Paul Vs. Storms

February 17, 2024

I love a good thunderstorm. We don’t get really good thunderstorms here in California. Michigan, now, they have GOOD thunderstorms. Towering clouds, lightening, thunder, sheets of rain – the power of it is something to behold.

Today we are going to talk about a very different kind of storm – the storm of life.

We don’t have to go out of our way to find storms - storms find us:

• Storms of our own making.

• Storms created by other people. Storms that aren’t really ours but we are caught up in them.

• Storms that occur simply because we live on planet earth.

We really do a great disservice if we leave the impression in our preaching or witnessing that becoming a Christian will automatically exempt a person from experiencing troubles or difficulties in life. Job said, “A man is born unto trouble” – and that truth applies to everyone.

Paul is the poster-child for experiences in trouble. Very few of us can rattle off the kind of trouble Paul lists in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

• Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19 For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! 20 For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. 21 To our shame, I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold -- I speak foolishly -- I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? -- I speak as a fool -- I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness -- 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

If anyone understands trouble and the storms of life, its Paul! BUT trouble couldn’t keep Paul down. He refused to be defeated by trouble. Trouble couldn’t detour him from serving God and fulfilling his mission. Paul had a deep and abiding faith in God. Regardless of circumstances Paul KNEW God was there and involved – Paul knew he wasn’t alone and he could trust his FUTURE to the One who had been so faithful in the PAST.

Paul understood that we are fragile, but that God uses our fragility to shine through to an equally broken world. Paul knew that it was not about him, it was all about God:

• 2 Corinthians 4:6-9 - For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed –

Paul was content regardless of the circumstances he found himself in:

• Philippians 4:11-13 - Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Paul had settled the question long ago. God is trustworthy. Period.

The truths we hold about God (his intent) will influence our ability and even our desire to have faith and trust in Him.

Do you believe that what God says about Himself is true? More importantly, do you believe they are true for you?

What happens if you don’t get the answer you want or you get no answer at all? What if you have to go through the storm, when you’d prefer to go around it? Is God still worthy of your trust? How you answer that question will determine how far God will be able to get in your life.