THE BLESSINGS OF TROUBLE
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“Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you and you shall answer me.’” —JOB 38:1-3
SYNOPSIS:
STORMS CREATE A SENSE OF URGENCY. THEY CALL FOR PEOPLE TO PREPARE FOR RADICAL CHANGE. STORMS REPRESENT TROUBLE AND ADVERSITY WHICH GOD OFTEN USES TO 1. SCATTER AND DISPOSSESS THOSE WHO OPPOSE HIS PLAN, AND 2. GATHER AND REPOSITION HIS PEOPLE.
TROUBLE HAS BUILT WITHIN IT A BLESSING FOR ALL WHO WILL DEAL WITH IT HONESTLY. TROUBLE CAN REVEAL OUR TRUEST SELVES. TROUBLE HAS A WAY OF MAKING US REACH BEYOND OUR LIMITATIONS AND ALLOWS FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SO MUCH MORE.
WE ARE MADE STRONG BY WHAT WE ARE FORCED TO FACE, NOT BY WHAT WE HAVE MANAGED TO SIDE-STEP AND AVOID.
TRIALS AND TESTS ARE NEVER INTENTIONALLY SENT FOR US TO FAIL, BUT RATHER TO EDUCATE US ABOUT THE WEAK AREAS OF OUR LIVES; OUR DEPENDANCE ON GOD. THESE TRIALS REVEAL THE POWER OF GOD THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE ASKING. GOD FORCES US TO COME TO THE END OF OURSELVES, SO WE CAN BE CAST UPON HIM; THIS WAY HE IS GLORIFIED, SATAN IS DEFEATED, AND WE ARE HUMBLED AND MADE PURER AND WISER.
“IT RAINS ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” — MATT. 5:43-45
PEOPLE ARE NOT GREAT BECAUSE THEY NEVER FACE OPPOSITION, BUT BECAUSE THEY OVERCAME IT.
“An evil man is dangerously ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the uncompromising righteous will escape from trouble.” — PRO. 12:13
IT DOES NOT SAY, “THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT HAVE TROUBLE.”
TROUBLE DEFINED:
TROUBLE – (HEBREW) TIGHTNESS, AFFLICTION, ADVERSITY, NARROW OR CRAMPED.
WHEN LIFE CHANGES QUICKLY—LOSS OF JOB, PASSING OF A LOVED ONE, A FRIENDSHIP DISSOLVED, HURRICANE IKE, TORNADO TINA—IT HAPPENS ON THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND THOSE WHO DESPISE HIM!
TROUBLE – (WEBSTER’S) TURBULENCE.
TO AGITATE MENTALLY, OR SPIRITUALLY; TO WORRY OR DISTURB.
TO PUT INTO CONFUSED MOTION OR TO CAUSE INCONVENIENCE.
TROUBLE COMES IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, BIG AND SMALL.
TURBULENCE – WILD COMMOTION, IRREGULAR ATMOSPHERIC MOTION ESPECIALLY WHEN CHARACTERIZED BY UP AND DOWN CURRENTS.
IT IS NOT SAFE TO KEEP GOING UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN.
YOUR LIFE BECOMES ACCUSTOMED TO IT.
HOW TO MATURE, GROW & LEARN FROM THE WIND.
TURBULANCE REVEALS:
THE NATURE OF MY FAITH
STRONG OR WEAK
LITTLE OR MUCH
THE STRENGTH OF MY COMMITMENT
STICKABILITY
OR ONE WHO GIVE’S UP EASY.
THE LEVEL OF MY MATURITY
INFANT, ADOLESCENT, TEEN OR ADULT.
THE HEALTHINESS OF MY ATTITUDE
ALTIMETER: AKA “NOSE LEVEL”.
THE MEASURE OF MY TEACHABILITY
WHAT I KNOW IN ALL TYPES OF TROUBLE.
REMEMBER:
EVERYONE GETS WET; “IT RAINS ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST”
SOME GET WET BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF GOD’S WILL.
SOME GET WET BECAUSE WE ARE IN GODS WILL.
WHAT JESUS DOES FOR US IN THE STORMS OF LIFE
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat [by this time] was already a [a]long distance from land, tossed and battered by the waves; for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”
28 Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you [b]doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped Him [with awe-inspired reverence], saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!” — MATTHEW 14:22-33
HE PRAYS FOR US VS.23 - “AFTER HE HAD DISMISSED THEM, HE WENT UP ON A MOUNTAINSIDE BY HIMSELF TO PRAY. LATER THAT NIGHT, HE WAS THERE ALONE,”
HE COMES TO US VS.25 - “IN THE 4TH WATCH” “SHORTLY BEFORE DAWN JESUS WENT OUT TO THEM, WALKING ON THE LAKE.”
IN THE DARKEST HOUR “A LITTLE BEFORE MORNING”
VICTORIOUS OVER OUR GREATEST FEARS “JESUS CAME WALKING ON THE WATER”
HE MINISTERS TO US VS. 26-27 - “IT IS I, DON’T BE AFRAID”
HE CHALLENGES US IN OUR TROUBLE VS. 28-29 - THE BLESSING OF TROUBLE GAVE PETER A GREEN LIGHT TO WALK ON WATER
WHEN DISCOURAGEMENT OR DESPERATION COMES YOUR WAY
DON’T JUST GET BY MAKING A LIVING. LIVE A DESTINY.
JOSEPH ROSE OUT OF A PIT TO RULE THE LAND.
AFTER A STORM THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN; THEY COULD BE BETTER THAN EVER!
DO SOMETHING—ANYTHING!
(IN OTHER WORDS DO WHAT YOU CAN) SOMETIMES WE TRY TO HIDE BEHIND OUR FAITH, AS AN EXCUSE TO DO NOTHING.
YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN DO, LET GOD DO WHAT HE CAN DO, BUT DON’T YOU TRY TO DO WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO, AND DON’T YOU EXPECT GOD TO DO WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU LET THE ENEMY PARALYZE YOU THAT YOU BECOME UNABLE TO OVERCOME YOUR PROBLEM. GOD HAS GIVEN YOU ALL YOU NEED TO OVERCOME TRIALS.
YOUR’E BUILT FOR IT. YOUR FAITH IS FORGED FOR IT!
DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP.
(WHEN THINGS IMPROVE, MANY OF US GET “SURVIVOR GUILT”.)
YOU ARE HARDER ON YOURSELF THAN ANYONE ELSE.
GOD DIDN’T CREATE YOU TO BE BEAT DOWN BY PEOPLE, AND THAT INCLUDES YOURSELF!
WE LEARN WHILE WE’RE WET
HAVE A FRIEND/CONFIDANT YOU CAN SHARE WITH.
THERE ARE NO “LONE RANGERS” IN GOD’S KINGDOM.
SOCIETY SAYS IF YOU’RE STRONG YOU DON’T NEED ANYONE ELSE.
THE WORD SAYS THAT’S UNTRUE.
“He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.” — PROVERBS 18:1
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored…” — JAMES 5:16
THAT’S WHY WE NEED THE BODY. NO MATTER HOW STRONG YOUR ARM IS, IT DOES NO GOOD IF IT IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE BODY. EVEN THE “PINKY” IS NEEDED!
KEEP FOCUSED AND COMMITTED TO GOD’S WORD AND YOUR DESTINY.
(DON’T LET THE WIND ROB YOUR FUTURE. STORMS COME AND GO.)
TROUBLE FORCES YOU TO FOCUS, IF YOU ARE TO SURVIVE.
“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].” — ISAIAH 26:3
GOD WILL PRESERVE YOU IN HARD TIMES IF YOU KEEP YOUR MIND ON HIM RATHER THAN THE PROBLEM.
REMEMBER: THE ENEMY WILL WORK ALL THINGS TO EVIL FOR THOSE WHO WILL ALLOW HIM TO.
“Bring into captivity every thought.” — II CORINTHIANS 10:3
WHEN YOU MASTER THIS PROCESS YOUR PROBLEM WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CHANGE YOUR COURSE!
NOTHING HAPPENS AS FAST AS YOU WANT IT TO.
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” — HEBREWS 6:12
DON’T BUCKLE UP UNDER PROBLEMS. RISE ABOVE THEM.
THERE ARE SOME WHO HAVE LEFT THEIR PURPOSE AND DESTINY DUE TO HARD RAINS AND PROBLEMS. YOU MAY SAY “ALL OF US ARE WET”, BUT THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE THE ONLY ONE’S TO GET WET.
MAYBE YOU RAN, BUT NOW YOU FEEL THE TUGGING OF THE LORD ON YOUR HEART TO GO BACK AND FIGHT. TODAY IS THE DAY; TODAY IS YOUR DAY.