LIVING ABOVE OUR STORMS
Part 2: Disaster Readiness - Are We Prepared?
Introduction/Review
Seven Observations About Storms:
1. Storms are happening everywhere all over the earth.
All of us experience storms in life.
Someone somewhere is experiencing a storm of some sort even now!
2. Storms are a part of life.
No one is exempt from storms, (Even God-loving, God-fearing, God’s favorite Christians are not exempt!).
3. Storms can come and will come to us in all shapes and sizes.
Pacific Hurricanes or Typhoons are classified by the speed and intensity of the wind. It starts with a Category 1 type which has winds between 74 to 95 miles an hour and progresses up to a Category 5 type which is 156 miles an hour and over.
What size and shape hurricanes have you gone through?
4. Storms can either make us or break us, depending on how we
respond.
Trials, tragedies, and misfortunes can either be a stepping stone or a stumbling block for us depending on our heart’s response.
5. Storms expose areas of weakness or unpreparedness in our lives.
Trials, tragedies, and misfortunes expose our character to surface strength or weakness in our character. It is not when everything is going well that our true character is revealed but it is when things go wrong.
6. Storms can bring good to us, if we have the right attitude and if we prepare ourselves rightly.
7. Disaster can be overcome, if we prepare.
"Remember, Noah built the ark before it rained!"
What Is A Spiritual Storm?
Definition: A spiritual storm is a trial, tragedy, or misfortune.
The effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, were shattering and long-lasting. By August 31, 2005, Eighty percent of New Orleans was flooded with some parts of the city under 15 feet of water. Though ninety percent of southeast Louisiana residents were successfully evacuated, many who remained in their homes had to swim for their lives, wade through deep water, or remained trapped in their attics, or on their rooftops.
Some of the things that happened in Hurricane Katrina are prime lessons that teach us spiritual truths.
Disaster Readiness: Are We Prepared?
Protecting Ourselves In And Against Spiritual Storms
(Parallel Spiritual Truths from the Effects of Hurricane Katrina):
1 Storm Effect #1: Communication Failure
Coordination of rescue efforts were made difficult by the disruption of the communications infrastructure. Many telephones, including most cell phones, and Internet access were not working due to line breaks, destruction of base stations, or power failures.
Spiritual Discipline #1: Prayer
The first and most important line of protection in surviving a spiritual storm is building and maintaining a strong prayer life which is your primary communication line with the LORD.
Four Types of Prayer:
1) The Early Morning Prayer Time (Personal Secret Place)
Mark 1:35, Psalm 91:1
2) The Hour of Prayer (Corporate Prayer In the Temple)
Acts 3:1
3) The House Group Prayer (In Homes)
Acts 12:12
4) The Attitude of Prayer (24/7 Heart Prayer Hotline)
1 Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:6
2 Storm Effect #2: Damage to Buildings
Tens of thousands of home as well as many businesses were significantly damaged with windows being blown out and roofs being blown off. Even the Superdome which was used as a last resort shelter sustained significant damage, with two major sections of its roof compromised and all of its waterproof membrane totally peeled away.
Spiritual Discipline #2: God’s Word
Building a strong spiritual life for yourself and your family requires building right, with the right. It involves using the right materials as well as putting it together in the right way.
The way we are to build our lives, our marriage, our children, our finances, our business, our friendships, is on the principles of the Scriptures.
Note what the Bible has to say about those who have the commonality of not only being a hearer but a doer of God’s Word:
1) The Wise Man - Matthew 7:24-27
2) The Unshakable Man - Luke 6:46-48
3) The Blessed Man - James 1:22-25
3 Storm Effect #3: Damage To Roads
Most of the major roads traveling in and out of the city were damaged and , thus, limiting a large number of people from escaping to safer ground.
Spiritual Discipline #3: Right Relationships
Good relationships can play a big role in helping us to find places of refuge during hard times. God did not make us to be an island by ourselves but rather, He created us to be a part of a family and community.
Connecting with others is vital surviving trials, tragedies, and misfortunes.
The Promises Of Being Joined In Unity With Others:
1) Power in Unity - Matthew 18:18-20
2) Bonding in unity - Ephesians 4:3
3) Blessing and Life in unity - Psalm 133:1-3
4 Storm Effect #4: Injury and Loss of Lives
The final report indicated that the official death toll, according to the Louisiana Department of Health, was 1,464 people.
Spiritual Discipline #4: Evangelism And Outreach
Storms affords us opportunities to be use of God. The great commission is about reaching out to rescue the injured and the perishing with the love of Christ.
The Great Commission
1) The gospel of salvation - Mark 16:15-16
2) The gospel of deliverance and healing - Isaiah 61:1-3,
Matthew 4:23-25
3) The gospel to disciple and reach nations -
Matthew 28:18-20
5 Storm Effect #5: Disease and Infection
Disease and infection became another major issue to try to control, due to the large amount of the loss to humans as well as the animal population.
Spiritual Discipline #5: Purity
Purity is a major key to protecting the spiritual health of yourself and your family. The spirit of unbelief, covetousness, worldliness, and immorality are spiritual infections that if not protected against will eventually destroy us.
Proverbs 4:23-25, "Keeping our hearts"
Mark 4:3-20,"guarding against hardness & the cares of this world"
Colossians 3:5, "coveteousness"
1 Thessalonians 4:1-7. "immorality"
6 Storm Effect #6: Wall Breakages
Due to the lower elevation of parts of the city, the levee walls were of prime importance. When the walls began to break, a major catastrophe came in the making.
Spiritual Discipline #6: Spiritual Authority
Spiritual protection comes when we are under spiritual authority. When we break our connection with those whom God places in authority over us, we lose our protection and expose ourselves to danger.
Romans 13:1-2
Five Keys To Being Under Covering(Spiritual Authority):
1) Knowing - 1 Thessalonians 5:12
2) Honoring - 1 Thessalonians 5:13
3) Remembering - Hebrews 13:7
4) Obeying - Hebrew 13:17
5) Submitting - Hebrew 13:17
When we are submitted to leadership, we are under God’s umbrella of protection. If we are not submitted to spiritual authorities, we are out from covering and open to enemy attack!
7 Storm Effect #7: Lawlessness
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, looting, violence, and other criminal activities became serious problems. With most of the authorities focused on rescue efforts, the in New Orleans degraded quickly.
Spiritual Discipline #7: Lawful Living
Keeping yourself in right relationship with God requires living a right (righteous) life. The Bible usage of the word, "iniquity", which has two basic meaning, the first, meaning perversion, the second, meaning lawlessness or rebellion.
The Lawless, Independent, Rebellious Spirit:
1) The spirit of the times - Matthew 24:12
2) The spirit of the Anti-Christ - 1 Thessalonians 2:12
3) The spirit of lawless beleivers - Matthew 7:21-23
4) The bad seed in the kingdom - Matthew 13:2-30,36-43
8 Storm Effect #8: Economic Downturn
Major personal loss of wealth and property suddenly came into
play. With the mass property damage happening all over the city, to not only families but businesses as well, working at your regular job and place of employment was interrupted with many losing their jobs and livelihood.
Spiritual Discipline #8: Financial Soundness
Building a solid walk and preparing against a storm encompasses financial stewardship. We must recognize that God is the Owner and we are simply his stewards or managers.
Two Main Financial Principles In Giving
1) The Tithe - honoring the LORD with the first tenth/bringing into the storehouse - Malachi 3:8-12
The tithe is holy and belongs to the LORD - Leviticus 27:30,32
2) The Offering - obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit/seeding your field - Malachi 3:8-12
The offering is a seed offering planted as we hear and obey -
Galatians 6:7-8
Challenge
Storms can be very devastating, especially, if we do not heed the warnings to rightly prepare or in this case, as we learn from Hurricane Karina, to move to higher and safer grounds.
Are we hearing the Spirit, calling us to move up spiritually to higher and safer ground?
Are we elevating our walk with the LORD by establishing ourselves in the eight spiritual disciplines mentioned?
Let us review the eight Spiritual Disciplines that will protect us in and against the storms in life:
Spiritual Discipline #1: Prayer
Spiritual Discipline #2: God’s Word
Spiritual Discipline #3: Right Relationship
Spiritual Discipline #4: Evangelism And Outreach
Spiritual Discipline #5: Purity
Spiritual Discipline #6: Spiritual Authority
Spiritual Discipline #7: Lawful Living
Spiritual Discipline #8: Financial Soundness
Sidney Sumida
Senior Pastor, Grace Bible Church West Oahu
Omni-One Ministry Resource, Living Above The Storms Of Life Series - Part 2
