(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: (25) 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. (26) “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: (27) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
(Luke 6:46-49 NKJV) “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? (47) Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: (48) He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. (49) But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
- Jesus taught us that the storms of life come to everybody!
- Storms come to good people!
- Jesus taught us that you can be prepared for the storm!
What does the Word say about patience or consistency?
(Luke 21:19 NKJV) By your patience possess your souls. (have your soul under your control)
(Colossians 1:11 AMPC) [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,
(Hebrews 6:12 NLT) Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.
(Hebrews 6:12 TPT) So don’t allow your hearts to grow dull or lose your enthusiasm, but follow the example of those who fully received what God has promised because of their strong faith and patient endurance.
(James 1:2-4 NKJV) (2) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
(Hebrews 10:36 AMP) For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.
Four reasons people are inconsistent:
- People are inconsistent because of discouragement.
(Galatians 6:9 NKJV) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Weary (Greek: ekkakeo) out of courage or discouraged.
(Galatians 6:9 MSG) So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up or quit.
Discouragement is a product of disappointment or frustrated expectation.
Answer for discouragement: You must forget the past.
(Philippians 3:13-14 TPT) (13) I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. (14) I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.
- People are inconsistent because we get lazy.
(Hebrews 6:11-12 NIV) We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. (12) We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
We must decide to be diligent in spiritual things.
- People are inconsistent because they are weighed down.
(Hebrews 12:1 NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
The Greek gives a picture of someone laying something down and then pushing it far from them, beyond easy reach. It implies a deliberate decision to change your behavior. This does not happen accidentally!
Lay them down and push them away, far out of reach!
- People are inconsistent because they lack joy.
(James 1:2-4 GNB) My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, (3) for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. (4) Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Count it all joy when the storm comes because if you remain consistent you will become perfect and entire wanting nothing.
Joy is the strength of your life to motivate you to become consistent.
(Hebrews 12:2 MSG) Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed–that exhilarating finish in and with God–he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.
(Nehemiah 8:10 NLT) And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
(Psalms 46:1-3 NKJV) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. (2) Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; (3) Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
(Hebrews 13:5 AMP) …for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] [Josh. 1:5.]
God has promised us that He is our ever-present help in times of trouble and will never leave us. How does He do this?
(John 14:16-18 NKJV) And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— (17) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (18) I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Jesus made a point to stress that the Holy Spirit would be with them “forever” in contrast to His soon departure.
He then said that He would personally be present when He said, “I will come to you.”
Have you ever thought to yourself, “Man if only Jesus was here to help me in this situation like He did in the Bible…”
The awesome truth is that the Holy Spirit says exactly what Jesus would say if He were present.
(John 14:25-26 NKJV) “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. (26) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would do three things for us:
- He will teach you all things…
He is the One that brings us light and revelation from God’s Word.
(Ephesians 1:17 NKJV) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
- He would remind us of what Jesus has said to us.
The greatest impact of His ministry to us is when He reminds us of the Word of God when we are in the midst of the storm.
The Holy Spirit will most likely not speak to you in loud, booming voice.
(1 Kings 19:11-13 NKJV) Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; (12) and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (13) So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
(Mark 4:30-32 NKJV) Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? (31) It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; (32) but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”
The soil into which the mustard seed is sown weighs 1000x more than what the seed weighs.
The voice of the Holy Spirit in us is always going to be overshadowed by the problems of life but His Word will overcome them.
- He will show you things to come.
(John 16:13 NKJV) However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
What if we had a way to know that a storm was on the horizon and we could prepare for it? Well, we have the Holy Spirit Who will show us things to come in our lives so that we can be ready.
Make The Deposit
- We must learn the Word of God before we use it and need it.
- The Holy Spirit cannot remind you of what you have never learned!
When you spend time in the Word of God, you are making a deposit into your heart that can be drawn upon later.
“Put the Word in your heart when you don’t need it and it will be there when you do need it.” – Pastor John Osteen
(Luke 6:45 NIV) A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
When you are in the midst of the storm, you need to speak out of the Word that is deposited in your heart, not out of the fear that is going around in your head.
Put voice to the Word of God only! Vocabulary of silence might be necessary.
- If you want to be prepared for the storms of life, you must learn to have regular WOODSHED TIME!
When we spend time in or study the Word of God, you are not always going to have this “AHA! moment.”
The best way to get the Word of God in your heart is to set aside and PLACE and TIME on a consistent basis to read and study.
It will not be a magical experience at first.
This will have an effect on you whether you realize it or not.
- You must school yourself in the discipline of meditating on the Word.
(Joshua 1:8 AMP) This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
The most reliable way to harness your thoughts and redirect your attention is to read aloud.
Meditation in the Word will change your doings!
God looks over the whole earth to find that man or woman who is clinging to His Word!
(2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV) For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal (Hebrew: Shalame- full, peace) to Him…
(Jeremiah 1:12 NKJV) “…for I am ready to perform My word.”