* Through The Storm

 

Another word of encouragement to help us as we enter into the new year.  Without a doubt, we've got to do better as a whole; as the body of Christ.  We need to mature in God and  be good soldiers able to overcome everything and everyone that comes against us.  Overcome in a Godly way.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

I translate this to mean, 

• when I’m wrong send s storm, 
• if I’m led or go astray, send a storm, 
• when I’m weak, send a storm, 
• when my faith is low, send a storm, 
• when I’m fainting, send a storm.  

We don’t want it, but we need it.  The bible tells us that we learn, increase our knowledge and grow because of the storms in our lives.  Not only that, we learn how to weather and navigate the storms by being faithful and obedient to the word of God.

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:  Matthew 7:24

Being faithful and obedient builds a solid, unshakeable foundation.

√    Spiritual blessings come through the storm:  

If you are a follower of Christ, you know storms are coming.  Peter admonishes us to arm ourselves or prepare our minds for them.  Jesus lets us know during storms of persecution:

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  Matthew 5:10-12

√    Obedience comes through the storm:  

Jesus himself, though being the word in flesh, was obedient to the Father:  

Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;  Hebrews 5:8

√     The word of God is tested within us through the storm:  

We cannot be an instrument for God without knowing that for which you stand.  That is why it is so imperative that while we are suffering that we continue or start reading our word and make it a daily part of our lifestyle.  

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  Psalms 12:6

√     The storm humbles us: 

We learn that without God, we are nothing, was nothing; would be nothing.  

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said , For we are also his offspring.   Acts 17:28  

God’s word stands up in us as we realize that we are to humble ourself under God’s mighty hand.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  1 Peter 5:6

It was Moses who said:  

Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end.  Deuteronomy 8:15-16

√     Storms take us to a higher spiritual level:  

This means you grow spiritually, our spiritual territory is enlarged:  

Thou has enlarged me when I was under pressure.  Psalms 4:1

√     Storms help us to come to know God in a better way:  

You come to know God on a more intimate basis Because of the storm. Job, who suffered much, learned this truth and after the storm was able to say:

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.  Job 42:5-6  

Some of us only know God through other people's experience.  When we are experiencing the blessings of life, God is often a luxury instead of a necessity. But when you have a real need, God becomes a necessity.  Jonah came to know God much more intimately through storms; he gained a greater understanding of the love and compassion of God. Before he suffered, he only had a working knowledge of God Afterwards, he knew Him by experience. It was Apostle Paul who said:  

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.  Philippians 3:10 

How was he made conformable?  Through his storms! 

Though it may look as if all is lost and you are facing defeat, if you are disoriented by the storms in your life; remember Jesus' words:

. . . be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

Just like God was with those of old in their storms He is with us also.  Just learn how to trust and obey Him.  And remember, don't count yourself out, it's not over until God says it's over! 

Blessings to you all!