Storms happen...

Storms come, no matter who you are and what you believe, storms come.  That is not something everyone wants to hear or acknowledge, but the fact is we live in a fallen world and that mean storms happen.  So, the question that must be asked is why do some people seem to handle storms better than others?  Is it because God likes them better?  Is it because they have a special power?  Or could it be that they have tapped into something that not everyone does. In Matthew 7:24 Jesus says, Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock.  He also says those that hear the same words but do not act upon what they have heard, their house will not be able to stand when the storm comes.  Notice that both houses face storms, both heard the same word spoken, but only one acted upon the spoken word.  Faith doesn’t sit on the sidelines, faith doesn’t pretend to do something, rather faith is something that can be seen.  Faith is in the game; faith looks like one that is not in denial of the storm but believes that what God has spoken is true.  Faith does not wish something is true, rather faith, in God, knows that what He has said is true.  Faith in His Word will cause you to move out regardless of what the situation may look like, faith involves action.  James 2:17 reads, In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.  We can say we believe God, but do our actions prove it.  Does our life indicate to others that we believe what God has said is true?  Mark 11:22 reads, Jesus replied to them, Have faith in God.  We will always act upon what we believe; the question is what or who do we believe?  If we believe The Word, then act upon it.  Matthew 17:20 the disciples ran into a problem with a young man that was demon possessed.  They could not deliver the boy, but Jesus could.  Why?  Because He was God?  Certainly not, for He would have had to tap into His divinity.  Rather, He had faith that His Father (our Father) had the ability.  Jesus pointed His faith towards the Father that gave Him faith.  The disciples asked why they could not do what He had done and he responds, because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to for you.  Now it is true in the next verse that He did say in this particular case, prayer and fasting was needed, but before He got to that point He did say, because of your unbelief.  So, back to the storms we all have faced, are facing and will face.  Storms are a revealer of your faith.  They will reveal whether you trust God, or trust someone or something else.  Faith will not prevent a storm, but faith in God will allow you to go through a storm, and even grow in it.  Storms are meant to bring destruction, faith in God will cause the destruction to become a springboard into something greater.  How you respond will let you know if you trust God or not.  If the storm is telling you that you are not trusting Him, then do not get down on yourself, just redirect your faith towards Him.  If you are trusting Him, then keep trusting Him, even if the storm is getting worse.  He is faithful, we must remain faithful towards Him.
Much love, Pastor Michael