Standing Through the Storms!
(Prov 10:25 NIV) When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
In this text Solomon contrasts how the wicked and the righteous respond to storms. The Message Bible translation of this verse says, “When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked; good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even fazed.”
We all face storms in life. It is unreasonable to think that we are going to live our lives without challenges, especially as a believer. Paul said, “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2nd Tim 3:12). Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Mat 16:33).
This morning I came to work to find out that my old Supervisor’s (Royce) girlfriends son who just made 5 died as a result of a car accident. My heart aches for them. He just made 5 years old on March 25th. Please keep them in your prayers as this will be a very hard time for them and they are not believers.
It is true, we can’t get around it, in this world we will have trouble, challenges and opposition, but the good news is that as believers we can face every challenge with the expectation to come out on top! Jesus overcame the world so that we can do the same. I often say, “You can’t be an overcomer if you don’t have anything to come over!”
So the issue is not whether or not we will face storms, but rather how we will deal with them. Solomon makes it clear that the wicked are annihilated by the storms, whereas the righteous stand firm forever, having a sure foundation. Jesus taught something similar in the New Testament when He said, “So then, everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. He builds his house on the rock. The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. But it does not fall. It is built on the rock. But everyone who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man. He builds his house on sand. The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. And it falls with a loud crash” (Mat 7:24-27).
Once again, notice that the rains fell, the winds blew, and the floods flowed against BOTH houses. Neither one was exonerated from the destructive affects of the weather, but only the one that was on a sure foundation was able to weather the weather. The wise man, Jesus says, built his house upon a rock. The foolish man built his house upon the sand. In Jesus’ lesson, what made the wise man wise? What man the foolish man foolish? The answer is: whether or not they put into practice what He taught. Both the wise man and the foolish man heard what Jesus was saying. They both received His teaching, but only one turned the corner from information to application.
By choosing to apply God’s Word, by choosing to be a doer and not just a hearer (James 1:23), we can become the wise man in Jesus’ story; we can become the righteous in Solomon’s proverb.
So what does this mean to you ? It means you have a choice. You can either read these messages and walk away from your computer like nothing happened, ignoring what God is saying in your life, or you can read, believe, receive and apply His truth to your life. Believe me, the results will be different. Every day you apply God’s truth to your life you are adding another brick to your spiritual house; a house being built upon the ROCK.
When the rains fall, the floods flow, and the winds blow – and believe me, they will – you will be able to stand. Life in Christ does not mean that you will be exonerated from challenges, but it does mean that you will be able to face every challenge and remain STANDING!
Father, My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand. So I declare, by faith, that when the rains fall, the floods flow and the winds blow in my life, I will still be standing. I stand firm forever. I am the righteous Solomon referred to, I am the wise man Jesus taught about, and I stand! Having done all, I continue to stand! I shall not be moved by the storms of life! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
(Prov 10:25 NIV) When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
In this text Solomon contrasts how the wicked and the righteous respond to storms. The Message Bible translation of this verse says, “When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked; good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even fazed.”
We all face storms in life. It is unreasonable to think that we are going to live our lives without challenges, especially as a believer. Paul said, “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2nd Tim 3:12). Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Mat 16:33).
This morning I came to work to find out that my old Supervisor’s (Royce) girlfriends son who just made 5 died as a result of a car accident. My heart aches for them. He just made 5 years old on March 25th. Please keep them in your prayers as this will be a very hard time for them and they are not believers.
It is true, we can’t get around it, in this world we will have trouble, challenges and opposition, but the good news is that as believers we can face every challenge with the expectation to come out on top! Jesus overcame the world so that we can do the same. I often say, “You can’t be an overcomer if you don’t have anything to come over!”
So the issue is not whether or not we will face storms, but rather how we will deal with them. Solomon makes it clear that the wicked are annihilated by the storms, whereas the righteous stand firm forever, having a sure foundation. Jesus taught something similar in the New Testament when He said, “So then, everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. He builds his house on the rock. The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. But it does not fall. It is built on the rock. But everyone who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man. He builds his house on sand. The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. And it falls with a loud crash” (Mat 7:24-27).
Once again, notice that the rains fell, the winds blew, and the floods flowed against BOTH houses. Neither one was exonerated from the destructive affects of the weather, but only the one that was on a sure foundation was able to weather the weather. The wise man, Jesus says, built his house upon a rock. The foolish man built his house upon the sand. In Jesus’ lesson, what made the wise man wise? What man the foolish man foolish? The answer is: whether or not they put into practice what He taught. Both the wise man and the foolish man heard what Jesus was saying. They both received His teaching, but only one turned the corner from information to application.
By choosing to apply God’s Word, by choosing to be a doer and not just a hearer (James 1:23), we can become the wise man in Jesus’ story; we can become the righteous in Solomon’s proverb.
So what does this mean to you ? It means you have a choice. You can either read these messages and walk away from your computer like nothing happened, ignoring what God is saying in your life, or you can read, believe, receive and apply His truth to your life. Believe me, the results will be different. Every day you apply God’s truth to your life you are adding another brick to your spiritual house; a house being built upon the ROCK.
When the rains fall, the floods flow, and the winds blow – and believe me, they will – you will be able to stand. Life in Christ does not mean that you will be exonerated from challenges, but it does mean that you will be able to face every challenge and remain STANDING!
Father, My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand. So I declare, by faith, that when the rains fall, the floods flow and the winds blow in my life, I will still be standing. I stand firm forever. I am the righteous Solomon referred to, I am the wise man Jesus taught about, and I stand! Having done all, I continue to stand! I shall not be moved by the storms of life! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
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