Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

God uses some rather unusual things to get peoples attention, and to speak to them.

1. God uses a burning bush with Moses. Ex 3
2. God uses a donkey to speak to Balaam. Num 22
3. God used a whale to get Jonah’s attention. Jonah
4. God used a rooster to preach a sermon to Peter.

And in our text today, God speaks to Job from a whirlwind.
When the storm winds are howling, it’s awful hard to hear someone speak, but if we listen closely we can hear God speak in the storms. Ano ba ang mga mensahe ng Dios sa Storms?

Most of us are familiar with the whirlwinds that devastated Job, and his family. (By the way according to Strong’s dictionary, the word “whirlwind” can be translated “hurricane”) He lost all of his children, and all of his material possessions in a brief time. And to make matters worse, the friends who came to comfort him said that the storms came as a result of sin in his life.

Our verse this morning assures us of some things. First of all God is in the storm. He may not necessarily be the cause of all the storms, but he is aware of all that is transpiring. He is in the storm. He is present with us in our storms. Secondly, God speaks from the storms.

Last month the Philippines suffered from a sudden storm that hit the southern part of the country, killing almost thousand Filipinos and millions in infrastructures.
ang storms ay darating sa buhay anytime minsan unpredictable ang importante ay………

I. A Strong Foundation!

In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus tells the story about two men who built houses. Storms came after the houses were completed. The rains fell, and it flooded, and the winds beat upon the houses. When the storm was gone, one house survived, and one house was destroyed. What proved the difference ? Why was one spared, and the other destroyed ? Were the storms stronger upon the house that had fallen ?

No. The difference between the two houses was where they were built. The home that survived, that stood through the storms was one that was built upon a rock. The home that was destroyed had as it’s foundation sand. Sand is a good thing to build sand castles out of, but it’s not a good place to build a home on. Foundation made all the difference when the storms came !

When storms come, God may be saying “be sure that you are building on the right foundation !”

Even more important is the foundation that we build our lives, our marriage, and our families upon !

The difference between you standing strong during the storms of life or failing is dependent upon the foundation of your life. Whether your marriage survives the floods, and the wind that will beat upon it depends upon where it is built or should I say whom it is built upon. How your children make it during the whirlwinds that they will encounter in life will rest upon what kind of foundation we have given them ?

In the story that Jesus tells of the wise man, and the foolish man and where they built their homes, the point he is driving home is the importance of being obedient to the will of God in our lives. In the story, both men heard the instructions, but only one man followed or did as he was told to do. Saan ba nakatayo ang ating mga buhay sa buhangin o sa matibay na bato.

Hearing the word of God is important, but just hearing it not enough. We must hear the word of God and be obedient to it. Obedience to the word, and will of God is the foundation that our lives is to be built upon. It must be the foundation for our marriages. It must be the foundation that we help to build the lives of our children on.

II. Be Strong In Faith. Matt 14:22-32

Notice in V 22 of this text the word “constrained”. This word suggests that the disciples weren’t too keen about getting in a boat, and going to the other side. Perhaps, it was because they were weary. Maybe they wanted to stay with Jesus or could it have been that the gathering storm clouds overhead caused them to resist. But for whatever reason Jesus had to be firm in getting them to do what he asked.
After getting them in the ship, Jesus goes up onto a mountain overlooking the sea, and begins to pray. The ship was soon in the midst of the sea, and the wind and waves were now rocking the boat. The harder they tried. The more difficult it became. At some time after 3:00 in the morning, Jesus came walking to them on the water. As they saw him they were afraid. They had never seen such a sight. The darkness, and the severity of the storm probably also hindered them from seeing that it was the Lord. When darkness comes, and the winds blow hard, it is often difficult to see the Lord in these circumstances.

Notice the words of Jesus unto them V 27 “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

What is Jesus saying ? The word “cheer” in our day implies joy. But the word that Jesus uses encourages the disciples to be comforted, and to be courageous ! Be comforted, I am here ! Be courageous, for I will get you through this !
When we experience storms, and struggles in our life, we can be comforted and courageous in the knowledge that Christ with come to us. We can be comforted and courageous because Jesus can walk on the storms that we experience in our lives. He has power over the storms !

III. Keep Focus! V.28-31

As Jesus approaches the boat, Peter asks a question.; “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sin, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?”
Many sermons have been preached about Peter sinking in his attempt to walk on water to Christ. Yet, one has to admire the willingness of Peter to get out of the boat.

There is a lesson from Peter’s short “waverunner” experience however, and that is when the storms come we must be steady in our focus. The moment he took his eyes off of Christ, and begin looking around was the instance that he begin to sink beneath the waves. When the storms come, God may be saying Keep your eyes on me ! Stay focused !

In the midst of the storms, turn your eyes upon Jesus, and keep them focused upon the Son of God who has the power to conquer, and calm the storms !

IV. Be Steadfast In Your Faith

Having rescued Peter from the water, he speaks these words….” O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?

The word “doubt” speaks of “wavering”. The waves caused Peter’s faith to waver !

Those who live in the sunshine may have faith, but those of us who walk in the shadows must have faith.”

When you listen to people who have gone through the storms, you will find that a large percentage of them say that is was there faith in God that helped them survive !

The storms will surely come ! The wind will surely blow, and the waves will surely toss us around, but we must maintain our faith in God !

No matter the storms we can, and must keep our faith in the Lord.