DON’T STARVE IN THE STORM (Build Fire, part 5)

#MONDAYRECAPFICB

Storms are inevitable in life, everyone experience it. (Jonah, Jesus, Paul)

Last week we learned that we can lose our ship in the storm but not our faith! Instead, we let the storm refine, strengthen, and mature our faith.

And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” Acts 27:33-34

Paul encouraged them: Don’t starve in the storm! They encourage them to eat. To take nourishment for survival. And that is for our physical.

But how about our spiritual? What must we do in the middle of the storm of life. What did the Word of God encourage us about this?

1. Don’t lose your appetite while in the storm.

You can’t survive the storm if you’re starving yourselves!”-

If you are to survive, you must eat.

If storms symbolize problems, difficulties and struggles of life, bread, milk, and food symbolize God’s Word.

If you are to survive and thrive in the midst of life’s challenges, we need to feed our souls and nourish our spiritual lives!

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:4

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

God’s Word is our spiritual food-the food that nourishes, sustains, and keeps us alive in a storm.

For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. Galatians 5:17

Therefore, determine to read God’s Word even when you don’t feel like it. (Like when you’re forcing yourself to eat when you are sick) After all, we do not live by feelings but by faith! Following your feelings only reinforces immaturity.

Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, 1 Peter 2:2

2. Don’t let the enemy steal God’s Word in you.

The enemy is after your appetite to cut you off from the source of your strength, life. If he can’t kill you with a storm, he will make you kill yourself through starvation.

The less you read Scripture, the less you desire Scripture. The appetite for God’s Word comes from partaking it, not avoiding it. To increase your appetite for God’s Word, you must regularly eat it.

So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

Hearing God’s Word regularly nurtures and strengthens our faith. It increases our appetite for God’s Word.

I have not departed from the commands from his lips; I have treasured the words from his mouth more than my daily food. Job 23:12

God’s word can provide spiritual nourishment and strength during difficult times.

In the parable of the sower.The first type of ground that is mentioned is hard, like concrete. It represents hearts that are hardened by pride, indifference, and sin. Hard ground was along the path; it’s where people walk. When the seed falls on this type of soil, the birds steal the seed.

“Don’t feed the bird; feed your soul.”

Some are like the word sown on the path. When they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them. Mark 4:15

How does Satan steal the Word?

Now, the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” … “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:1, 4-5

He steals the Word through making you doubt God’s Word by twisting God’s Word through deception and lies.

Don’t let Satan steal God’s Word in you! Spend time in God’s Word and allow it to bear fruit in your life!

For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints, and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

It is through the Word of God that we learn about God’s will. We are convicted of sin and equipped to live a transform life.

3. Strengthen yourself in the Lord.

David was in an extremely difficult position because the troops talked about stoning him, for they were all very bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
1 Samuel 30:6

“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

When is the last time you found strength in the Lord?

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8

Draw near to in prayer, in worship and in aligning your life in God’s will.

Now, if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. James 1:5

If King David, a man after God owns heart, asks and inquires the Lord for guidance in his circumstances. I encourage that you must, too.

But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Jude 20-21

And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

CHALLENGE:

How’s your spiritual appetite today? What steps do you need to take to keep you healthy and strong in the faith?