The Storm May NOT Be For You

 The Storms will come

No matter where you live if you wait long enough, a storm is coming. Snowstorms and Thunderstorms in the north. Tornadoes in the mid states. Hurricanes and Typhoons. There is a storm brewing somewhere all the time. No matter how perfect the weather is the rest of the time, something is going to happen. So we have created "safe places." Storm shelters, fortified homes, safe rooms in homes. Shelters outside for the community. ETC.

Life is the same way. It does not matter where you come from. Who you are. What you have in the bank. Saved or not. Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddist, or even Athiest, a storm is coming. Where is your "safe place?"

Mine?

"On God rests my salvation and my glory;

my mighty rock, my refuge is God." Psalm 62:7

We read this in the Word

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Now, this is the foundation of what we will be talking about for the next few weeks. Read that one part again. It says that God will comfort us, be our shelter and "safe place" during the storm, but why?

"so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Say "So that," What is the "So that" there for? "So that" is used before the clause which indicates the purpose. Why am I going through this? "So that." or because. Another way to say it is "Here is the reason." We started walking this way "so that" we could go to the destination. We read the Bible, "so that" we can learn from and hear from God.

Now that we can understand what this says, we now can understand the total truth of the matter. The storm you are going through? It may not be for you, but "so that" YOU may be able to comfort someone else when they are going through a similar storm.

We are going to start today, yeah I know, start? We are going to start today by distilling the myths of once saved, you will be healthy, wealthy, and wise. You will coast through life without a care in the world. Nothing bad will ever happen to you. These are lies straight from hell. There is a storm coming. You are either coming out of one, in one now, or are heading straight into one. There is a storm brewing.

Turn to James 1. Read this with me. James 1:2

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,"

Count it joy? Why? "So that." Another way of saying that is "for."

"for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

When you are in a trial, tribulation, or storm, call it what you will, you must keep your faith in God. You must remember, who is with you. You are not in it alone. Jesus is right there with you. Mark 4:35 

"On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

Stop there for a second. Jesus is your Lord? You are a child of God? Then guess what. Jesus is telling you to go. He is telling you to?

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”" Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus is with you. As He was in the boat with them. He is in your boat. You are the captain of your own ship, traveling through this life. Jesus is with you if you are with Him. God may have directed you to a destination very specific to you and His plan for your life. He is with you.

"And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling."

Say there is a storm. A storm is raging.

"But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion."

Wait. He was asleep? Why? Because Jesus said to go, they went, He slept. Why? Because He was in control. He was not worried. What He said will happen. Nothing can stop it. He is above all things. He created all things. The storm came as storms do, but He is above the storm.

"And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:38-39

The Storm was of no significance to Jesus. It mattered not how hard or fast the wind blew. How much lighting and thunder there may have been. It was so unimportant that He went to sleep. That was until we saw the storm. We forgot who Jesus is. We forgot He said go. We forgot, that we need not fear, only have faith.

"He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41

We may not understand why the storm comes, but we must always remember, that we are not alone. Back to James 1, start at verse 5

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Do not worry about the things of this world. Do not fear the storms. Pray to your Father and ask Him for wisdom, strength, and comfort during the storm. In the good times by the way as well. If you are filled with worry and fear, you may jump out of the perfectly safe boat Jesus is in with you. Stay focused on Him.

"Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits."

In other words, if you rely on or put your trust in ANYTHING else, ANYTHING, besides God, it will fail you. Jesus said this.

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36

All things here on this earth are temporal. Your looks. Your health. Your money. The only thing that can overcome anything temporal, is spiritual. You must have faith, keep your faith. Do not worry about the storm when it comes. You, as a child of God, can look at that storm, trial, or tribulation, whatever it may be, and know this.

"Lord? I may not know why this storm has come, but I do know you are greater than the storm and I know you are with me. Please comfort me, guide me, and give me whatever wisdom I may need in this time and always. In Jesus's name, amen!"

There is literally nothing that can derail God's plans. NOTHING. If Jesus tells you to go and do something, trust me, or rather trust Him, nothing is going to stop you from carrying out Jesus's words. Nothing but you. You are the only one that can mess things up. You are the only one that can let the storm win. You. Look at Jonah.

"Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord." Jonah 1:1-3

God said go. Jonah went. However, he went the wrong way. What happened when the storm came. They threw Jonah into the sea and he was eaten by a giant fish. You know the story. God was not with Jonah in the storm, as a matter of fact, God caused the storm, But Jonah failed to be obedient to God and therefore was left to his own strength and wisdom on how to deal with it.

Now of course we know that he repented and ended up going and doing what God asked him to do.

"Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God."

Wait. Who did they believe? Jonah? No, it says, "The people believed God."

"They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them." Jonah 3:4-5

It goes on to tell you that even the King repented and God turns from the wrath He intended to do. It was because Jonah was finally obedient to God and let Him lead and deal with the storms.

Back to James and we will close today with this.

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death." James1:12-15

Storms and trials and tribulations will come. How you deal with them is directly related to the severity of the outcome. However, here is something to keep in mind. It may not even be "your storm." The Storm may NOT be for you. God may be using this storm for another reason. More on that next time.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Is He asleep in your boat? Ready to calm the storms? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!!