We remember God in our sicknesses

But regardless of the cause, none of your problems could happen without God’s permission. Everything that happens to the child of God is father-filtered and he intends to use it for good even when Satan and others mean it for bad.

Because God is sovereignly in control, accidents are just incidents/events in God’s good plan for you. Because every day of your life was written on God’s calendar before you were born, everything that happens to you has spiritual significance.

Why does God use trials so often?

Trials help our perseverance.

James 1:12 “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up

God is making you more humble.

2 Corinthians 12:7 “even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud

Proverbs 18:12 “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor, 1 Peter 5:6-8 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

God’s discipline

Hebrews 12:5-11 “And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline

Proverbs 3:11-13 “My child, do not reject the Lord’s discipline and don’t get angry when he corrects you. The Lord corrects those he loves, just as parents correct the child they delight in. Happy is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gets understanding.”

So you can become more dependent on the Lord

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

God could be protecting you from a bigger problem that you don’t see coming.

Psalm 121:5-8 “The Lord guards you. The Lord is the shade that protects you from the sun. The sun cannot hurt you during the day, and the moon cannot hurt you at night. The Lord will protect you from all dangers; he will guard your life. The Lord will guard you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Psalm 37:5 “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.”

So we can share in the sufferings of Christ

1 Peter 4:12-16 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name, was and 2 Corinthians 1:5-7 Paul explains.

It helps us grow as believers and become more like Christ

Trials and tribulations tend to squeeze the artificiality out of us Romans 8:28-29 “We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called because that was his plan. God knew them before he made the world, and he chose them to be like his Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.”

It helps with developing character

Romans 5:3-6 “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”

To remind us that it is God who is always in control.

Luke 8:22-25 “One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Trials increase our knowledge and they help us learn God’s Word.

Psalm 119:71-77 “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Your hands made me and formed me; give me the understanding to learn your commands. May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word, I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant? Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight psalms 119:76

Trials are part of God’s work.

God is in control of the trials. God is not on his throne wringing his hands as he waits for the outcome of events. Even if I can’t see how, I can be confident that God is working for his glory. This helps me to stop worrying about how things are going to work out. My heart is peaceful when I remember that God promises to work for his glory and our eternal good.

Pain is not without purpose. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! “Psalm 46:10 and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” Romans 8:28

Trials put God’s power on display.

When God allows me to step into a trial, he may be getting ready to work for his glory. Historically, this is how God prefers to work. Remember Gideon? He started off with an army one-fifth the size of the Midianites—and then God made the odds even worse. The LORD said to Gideon, ‘The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, “My own hand has saved me” Judges 7:2

Trials prepare us for service even little trials

Here is the bad news. When God works in a big way, it often involves one of his servants facing a big trial. So we need to be ready for big storms and trials. How can we be prepared? Little trials.

I want God to trust me with his big tasks, but God doesn’t give us the big tasks without testing us in the little things. Every trial God sends, even our daily frustrations are meant to test us and grow us stronger. If I want God to use me for big things, I must pass the little tests. If I don’t pass the little tests, why should I expect God to trust me with greater things?

Jeremiah 29:11 clearly states that God wants to give us hope and a future. He gets our attention in order to give us that hope and a future that He promised. The methods God uses to get our attention are not the same for everyone

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

A sign that shows, God is trying to get your attention

Disruptions

One of the quickest ways God gets our attention is by stopping what we are doing by disrupting our plans. God isn't being mean to us when he interrupts what we are doing. He is forcing us to slow down and to focus more on Him.

Perhaps we made our plans without God. To keep us from going in the wrong direction, God stops us from doing what we are doing even though we have convinced ourselves that we are doing the right thing.

The story of the Tower of Babel found in Genesis 11:1-9 is a great example of how God disrupts people's plans.

Restlessness

When God wants us to do something, He might make us restless until we do what He wants us to do. A good example is recorded in Esther 6:1-3

One night the king was restless and couldn't sleep. He got out of bed and ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. He heard about Mordecai who had done a good deed and had not been rewarded for it. Things were put in place for Mordecai to be rewarded and the entire Jewish nation was spared. It was because of the king's restlessness.

Voices

God gets our attention through the voice of those who we don't expect to hear from. God spoke through young Samuel to give Eli a divine message. It took Eli four times to understand what was going on. God spoke through Samuel to get His message to Eli, according to 1 Samuel 3

Unusual Blessings

God gets our attention through unusual blessings. You must admit that it was an unusual blessing for Elijah to be fed by ravens while he was hiding from Jezebel at the Kerith Brook. Ravens took him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and Elijah drank from the brook 1 Kings 17:2-6

God definitely got Elijah's attention. He wanted Elijah to know that he could depend on God instead of Jezebel. God wants us to know that we can depend on Him for our needs.

By Saying 'No'

God sometimes says "No" to our prayer. We don't like to hear it, but He does use this method to get our attention. This is the way God got David's attention when his child was sick and died.

David had prayed fervently for his baby not to die, but God denied David's request. That got David's attention, and he accepted it 2 Samuel 12:16-23

Disappointments

God uses disappointments to get our attention. The Bible records stories of lots of people who were disappointed when they did not get what they wanted. Several women were barren and prayed for sons. They were disappointed while God worked out the right time for it to happen.

Most of the barren women were also old. They thought they would never have a male child. They all eventually did but only after great disappointment before it happened.

1, Sarah: Genesis 11:30

2. Rebekah: Genesis 25:21

3. Rachel: Genesis 29:31

4. Hannah: 1 Samuel 1:6

5. Elizabeth: Luke 1:7

Extreme Circumstances

Sometimes God will use extreme circumstances and situations to get our attention. The circumstances are so unusual that we can't help but stop and listen.

A very good example of a bizarre situation is recorded in Exodus 3 when Moses encountered God in a burning bush. Bushes are not in the desert, and if they were there, they would not burn by themselves, and surely God wouldn't be speaking from one. However, that is exactly what happened and surely, it got Moses' attention.

Defeat

How could a small city like Ai defeat Joshua's large army of about three thousand men? Ai defeated the Israelite army, and God used the defeat to get Joshua's attention.

Israel learned a big lesson after it was surprisingly defeated, according to Joshua 7:4-5

Loss of Possessions

The job was rich and he had it all, but he also lost it all. He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yokes of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a large number of servants. Job lost them all in one day including his ten children Job 1-21

All these losses got Job's attention especially since he had done nothing wrong. Job began to pay attention through the loss of his possessions.

God may use dreams.

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more. He said to them, “Please listen to the details of this dream which I have dreamed; you brothers were binding sheaves of grain stalks in the field, and lo, my sheaf suddenly got up and stood upright and remained standing; and behold, your sheaves stood all around my sheaf and bowed down in respect. His brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Are you really going to rule and govern us as your subjects?” So they hated him even more for telling them about his dreams and for his [arrogant] words. Genesis 37:5-8

God may use visions

I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do Acts 9:3-6

He uses his word or repetitive messages

One really obvious way that God tries to get your attention is repetition. That is when a theme or message jumps out at you repeatedly. It can be through Scripture, sermons, articles, podcasts, or any other means He chooses.

My example God used Isaiah 61, Isaiah 43, and Isaiah 45

He uses his prophets

I went to mutundwe Christian fellowship and God used one of the prophets to tell me to relax because my interest was not to become a pastor but I had gone for a quick fix. 

God may send His messengers direct to you.

Before God informed me that I was a pastor people used to come to me calling me pastor and God revealed to me.

Let us understand one of the most quoted chapters and misunderstood chapters in the Bible Romans 8: 28-29

It does not say, “God causes everything to work out the way I want it to “obviously that’s not true. It also doesn’t say, “God causes everything to work out to have a happy ending on earth. 

We live in a fallen world. Only in heaven is everything done perfectly the way God intends. That’s why we are told to pray. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven Matthew 6:10

With Romans 28:29 you must consider phrase by phrase

We know” our hope in difficult times is not based on positive thinking, wishful thinking, or natural optimism. It is a certainty based on the truth that God is in complete control of the universe and that he loves us.

That God causes”: There is a grand designer behind everything. Your life is not a result of random chance, fate, or luck. There is a master plan. We make mistakes but God never does. God cannot make a mistake because he is God.

Everything”: God’s plan for your life involves all that happens to you including:

1, Your mistake

2. Your sins

3. Your hurts

It includes 

1, Illness

2. Debts

3. Disasters

4. Divorce

5. Death of beloved ones

God can bring good out of the worst evil. He did at Calvary 

To work together,” Not separately or independently. The events in your life work together in God’s plan.” They are not isolated acts, but interdependent parts of the process to make you like Christ.

To bake a cake you must use:

1, Flour

2. Salt

3. Raw eggs

4. Sugar

5. Oil each is pretty distasteful or even bitter. But bake them together and they become delicious.

If you will give God all your distasteful, unpleasant experiences, he will blend them together for good.

For the good”: This does not say that everything in life is good. Much of what happens in our world is evil and bad, but God specializes in bringing good out of it. In the official family tree of Jesus Christ, four women are listed:

1, Tamar seduced her father-in-law to get pregnancy

2. Rahab was a prostitute

3. Ruth was not even Jewish and broke the law by marrying a Jewish man

4. Bathsheba committed adultery with David, which resulted in her husband’s murder.

God brings good out of bad and Jesus comes through this lineage. God’s purpose is greater than our problems, our pain, and even our sins.

Of those who love God and are called”: this promise is for those who love God’s children. It’s not for everyone. All things work for bad for those living in opposition to God and insist on having their own way. According to his purpose”: what is that purpose? It is that we “become like his son” Everything God allows to happen in your life is permitted for that purpose!

Building Christ-like character

We are like jewels, shaped with the hammer and chisel of adversity. If a jeweler’s hammer isn’t strong enough to chip off our rough edges, God will use a sledgehammer/mallet. If we’re really stubborn, he uses a jackhammer. He will use whatever it takes.

Every problem is a character-building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fiber. Paul said we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character Romans 5:3-5

What happens outwardly in your life is not as important as what happens inside you. Your circumstances are temporary, but your character will last forever.

The bible compares a trial to a metal refiner’s fire that burns away the impurities I peter 1:7 these troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is worth more than gold

“A silversmith was asked, how do you see that sliver is pure” he replied” when I see my reflection in it. We have been refined by trials to reflect Jesus or people to see Jesus in us ‘James said’ you know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors James 1:3

Since God intends to make us like Jesus, he will take us through the same experience Jesus went through. That includes: 

1, Loneliness

2. Temptation

3. Stress

4. Criticism

5. Rejection and many other problems.

The bible says, “Jesus learned obedience through suffering and was made perfect through suffering,” Hebrews 5:8 then why God should exempt us from going through what the son went through. Paul says, “We go through exactly what Jesus Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him,” 2 Timothy 2:12

Responding to problems as Jesus would

Problems don't automatically produce what God intends. Many people become bitter, rather than better, and never grow up. You have to respond the way Jesus would.

Remember that God's plan is good. 

God knows what is best for you and has your best interests at heart. God told Jeremiah’ For I know the plans I have for you “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future Jeremiah 29:11, Whenever God says no to your request for relief, remember, "God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best." It is vital that you stay focused on God's plan, not your pain or problem. That is how Jesus endured the pain of the cross and was urged to follow his example. Your focus will determine your feelings. The secret of endurance is to remember that your pain is temporary but your reward will be eternal. Don't give in to short-term thinking. Stay focused on the end result. 

Rejoice and give thanks

The Bible tells us to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18." How is this possible? Notice that God tells us to give thanks in all circumstances" not "for all circumstances." God doesn't expect you to be thankful for evil, for sin, for suffering, or for the painful consequences in the world. Instead, God wants you to thank him that he will use your problems to fulfill his purposes. No matter what's happening, you can rejoice in God's

1, love

2. Care

3. Wisdom

4. Power, and faithfulness. We can also rejoice in knowing that God is going through the pain with us. God will never leave us on our own.

Refuse to give up. Be patient and persistent

Character building is a slow process. The bible says,” let the process go on until your endurance is fully developed and you will find that you have become men and woman of mature character with no weak spot,” James 1:4 Whenever we try to avoid or escape the difficulties in life, we short-circuit the process, delay our growth, and actually end up with a worse kind of pain — the worthless type that accompanies denial and avoidance. 

You know you are maturing when you begin to see the hand of God in the random, baffling, and seemingly pointless circumstances of life. 

If you are facing trouble right now, don't ask, "Why me? “Instead ask, "What do you want me to learn?" Then trust God and keep on doing what's right. "You need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion." Don't give up — grow up!

Prayer 

Please God my father, help me through the trials and tribulations I’m experiencing in my life. For years I have been victim to feeling alienated and alone, and I faithfully ask you to help me. Guide me through these storms of life, and help me to remember that you alone are the way, the truth, and the light. Stay with me O, Lord in times when I feel there is no end to the pain I feel.

Help me to remember, you too carried a heavy cross, and yet you persevered. You knew God had a plan, and that it was what he intended for each and every one of us, even though we may not understand. Please be at my side, and let us understand that by looking to you, we will obtain the wisdom and love that will complete us. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen

PART ONE