Weatherproofing Your Home against Life’s Storms

2005014

Topic # 2562

Introduction:

A.     Life is full of ups and downs. Good times & bad times.  Times of great self confidence; contrasted by times of worry and wonder.

B.     The storms of life will come.  They are inevitable.

1.      If there ever was a person who experienced storms – it was Job.

2.      Job – Job 1 – riding high – things going well. Job 1:1-5

3.      1:13-22 – lost his possessions and family.

4.      2:1-10 – lost his health.

5.      Through centuries – men have asked…how did Job do it?

C.    Look at his resolve:

1.      Job 2:7-10 – in all this Job did not sin with his lips.

2.      His goal – to remain loyal to God.

3.      Job. 6:8-10 – rejoiced in unsparing pain that he had not denied the words of the Holy One.

4.      Despite his unspeakable agony & pain – 7:4-6

D.    Think of others who experienced storms of life – Elijah; Peter; Paul.  How did they survive?

E.     Mt. 7:24-27 – life’s storms are not optional. They will come.  No one is exempt. It is part of the fact of living.

F.     Since they’re coming – what can we do now to prepare?  How can we get ready to stand up during the tough times?

 

I.  Seek good advice on how to weatherproof: Look at the plan: God’s plan.

A.     It is not wise to develop a relationship with God DURING a storm – that relationship with God should be established long before the storm is on the horizon!

B.     We shouldn’t have to look up the promises of God – we should know them!

C.    We shouldn’t to be taught how to pray during the bad times – it should have long been the practice of our life!

D.    2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet 3:18;

E.     Work to become well rooted spiritually – Col. 2:6-8

F.     Is this a priority for your family?  Is your family immersed in the word of God? 

1.      Bible class lessons?  There is a purpose for this, you know.

2.      Daily Bible reading?

 

II. Solidify your existing spiritual foundation and spiritual structure.

A.     Use the good times to prepare for the bad.

B.     It’s a principle seen in nature - Think of the squirrels who gather in warm months to have food to sustain them during winter.

3.      It’s a principle seen in scripture.

a)     Genesis 41:47-49 – Joseph in Egypt.

4.      Many today experience good times; immense blessings & yet neglect spiritual responsibilities and enrichment.

5.      Cruise along with no thoughts of what could be around the bend.

C.    Good times are not just for relaxation & rest. See Lk. 12:16-21.

1.      The man’s concentration on eating, drinking, and being merry cost him his soul.

D.    It is during the good times – when some bring on life’s storms as a consequence of sinful behavior.

1.      Marriage problems…

2.      Financial problems…not content…

3.      Job problems … do not respect employer…

4.      Lack of control w/anger…

5.      Teen angers …not fleeing youthful lusts…

6.      Find yourself in a self-imposed storm?  Repent! Rather than blame…confess!

7.      Romans 13:11-13

 

III. Cover Your Life in Prayer

A.     Those who weathered the storms of life in scripture had intense prayer lives

1.      David – Psalm 3, 5

2.      Paul – Phil. 4:6-8 – don’t think for a moment he’s not writing from personal experience!

B.  The Scriptures exhort us be prayerful.

1.  James 1:5-7 – must pray for wisdom.

2. 1 Peter 5:7; 1 Thess 5:17

C.    Again…this is a practice that should be well established BEFORE the storms of life approach.

D.    Would you describe your family as a praying family?

1.      How often does your family pray together?

2.      How often do you pray yourself?

3.      Fathers…what are you prepared to do in order to make sure your family prays together?

E.     Prayer is the lifeline of the soul.  It is the key to a healthy relationship with God!

 

IV. Get some help – develop healthy relationships now.

A.     It’s when life is at its worst that the cracks in relationships really stand out.

1.      If something catastrophic where to happen NOW

2.      Could your marriage handle it?

3.      Would your relationship with your children be stressed?

4.      Would your family glorify God in the way they handled the situation?

B.     Work now while times are good to repair the damage to relationships done in days past. 

1.      Nothing worse than to try to weather life’s storms alone.

2.      Peril & failure await those who try to do it alone!

3.      Let the past be the past!  Turn over a new leaf and start living for the future and not in the past!

C.    Develop relationships with brethren of like precious faith.

1.      Acts 2:42; 46-47; 4:3234-37 – look at the togetherness of the FC Christians BEFORE the tough times came.

2.      Acts 8:1-4 – TOUGH times came.

a)     Don’t underestimate the fact that their success was due partly to the solid relationships they built w/each other. 

b)     Could take comfort in the faith of each other.

D.    What about Today? 

1.      Are we working now to grow closer to one another?  To get to know each other? 

2.      To build up enough trust that can help when times get rough?

3.      To where we can know other families in the congregation will be there when our families go through life storms?

 

V.  Secure all of this by building love for each other.

A.     Everyday, husbands – work on developing and strengthening the relationship with your wife.

1.      Same for wives…husbands.

B.     Everyday, fathers, mothers – work on developing and strengthening the relationship with your children.

C.    Everyday children – work on developing and strengthening the relationship with your parents.

D.    If everyone in the family is concerned about living for Jesus, there will be a strong bond of love within the family. 

E.     Build that now – while you have the opportunity….because:

 

Conclusion:

A.     1 Cor. 3:11-13

B.     The fire (storm) will test the quality of each man’s work.  See Mt. 7:24-27

C.    How solid is your weatherproofing?  Are you busy now working for God?

D.    Eph. 5:15-16

E.     I N V I T A T I O N