WHY THE STORMS?

 

WHY THE STORMS?

 

 

It seems as though there are a lot of people just “going through stuff” right now... TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS, TROUBLES… whether financial, physical health, jobs, interpersonal relationships… whatever the case may be… they are finding themselves in the midst of a STRUGGLE… so caught up in survival that they never really step back and ask, WHY THE STORMS?

 

 

Jas1:2-4NKJV gives some indication on WHY THE STORMS come and how to handle them:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various TRIALS,

knowing that the TESTING of YOUR FAITH produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work,

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

 

The “TESTING” (dokimion) used here is a Greek noun which points NOT to the test itself, but rather what is found approved (genuine) AFTER TESTING… focusing on the inevitable results.

 

 

“Whatever THE STORM is”, comes to shake all that can be shaken so that what remains is THE GENUINE POSTURE OF YOUR FAITH...

·         the place from which you now see all of life...

·         the place from which all your decisions are made...

·         the place of “PATIENCE” (hupomone – constant, cheerful, consistency).

 

AND… consequently, you allow that “constant, cheerful, consistency” to have its complete, effective work in you that you may be “holokleros” - complete in every part, i.e. Perfectly sound (in body) -- entire, whole (Strong’s Concordance)

…LACKING FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

 

 

You are no longer seeing life from being stuck in a situation on the Earth,

but from being seated at the right hand of the Father in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus...

 

 

Eze13:11-14NKJV declares that the reason for “THE STORMY WIND” is to destroy the wall we have built with untempered mortar “so that its FOUNDATION will be uncovered.”

 

 

THE STORM HAS COME TO TEST YOUR FOUNDATION…

       …on what do you really stand?

 

 

“…no other FOUNDATION is laid other than Christ” (1Cor3:11NKJV)

 

 

1Pet1:5-7TPT states “…lately you’ve had to put up with the grief of MANY TRIALS. But these ONLY REVEAL the sterling CORE of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire.”

 

 

Mtt7:24-26 and Lk6:47-49 tell the tale of two builders:

1.      One heard the Lord’s Word AND DID IT…

…thus, digging deep and laying a FOUNDATION upon THE ROCK

2.      The other heard the Word but did not do it… building his house upon sand.

 

THE STORMS came to both houses. 

 

 

WHY THE STORMS?

 

 

To discover YOUR FOUNDATION.