Praise God in the Storm

Praise God in the Storm

Sunbury GMC 7/15/20

Sunbury GMC 6/1/2022

Sunbury GMC 12/31/2023

Text: Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?

Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him

For the help of his countenance.[1]

I. Storms in the Bible

a. Job

b. Israelites vs Ammon, Moab, and many others besides

c. Disciples on the Sea of Galilee

d. Paul being Stoned

e. Paul and Silas in Prison

f. Paul being Shipwrecked

II. Storms in History

a. John Newton

b. John Wesley

c. George Mueller

III. Storms in Your Life

a. Our own private storms

i. Families

ii. Friends

iii. Finances

iv. Jobs

b. Coronavirus

i. Fear

ii. Frustration

IV. Finishing the Stories

V. Conclusion

a. We can trust God

b. We should praise Him

Text: Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?

Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him

For the help of his countenance.[2]

Before we really get into the sermon for tonight, lets take a little closer look at this verse. It is a beautiful verse, I think the meaning is pretty clear, but let’s dig into a little bit.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art though disquieted in me? Why are you bowed down? Why are you discouraged? Why are you troubled? Hope instead on God. We have completely changed the meaning of hope in our modern English. We think of hope the same as wish. I hope it doesn’t rain today or I hope it does. I hope it snows feet and feet this winter, or I hope it doesn’t snow at all. That isn’t at all what the word hope actually means! Hope is An expectation or belief in the fulfillment of something desired.[3]When this verse says Hope, it means expectantly believe! Expectantly believe in God, and praise Him, for His help, for His face is turned toward us!

That is the text verse for tonight, that is the topic of tonights sermon, praising God in the storms of life because we know! We expectantly believe that He will help us! Hebrews 6:19 says “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast.” Praising God in the storms of life is only possible so long as we have anchored in Him. This anchor is steadfast and sure. What God has promised He is sure to deliver upon.

I. Storms in the Bible

Tonight while I am going to talk about several literal storms, I am using the word storm in the sense of battle or trial, whether that be a literal storm, or a hard place in someones life.

a. Job

The first example for us tonight comes from what is known as one of the oldest stories in scripture, occurring sometime after the Flood, but before the life of Moses. In this time lived a man with great wealth and riches, and many children. Suddenly, in a single day his flocks and herds were killed and stolen, his servants nearly all killed, his children and all but one of their servants killed. This was just the opening act in what Satan brought against Job.

Soon after these nightmares his health began to fail. His wife turned against him. His friends came and sat with him silently for 7 days, then berated him for these things happening, convinced that he was a great sinner. Before I finish this story though, lets move on to the next example.

b. Israelites vs Ammon, Moab, and many others besides

In Chronicles chapter 22 we find another storm. During the reign of Jehoshaphat over Judah the children of Ammon, the children of Moab, and many others besides formed an alliance to destroy Judah. They assembled a massive army, which Judah could never face. Defeat and impending death were certain!

c. Disciples on the Sea of Galilee

In the gospel of Mark chapter 4, and again in Mark chapter 6. We find the disciples in storms on the Sea of Galilee. Now these stories are both familiar and well known. Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen, and even they were terrified at the ferocity of the storms. Each time they reached a point of sure death, they were exhausted, the waves were too high, the winds too fierce, and the manpower, insufficient!

d. Paul and Silas in Prison

In Acts chapter 16 we find Paul and his fellow minster Silas teaching in the city of Philippi. A spirit possessed woman began to follow them an disturb their ministry. One day as the woman followed them Paul became frustrated with the distraction, and turning to the woman he said, “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” and in the same hour the spirit left her.

You would think this would have made Paul popular, however this woman brought much gain to certain individuals. They were not happy. They went before the city magistrates and had Paul and Silas cast into prison to rot! They were stripped of their clothes, and beaten severely, and placed in stocks deep in the darkest part of the prison!

e. Paul being Shipwrecked

Acts 27 gives the story of a storm that Paul encountered. This storm was so fierce it even received a name. The wind was named Euroclydon. Its ferocity begin to tear the ship apart! The sailors bound the ship together with ropes. The next day the situation had only worsened! The cargo, the food storage, the personal belongings of all on board were cast into the sea to lighten the ship! All to no avail! Still the ship was driven uncontrollably by the wind, and in constant danger of sinking! The storm grew so fierce that there was no difference between day and night! Neither sun nor stars could pierce the angry tempest. Eventually, after a fierce fight with nature, nature won. They ship was driven into the shore and began to fall to pieces!

f. Paul being Stoned

Acts chapter 14 recounts the story of a storm of stones. Paul and Barnabas preached in the city of Iconium. The words were not well received, for sinners rarely take kindly to their sins being dragged before their eyes, nor did the Jews appreciate the pronouncement that they had killed their Messiah. A stoning was planned, and the death of Paul seemed imminent.

However, Paul and Barnabas heard of the stoning and ran from that place to Lystra. It seemed briefly that they had escaped, but they had not. The angry Jews chased them, and turned the crowds against Paul. He was captured, and the stoning began. It only ended when there were no longer signs of life from Paul. He was dragged outside the city, and left for dead.

II. Storms in History

Now don’t worry. I will come back to finish those stories. But first lets look at some storms in history.

a. John Newton

First comes the story of a wicked sinful man. A man who was the captain of a slave ship. He was known to be the a brutal and cruel captain. He struggled to maintain a full crew, for no one want to work for this evil man. One day while sailing across the ocean this evil captain encountered a fierce storm. It soon became apparent that death was inevitable.

b. John Wesley

Another story from history is that of a young preacher, who after failing in evangelizing the colonies in the Americas, was headed back to England. Again, a storm rose up, and this young preacher feared for His life, confident that death was knocking at his door, and he found no peace within himself.

c. George Mueller

And finally, there comes the story of a man who begun many orphanages. However, one day a storm came, in the form of need. It was breakfast time in the orphanage. Dozens of Children were entering the dining room, but there was no breakfast.. The cupboards were bare, and the money had long since been used up.

III. Storms in Your Life

Not only do we find storms in scripture, and in history, we find storms in our own lives.

Christmas time is the most wonderful time of the year. A time of joy and celebration of the birth of Jesus. Yet even at this most joyful time, or perhaps especially at this time many face storms.

Every year Christmas my mind turns toward the later part of the story of Jesus. I am reminded that He was born to die. He died you and I though we are unworthy of this. A tinge of sadness lines the celebration.

For some In leu of gatherings there is loneliness and sadness. All the loved ones have either gone on to another world or no longer seem to care.

For many the family gatherings have holes, people that once were present are not there anymore. I can be a time full of reminders of people who have gone on.

For our church family and for me this is especially true this year. In the past few weeks several loved ones have gone on to heaven. I don’t think anyone really wants to spend their Christmas break at the funeral of a loved one, or lost a loved one just before Christmas. Yet the reality is that we do not get to choose when God takes His children home.

How do we stand, how do we go on when we are faced with these storms? When what should be joy is turned into sorrow?

IV. Finishing the Stories

I told you I would finish the stories that I began with, so let’s do that.

First there was the storm that Job faced. In the midst of this storm we find Job praising God and saying The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;

Blessed be the name of the Lord.[4] At the end of the book of Job we find that all was restored to him twofold or doubled. He left with twice what he came with, and new level of trust and confidence in God.

Next, we found Judah preparing to enter a losing battle. A strange battle plan was formed, for God had promised victory! Instead of warriors, singers were sent into the battlefield, not to fight, but to sing. To sing praises to God for the victory that He would provide. The enemy turned and ran, God fought for them. In each of these first two stories we found them praising God in the midst of their storm, not waiting till victory had come, rather hoping, which is expectantly believing, that God would provide.

Next, we left the disciples drowning in the Sea of Galilee. Each time Jesus calmed the storm and took his disciples safely to shore.

After the disciples we found Paul in the deepest, darkest dungeon in Philippi. Beaten, bleeding and in the stocks. Yet at midnight we find Paul and Silas singing praises to God. An earthquake released the prisoners, their chains fell off. The jailer and his whole household were saved, and the city magistrates apologized profusely for their actions.

Then again, we find Paul in a shattered ship, about to plunge into an angry sea. But we find Paul giving thanks for the provision of the Lord, then calmly jumping into the waters. He lived, as did all on board the boat.

And finally, we find Paul again left for dead outside the city. We glean from elsewhere in scripture that Paul was not sure whether he was dead or alive. Only a few short days later we find this same Paul preaching the gospel, having received health and healing from God.

Next, I began telling true accounts from history. First, I told of the wicked slave trading sea captain. He made God a promise in the midst of that storm. He begged God for life and promised that if his life were spared it would be lived for God. God spared the life of John Newton that day. John Newton became a force for God, he penned what has become the best-known song in Christendom “Amazing Grace.” He spent the rest of his life reaching all he could for God and fighting against the slave trade.

After John Newton I told of a young minister in the midst of a severe storm. This minister had no peace, but in the midst of the fiercest part of the stormy night John Wesley watched as Moravian passenger prayed and sang praises to God. Upon reaching England Wesley was truly converted, and began ministering though the power of God, not man. John Wesley taught England, then America, and truly the whole world that Christianity was more than culture, more than mental assent, but it is a way of life, and change of character and heart.

And finally, I told of a man running an orphanage with plenty of orphans, but no money or food. George Mueller prayed a strange prayer over the empty table at breakfast that morning. He thanked the Lord for the food that would be provided. As the prayer ended a knock sounded on the door. A plenteous breakfast of fresh baked bread and fresh milk was there for all to enjoy provided by the gracious hand of our heavenly father.

I also talked about the battles some of us may be facing. The storms we are in the midst of today. For me and for others this year has not ended on the note we would prefer. If we were writing the story of our lives we might have edited this chapter just a bit, made things a little different or a little smoother. Do we hope in God? Is our anchor fixed in Him?

V. Conclusion

I don’t know all the storms that you are facing right now. I know that probably all of us are facing storms of health, family, friends, finance, or jobs.

That is not all I know. I know something for more important than the situations around you and I tonight. I know God. God’s countenance as the Psalmist said is upon us tonight. If we are anchored in Him We need not fear for our anchor is steadfast and sure. Let us instead say with the Psalmist, I hope, I expectantly believe, in the provision of the Lord. I will praise God for what he is going to do. We are in the middle of the story tonight. If I had left off before God stepped in in each of the stories I referenced tonight the picture would be very dark indeed. Remember that the your story is not finished just yet. We do not need to see God working to know that he is, to know that our anchor holds, to know that this storm will one day pass, and that we will see God’s face again. As a matter of principle, in spite of how we may feel Let’s Praise God in this storm and watch Him carry us through!

[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ps 42:5). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. [2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ps 42:5). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. [3]McAlister, P. K. (1988). Hope. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 996). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. [4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Job 1:21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.