Praise God Through The Storm
(Play “Praise You In The Strom-Casting Crowns” before sermon)
Every Christian will face a storm at one point or another in their life. It would be easy to turn our backs or blame God during the storm. We must learn to praise God through all storms of life.
We choose ourselves whether or not to worship God.
-Free will/willing subjects are better servants
-God desires a relationship with us
Exodus 34:14
14 You must worship no other gods, but only the Lord, for he is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you.
We choose to worship and praise even in the storms of life.
Ask 2 questions of God in the storm.
1 “Help me out of this situation”
2 “Help me learn from this trial”
There is a purpose for every storm we face, no matter how subtle it may be
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Should life be easy if God loves us?
Nothing in life creates more deep seated anxieties than the false assumption that life should be free from anxieties and problems. We will have problems in our lives
John 16:33
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Enduring storms builds enduring spirits and keeps us focused on our future
2Corinthians 4:16-18
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.
Trials can be brought on by God or by Satan
Job1:8-11
8 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil.”
9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! 10 You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face”
God allowed Satan to put Job to the test. Could we have past the same test?
(Lost Family, House, Physical Suffering, Financial Hardship)
Even though he endured much, Job was able to praise God
Job 1:20-22
20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground before God. 21 He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb,and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!” 22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
The Devil seeks to destroy your place of worship and your peace, Rejoice in your suffering-it means you are on the right path and he is scared!
Revelation 12:11-12
11 And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die. 12 Rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea. For the Devil has come down to you in great anger, and he knows that he has little time.”
God is your strength in every storm
Psalm 121:1-2
1I look up to the mountains does my help come from there?
2My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth!
The Devil even tried to test Jesus-It was a test of worship!
Matthew 4:1-11
The Temptation of Jesus
4 Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. 3 Then the Devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread.”
4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People need more than bread for their life;
they must feed on every word of God.’ ”
5 Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He orders his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you with their hands
to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’ ”
8 Next the Devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will only kneel down and worship me.”
10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God;
serve only him.’ ”
11 Then the Devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.
The Devil waited till Jesus was weak(Matt 4:2). He will come to tempt us when we are at out weakest also. After we pass the test of his temptation great things await us.
The #40 represents new periods of Gods history, immediately after this is when Jesus’ earthly ministry began, and the world would never be the same.
A poem by and unknown author
I Refuse to be Discouraged.
I refuse to be discouraged,
To be sad, or to cry;
I refuse to be downhearted,
and here’s the reason why . . .
I have a God who’s mighty,
Who’s sovereign and supreme;
I have a God who loves me,
and I am on His team.
He is all wise and powerful,
Jesus is His name;
Though everything is changeable,
My God remains the same.
My God knows all that’s happening;
Beginning to the end,
His presence is my comfort,
He is my dearest friend.
When sickness comes to weaken me,
To bring my head down low,
I call upon my mighty God;
Into His arms I go.
