David Gass, who most recently led the Grace Family Fellowship in Pleasant Hill, renounced his Christian faith. He served for 40 years out of which 20 years as a senior pastor. In what is believed to be mental and emotional breaks, Dave renounced his faith to a new faith who were non-believers. In a tweet, he declared that during this time he found something amazing. He said his marriage was a sham and a constant source of pain, he never found anything supernatural, prayer was never answered, miracle was never performed, people died, children rebelled, marriages failed, among other negative happenings were the reasons for his renunciation.
Another prolific worship leader of Hillsong Worship, Marty Sampson, took to Instagram to renounce his faith. He had been a Christian for over 15 years. He said “I’m losing my faith and belief in Christianity. Christianity is just another religion”. “I’m genuinely losing my faith and it doesn’t bother me. What bothers me is nothing. I’m so happy and I have peace in the world”, Marty said.
AS CHRISTIANS, WE CAN ALSO RENOUNCE OUR FAITH LIKE DAVE AND MARTY IF WE FAIL TO PERSEVERE IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY
Let us ponder over these question
- How come they renounced their faith(Christianity)?
- Was Jesus Christ fake?
- What kind of Christianity did Dave and Marty come to know?
- Did they not base their knowledge on the truth?
GENERAL PURPOSE OF GOD
As believers, God is interested in building our faith and our character.
The general purpose of God is teaching us to love Him. God teaches us to live in times of adversity, oppression, uncertainty and fear. He’s committed to our growth and godliness than our comfort. His desire and purpose is to make us more like Him, a purpose to bring glory and honor. Christians going through adversity is inevitable and God can use any form of adversity.
SOURCES OF ADVERSITY
THERE ARE FOUR MAIN SOURCES
- The Fallen World/Fallen standards of the world: This brings us adversity when it is not the devils doing.
(1 John 2:15-18): God admonishes us not love the world or anything in it. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, all comes from the world, not the Father. Most of the time we are so much concerned about how people judge our outward appearance than how God sees us. We choose to please the world than to please God.
The life of the celebrities we try to emulate does not please God. Be modest. Whoever does the will of the father will live forever
- Our Choices (Galatians 6:7-9): Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction. Vrs 9:We should not be weary of doing good for we will reap the harvest. if we do not give up.
Once you are alive you still have the chance to change your attitude before Christ comes.
- The Devil and the Wickedness of the World (Ephesians 6:12):For our struggle is not flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, powers of darkness, spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.
- God and Jesus Christ Himself (Hebrew 12:4-11): If God brings adversity to you there is nothing you can do about it.
The Lord disciplines the one He loves
If God wants you to be a better person, He Himself brings adversity. Vs 7: “Endure hardship as a discipline.
NB; If we confess our sins, God forgives us but that does not mean He should not discipline us, because if we are not disciplined we might do the wrong thing again.
God disciplines us for our good in other that we can share in His holiness.
TYPES OF ADVERSITY
External Adversity (2 Timothy 3:10-11):
External adversity happens to you from an outside influence. Despite Paul’s faith in Christ, he went through troubles as a result of preaching the Good News. True Believers who decide to please Jesus by living godly lives will suffer at the hands of those who hate him. (You will face all forms of external adversity)
Internal Adversity (2 Corinthians 12:8-10):
Problems and challenges that arise on a daily basis that are controllable Examples include weaknesses, insults, hardships, diseases, laziness, sickness, rudeness etc. Paul went through adversity and pleaded with God to take it away, but God assured him of his sufficiency of the grace for him and the perfectness of His (God) power even in his (Paul) weakness.
Apostle Paul demonstrated to us that, in spite of his adversity, he would boast in his weakness than to seek external help for God to withdraw His presence from him.
NB: “Following the path of least resistance makes men and rivers crooked”.
Christians and more especially leaders should be men and women, prepared to meet the greatest resistance when necessary.
SOURCES OF ADVERSITY
- The Fallen World (John 2:15-18)
- The Choices we make (Galatians 6:7-9)
- The Devil and the Wickedness of the World (Ephesians 6:12)
- God and Jesus Christ Himself (Hebrew 12:4-11)
TYPES OF ADVERSITY
- External Adversity(2 Timothy 3:10-11)
- Internal Adversity (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)
CONCLUSION
God is not calling you to an easy life but a life of obedience and faith despite the adversity.
There is a difference between a Christian going through adversity and an unbeliever. What should your attitude be as Christian?
(Proverbs 18:1). The wicked man flees when no one pursues him and has a host of problems.
(Psalms 34: 19). Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him and saves him out of all his troubles.
Let us reach out to God in prayer, staying resolute and persevering, knowing that it is well with your soul.
Assurance: The lord assures as that in the world there would be tribulations but we should be of good cheer because He has overcome. God richly bless you.
SHALOM!