Matthew 7:24-27
There are many kinds of storms in life and they come in many varied ways. Some of them appear suddenly and others progressively manifest and interfere in our lives.
The Bible tells of several things that happened to people of faith. Noah had to build an ark to survive. Moses had to cross a Red Sea. David confronted giants and kings.
We notice all kinds of storms in believer’s lives.
Paul said, “I received 40 stripes five times, was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and day I spent in the ocean deep, I was in perils of all kinds.” Then he said he was “in toil and hardship, through many sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure,” (2 Corinthians 11:24-29). He was still standing after the storm.
In Matthew 7, Jesus was telling us how to survive and thrive when storms come.
Matthew 7:24–27 NKJV“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Here are God’s principles for victorious living.
Jesus is telling us how to live protected during the attack. Thousands of homes and lives are shattered every year. I am not just talking about the devastation of floods, earthquakes, and building collapses. The enemy is brutally coming to steal, kill, and destroy, and he attacks all of our lives with that same goal. Regardless of where the opposition, division, or storm of life comes from, the enemy of your soul is behind it. He is spurring the situation on and attacking your faith and attempting to destroy. Many of you have felt the effects of storms that beat on your life. They have come against us in many varied ways.
We need to know how to keep safe in the storm.
We don’t have to be one of the statistics of the destroyed. You can live a life of victory. Right now you need to determine in your heart and mind that you and your house will stand.
The Lord is talking about surviving the storms of life.
You need to be rooted and grounded so that you can remain stand strong when the storms in life come. What does it mean to be rooted and grounded? The Bible says that the rains fell, floods came, and winds blew, and beat upon that house. The Lord made it possible for you and your home to be strong and continue standing even when the storms come.
Several years ago a church in Texas decided to build a new church and parsonage. The city had just been through one of those terrible storms that devastate tornado alley. The pastor told the congregation that he knew how to build so that the storms would not destroy their church. He looked all over the city for the right property. After he found the location, he built a building that could withstand the storms.
Jesus said, “Storms are coming that will beat upon us.” To be able to stand in the storm, you have to build your life with a strong foundation. You and your family do not have to be destroyed in the storms of life. I know that many of you feel those forces that are beating on your life and family.
Jesus has the plan for victory for you. Jesus said, “The rains will fall and the floods will come, and the winds blow upon all of our lives.” No one is exempt from these kinds of things.
In the Book of Job, the Bible says, “Man is born for trouble as certainly as sparks from an open fire fly upward.” Everybody has their own share of troubles and trials. Some of the storms that beat against our house are spiritual and some are physical. The enemy of our souls comes against us with everything he has.
Jesus used that word “beat.” These storms beat upon that house. When storms beat on the house, it is harsh.
Our first church had a mobile home for a parsonage. When I say mobile, I mean it moved in the wind. It was an old mobile home that had roll out windows and metal siding. Every time the wind blew, the windows rattled and whistled. When it rained, we could hear the water running down the ceiling and walls. One storm blew in and that mobile home started rocking and the windows started rattling and whistling. The walls and floor started moving in and out and up and down and it felt like the house was going to roll. We felt the beating of the storm.
Have you felt the beating of storms in your family and life? Some people feel beaten down. Jesus said the storm would beat on the house.
We are talking about how God intervenes in our lives. Jesus has the answer for the storm in your life. The Lord said you can make it through the storm. You don’t have to be defeated by every storm that comes. Jesus said there is a way to keep standing in the storm.
These words are part of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said His words would give you life. Jesus was saying: “Whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them…will overcome the storm.”Jesus was giving this sermon in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. He is not talking to the world, but to people who are listening to His teaching.
The Sermon on the Mount was not given so you will live by this principle and go to heaven. You have to be born again to go to heaven. The Sermon on the Mount does not tell us how to get saved. The Sermon says nothing about Jesus dying, rising again, and bearing our sins. Nothing is said about how we can go to heaven.Jesus gave this message to show God’s children how to live on this earth.If we do what Jesus said, we can have a good life. If we accept these principles, we will know how to live. Jesus wants believers to be able to stand strong in the storm.
Jesus said: ‘When the rains descend, the floods come, the winds blows, and beat upon your house, you will not fall.’
I want to hear principles that show how to live in this world. If we do what Jesus said, we don’t have to be broken down. Our homes do not have to fall apart and our children don’t have to go to pieces. You can stand strong in the storm of life. When trouble comes knocking at your door, you will know how to answer.
God wants you to remain standing.
You need to know that God looks on you as a living testimony of Jesus Christ. Your survival is a testimony of Christ’s power. You can survive life’s storm and thrive. I know that you want to be a survivor.
Jesus is dealing with every area of life.
He is telling us how to live in front of the world and in front of the principalities and powers of this world. He is talking about matters of the heart, our marriage, and family. He is showing us how to treat others and our enemies. He is telling us how to please God. He is talking about what you watch and things you do. He tells us not to worry, but trust God. He says don’t judge others. He shows us how to pray.
Jesus said if we will hear what He is saying, we would be like a house built on the rock. You need that kind of stability and strength so you can stand when the storms of life start beating on you.
You and your house cannot survive, if you don’t have something stable to build on.
Even if you belong to Jesus, you are going to have storms in your life. The thief of your soul is going to attack and attempt to kill, steal and destroy. Persecution and storms are going to come from every direction. They will be physical and spiritual, and emotional and natural.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
We need to make this confession, “Storms are coming, but I am going to stand strong.”Make up your mind that you are going to stand because you represent the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
First, we all know that storms in life are coming.
Second, recognize your worth as a Christian in this world.
Each of us need to know that we are a representative of Jesus Christ in this world. Jesus said, ‘You are the salt and light of this world.’ As Christ’s representatives, we stand in contradiction to the world. The world will only tolerate a certain amount of salt and light. Just as Jesus was the light of the World, so He has made you light in the world. As light, we stand against the darkness that is around us.
Salt and light are very important. Salt has preserving power. Because we are here, we are preserving this earth.
Jesus said, ‘you are the light of the world.’ Light shows you the way.
Since you belong to God, your relationship with the Lord will be tested and tried.That is why the storms are coming. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Winds will blow, rain will fall and storms will beat on your house.
You need to believe what God says about you. The world and the enemy may think you do not matter, but you belong to God.
1 John 4:4 NKJV You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4 CEV Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God’s Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world.
God has you on this earth for a reason. In Isaiah 43:3 God says, “You may be going through flood waters or rising rivers, but God said they will not overflow you. You may be walking through fires of difficulties, but God said they will not burn or scorch you.” If you belong to Jesus, this includes you.
You represent the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We are children of the Creator of this universe, and we are a force that must be reckoned with on this earth. God’s church is holding back the flood tide of evil.
You are a preserving power. You may not feel like you are much, but you have an impact on the world. You represent the King of kings and the Lord of lords. You belong to God. Jesus said, “You are the salt and the light of the world.”
How does God intervene in our lives?God wants to show you what He can do in your life.
How can we stand when the storms of life come? The answer is found in what God has said. Build your life on what our God has said and let His words sink deep into your heart and mind. Purposefully dig deep into the Word of God and persistently go after God.
You don’t have to crumble under the beating storms of life. God does not want the storms of life to beat you down. He wants to see you still standing after the storm.
John 16:33 NKJV These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
- He is Jehovah Nissi – the God who defends.
- He is Jehovah Rapha – the God who heals our deepest wounds.
- He is El Shaddai – the God Almighty.
- He is Jehovah Shalom – the God our Peace.
- He is Jehovah Jireh – the God who supplies all our needs.
- He is Jehovah Shammah – the God Who is always present.
- He is Jehovah Roi – the Lord our Shepherd.
- He is Jehovah M’kiddish – the God who changes us and makes us holy.
We are not just standing on anything that comes along. We have a sure foundation and we have taken a stand on Him and what He has said. If storms are beating against your life, run to the Lord your God and be still. Release every burden, disturbing thought and emotion, and rest in the Lord. Let His strength and power dwell in you strongly and receive from His hand. He is the God who heals and delivers from calamity and destruction.
Psalm 91:1–11 NKJV He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
I am still standing after the storm!
