Unity in Adversity 1 Peter 4 12 16

Unity in Adversity 1 Peter 4: 12 -16 Ecclesiastes 4: 9 -12

Adversity • “condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress”; “difficulty or adverse fortune” – – Jesus faced adversity, Luke 22: 28 Adversity promised to apostles, John 16: 33 Adversity promised to Christians, Acts 14: 22 Early Christians faced it, 2 Tim 3: 12; Rev 1: 9 • If not addressed properly, adversity causes division and scattering, Jno 16: 32; Matt 24: 9 -12 2

Unity in Adversity • A great benefit, Eccl 4: 9 -12; Jno 17: 20 -21 • Under command to endeavor to keep unity, Eph 4: 3 (Unity can be corrupted) – Diligent attention and exertion are essential for our unity to endure – Requires strong faith to be drawn closer by our common salvation, faith, hope and cause 3

Overcoming Adversity to Keep Unity Requires… • Faith in Christ, Jno 16: 33; 1 Jno 5: 4 – Peace and joy, Jno 16: 22 (15: 18; 12: 31 -33) – “Bond of peace” – uniting principle, Col 3: 15 – Continue in the faith, Acts 14: 22 – Endurance, 2 Tim 2: 11 -13 – Walk in love, Jno 13: 34 -35; Col 3: 14 (“bond”) 4

Overcoming Adversity to Keep Unity Requires… • Unwavering commitment to truth, 4: 20 -24; Gal 5: 7 -9 Eph – Uncompromising allegiance, Jude 3 -4 • Reject all lesser “norms” (unity in diversity) – Unflinching support of faithful brethren, Gal 4: 11 -16 (2 Tim 4: 16) 5

Overcoming Adversity to Keep Unity Requires… • Putting a high value on our unity in Christ, Jno 17: 20 -21 (tirelessly guard it) – Enjoy the goodness of unity, Psa 133: 1 – Preserve the integrity of unity, Gen 13: 8 – Endurance maintains unity, Matt 24: 13; Heb 12: 1 -2 6

ADVERSITY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH • Discord and rivalry, Gal 5: 19, 20 -21 – Hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy – Failure to lovingly serve, Gal 5: 13 -15 7

ADVERSITY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH • Things that disrupt unity: – False teachers/teaching, 2 Tim 2: 16 -18; Titus 1: 10 -11 – Factiousness (binding opinions), Rom 14: 1 -5 – Power plays, 3 Jno 9 -10 (Phil 2: 3 -4) – Hidden sin, Josh 6: 18; 7: 11 -15, 25; Matt 18: 15 -17 – Demand for “new things”, Jer 6: 16 -17 8

ADVERSITY IN FAMILIES • Special occasions – Holidays, birthdays, weddings, funerals, etc. – Yield to each other, Gen 13: 8 • Finances, Matt 6: 25 -34; Phil 4: 11 -13 • Marital “bliss”, Eph 5: 31, 33 9

Unity in Adversity -United in faith and obedience to Christ -Marks us as people of God, 1 Pet 4: 12 -13