- “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
- “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
- But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
- “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)
• Figuratively, storms of life meant challenges of life.
- Storms could mean the problems that one encounters in life.
- There may be storms, challenges, in your marriage, career, finances, health and whatever. Be assured, you will not perish in the storm.
• Truths about storms, challenges, of life:
- Storms, challenges, are common to everyone; even those who are not in Christ, unbelievers, experience storms.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is COMMON TO MAN…”
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
“Beloved, do not think it STRANGE concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though SOME STRANGE THING happened to you.”
1 Peter 4:12 (NKJV)
“Resist him [the devil 😈], steadfast in the faith, knowing that THE SAME SUFFERINGS are experienced by your brotherhood in the WORLD.”
1 Peter 5:9 (NKJV)
- The two buildings in our text, Matthew 7:24-27, were exposed to the same climatic problems.
- It means what you are passing through is not special, it is not peculiar.
- It is not something God cannot handle; He can handle it and He is abundantly able to help you.
- Know that your problems or challenges are not new for: “…there is nothing new under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NKJV)
- Whatever you are passing through is not new, some have experienced similar thing in the past, and they came out of it successfully.
- Know that the storm is not meant to kill you, but to expand or increase you.
- The storms of life make you strong.
- Persecution does not destroy the people of God, it only expands and increases them.
- The more the Israelites were oppressed in Egypt, the more they increased in number, and their increase was a threat to Pharaoh and all the Egyptians (Exodus 1:7,11,12).
- Know that there is a way out of the storms—the problems.
“… but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also MAKE A WAY OF ESCAPE, that you may be able to bear it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
• Benefits of Storms
- Learn how to derive benefits in every difficult situation (Romans 8:28).
- Every problem has a purpose and the benefits you can derive from it if you care to know.
a. Storms, challenges, move you closer to God (Psalm 119:67,71).
b. Storms, challenges, make you grow, they lead to maturity.
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is WORKING for us a far more EXCEEDING and ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY.”
2 Corinthians 4:17 (NKJV)
c. Through storms, challenges, you see farther (Genesis 13:14).
~ In fact, when you face challenges, it may be God calling your attention to something you have not seen before (Exodus 3:1-10).
~ If God wants to move you to another level in your walk with Him, He may touch your comfort, allow challenges.
d. Storms make you wait on God; thus, you have encounter with Him, and that gives you a fresh vision—it reveals the plan of God to you (Habakkuk 2:1-3).
~ It is in the process of waiting on God at the time of tribulation that you receive direction, vision—God’s plan for your journey in life.
~ God used the Burning Bush to beckon to Moses, to call him; and He told him about the assignment He has for him (Exodus 3:1-10).
~ The truth is God wants to get your attention through that prolonged problem; He wants to draw your attention to Himself, and to a particular assignment He has for you. - At times God uses storms, problems, as instruments of direction.
• When you face challenges—the storms of life:
- Always remember the storm is not meant to kill you, but to expand you.
- Know that God loves you, and He will not reward you with evil, because you seek Him.
“… and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) - You will come out of every storm victoriously in Jesus name.
• Precautions:
(i) Do not speak against God or the delegated authority over your life—your pastor.
~ God is not the cause of your problems neither your pastor (1 Corinthians 14:33).
~ Devil is the author and the cause of evil (John 10:10).
(ii) Do not compromise your faith, do not lower your standards (Hebrews 10:35-39).
~ Do not allow sin in your life because of your predicament.
(iii) Be faithful in your commitment in God’s vineyard– your assignment in God (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
~ Be faithful in your services: in your works in the vineyard of God, in using of your time, and in giving of your substance.
~ Do not stop working for God, and do not work with levity, triviality, because of the problem you are passing through (1Corinthians15:58).
(iv) Do not run after false prophets (2 Corinthians 11:5,13,14; Hebrews 13:8,9).
~ Do not believe there is one eminent apostle or prophet somewhere that can help you out of your problems.
~ Stay where God has divinely planted you (Ephesians 4:14).
- “For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
- For such are false APOSTLES, deceitful WORKERS, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,
- And no wonder! For SATAN himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
2 Corinthians 11:5,13,14 (NKJV)
(v) Do not murmur, complain, or wear mournful look; that people may pity you (1 Corinthians 10:10,11).
~ Murmurings and complaints prolong captivity.
~ Israelites journey in the wilderness was prolonged because of murmurings and complaints (Exodus 16:2; Numbers 14:2,26-29).
(vi) Do not go back to your unbelieving friends for help, they may introduce another god to you—idolatry (Hebrews 3:12; 10:23,35,36).
(vii) Do not leave your spouse, do not break your marriage because of challenges. Stay together, you will overcome (Hebrews 13:4).
• Wisdom is needed
- For you to stand against the storms of life and prevail, you need the wisdom of God.
~ Be a student of the Word and a doer of it (James 1:22-25).
~ The Scriptures make wise (2 Timothy 3:15).
~ Live in line with the word of God that you know (James 1:25).
~ Reading, studying, and meditating in the word of God is the only way out (Joshua 1:8). - Some think the way of the Word of God is too slow, they are looking for a quicker way to get solution to their problems.
- The truth is there is no shortcut anywhere except the way of the Word.
• Whoever hears the sayings of Jesus and does them is a wise person, and one who does not do them is a foolish person (Matthew 7:24,26).
- You overcome the storms of life by doing the sayings of the Lord Jesus Christ—the Word of God.
• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!