PURSUED: “Grace In The Storm”
RECAP:
Week 1: Adam Hides. God Searches.
Week 2: Humanity Falls. God Provides A Way Through The Storm.
Genesis 6:5-8, “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” But Noah found favor with the Lord.”
THE WORLD WAS BROKEN.…BUT GOD STILL SAW ONE
Our world today is not so different from the world in Noah’s time. Human wickedness and evil that breaks God’s heart is all around us. Like Noah, we can find favor with the Lord when we live faithfully in our broken world. God is not calling us to build an ark, but He is asking us to be faithful to what He is calling us to do. How is God calling you to walk in faithfulness? What is one way that you can be obedient and walk through this world in a way that sets you apart as God’s child? Remember that we are not called to be perfect, that is impossible, but called to child-like faith and obedience. Reflect on what this means in your life. Take some time to pray and get real with God…what is He speaking to you? Are there things that you might need to change to walk more fully in faithfulness and obedience? Commit this week to taking at least one step to draw closer to walking with God through the brokenness of this world.
Noah walked in close fellowship with God. How closely are you walking in fellowship with Him? What steps can you take to deepen that fellowship? One way could be to just spend time reading and reviewing this series each week. Developing a prayer habit could be another. How is God calling you into deeper fellowship with Him? Last week we touched on how satan wants to keep us separate from God — do you think it is easier to walk like Noah, set apart from the world, when you are in close fellowship with Him? Why or why not?
GRACE BUILDS AN ARK BEFORE THE RAIN
Have you ever really spent time thinking about how crazy it must have seemed for Noah to build the ark? Can you imagine the comments, the ridicule Noah must have experienced as He walked in faithfulness? What “ark” is God asking you to build? How is He calling you to build in faith before the rain? Take some time to share what “ark” God is asking you to build, with a trusted Christian friend or small group. Lean in and allow Him to send people into your life to encourage you and to whom you can also be a source of encouragement.
Last week we talked about how God desires to be in relationship with us, His children. He also created us to be relational with each other. Maybe the “ark” God is asking you to step out in faith and build is a friendship. God places people into our lives to help us navigate the storms. Who might He be calling you to build with today? Take some time to ask Him if there is someone He wants you to come alongside and build with this week.
GOD REMEMBERED NOAH IN THE STORM.
God remembers His children. As He remembered Noah, He remembers us in our storms today. He promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him, so if you are feeling forgotten today, dig in and seek Him with all you have. Trust that God is right beside you, fighting for you and ready to move and rescue you. 2 Peter 2:9 tells us that God will remember and rescue His people. “So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.” Can you think of at least one way you have seen God rescue you in the past? Do you remember how you felt right before the rescue? Do you believe He will remember you in your storm today? What is one way you can move forward in faith, trusting that God is preparing to move?
We are forgetful beings. It takes effort to practice remembering God’s faithfulness and rescue in the past. What are some ways you can practice remembering so that you can continue to build your faith? Discuss with your small group or a trusted Christian friend and as you take steps to increase your practice of remembering, hold each other accountable.
GOD’S GRACE ALWAYS POINTS TOWARD A NEW BEGINNING.
God’s grace is a reminder of His promises to His people. God uses symbols to help His people remember the promises He has made. Rainbows are a tangible reminder of His promise after the storm. Jesus is our tangible reminder that God loved us so much, He was willing to give up everything to be in relationship with us. Have you experienced new beginnings in your life because of the grace found in Jesus? What is one example of a new beginning? Do you have a special memory or symbol that God gave you as a promise that He is with you? Take some time to meditate on this and share in your small group. Ask God to reveal things to you that perhaps your spiritual eyes may not have been open to see in the past.
Is there a new beginning that God is calling you to step into in your own life? How can you take what we have learned this week about Noah and faith and put that into practice in your own life over this next week? If you haven’t, take some time to read over the Scripture we covered this week and select one verse or passage that resonates with your spirit to memorize and serve as a reminder of how God provides a way through the storm and will never forget you in the storm. Take some time to get quiet with God and ask Him to help you grow in awareness of the new beginning He is calling you to step into and build through faith.
Scripture References for this week:
Genesis 6
Genesis 7
Genesis 8
Genesis 9
Hebrews 11:7
1 Peter 3:18-22
John 10:9
