Divine Disturbances: Embracing Growth Through Turbulence
Summary
When God creates a disturbance in our lives, it is often uncomfortable and undesired. However, these disruptions are divine communications meant to draw our attention to His voice. Just as a grandmother would insist on turning off the TV during a thunderstorm because "God is talking," we must learn to listen when God shakes the natural order of things. These disturbances are not random; they are intentional acts to make us aware of His presence and purpose.
Consider the turbulence experienced on an airplane. The pilot's voice over the intercom provides reassurance amidst the chaos. Similarly, God uses life's turbulence to get our attention, urging us to listen more closely to His guidance. Whether it's a career shift, financial instability, or global events like the pandemic, these are opportunities for us to tune into God's voice and align with His will.
God's disturbances are designed to detach us from our over-reliance on the physical world and redirect us towards His unshakable kingdom. Just as a woman in labor experiences pain before the birth of her child, our discomfort is often a precursor to spiritual growth and new beginnings. The pain serves a purpose, leading to a deeper understanding and connection with God.
In times of disruption, we are called to go deeper in our faith. Like fish that dive deeper during a storm, we must seek a more profound relationship with God. This involves showing gratitude, not for the disturbance itself, but for the purpose it serves in drawing us closer to Him. As God led Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land, He uses our trials to develop our faith and reliance on Him.
Ultimately, these disturbances remind us that while the world around us may shake, God's kingdom remains unshakable. Our connection to this eternal kingdom provides stability and peace, even when everything else is in turmoil.
Key Takeaways:
- Divine Disturbances: God uses disturbances in our lives to communicate with us. These disruptions are not random but are meant to draw our attention to His voice and purpose. By listening closely during these times, we can gain insight into His will for our lives. [00:51]
- Turbulence as a Teacher: Just as a pilot reassures passengers during turbulence, God uses life's challenges to teach us to rely on Him. These moments are opportunities to deepen our faith and trust in His guidance. [03:20]
- Detachment from the Physical: God creates disturbances to detach us from our over-reliance on the physical world. By shifting our focus to His unshakable kingdom, we can find stability and peace amidst life's chaos. [06:37]
- Purpose in Pain: Like labor pains before birth, our discomfort often precedes spiritual growth. God uses these moments to develop our faith and prepare us for new beginnings. [07:47]
- Gratitude in Growth: In times of disruption, we are called to show gratitude for the purpose it serves in drawing us closer to God. By focusing on His purpose rather than the problem, we can deepen our relationship with Him. [13:31]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Divine Disturbances
- [00:51] - Listening to God's Voice
- [01:58] - Turbulence as a Teacher
- [03:20] - Career and Circumstance Shifts
- [04:23] - Global Turbulence and Attention
- [05:29] - God is Still Speaking
- [06:03] - Detachment from the Physical
- [07:12] - Purpose in Pain
- [08:06] - Separation and Growth
- [09:01] - Unshakable Kingdom
- [10:02] - Calm in the Storm
- [11:18] - Going Deeper in Faith
- [12:41] - Gratitude in Growth
- [13:49] - Wilderness to Promised Land
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 12:25-29
2. Matthew 6:19-21
3. James 1:2-4
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the purpose of God creating disturbances in our lives? How does this relate to Hebrews 12:25-29? [01:40]
2. How does the pastor describe the role of turbulence in our lives, and what analogy is used to explain this concept? [02:18]
3. What does the sermon suggest about our attachment to the physical world, and how does this relate to the concept of an unshakable kingdom? [06:03]
4. In the sermon, how is the pain of labor used as a metaphor for spiritual growth? What is the intended outcome of this discomfort? [07:12]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of divine disturbances challenge a person's understanding of comfort and stability in their faith journey? [00:51]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that turbulence can be a teacher, and how does this align with the biblical perspective of trials in James 1:2-4? [03:20]
3. How does the sermon encourage believers to shift their focus from the physical to the spiritual, and what practical steps might this involve? [06:37]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between gratitude and growth during times of disruption? How can this perspective be applied to personal faith development? [12:41]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent disturbance in your life. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in light of the sermon’s message about divine disturbances? [00:51]
2. Consider a time when you experienced turbulence in your career or personal life. How did you seek God's guidance during that period, and what was the outcome? [03:20]
3. Identify an area in your life where you may be overly attached to the physical world. What steps can you take to detach and focus more on God's unshakable kingdom? [06:37]
4. Think about a painful experience that led to personal or spiritual growth. How can you use that experience to encourage others who might be going through similar challenges? [07:12]
5. How can you practice gratitude during times of disruption, focusing on the purpose rather than the problem? What specific actions can you take to cultivate this mindset? [12:41]
6. Reflect on the analogy of the fish diving deeper during a storm. What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God when facing life's storms? [12:00]
7. How can you remind yourself of God's unshakable kingdom when everything around you seems to be in turmoil? What spiritual practices can help reinforce this perspective? [09:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Disturbances as Divine Invitations
When God creates disturbances in our lives, they are not random acts but intentional communications meant to draw us closer to Him. These disruptions serve as divine invitations to listen more closely to His voice and understand His purpose for our lives. Just as a grandmother might insist on turning off the TV during a thunderstorm to hear God's voice, we too must learn to quiet our surroundings and tune into what God is saying. These moments of discomfort are opportunities to gain insight into His will and align ourselves with His divine plan. [00:51]
Hebrews 12:26-27 (ESV): "At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.' This phrase, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain."
Reflection: Think of a recent disturbance in your life. How can you view it as an invitation from God to listen more closely to His voice and purpose?
Day 2: Turbulence as a Teacher
Life's challenges, much like turbulence on an airplane, can be unsettling. However, these moments are opportunities for us to deepen our faith and trust in God's guidance. Just as a pilot reassures passengers during turbulence, God uses life's challenges to teach us to rely on Him. Whether it's a career shift, financial instability, or global events, these are moments where God is urging us to listen more closely and trust in His plan. By embracing these challenges, we can grow in our faith and learn to rely on His guidance. [03:20]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Identify a current challenge you are facing. How can you see it as a lesson from God to deepen your faith and reliance on Him?
Day 3: Detachment from the Physical
God often creates disturbances to detach us from our over-reliance on the physical world. These disruptions are meant to shift our focus from the temporary to the eternal, from the shakable to the unshakable. By redirecting our attention to His unshakable kingdom, we can find stability and peace amidst life's chaos. This detachment is not about abandoning the physical world but about prioritizing our spiritual connection with God, which provides true stability. [06:37]
Colossians 3:2-3 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are overly reliant on the physical world? How can you shift your focus to God's unshakable kingdom today?
Day 4: Purpose in Pain
Just as a woman in labor experiences pain before the birth of her child, our discomfort often precedes spiritual growth and new beginnings. God uses these moments of pain to develop our faith and prepare us for what lies ahead. The pain serves a purpose, leading to a deeper understanding and connection with God. By embracing the discomfort, we can grow spiritually and be ready for the new beginnings God has in store for us. [07:47]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: Reflect on a painful experience you have gone through. How can you see it as a precursor to spiritual growth and new beginnings?
Day 5: Gratitude in Growth
In times of disruption, we are called to show gratitude for the purpose it serves in drawing us closer to God. By focusing on His purpose rather than the problem, we can deepen our relationship with Him. Just as God led Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land, He uses our trials to develop our faith and reliance on Him. By expressing gratitude for these growth opportunities, we can cultivate a deeper connection with God and align ourselves with His will. [13:31]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Reflection: Think of a recent trial you have faced. How can you express gratitude for the growth it has brought and the closer relationship with God it has fostered?
Quotes
"when God creates a disturbance it's generally not comfortable it's generally not desired it's generally not preferred you don't want it but if you will tune your ear to listening cuz he's talking when he disrupts the natural order of things then he says you will discover that you are a part of a unshakable kingdom" [00:00:10]
"when God shakes things up disturbs things when the normal order of the way things you believe are supposed to go or the way they've always been begins to flip and flop and twist and tweak he says do not refuse him who is speaking so when God disturbs something it's because he talking" [00:00:30]
"God will allow or create turbulence in our life and in our circumstance in order for us to pay closer attention cuz now we want to hear more of what he has to say in the turbulence that we're going through if he wants to move you to a new career he'll create turbulence in the career you're in" [00:03:11]
"he will create a turbulence in the situation because he wants to hear he wants you to hear him a lot closer than you were previously listening in fact he's creating now worldwide turbulence in case you don't know it that's what Co was all about it was about worldwide recognition that there's stuff out there we can't handle" [00:03:41]
"he says God is speaking when there is disruption now the good news is God is still talking you need to worry if he not talking okay God is speaking using circumstance disruption to get our attention so he can reveal to us and that's good news in a bad situation" [00:05:24]
"he's trying to change something in the physical to replace it with something in the spiritual ah you know why because he sees we've gotten to attach to the physical as of created things the things that the five senses partake of when we get attached illegitimately to the wrong Kingdom then he will create a disturbance" [00:06:10]
"when a woman is in labor she's in her ninth month pain sets in but the pain is setting in cuz the baby wants out the baby wants out and is serving notice on the mother you going to want me out and I am in the process of I'm in the process of separation of leaving the womb" [00:07:02]
"when God creates a disturbance it is an uncomfortable situation designed to produce something better from the spiritual realm for our lives so he is saying you know when you throw up your stomach is upset it's upset but you know throwing up as nasty as it is you generally feel better after you vomit" [00:07:42]
"when God disturbs the natural order of things when your world is turned upside down when things are in Discord God is saying time to go deeper time to go deep disturbance is to call our attention to time to go deeper okay so how do you go deeper in God's purpose" [00:12:02]
"the tendency when our world is shaken is to complain and that's the natural I don't like this I don't want this I don't agree with this you know it's too complain he says let us show gratitude but how can I show gratitude if I'm in a disturbance you're not showing gratitude for the disturbance" [00:12:48]
"God was taking Israel from Egypt to the promised land the purpose was the promised land the Wilderness was development for the promis land he says I'll let you get hungry so that you could see I could feed you I'll let you get thirsty so you could see I'm your provider for your water" [00:13:46]
"so yeah I let you get hungry I let you get tired I let you get weary I let you get thirsty cuz I knew you would depend on me more to have to come through why did I do that Deuteronomy says so that when you get to the promised land and when you got houses that you did not build" [00:14:12]
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