Mercy in the Aftermath

The Ridge Community Church

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Mercy in the Aftermath

Part >> 3

May 3, 2020 • Chan Mitchell

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When we think of the story of Noah and the great flood, there are so many different aspects to consider. Is the story about God’s wrath? Is it about the punishment of sin? Is it about reestablishing humanity? There are many different angles we can consider with this story. However, at the heart of the story of Noah and the great flood is God’s mercy. After the floodwaters receded, after the animals left the ark, and after Noah and his family stood on dry land again, God gave humanity a second chance. In the aftermath of the greatest storm in history, there was mercy. In the same way, in the aftermath of our own personal “storms”, God can establish a new beginning, give us a new perspective, and offer us His promises. If we pay attention, we will discover in the aftermath of the storms is where we find the rainbows in the sky.

Miracle in the Aftermath

May 10, 2020 • Chan Mitchell

The crises of life have often been compared to stormy seas. They come upon us whether we like it or not. They can be terrifying. They can cause us to question our chance of survival. Many times, when we face a storm, we just pray that God will hurry and make it go away. For us, a storm is a source of worry and fear. For Jesus, a storm was just a chance to find rest (Mark 4:38). Storms don’t worry Jesus. He’s right there with us during them, but he’s perfectly calm. He isn’t terrified. He isn’t impatient. He isn’t worried. We wonder why Jesus doesn’t get up and do something. Many times, Jesus is less concerned about the storm around us, and more concerned about the miracle ahead of us.

Repentance in the Aftermath

April 26, 2020 • Chan Mitchell

God calls you to a particular task... or moves you in a certain direction... or calls you to repentance. Instead of responding in obedience, you resist and do just the opposite. You run! You run in the opposite direction. The truth is, God allows us to run. He gave Jonah plenty of room to run. And while we may be able to live in disobedience or avoid repentance for a season, God is willing do whatever it takes to get our attention and draw us back to Him. We can run from God, but we can never outrun God. Jonah ran from God and found himself in a storm and eventually, in the belly of a fish. But in the aftermath of Jonah’s rebellion, there was true repentance.

Aftermath of Jesus' Death

April 19, 2020 • Chan Mitchell

The after effects of a storm, disaster or crisis are often called the aftermath. The aftermath may include homes that have been destroyed, cities that have been devastated, or people who have been killed. Rarely do we find something positive in the aftermath. However, in the aftermath of Jesus’ death, there were many “signs of life,” including the resurrection of Jesus, a new mission, the gift of the Holy Spirit and explosive growth of the Church. The cross was not the end of the story; and neither will our crisis be the end of the story. God has something greater yet to come.