Lessons Learned In The Storms Of Life

Lessons Learned In The Storms Of Life Presented by Jason Hardin to an assembly of the Laurel Canyon church of Christ April 6, 2008

Matthew 8:18-22 -- 18 Now when Jesus saw a great crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” …

Matthew 8:18-22 -- 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Matthew 8:23 -- 23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.

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Storms happen to committed disciples.

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Matthew 7:24-27 -- 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock…”

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Matthew 7:24-27 -- 26 “And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

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Acts 14:21-22 -- 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

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2 Timothy 3:12 -- 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…

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Ephesians 5:15-16 -- 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

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Storms happen in order to drive us to Jesus.

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Mark 4:41 -- 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”

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2 Corinthians 12:7-10 -- 7 So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me…

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2 Corinthians 12:7-10 -- 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me…

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2 Corinthians 12:7-10 -- 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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Jesus does care, but acts in His own time and own way for our good.

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1 Peter 5:6-7 -- 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

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Romans 8:28 -- 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

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Jesus can calm the storm.

John 1:1-4 -- 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

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True peace is not living in perpetual calm, but having faith throughout the storms.

Mark 4:39 -- 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:37-38 -- 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Mark 4:37-38 -- 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Philippians 4:7 -- 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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We must allow the storms to strengthen our faith, not cripple it.

James 1:2-3 -- 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

James 1:2-3 -- 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Romans 5:3-4 -- 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.

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