Shaken through Adversity

by Erisa Rei Kopp
Erisa Rei Kopp

There have been tremors in the spiritual atmosphere for quite some time now. What seemed to be strong leaders in the Christian realm have fallen into sin or at least the sins that they had been committing have been exposed. I am pretty sure that God isn't done either nor do I think it is limited to the highly visible. This may seem cliché, but He is shaking each of us, (not literally,) in order to get at what is real and to remove the man-made.

My Scriptural premise for this “shaking” is found in a few places in the Bible. The first Scripture is in 1 Corinthians 3:11-13:

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

I have seen people get into the minute details of what they think the “gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw” are. But more important to me is the “fire” portion of it. Too often revivalists have focused on the fire of God being this “feel-good” touch administered by a man's hand. But in my own life experience this type of touch isn't as lasting as another type of fire.

This other type of fire is the fire of adversity. The whole chapter of Hebrews 12 is touches on this fire. The beginning of the chapter tells how Jesus went through adversity, being willing to die while under the pressure of it. This is why Paul was so adamant in 1 Corinthians 3 to point out that all foundations should be founded in Jesus Christ, who went through the fire of adversity when He died on the cross for us.

At the end of the 12 th chapter, it is written:

whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

This fire isn't meant to make us feel giddy and happy. It is meant to make sure that what we are living for is His kingdom... His building. What is all glittery on the outside may not be a good indication of what is durable and will remain after the duress of the fire of adversity.

It is an unpleasant experience, but one that is joyful. In James 1:2-3 it it written:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

It was a joy for Jesus even during his duress, because He knew the outcome. So it should be for us too. We may be afflicted inside for a time or even naturally, but we should be joyful in our encounter with God's fire of adversity. We know that if we persevere we will be changed for the good. It's never easy to be under the heat of it, but it is always worth it and God's grace will pick you up and carry you through just when you think you can't handle the pressure anymore. The end result of a pure work of God is what will remain after the shaking through adversity burns out everything that is dirty.

Article submitted Monday, March 22, 2010 & read 254 times.

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» left by Mark Parsec (1 year 323 days ago.)

Hi Erisa,

This is a very well written article. Are you moonlighting as an author? Thank you for this wonderful submission. Very inspirational. God bless you.

Mark Parsec
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» left by erisarei from Spring Hill, TN (1 year 323 days ago.)

I've always enjoyed writing. Right now, I'm concentrating on songwriting, but someday I'd like to write a book or two.

Thanks for the compliments!
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» left by Kathleen Williams (1 year 322 days ago.)

VERY GOOD ARTICLE AND YES GOD IS SHAKING SOME OF HIS PEOPLE-MINISTERS. I HAVE SEEM IT RECENTLY AND NO IT IS NOT FUN BUT IT IS AND WILL BE SO GOOD IN THE END.
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