Author: pastorpete51

Are You Ready for the Storm?

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Many years ago, when I was working at a home in upstate New York, the owner invited us downstairs to take a look as his foundation. On reaching the bottom step, he turned and smiled, then flicked on the lights and pointed. There to our astonishment we saw that the entire back wall, consisted of an enormous rock ledge.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 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.” Matthew 7:24-25 ESV

In New York, building your house on rock is a curiosity, but here in Florida it would be a miracle. Here we have nothing but sand, and while we have lived here, I have learned it is wise to keep an eye on the forecast from June through September because that is hurricane season. They advise us to have extra water on hand, keep our cars filled with gas, buy a generator, and have an evacuation plan in place. Just like our weather forecasters, Jesus warns that storms are coming, and the question is not whether they will arrive, but whether we are ready. How I wish that the Christian life was like one long sunny day at the beach. But the reality is that health crises come, car accidents happen, and sometimes people we trusted walk out on us. Real life has only three forecasts. We are either in a hurricane, have just come out of one, or a storm is on the horizon. Jesus says that we cannot change the forecast, but we can be prepared by putting into His words practice. Loving our enemies, forgiving one another, turning the other cheek, and spending time in prayer; are not just nice suggestions, good ideas or wonderful ideals. Putting these words of Jesus into practice is the rock foundation that prepares us for the hurricane. Don’t wait for the storm to arrive. Turn to Jesus right now, confess any sin, and ask Him to be Lord of your life. He is the Carpenter of Galilee and only He can help us build our house on the rock!

Remembering

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And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Luke 22:19 KJV

Just before Jesus went to the cross, He invited His friends to a private dinner, and there began to explain to them what was going to happen next by using bread and wine. Afterwards, Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

“But if we are saved by faith.” You might ask, “Why do we need to follow a ritual?” We ask that because we think of remembering, as simply recalling facts, as when we memorize formulas so that we can pass the math exam. But the kind of remembering Jesus talked about was not just keeping all the details straight. Receiving communion is more like, when I remember my dad, every time I glance up at a photograph of him. That photo isn’t my dad, but it reminds me of seeing his smile, hearing his voice, and feeling His gentle hand on my shoulder. In the same way, we are doing more than just eating a piece of cracker and a drinking a cup of juice. Holy Communion reminds us of His sacrifice, helps us remember His voice in the words of scripture, and even gives us the sense of His hand on our shoulders giving us the strength to live our lives for Him.

Jesus Listens

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Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:32 ESV

Have you ever wondered if your prayers are making it past the ceiling or if God can hear you over the clamor of billions of other folks praying at the same time? Mary’s prayer gives me hope. It wasn’t long, it wasn’t eloquent, in fact, it wasn’t even original.! These were the exact words her sister Martha had used just a few minutes before. But Jesus did something many of us fail to do in a moment of someone else’s time of crisis or grief: He listened. He didn’t interrupt, correct or give advice. Jesus simply gave Mary space to voice her struggle with the terrible question of why.

After taking time to listen, Jesus did something encapsulated in the shortest verse of the Bible: He wept. His tears more than His words, brought healing comfort to Mary and her friends. Lazarus lay in the grave, and though Jesus knew what was going to happen next, no one else did. In our lives it is the same. We see, as Paul says, “through a glass darkly” Our understanding of the future is often clouded by the sorrows or struggles we are drowning in. And yet, our Jesus, who is the Resurrection and the Life, kneels down next to us, and weeps. Now, Jesus doesn’t do this because He doesn’t know what to do. He knows exactly what we need and what His plans are, but He takes time for us to look up to Him and then He begins to show us the way out.

“Where have you laid him?” Jesus asks, and they lead Him to the tomb. Only then, just outside the tomb, where their brother lay wrapped in graveclothes on a cold stone slab, Jesus takes command. “Take away the stone.”

“But Lord,” Martha informs him. He has been dead four days and (here I love the King James) “He stinketh!” Did you know that Jesus already knows how bad things smell in our lives. The death of our hopes and dreams have lain in the grave so long that they smell to high Heaven. But Jesus isn’t concerned about how bad our problems smell, He is concerned now about our obedience and faith. In the words of the hymn, this is the moment to “Trust and Obey>” Yes, Jesus listens, and yes, He weeps with us, but there also comes a time when we must obey, if we are to see the glory of God. What are you facing this morning? Is there a grief, a broken relationship, sickness or disability that has brought life to a standstill. Jesus is here, right now, and He will take time to listen, He will even take time to weep, and then as you trust Him, He will show you the next step to take. What a patient, compassionate, and mighty Savior we serve. I do hope you will enjoy this short message that was given yesterday at Life Care Center. Have a blessed day everyone!