What Are Storms? Evaluate Our Attitudes?

WHAT ARE STORMS? EVALUATE ATTITUDES TOWARD STORMS?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (2 part)

SEVERAL YEARS AGO RED BOOK DID A QUESTIONNAIRE OF INCOMING SEMINARY STUDENTS THAT IS ALARMING.

56% of new students do not believe in the VIRGIN BIRTH. 74% say there is no literal heaven or hell.

94% do not accept the deity of Christ. 98% do not believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ.

GOD HAVE MERCY ON THE CHURCH AND THE USA.

SOMETIMES WE NEED A STORM TO CLEAN UP THE MESS.

The Itsy bitsy spider crawled up the water spout, Down came the rain, and washed the spider out

Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain, And he itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again!

*CAN WE DEFINE SPIRITUAL STORMS: ANY DISTURBANCE INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL? Unpredictable, unexpected, disturbance, big change, destructive.

THREE KINDS OF STORMS: RAIN, FLOOD, WIND…

Matthew 7:27 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.

GO FIGURE? WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS STORM? WRONG WAY JONAH? JONAH RUNS TO THE BOAT AT JOPPA AND BUYS A VERY EXPENSIVE TICKET… TO TARSHISH NOT TO NINEVEH…

We seem to love sailing in opposite directions: OUR WAY?

Jonah 1:4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

Jonah sleeps, he is the guilty party … PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THE GOOD PERSON SLEEPS BETTER. THIS MAY NOT SEE THE REAL TRUTH. At least Jonah acknowledges the truth… MY CHOICES HAVE BROUGHT US INTO THIS STORM… In life very few people can see their choices have consequences. Half-hearted living makes expensive tickets. “THROW ME OVER BOARD.”

STORMS CAN CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND YOU CAN SEE LIFE IN ETERNAL VALUES…

LET US BE HONEST: JONAH WAS A JEW… JEWS KNEW NINEVEH WAS EVIL AND THE HISTORY WAS THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH HAD BEEN MEAN AND CRUEL TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL.

STORMS CAN OPEN YOUR EYES AND CAUSE A DEEP PRAYER LIFE BEYOND THE PAST.

Jonah 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

THIS BOAT RIDE IN THE STORM HAD A WAY OF CORRECTION OF ATTITUDES AND SCARRED PAST.

GOD ALLOWS STORMS TO TEACH US AND GROW US… TO STRETCH OUR FAITH AND TO GET US TO ALIGN OUR ACTIONS TO CONFORM TO GOD’S PLAN…

Our enemy desires to be a GRINCH and steal the joy of abundant life. He is a killjoy. Life can become a wet blanket. We must not allow other people to become wet blankets to us. Life is full of difficult situations that OFTEN we made for ourselves. You will have some people that will enjoy watching you sink. They want you to stay down for the 10 count. Life has a way of quenching and dampening our pleasure, joy and enthusiasm. Never allow the Grinch to fuss and complain and knock you down.

GRINCH STORMS can deepen your roots.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CALL FOR “FREE LUNCHES!” STORMS CAN STEER US AROUND TRAPS AND FLESHLY DESIRES… PEOPLE LOVE SIGNS. PEOPLE LOVE TO SEE THINGS THAT ARE ENTERTAINING… BISCUITS AND FISH FEEDING THOUSANDS, BLIND EYES OPENED. KNOW THAT A GOOD STORM CAN OPEN OUR HEARTS… WE WALK BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT…

The reality of ministry must avoid the circus like atmosphere that can thrive… it may take a storm to bring us back to our senses.

Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

SHOULD WE LEARN TO EXPECT AND PREPARE FOR THE CONTRARY WINDS? PETER!

WOW, HOW SPECIAL AM I… I AM LISTED AS THE ONLY PERSON NEXT TO THE SON OF GOD THAT WALKED ON WATER…

IF THE LORD SENT US TO THE OTHER SIDE, WILL NOT WE HAVE SMOOTH SAILING?