31. Come to me,
all who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will
give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 - 30
32. .. and you will find
REST for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and
my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28 - 30
Editor's Notes
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Big, small, long, short\nAftermath and clean up?\nPredictable & not\nCaused by something and not\nDifferent number, ferocity & duration\nStorms are a very personal experience\n\n
When you face a storm there are only two outcomes\n\n
There is nothing said here about beating the storm or subduing it \nWe know that as sons of God we are called to exercise authority over storms but nothing is mentioned here about that as standing\nThere is none of this if I was a better christian this wouldn’t be happening to me\nSo how do we stand?\n
Jesus is referring to the Sermon on the Mount but before we get into that I want to ask you what is your current storm management plan?\n
Never married\nNo kids - issue for a while\nNever really come to terms with being single\nMy personality is such that I was created for relationships\nI laugh and cry much better with company\nIt became really difficult \n
I want to tell you about a storm in my life and how I handled it\nSee if you can discern what my storm management plan was at the time\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
There are bad and good ways to channel pollyanna\nOf course having the joy of the lord will give you strength\nLet’s have a look at Jesus definition of a storm management plan\n\n
\n
Beatitudes\n Law plus\n Fasting\n Which Gate\n Giving to the needy\n
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you\nTake the plank out of your own eye\nYou will know a tree by its fruit\n
We need to see ourselves as God see us\nSalt and light\nPeacemaker\nDon’t worry\nTreasure in heaven\nLord’s prayer\n
This is what I want to look at today.\nIs God trustworthy?\nIs he our provider?\nDoes he reward those who seek him?\nWill he give me bread or a stone?\n
What is your view of God and storms?\nWhat are your expectations of God in a storm?\nWhat does He promise in a storm?\nI want to propose a new storm management plan for you to consider.\n
The bible tells us that the sun and the rain fall on the just and the unjust\nWe have ample proof in the bible of those who follow Jesus sufferingstorms for all sorts of reasons\nThere is no special treatment for believers\n
With yourself - did I contribute to this, are my expectations reasonable\nWith God - if you are angry with him tell him - don’t hold back - he knows it anyway\n\n
Remind yourself that God is God and you are not\nRemind yourself about God’s character - who he is and who he is not\nSoak in his presence\nSoak in his word\nLook at the Psalms as an example of people sharing their feelings honestly with God\nRead Lamentations 3 - Jeremiah talking to God\n
Remind yourself that you are a child of God\nRemind yourself of the rights and responsibilities you have as a child\nRemind yourself of all that God has done for you in the past\nRead over prophetic words that have been given to you\nRemind yourself of your call and your destiny\n\n
Write out the ones that are relevant to you and look at them every day\nPut them on your iphone, ipad, fridge …..wherever\n
Not on what you wish He was doing\nLook for God in your situation\nAsk Him what it is you can learn about Him now that you could at no other time\nIf you can’t see what He is doing for you look at what He is doing elsewhere\n
Only a few trusted friends\nAsking for prayer not advice\n
\n
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, \nfor I am gentle and lowly in heart,\nand you will find rest for your souls. \nFor my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”\n