Divine Disturbance: Finding Peace Through Conflict

 

Summary

In 2 Chronicles 15:3-6, we find a profound message about the nature of conflict and divine intervention. The passage describes a time when there was no peace—conflict was rampant on personal, familial, urban, and international levels. Surprisingly, it is not the devil but God who is said to have troubled them with every kind of distress. This divine disturbance was not without purpose; it was a means to shake things up and bring order back into their lives. In their distress, the people returned to the Lord, and He allowed them to find Him, bringing them rest.

This concept of divine disturbance is illustrated through a personal story about meeting my wife. At 18, I took her on a roller coaster ride called the Wild Mouse, which was designed to create a sense of distress and excitement. The ride brought us closer together, much like how God uses disturbances to draw us nearer to Him. The author of Hebrews echoes this sentiment, explaining that God creates disturbances to shake the physical and reveal the unshakeable spiritual truths. These divine interventions are not meant to harm but to realign us with His purpose, offering a future and a hope.

Key Takeaways:

1. Divine Disturbance as a Catalyst for Change: God sometimes allows or even causes disturbances in our lives to shake us out of complacency and redirect us towards Him. These moments of distress are not punitive but are designed to bring us back to a place of spiritual alignment and rest. [00:55]

2. The Purpose of Conflict: Conflict, whether personal, familial, or international, can serve as a wake-up call. It is an opportunity to examine our lives and return to God, who is always ready to be found and to offer peace and rest. [01:14]

3. God's Plan Amidst Chaos: Just as I had a plan for my future with my wife, God has a plan for us, even when life seems chaotic. The distress we experience is often a precursor to the fulfillment of His good plans, which involve a future and a hope. [02:44]

4. The Role of Shaking in Spiritual Growth: According to Hebrews, God shakes the physical to reveal the spiritual. This shaking is a necessary process to strip away what is temporary and reveal what is eternal and unshakeable. [03:23]

5. Finding Rest in God: In times of distress, turning back to God is crucial. He promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him, and in finding Him, we will find rest for our souls. This rest is a profound peace that transcends the chaos around us. [01:31]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to Conflict
[00:25] - Personal and Urban Conflict
[00:42] - Divine Disturbance
[00:55] - Purpose of Distress
[01:14] - Returning to the Lord
[01:31] - Finding Rest in God
[01:48] - Personal Story: Meeting My Wife
[02:04] - The Wild Mouse Ride
[02:14] - Drawing Closer Through Distress
[02:31] - God's Plan for the Future
[02:44] - Creating Distress for Attention
[03:02] - Hebrews on Divine Shaking
[03:23] - Revealing the Unshakeable
[03:53] - Conclusion and Reflection

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- 2 Chronicles 15:3-6
- Hebrews 12:26-27 (alluded to in the sermon)

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#### Observation Questions
1. What types of conflicts are described in 2 Chronicles 15:3-6, and who is said to have caused them? [00:42]
2. How did the people respond to their distress according to 2 Chronicles 15:4? [01:14]
3. In the sermon, what personal story was used to illustrate the concept of divine disturbance? [01:48]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What might be the purpose of God causing disturbances in the lives of the people, as described in 2 Chronicles 15:3-6? [00:55]
2. How does the pastor's story about the roller coaster ride relate to the idea of God using distress to draw people closer to Him? [02:31]
3. What does the author of Hebrews mean by God shaking the physical to reveal the spiritual, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message? [03:23]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "divine disturbance" in your life. How did it affect your relationship with God? [00:55]
2. In what ways can personal or familial conflicts serve as a wake-up call for you to examine your spiritual life? [01:14]
3. How can you find rest in God during times of chaos and distress? What practical steps can you take to seek Him more earnestly? [01:31]
4. Consider a current situation in your life that feels chaotic. How might God be using this to realign you with His purpose? [02:44]
5. The pastor shared a story about creating distress to gain attention. How can you discern when God might be using a similar method in your life to draw you closer to Him? [02:31]
6. How can you apply the concept of God shaking the physical to reveal the spiritual in your daily life? What temporary things might you need to let go of to focus on the eternal? [03:23]
7. Identify one area of your life where you need to return to God. What steps will you take this week to seek Him and find rest? [01:31]

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Disturbance as a Catalyst for Spiritual Realignment
In times of distress, God may allow or even cause disturbances in our lives to shake us out of complacency and redirect us towards Him. These moments are not meant to punish but to bring us back to a place of spiritual alignment and rest. When life feels chaotic, it is often an invitation to examine our spiritual state and seek a deeper connection with God. By understanding that these disturbances are a divine catalyst for change, we can embrace them as opportunities for growth and transformation. [00:55]

Isaiah 30:15-16 (ESV): "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling, and you said, 'No! We will flee upon horses'; therefore you shall flee away; and, 'We will ride upon swift steeds'; therefore your pursuers shall be swift."

Reflection: What current disturbance in your life might God be using to realign you with His purpose? How can you embrace this as an opportunity for spiritual growth today?


Day 2: Conflict as a Divine Wake-Up Call
Conflict, whether personal, familial, or international, can serve as a divine wake-up call. It is an opportunity to examine our lives and return to God, who is always ready to be found and to offer peace and rest. In the midst of turmoil, we are invited to seek God’s presence and guidance, allowing Him to transform our hearts and minds. By viewing conflict as a chance to deepen our relationship with God, we can find peace and rest even in the most challenging circumstances. [01:14]

Jeremiah 29:13-14 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

Reflection: Think of a recent conflict in your life. How can you use this situation to seek God more earnestly and find His peace?


Day 3: God's Plan Amidst Life's Chaos
Just as one might have a plan for their future, God has a plan for us, even when life seems chaotic. The distress we experience is often a precursor to the fulfillment of His good plans, which involve a future and a hope. By trusting in God’s sovereignty, we can find assurance that He is working all things together for our good, even when we cannot see the full picture. Embracing this truth allows us to navigate life’s chaos with confidence and hope. [02:44]

Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God’s plan more fully? How can you remind yourself of His sovereignty today?


Day 4: Shaking to Reveal the Unshakeable
According to Hebrews, God shakes the physical to reveal the spiritual. This shaking is a necessary process to strip away what is temporary and reveal what is eternal and unshakeable. By allowing God to shake our lives, we can discover the deeper spiritual truths that remain steadfast amidst the chaos. This process of revelation helps us to focus on what truly matters and to build our lives on the foundation of God’s eternal promises. [03:23]

Haggai 2:6-7 (ESV): "For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts."

Reflection: What temporary things in your life might God be shaking to reveal the eternal? How can you focus on the unshakeable truths of God today?


Day 5: Finding Rest in God Amidst Distress
In times of distress, turning back to God is crucial. He promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him, and in finding Him, we will find rest for our souls. This rest is a profound peace that transcends the chaos around us. By seeking God’s presence and trusting in His promises, we can experience a deep sense of rest and peace, even in the midst of life’s challenges. This divine rest is a gift that sustains us and empowers us to face whatever comes our way. [01:31]

Psalm 62:1-2 (ESV): "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken."

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek God’s presence today to find rest for your soul? What practical steps can you take to experience His peace amidst your current challenges?

Quotes

i love the passage in second chronicles chapter 15 verses 3 to 6 it says it says that there was no peace in those days it says citizen were they were at peace when they left home and when they came back home there was conflict personal conflict family conflict he goes on and says there was conflict city against city urban conflict he goes on and says there was conflict nation against nation international conflict and then we get the zinger in verse 6 because it says for god troubled them with every kind of distress [00:00:02]

i would have thought it would have said with all this havoc that the devil troubled them with every kind of distress but it says god troubled them with every kind of distress because god was shaking things up to get things back in order again i would like to suggest to you they were told in their distress verse three says of psycho articles 15 when stuff got bad enough when stuff was so chaotic it says in their distress they came back to the lord and he let them find him and brought them rest [00:00:48]

perhaps some of you have heard me tell the story of when i met my wife at 18. i met her at 18 this beautiful young lady but there was a problem she was not responding at the rate to which i was accustomed lois was moving kind of slow so i had to i had to help her sister out i took her to an amusement park in baltimore maryland called gwyn oaks amusement park and at grid oaks amusement park they had a roller coaster for two called the wild mouse [00:01:38]

the mouse would do all the stuff that roller coasters would do but then it would go to the edge like it was going to jump the track and then it would turn real quick real scary i said give me two tickets we got on the wild mouse the wilder the ride got the closer she got by the time the ride was over you thought only one person got on it now why did i buy two tickets to the wild mouse because i had a plan for her and it was a good plan it involved the future and a hope [00:02:09]

but what i had to do was i had to create some distress first to get her undivided attention the author of hebrews says that when god is ready to do something new he creates a disturbance and the reason he creates the disturbance he says is to shake created things earthbound things physical things in order to reveal that which cannot be shaken in other words god shakes our physical human reality to get us spiritually back on point [00:02:54]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?