Preparing for the Storm

Matt. 7:24-27

“The Storms” are the Trials of Life

• Comes in various forms (Matt. 7:24-27)

• Death, sickness, aging, job concerns, economy, retirement, debt, drought, literal storms, children leaving home

• Our capability to deal with these trials varies by person and by storm

• Very few are completely under our control

Issues of Concern

Storms

Children's Behaviour

Health

Christian life

Work issues

Economy/ politics

Mother-in-law

Drought

Flying

Circle of Concern

Circle of Concern

(i.e. storms of life)

Circle of Concern

Influence

Beyond Influence

Personal Control

Personal Control

Influence

Beyond Influence

Controlling The Storms

• All are subject to trials

• We can’t stop most trials

• We can head off some

• We can influence many and reduce the force

• We can prepare for those that can not be avoided

We need an action plan!

Inappropriate Elements in the Action Plan?

• Do nothing

• Wait and see

• Ignore the warnings

• Procrastinate

Action Plan Item #1:

Become a New Creature!

• Not just obey the gospel, but…

• Gal. 2:20, Rom. 12:2– Find a new way of thinking– A new manner of decision making – Change the way we evaluate and react to

happenings

• Psalm 37:4-5 - New things make us happy

#2 Build Faith

• Hebrews 11 “Faith’s Hall of Fame”

• Where did these characters get this much faith

• Abraham offered up Isaac

• Faith was not built over a short period of time

Abraham’s Faith-Building Events

• Gen. 12:1-3 -- Divine call and promise• Gen. 12:4 -- 75 years old and no children• Gen. 16 -- Hagar and Ishmael, faltered

faith• Gen. 21 -- Isaac is born 25 years after the

promise (at 100 years old)• Gen. 19 -- Visit from the angels and

destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah• Gen. 22 -- Asked to sacrifice his son

Action Item #3:

Draw Near to God• James 4:8ff

– Draw near and He will draw near to us – Lament over our sinful selves, and change

• I Pet. 5:6-7– Humble yourself– Pray – Cast your cares upon Him

• Matt. 6:33 Seek God before all else

Action Item #4: Expand Your Influence

• Matt. 5:13-16 The Christians’ influence

• I Pet. 3:2 The influence of a wife on her husband as an example

• Be a part of the Church’s work (II Cor. 9:2)

• Stay “qualified” to pray (Jno. 9:31, James 5:16)

• Prayer enables us to influence all areas of the “circle of concern””

Personal Control

Personal Control

Influence

Beyond Influence

Action Item #5 The “Worst Case Scenario…”

• May be the best case scenario (Revelation 14:13)

• Be diligent to make your eternal rest sure (II Pet. 1:10-11)

• Won’t be done without a conscious decision and effort

• All things work together for good for those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28)

Action Item #6: Peace Beyond Understanding

Philippians 4:7

• Hear (Romans 10:17)• Believe (Romans 10:17)• Confess (Romans 10:9-10)• Repent (Acts 2:38)• Be Baptized (Acts 2:38)• Be Faithful Till Death (Revelation 2:10)