KITES RISE AGAINST THE WIND

TEXT: James 1:2-4

INTRODUCTION:

1. How many of you have ever flown a kite?

2. what does it take to make a kit fly? A good strong wind.

3. Have you ever noticed that the wind that causes some kites to fly the highest also drives others to the ground.

4. It occurs to me that we are like kites. The opposition that will drive one person down causes the other to rise; TEXT.

5. Tonight we will consider some Bible characters who rose against opposition to overcome opposition.

DISCUSSION:

I. Joseph -- Prison to Palace

A. Gen. 39:20 - 41:41-43.

II. David -- Shepherd to Throne.

1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here."

Acts 13:22 "And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'

III. Daniel -- slave to National leader.

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel 6:25-28 Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. ²⁶ I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. ²⁷ He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. ²⁸ So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

IV. Nehemiah -- cup-bearer to City Builder and governor.

Nehemiah 2:1 And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.

Nehemiah 4:6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

V. Jesus -- manger to king of kings.

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

1 Timothy 6:15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

VI. Saints --tribulation to exaltation.

Revelation 7:14-17 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. ¹⁶ "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; ¹⁷ "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

CONCLUSION:

1. How do you react to difficulty and opposition?