Storms Of Life

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Most of the scriptures quoted in these sermons are copies and quoted from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible.

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Pastor Ed Pruitt

Storms of life

March 11, 2007

Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus Walks on Water

22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.

23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here! ”

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

We are approaching a time meteorologists have identified as the storm season.

We read the papers, we see storms in a variety of shapes and forms.

We see fire storms in California and floods in San Antonio. Jarrell, Texas, was hit by a tornado.

The Caribbean was hit with hurricane force winds.

All of these storms bring out a common response from those who go through them.

"Why me?

Lord, why have you allowed me to go through this storm?

Why did my house get flooded when folks who aren’t as good as me, have houses that are dry?

Why was my house leveled when people who don’t even think about you, have their houses still standing?

In a real sense, every day is storm season in the life of the believer.

Every one of us has the potential and possibility of going through some spiritual atmospheric disturbances.

When we go through those difficulties, the question that most of us ask is "Why?"

I want to share with you five principles that will help us make sense out of the storm.

Principle 1: Do what the Lord tells you to do.

We pick up just after the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.

22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.

The Bible says that at the completion of that event, Jesus told his disciples, "Get into the boat, I want you to go before me to the other side."

The implication is that he was going to meet them on the other side.

The disciples did what the Lord told them to do, and on their way to the other side they ran into a storm.

The Bible says, "They were on their way to the other side."

They were doing exactly what God told them to do.

They were where God wanted them to be, performing the act that God wanted them to perform.