Riders of the Storm
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 10/27/2024
Foundation Scriptures:
Mark 4:35-41
1. Two Storms.
a. There are two types of storms we all face.
b. The storms within, which are personal storms.
c. The storms without, which are storms you have no control over.
2. The Storm Within.
a. Storms that come against your heart, mind or body.
b. The heart; your conscience; sin problems.
c. Repent, receive God’s grace and forgiveness, and serve Him fully from that moment on.
d. Your mind; thoughts; strongholds and bondages in your mind.
e. Circumstances that cause worry or fear.
f. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God—pulling down strongholds in the mind, and bringing vain imaginations, contrary thoughts, and lies of the enemy into subjection unto Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5).
g. Your body; sickness; disease; pain; symptoms.
h. When we cry out to the Lord in our trouble, He sends His Word and saves us from distress, heals, and delivers from destruction (Ps. 107:19-20).
i. Remember, it’s Jesus Who can calm the storm and turn hopeless situations around (Mk. 4:39).
3. The Storm Without.
a. Storms that you have no control over.
b. War; upheaval in nations; earthquakes; famines; drought; fires; volcanoes; heat; cold; storms; hurricanes; tornadoes.
c. For the world without God, in most cases, it means devastation.
d. If they are not wiped out by the storms of life, many are left with trauma and scars—hard to deal with and hard to bear.
e. People turn to drugs or alcohol; or try to find solace in a religion or belief that does nothing to give them true heart-peace.
4. The Church has Supernatural Help.
a. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has access to supernatural help.
b. The Lord delivers us out of ALL afflictions and storms (Ps. 34:19).
c. We have the Word and promises of God.
d. Psalms 119:105 KJV –– Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
e. We have the Comforter, the Helper, the Holy Spirit.
f. He leads and guides us, gives us wisdom, reminds us of what God has promised, and shows us the future so we can prepare for the days ahead (John 14:26-27).
g. We have angels who watch over us and work on our behalf (Ps. 91:11-12).
h. The Lord sees, hears, and answers (Acts 7:20-34).
5. Praying Through the Storm.
a. Recognize the One Who is the source of strength (Ps. 46:1; Is. 40:29-31; Phil. 4:13).
b. Ephesians 6:10 KJV –– …be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
c. Put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11; 2 Cor. 10:4; Rom. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:8).
d. Ephesians 6:18 AMPC –– Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
e. Persevere in prayer (1 Thess. 5:17; Lk.18:1; Col. 4:2).
f. Cast your cares on the Lord and ask Him for what you need (Phil. 4:6).
g. Pray in the Spirit (Rom. 8:26).
6. Speaking/Preaching Through the Storm.
a. Hebrews 4:12 KJV –– For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword…
b. God’s Word is eternal—it is pure and perfect (2 Sam. 22:31; Ps. 105:8; 119:160; Pr. 30:5).
c. God’s Word always produces results—it accomplishes His purposes and prospers in the thing for which He sends it (Is. 55:11).
d. God’s Word is powerful and effective—it saves, heals, and delivers (Mat. 8:8; 8:16: Lk. 4:36; 7:7; Jam. 1:21; Jer. 1:12).
e. Confess, speak, and preach God’s Word—not the circumstances or the problem (Prov. 18:21).
7. Worship and Singing Your Way Through the Storm.
a. Psalms 34:1 KJV –– I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
b. We have the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Is. 61:3).
c. Worship shifts the focus from the problem onto the Lord—the answer.
d. Speak to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:19-20; Col. 3:16).
e. Praise and give thanks, even in the middle of the storm (2 Chr. 20:22; Ps. 40:3; 59:16; Acts 16:25-26; Heb. 13:15; Jam. 5:13).
8. Laughing Your Way Through the Storm.
a. Job 5:22a KJV –– At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh.
b. Habakkuk 3:18 KJV –– Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
c. Be glad and rejoice in the Lord (Ps. 33:1; Is. 61:10; Joel 2:23; Zec. 10:7; Phil. 3:1; 4:4).
d. Nehemiah 8:10b AMPC –– And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.
9. Giving Your Way Through the Storm.
a. A Roman centurion had faith in Israel’s God, sowed into His Kingdom, and received a miracle when he needed one (Luke 7:2-9).
b. God promises blessings, deliverance, protection, and long life to those who give, especially to the needy (Ps. 41:1-2; Pr. 19:17).
c. When you are a giver, God will take care of your needs (Pr. 11:25).
d. God loves, and will not abandon, a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7).
e. Those who sowed, even in the hour of their greatest need, were supernaturally sustained (Mk. 12:43-44; 1 Kings 17:13-16; 2 Kings 4: 8-37).
10. Testifying Your Way Through the Storm.
a. Revelation 12:11 KJV –– And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
b. A testimony is a witness to what God can and will do and what He has done.
c. Your witness, your testimony, is an encouragement to your faith, and the faith of others.