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Preparing
for the Storms of Life
1.
Natural temptation:
Give up and go back to old ways John
21:3 "I'm going out to
fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with
you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they
caught nothing. Proper
response:
Remain faithful and wait for God’s deliverance Ps
37:34 Wait for the LORD and
keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are
cut off, you will see it. Ps
130:5 I wait for the LORD,
my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. 2.
Natural temptation:
Escape or drown sorrows Jonah
1:3 But Jonah ran away from
the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found
a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and
sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. Isa
55:1 "Come, all you
who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come,
buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does
not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul
will delight in the richest of fare. Proper
response:
Remain faithful to duties, and burrow deep into God for security Ps
62:1 For the director of
music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him. 2 He
alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be
shaken … 5 Find rest, O
my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will
not be shaken. 3.
Natural temptation:
Anxiety, fret, fear, and worry 2
Ki 6:14 Then he sent horses
and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded
the city. 15 When the
servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an
army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my
lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. 16
"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those
who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17
And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may
see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and
saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Proper
response:
Trust God and enjoy the peace which passes understanding Phil
4:6 Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. 7 And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 4.
Natural temptation:
Anger, resentment, and vengeance Gen
34:1 Now Dinah, the
daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the
land. 2 When Shechem son of
Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and
violated her … 25 Three
days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons,
Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the
unsuspecting city, killing every male. Proper
response:
Give out the mercy the Lord has given you Eph
4:32 Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you. 5.
Natural temptation:
Grumble against life or God Num
11:4 The rabble with them
began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and
said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5
We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the
cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6
But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this
manna!" Job
10:1 "I loathe my very
life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in
the bitterness of my soul. 2 I
will say to God: Do not condemn me, but tell me what charges you have
against me. 3 Does it
please you to oppress me, to spurn the work of your hands, while you
smile on the schemes of the wicked? Proper
response:
Accept the limited storm as from the Sovereign hand of the loving
God Job
1:21 and said: "Naked
I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and
the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (Also Phil 2:14-15) 1
Cor 10:13 No temptation has
seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will
not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are
tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under
it. (Also Rom 8:28; Jam 1:2-4) 6.
Natural temptation:
Self-pity and self-exemption
Job
19:21 "Have pity on
me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me. Proper
response:
Repent of self-pity as a sin, and do what is right Job
42:5 My ears had heard of
you but now my eyes have seen you. 6
Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." 7.
Natural temptation:
Self-reliance John
18:10 Then Simon Peter, who
had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off
his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11
Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not
drink the cup the Father has given me?" Proper
response:
Choose to look only to God Ps
9:10 Those who know your
name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who
seek you. Ps
118:8 It is better to take
refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 8.
Natural temptation:
Consumed with guilt and shame
Mat
27:5 So Judas threw the
money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Proper
response:
Remember the Truth – Jesus’ death covered all your sins 1
Pet 3:18 For Christ died
for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you
to God … 9.
Natural temptation:
Survive, endure Mat
25:15 To one he gave five
talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent,
each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey … 18
But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole
in the ground and hid his master's money. Proper
response:
Allow the trial to work godliness in you 1
Pet 1:6 In this you greatly
rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief
in all kinds of trials. 7 These
have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes
even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in
praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Excerpted from a 2-part message entitled "Preparing for the Storms of Life" |