When the Storm is Over

Intro

There is something very serene about the calm that follows a storm. When the rain is heavy, and the thunder is loud and the lightning is flashing, there is nothing like the sight of seeing the clouds role back and the sun shine again. It is very pleasant to walk go out after a storm and be able to say, “I can smell the rain.” knowing that the very storm that kept you locked up in your shelter has now passed. The storm has come to a close, and you are excited because you have been praying for it to end. After the storm it’s time to fire up the grill. After the storm it’s time to go outside and throw the ball around. After the storm it’s time to find some water and get wet. After the storm it’s time to run some errands that you couldn’t do while it was raging. What I’m trying to say is after the storm it’s time to live again. And if we have learned anything from this series is that storms are real and dangerous, but they don’t last always. And even if the storm takes you out in the middle of the fight you will meet Jesus on the other side of the water. But here is the question I raise to you my friends, “what do you do after the storm has passed?” What do you do after Jesus speaks to your situation?

What do you do when you get a lil money in your pocket?

What do you do after Jesus heals your body?

What do you do after the judge overturns your case?

What do you do after that manager you can’t stand gets fired?

What do you do after your kids get their act together?

What do you do after the storm?

Better yet, what do you do after the storm has taken everything from you and all you have is God?

What do you do when the storm is over?

In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina tore up the Gulf Coast region. There was an elderly grandmother who lived with her grandson in the 9th Ward of New Orleans. They lived in a shot gun house. At night they could lie in bed and see the stars. They were very poor. For days after the storm they had to live on top of their roof because of flooding.

But nobody's storm is as bad as Job!

1. Repentance of any Sins Committed

This may come of a sort of surprise given the fact that the storm may not have been caused by you. And you may wonder why then is repentance necessary. Well the answer is simple. That even if the trying experience that you went through was not your fault the truth remains that none of us a sinless. There is no person who has every passed life’s tests with a perfect score. Job is the closest thing to perfect. But, even Job didn’t pass this test with a perfect score. Job had a bit of a pride issue. Job was self-centered. You see after Job’s went through, he had the nerve to imply that he could stand before God in God’s court and accuse God. Truth be told if you live long enough you are going to sin. (Elaborate)

This is how his repentance goes:

-Job lets God know that he is fully aware that God can do all things.

-He also acknowledges that God knows better than he does.

-He despises himself and repents.

2. Reconciliation of what the Storm Corroded

Here I’m talking about relationships that have been trained. Job had three friends, three friends who proved to not be so friendly or friend like. These men were not at all supportive of Job when he was suffering. But on the contrary they blasted Job and told him that this was essentially his fault. You know what? I be like that some times. When everything is well in your life. Everybody is your friend.

3. Restoration of what Satan Confiscated

-the restoration came after job repented, and after he prayed.

Luke 18:29-30 “And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.””

Thankfully, a boat came and took them to the convention center. A few days a later a bus picked them up and drove them to Atlanta. The grandmother was interviewed when she arrived in Atlanta. She was asked if she had any children. She said her daughter is strung out on drugs, the boy with her is her daughter’s son and the boy’s father is dead. She went on to say she didn’t have money, didn’t have any insurance and was not gainfully employed. Her interview was played on several television stations. A few days later she was informed that she had a job at Emory University as a receptionist making $60,000 a year. Her grandson had a four year scholarship to Morehouse.