“God Speaks Through The Storm” (How To Hear The Voice Of God pt. 6)

Pastor Jim Lowe III

Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 08/05/23 (1st Sunday Message)

hashtags:

#guidinglight #pastorjim #givingthanks #hearinggod #hearing #voiceofGod

#faith #whatdoesGodsay #forgiveness #Godworks #savedtoserve #healer #protector #Godforgives #worry #Springfavor #deliverance #listeningears #Godspeaks #stormsoflife

{All scriptures are “NIV84” unless stated}

Message Title:

“God Speaks Through The Storm” (How To Hear The Voice Of God pt. 6)

If you’re going though a trial right now.

And the trial is keeping you from hearing God clearly, Prayerfully this is for you.

This is a 2 part message.

If this blesses you today, wait till next week!

Memory Verse:

Job 33:14

14 For God does speak—now one way, now another— though man may not perceive it.

This entire series started from some of the ways God can speak.

Ways The Lord Can Speak:

• God Speaks Through His Word

• God Speaks Through People

• God Speaks Directly

• God Speaks Through His Actions

We recently spoke of God speaking through actions. Through our dreams and visions.

Even blocking us at certain times.

But God speaks through storms also.

What Is A Storm?

Try and think of what this is and what the word means.

A Weather Storm is a term used to describe an atmospheric disturbance. This can range from rain all the way to tornadoes.

This is something that describes something we see on a regular basis. This term is also used to describe things we deal with in our lives.

A Life Storm is a disturbance that interrupts our physical, mental or spiritual well-being and affects us in our personal lives. (Examples: sicknesses, stress, rejection, debt, depression, loneliness, hardships and more.)

Many of us may be going through some of these things now.

We were promised to have good days and bad days.

John 16:33

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

There is a REASON for the storms. An old saying:

“Rainy days make you appreciate the sunny days.”

Sometimes we need rain.

because it’s through that we can appreciate it when the storm is over.

If Things Are Too Good Too Often, What Is Good Loses Its Value

We can see that there are other reasons for storms.

Even Storms Have A Purpose

Storms keep the earth regulated.

When it’s hot outside…storms bring cool rain.

Storms clean the air.

When the wind kicks up…it causes dirty air to move.

Storms regulate the earth’s electrical balance.

It helps things to grow.

Life Storms Have A Purpose Also

That trial is happening for a reason.

Storms cause us to realize how great our God truly is.

The reminder that we can trust God through all situations.

No matter how big the problem.

We have to remember God is bigger.

God Is In Control Of Our Storms:

Zechariah 10:1

Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.

It is the Lord who makes the storm clouds.

Job 37 talks about how God controls the weather.

Chap 37 talks about God changing the seasons. He controls them all.

Job 37:2-4

2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. 3 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. 4 After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.

He unleashes lightening and sends it to the earth. God controls the storms.

Psalm 89:9

9 You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.

God rules over the “surging” sea. when the storm rises up.

God calms them.

Moses

God was a cloud during the day. He was a pillar of fire at night.

Jonah (will spend some time on this one}

Jonah was asked to go to Nineveh and tell them about God. Jonah decided he didn’t want to do that.

they didn’t deserve the Lord’s forgiveness. So Jonah got on a boat and went somewhere else.

Jonah 1:4

4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.

The LORD sent a great wind.

Such a violent storm that the ship threatened to break up. The storm gets more and more rough…

The GOD caused storm gets rougher and more rough.

Sometimes We Go Through Storms In Life Because God Is Telling Us To “Get Back On Track!”

Jonah knew what he was supposed to do.

He only ran away when God told him what to do. Sometimes God speaks to us…

And we do the opposite.

We run from what God wanted for us.

“We” Can Be The Reason We Go Through Storms.

Maybe God put someone on our hearts to pray for. we don’t want to pray because they hurt us.

we don’t want to help someone because they don’t “deserve it.” or we don’t “feel like it.”

or we aren’t “comfortable with it.”

We Can Get Ourselves Into Trouble Because We Don’t Listen To The Voice Of God!

God wants us to be more like him.

Someone who can watch the world murder his son and yet love us still.

He wants us to have the compassion of Joseph… even IF they don’t deserve forgiveness…

a REAL believer understands…

…we don’t either…

{back to Jonah}

Jonah 1:7-8

7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”

They cast lots.

It was an unbiased random selection. (i.e. flipping a coin, pebbles, sticks). They fell on Jonah.

Something is up with Jonah. He knows something.

Verse 8

8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us?

Who is responsible for making all this trouble for US? Jonah’s sin was causing problems for the people around him.

Be Careful Who Is Around You! Your Current Storm Could Be Because Of Someone Else!

Is something going wrong when someone always comes around?

You might need to ask that person…”What are you doing!?!?”

{Back to Jonah}

Jonah tells them to throw him overboard. they eventually do.

Jonah 1:15-16

15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.

16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.

God caused this storm to prevent Jonah from running.

When Jonah was off the boat…the storm stopped for everyone. God can control the storms.

God Will Either Send A Storm Or Allow It. But Don’t Worry, He Promised He Would See Us Through It!

Are you going through a storm right now? It could be because of us.

Or God trying to speak to us.

But we know God can speak to us even during the storm.

What Is God Saying During The Storm?

• “You Are Not In This Alone”

Deuteronomy 31:6

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 41:10

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Even If God Sends The Storm, He’ll Stay With Us Through It!

• “This Storm RIGHT HERE Will Strengthen You”

Jonah couldn’t have compassion on Nineveh because of his own thoughts…

but these storms were showing Jonah that the Lord was having compassion on him.

God Desires For Us To Be Strong In Him!

Ephesians 6:10

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

God wants us stronger than we are now!

1 Peter 5:10

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

God Doesn’t Send Storms To Take Us Out, They Come To Strengthen Us!

• “You Will Be Better After The Storm Than You Are Right Now”

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

all things God WORKS for the good.

This is for YOUR GOOD.

James 1:2-4

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Romans 5:3-5

3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

God is trying to take us from A to B.

You Win With God! With Each Trial Comes Another Testimony! With Each Storm Comes Another Story!

“…after you have suffered a little while…” (1 Peter 5:10) leads to the next thing God says.

• “This Storm Has An Expiration Date!”

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

this storm you are going through is not going to last forever. yes it has an end date…

but God is saying it has an expiration date as well.

Psalm 30:5 (b)

weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

You will only have to go through this pain for so long.

those people on your job can only hurt you for so long. those financial troubles can only last for so long.

the BEST shot someone can take at you can only last for so long.

WHY?

Because God said he is with you.

Anything coming at you has to go through him first.

Because God said this thing is here to strengthen you. while people think they’re hurting you…

they’re only making you stronger.

You Are Becoming Strong! You Are Battle Tested! You Are Going To Win!

{closing}

We go through trials in life. They must happen.

But God says he will see us through them.

He will help us through them… And we will be better in the end.

If we can’t always hear him clearly…

we have the word to fall back on.

This Week:

• Review This Message (Today’s Stream, Study Groups, Lunch Recap)

• Read Over God’s Word Concerning Trials

• Make Sure To Keep That In Mind When We Can’t Hear God Clearly

God is his word.

Sometimes it gets difficult to hear him… But if we know what he HAS said…

We know what he is saying. Stay strong through storms… God is with you.

God will keep you.