What a blessing it is to have all of you here today!
Heavenly and Loving Father,
Thank You that we are here in church, body and spirit, thank You for the joy of worshipping You, our Creator. And in the midst of joys, in all honesty, we admit that we come with fears.
Some of us have fears about new beginnings; new circumstances..
We don’t know how we’ll do or how we’ll feel; we are nervous and want things to go well.
There are fears about health: aches and pains that won’t go away, symptoms that are unexplained,
treatments that we hope will be effective. We fear how we will be able to pay for those treatments, our medications. We are fearful and afraid.
Some of us have financial fears: will we find work, or is our work secure, how will we pay these bills, have we saved enough for the future? And then there is the fear of loneliness that strikes us all at some points, we fear that we won’t find love, or that we’ll lose love or have lose the people we do love. We fear being good enough.
We fear telling others our fears, what they will think of us, so we wear smiles, to hide our anxiety and tears.
God of hope, thank You that you are with us in all our fears, and that You bring joy even in the midst of them. Thank You for your faithfulness through these times, for the ways you have been there for us in the past, and that nothing can separate us from your love.
Thank You for Your compassion toward us and help us to be compassionate with others who are also hurting and fearful. In whatever we are facing, we know You are with us. Thank You. In Jesus name we ask and pray, Amen.
Storms:
1.a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds.
2.a tumultuous reaction; an uproar or controversy.
The things that make people act differently than normal, human storms that cause much destruction just like a storm caused by weather.
Hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms and hailstorms and all the other varieties of storms.
I could go through the whole process of explaining what causes these sorts of storms but that’s not the subject I want to relate to today.
I want to talk to you about human storms, storm’s that do a lot of damage to the human body,
Storms that damages relationships and destroys families
Storms that rip at the very soul of humanity.
Storms happen!
Say that with me,
Storms happen!
Even in Christian families, no matter how dedicated a person may be to God, there are times they will go through storms that will literally challenge everything they've ever stood for.
One of the warning signs that‘s broadcast for dangerous weather is to find shelter, some place of safety from the storm that is brewing.
Like most people, we will wait until the very last moment and then desperately try to find shelter.
Isn't that true?
There are some people who don’t think the storm will be bad enough to hurt anything; so they never prepare for them and then when it hits it leaves their lives in shambles.
Homes and precious things are scattered and destroyed.
Material things can be replaced, but lives cannot!
Relationships once hit by hurricane force storms seldom ever recover.
In the winds of anger, things can get so out of control; we say and do things that can never be unsaid, forgotten or sometimes, forgiven.
Life can never be the same, storms of life can cause scars, break trust and jealousy is a rage in itself, it is the worst of any storm.
When we use the word “jealous,” we use it in a sense of being envious of someone who has something we do not have...
This kind of jealousy is a sin and is not characteristic of a Christian!
But rather, it shows that we are still being controlled by our own desires, 1 Corinthians 3:3
Galatians 5:26 says, “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
A lot of people assume things, this is called Jealousy; accusations that lead to a storm that can get way out of control fast.
The mind can rage like a sea in a tropical storm; and when it hits land it destroys nearly everything in its path.
There has been divorce; murder, hate and children usually do the most suffering being pulled between the battle of mom and dad.
From one stepparent or stepchild, to the other feeling unloved and unwanted.
Then another storm starts to brew and another separation another divorce and the cycle never ends... It's repeated!
Often, when we are in the middle of our own storm, we can't see how it is going to effect the lives of those around us, those closest to us.
I have had some storms that I created myself; once the mind is out of control the spirit of the enemy takes over and fills your mind with things and your imagination runs wild.
Then out of your mouth, comes a hurricane force of hurtful words that are damaging and more destructive than you will realize in the moment.
Words, that won't soon be forgotten.
Then the calm after the storms comes and you begin to realize that you were out of control and driven by a force you couldn’t control now that the storm seems to be over.
However, the devastation it left behind, all it has ruined, and what
took years to accumulate and standing in the aftermath, it seems impossible to rebuild then the mind begins to realize I should have been better prepared.
You realize you should have prayed and fasted and put your life in the hands of God!
Because, let me tell you, when God is in control, when we put Him in charge of the storms, they are over quicker and there is less collateral damage.
Jesus said “I will be in your storm” the disciples were trying to cross the sea when a storm brewed.
Their faith was challenged and death was certain for them, until Jesus came walking on the water.
You’ve read the story how Peter walked on water but the storm never ceased until Jesus got on board.
Church, from what I see, is that we are not much different than these disciples.
They were rowing against the wind trying as hard as they could to save their lives but to no avail until Jesus got involved.
Then there was a calm.
The storm called Anger makes a person lose good judgment.
They are going to be right no matter how much damage has to be done to prove it.
Accusations, and harsh words are like sharp objects hurled at hurricane force!
And while some may be true, once uttered, the storm gets out of control, it seems it will never end;
And most of the time, it leaves everyone devastated.
Nothing but destruction in its wake..
The reason is, “humanity is self-centered” it’s about me and what I think and what I want.
Because I have a right!
Then when the calm finally comes, we begin to observe the damage and wonder “Can we ever put this back together again?”
Things are scattered, much damage is done!
But listen and hear me,
I came today to tell someone, you can rebuild!
That’s what insurance is for, am I right?
Church, you have God Who wants to help you!
He has guaranteed never to leave you or forsake you.
"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
But you have to let Jesus on board or your ship will sink!
And your life will be lost and others will suffer to!
So why keep rowing against the wind, trying as hard as you can to escape the storm on your own?
When you see this type of storm coming, instead of getting caught in the middle of it, run to safety get to a place where you can hide from the destruction!
Find Jesus.
Say that with me,
Find Jesus!
There is Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
I know it is so easy to explode in a time of trouble.
Listen, storms don’t just drop out of the sky they, take time to form.
There are reasons for storms but you don’t have to die in your storm.
Learn to watch! Look at what’s coming your way, then prepare for what is about to happen, look to Jesus the "author and finisher of your faith." as it say in Hebrews 12:2
God wants our lives to be happy!
That is why he instructed us in Matthew 6:33-34
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous run into it and is safe."
Learn to watch! Look at what’s coming your way, then prepare for what is about to happen, look to Jesus the "author and finisher of your faith." as it say in Hebrews 12:2
God wants our lives to be happy!
That is why he instructed us in Matthew 6:33-34
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous run into it and is safe."
Proverbs 18:10
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Copyright © 2019 All Rights Reserved
Brian Monzon Ministries
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Brian Monzon Ministries