Our Storms Do Not Surprise God
“And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.”
(The Gospel of Matthew 28: 2 NASB)
If we are honest with ourselves, we have voiced the word ‘Resurrection’ in a way that really does not fully extend credit to the power of God. Pause here to recall the times you have spoken the word ‘Resurrection’ as if the fulfillment of God’s prophecy were just a typical occurrence.
As I sat this morning re-reading the story of Jesus’ burial and resurrection, I was struck with the enormity of this particular truth—
ALL OF THE PREPARATIONS OF MAN CANNOT STOP THE POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD!
“Now on the next day, the day after the preparation
(The Gospel of Matthew 27: 62-66 & 28: 1-6 NASB)
[Jesus had been crucified on the cross &
Jesus’ dead body had been placed in the tomb for burial.]
the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate,
and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said,
‘After three days I am to rise again.’
Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day,
otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people,
‘He has risen from the dead,’
and the last deception will be worse that the first.”
Pilate said to them,
“You have a guard;
go, make it as secure as you know how.”
And they went and made the grave secure,
and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.
Now after the Sabbath,
as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
“And behold,
a severe earthquake had occurred,
for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and
came and
rolled away the stone and
sat upon it.
[Consider the Amazing Power of Almighty God!]
And his appearance was like lightning,
and his clothing as white as snow.
The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women,
“Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
He is not here,
for He has risen,
just as He said.
Come, see the place where He was lying.”
I find it quite ironic that the religious leaders of the day called Jesus “that deceiver” even though Jesus continually spoke TRUTH!
- The world heard Jesus Himself say: He would be killed; He would be buried; & He would rise again on the third day.
- The chief priests & Pharisees attempted to stop the mission of Jesus by hanging Him on the cross.
- The religious leaders feared the disciples of Jesus would steal Jesus’ dead body & claim He had risen from the dead.
- The governor Pilate tried to stop the resurrection Jesus promised by securing the tomb with a stone and a seal & by posting a Roman guard.
BUT GOD—
GOD TURNS TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH!
BUT GOD—
GOD REMAINS ON HIS THRONE!
BUT GOD—
GOD CAUSED AN EARTHQUAKE & SENT HIS ANGEL TO ROLL AWAY THE STONE!
BUT GOD—
GOD WILL ALWAYS DO WHAT HE PROMISES!
ALL OF THE PREPARATIONS OF MAN CANNOT STOP THE POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD!
- My storms will come. Maybe my body will become sick, or even someone I love will become sick.
- Your storms will come. Maybe your marriage will fail, or even the career you depend on will suddenly disappear.
Our Storms Do Not Surprise God!
GOD IS NEVER SURPRISED!
GOD KNEW BEFORE HE GAVE US OUR FIRST DAY THAT OUR STORMS WOULD COME!
As I sat this morning re-reading the story of the time Paul and Silas were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, they experienced a life-storm.
BUT GOD—
GOD GAVE THESE MEN OF GOD A PLATFORM TO WITNESS!
BUT GOD—
GOD CAUSED AN EARTHQUAKE, ONE THAT SHOOK THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH!
BUT GOD—
GOD FLUNG OPEN THE PRISON DOORS & UNFASTENED THEIR CHAINS!
BUT GOD—
GOD LED PAUL & SILAS TO NOT ESCAPE BUT TO REMAIN THERE IN THE PRISON!
BUT GOD—
GOD GAVE THEM COURAGE TO SPEAK THESE WORDS TO THE JAILER: “They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (The Acts of the Apostles 16: 31 NASB)
Each day, we arise from our slumber, wondering what this day will bring. As I arose this morning, I could hear the rumble of thunder. I knew a storm was coming.
- Even though darkness permeated the sky, still I knew.
- Although thunder announced the storm, there was nothing I could do to stop the storm.
As dawn came, I could see the falling rain and the way God brought nourishment to the ground.
As lightning began to strike & thunder continued, God revealed His power.
TODAY, GOD REMINDS US—OUR LIFE-STORMS DO NOT SURPRISE GOD!
- GOD REMAINS ON HIS THRONE!
- GOD REIGNS & JESUS SAVES!
TODAY, GOD REMINDS US—THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING!
“The angel said to the women,
(The Gospel of Matthew 28: 5-6 NASB)
“Do not be afraid; for I know you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
He is not here,
for He has risen,
just as He said.
Come, see the place where He was lying.”