RESILIENCE Resilient: “tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change” (http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=resilient) “recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like” (http://www.memidex.com/resilient+spirited)

RESILIENCE I. SOME EXAMPLES OF RESILIENCE IN THE BIBLE

RESILIENCE OF JOSEPH Hated by his brethren (Gen. 37:5,8) His brethren would have killed him if not for the intervention of Reuben (Gen. 37:20-22) Sold into slavery and taken to Egypt (Gen. 37:26-28) Thrown into prison in Egypt (Gen. 39:20) Languished in prison for years (Gen. 41:1)

RESILIENCE OF MOSES Fled Egypt after his brethren fail to appreciate his efforts to help them (Ex.2:11-15) Answered the call of God to lead Israel after forty years of exile (Acts 7:23, 30) Led Israel through the wilderness for 40 years The golden calf (Ex. 32:1-35) Murmurings at waters of Marah, in wilderness of Sin, in Rephidim, twice at Kadesh Barnea (Ex. 15:23,23; 16:3; 17:1-3; Num. 14:1-10; 20:2-13) Korahites rebellion (Num. 16:1-35) The early battles of conquest (Num. 21:21-35; 31:1-54)

RESILIENCE OF PAUL, 2 Cor. 4:8-10: We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; Perplexed, but not driven to despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; Struck down, but not destroyed; Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. (NRSV)

RESILIENCE II. THINGS THAT HELP ONE BE RESILIENT A. Refusing (Ps. 1:1): To live according to the counsel or rule of the wicked, Ps. 10:4; Prov. 4:14 To go in the way of sinners. To company with those who scorn God’s ways.

RESILIENCE II. THINGS THAT HELP ONE BE RESILIENT B. Delighting in and being familiar with the law of Jehovah (v. 2), 2 Tim. 3:16,17; Ps. 1:3 It convicts of sin, Ti. 1:9 It restores the soul, Ps. 19:7 It instructs in righteousness, 2 Tim. 3:16 It produces faith, Rom. 10:17

It produces faith, Rom. 10:17 In Jesus, Jno. 20:30,31

RESILIENCE OF PAUL, 2 Cor. 4:8-10: We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; Perplexed, but not driven to despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; Struck down, but not destroyed; Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. (NRSV)

It produces faith, Rom. 10:17 In Jesus, Jno. 20:30,31 In the unseen, Heb. 11:1; 2 Cor. 4:16-5:10

RESILIENCE II. THINGS THAT HELP ONE BE RESILIENT B. Delighting in and being familiar with the law of Jehovah (v. 2), 2 Tim. 3:16,17; Ps. 1:3 It convicts of sin, Ti. 1:9 It restores the soul, Ps. 19:7 It instructs in righteousness, 2 Tim. 3:16 It produces faith, Rom. 10:17 It strengthens, Acts 20:32 (vs. 29,30)

B. Delighting in and being familiar with the law of Jehovah (v B. Delighting in and being familiar with the law of Jehovah (v. 2), 2 Tim. 3:16,17; Ps. 1:3 It brings hope, 2 Pet. 3:13; Phil. 3:4-11 It gives the knowledge that God wants to save us, Jno. 3:16; Ezek. 33:11; 1 Tim. 1:15; Isa. 40:28-31; Ps. 23:1-6; Lk. 15:24; Jno. 3:3,5

RESILIENCE I. SOME EXAMPLES OF RESILIENCE IN THE BIBLE

RESILIENCE II. THINGS THAT HELP ONE BE RESILIENT A. Refusing (Ps. 1:1): To live according to the counsel or rule of the wicked, Ps. 10:4; Prov. 4:14 To go in the way of sinners. To company with those who scorn God’s ways.

B. Delighting in and being familiar with the law of Jehovah. It convicts of sin It restores the soul It instructs in righteousness It produces faith In Jesus It strengthens It brings hope It gives the knowledge that God wants to save us