STORMS --- NOT IF BUT WHEN... FEAR VS HOPE… By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Listen to me… How can we tell if you have won a debate, argument or fuss? Just because YOU ARE THE LOUDEST? Is that how we measure the winner? Maybe you win because you talk the longest… we call that having the last word. Wisdom will tell you just because you are the loudest does not mean you have won? Just because you have the last word does not make you right? To win an argument and lose a friend --- what have you won? We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.
THE NEW TESTAMENT TELLS US THAT ALL HOUSES WILL HAVE STORMS… THE QUESTION IS NOT ABOUT THE STORMS, YOU CAN REST ASSURED THE STORMS ARE COMING… THE QUESTION IS ABOUT THE TYPE OF FOUNDATION YOU CHOSE TO LAY.
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Hear me? Hear me? Which house cost the most to build? Be honest, the cost is about the same as you build your house. The 2x4’s cost the same. The electrical wiring cost the same. The building materials will be near the same… SO ARE THE HOUSES ABOUT THE SAME? LET US TALK ABOUT THE LONG TERM OUTCOME.
Storms symbolize outside attacks, persecution, depression, sadness and obstacles.
THERE ARE 3 KINDS OF CALAMITIES AND AFFLICTIONS THAT WE WILL CALL STORMS…
RAIN: rain smells so fresh, rain is temporary, the season will end, small, frequent, droplets of water, moisture falling visibly, rain brings life, growth; rain tough times, rain is refreshing, rain cleans the air, no rain makes deserts. Biblically rain is symbolic of relaxing, peace, calm, growth, calmness, cleansing, redeeming, wash bad thoughts away, blessings.
CONSIDER YOUR ATTITUDES AND YOUR ALTITUDE TO STORMS. STORMS COULD MEAN YOU ARE OUT OF GOD’S WILL, ASK JONAH… BUT NOT ALL STORMS MEAN YOU ARE OUT OF GOD’S WILL.
FLOOD: are disasters, overflowing of large amounts of water beyond its normal boundaries, outpouring of tears, to cover, submerge, overwhelming amounts, floods leave behind mud, silk, floods are often very fast, storm surge, flash floods, rain over long duration---intense rain rate, swift flow, floods can purify…
Fear and emotions can flood one’s mind, floods can represent judgment, destruction, floods can symbolize change and floods may suggest you are building in a flood plain.
WIND: preparedness, high winds, very powerful, cyclone, tornado, hurricane, twister, dust storm, blow, very strong wind, gale, all you can do about a wind storm is find a safe place of protection and when the storm passes survey the damage.
WHEN AN EAGLE SENSES A BAD STORM THEY LEAVE THE NEST AND FLY HIGHER AND HIGHER TO REST ABOVE THE STORMS… BUT NOT ALL STORMS MEAN YOU ARE OUT OF GOD’S WILL. Some storms are teaching tools to mature us…and teach us to rely on God’s purpose and plan…The storms reveal how you built! The foundation means rooted, grounded, established. Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
NOT IF THE STORMS COME… THE WORDS ARE WHEN THE STORMS COME… ALL HOUSES, ALL FOUNDATIONS WILL BE TESTED… WE ARE NOT DISCUSSING PHYSICAL HOUSES WE ARE STUDYING SPIRITUAL BUILDING…
You can’t avoid the storms. I have a friend that pastors a church in a flood plain. They recently had a major flood. On the average the church floods every 7 to 10 years. As we visited I saw the restoration process. Something was said and the pastor said: It is not if the church will flood again. He said the answer is WHEN THE CHURCH FLOODS AGAIN.
AS JESUS IS TEACHING HE WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE SHOULD LIVE… FEAR, EMOTIONS, FEELINGS VS FAITH, THE WORD…
LET US WEIGH THE FOUNDATION OF BUILDING ON WORRY AND FEAR AND BEING ANXIOUS… CAN WE WORRY AND ADD GOOD TIMES TO OUR DAY? WORRY NEVER ADDS… WORRY AND FEAR SUBTRACTS… JESUS TEACHES ABOUT WORRY, ANXIETY AND FEAR. Which of you by taking fear can add one minute to your life…
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
CAN PEACE REPLACE WORRY AND FEAR OF THE STORM? WORRY WEAKENS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM… AND KILLS YOUR HOPE… CAN WE EXPECT HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO REIGN? Rain?
DID YOU KNOW A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF WORRY WILL NEVER PAY FOR A DIME OF DEBT?
Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6 (MSG) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 7 Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6 (NLT2) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION: God has a plan and purpose for storms. God will define our attitudes, altitudes, to mold and motivate us. Storms will cause us to examine and evaluate us. Storms will either bring fear or faith. Storms can help us get rid of fear, anger and bitterness. Never fear to face your storm. Yield to the Holy Spirit and trust God’s plan. Be ready my friend, ready for the storms, THEY ARE COMING…
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Check out YouTube.
