Storms in our life - Part 2

Welcome to this week's message from the Church at Chelsea Westover.

Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth.

We pray that this message changes your life.

Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you.

I want you to turn with me this morning to John chapter 16.

John 16 · chapter mention

Aren't you glad you can come to church and have a good time?

Amen.

That's what church is all about.

The joy of the Lord being in the Spirit of God.

And where the Spirit of the Lord is, what is it?

There's liberty.

2 Corinthians 3, 17.

When I was pastor, when I was pastoring, when I was the dean and vice president at Liberty University all those years, every Sunday I was in a different church, and I'd get up and I'd tell all the young people that were getting ready to go to college, I know it's God's will for you to go to Liberty University.

And they'd all look at me.

I said, No, I can prove it scripturally.

2 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 17.

2 Corinthians 3:17

For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there's liberty.

Falwell loved that.

He used to get up when we'd have all the kids in.

He said, Love it.

Get up there and quote those verses.

And then the other one was in Psalms, for I will walk at liberty.

So John chapter 16.

John 16 · chapter mention

You know, I said last week we looked at part one of the storms and that what we need to learn from the storms of life.

Today the title of the message is Jesus Instructs Us About Storms.

Another title you could give it, Jesus Prepares Us for the Storms.

And I'd be honest with you, I'd never preached this passage of Scripture before in this perspective, in this enlightenment.

I told you I was going to Mark 4 and John 16.

Well, I don't have time to do both of them.

So Mark 4, the storms, will be probably my first message in January.

Just that first message because I thought that'd be a good way to kick off the new year.

But let me tell you, I want to get you real excited about what we're going to be looking at the first of the year.

Well, first of all, the next three weeks, this next Sunday, we've got the director of the foundries going to be here.

Brother Bill preached.

Now he can preach.

And I'm excited about him being here.

I know that if you've not heard about, how many have you ever heard about the Foundry?

Amen.

Well, I know Paige.

God used the Foundry to change Paige's life.

And I had the privilege about six weeks ago to go down there and preach on a Thursday night, and we had about 400 plus there, and we had church.

I don't know how many got saved.

Three came up and said they were about ready to commit suicide, and God had spoken them to that night.

So it's just an unbelievable place for people to get help.

And I told Bill, I said, Bill, would you please come one Sunday and he can come next Sunday so that we can be a blessing to the foundry?

And we will.

We'll take up a Christmas love offering next Sunday for the Foundry.

So that's going to be a blessing.

I love to be a blessing during this time of year.

Can I get an amen?

I love to be a blessing at all times of year, but especially during this time.

This is the most trying time for a lot of people.

More people commit suicide in between the Thanksgiving and the end of the year than any other time.

So when you're out shopping, when you're out visiting, give someone a smile.

Help someone.

Tell them God bless you.

God loves you.

Amen.

Because he does.

John 16.

Jesus is getting the disciples ready to go through the greatest storm of their life.

The Gospels is probably the, you know, the four Gospels are so exciting.

And I always, when somebody gets newly born again, gets saved for the first time.

And I always tell them, they say, where do I need to start in the Bible?

Well, don't start in Genesis.

Okay?

Because that's a historical book.

Where you need to start is to find out, hey, who you just received and how you can have a relationship with the most awesome person you'll ever, hey, the most awesome person that ever comes into your life named Jesus.

And the Gospel of John is all about Jesus.

And what I love about the Gospel of John, verses, uh, should I say, chapters 13 through 17, we see is the most intimate revealing of Jesus' heart to the disciples.

Because he knows he's about ready to go to the cross.

And we see in John 13, it's the upper room where they have the Last Supper together, where Judas betrays him.

Okay?

Where Peter stands up, and we're going to be looking at that this morning.

Peter stands up and says, Even though all the other disciples forsake you, I will never forsake you.

Oh, did he not understand?

He didn't understand the storm that was about to come his way.

Okay?

Then chapter 14, we know it's the heaven chapter.

He talks about him going and preparing a place for us, and he's coming back.

Can I get an amen?

And we talked about that in our series on heaven and the beam of judgment seat this summer.

And what a great series that was.

Okay, and then when we get to chapter 15, which I preached about, what, four weeks ago about the vine?

Bringing, when we said bringing our friends to Jesus, and that we're to be productive, that we're to bear fruit, what some fruit, more fruit, much fruit.

And then when we get to chapter 16, we see Jesus opened his heart and he says to the disciples, now you better listen to me.

Because you're about to go through the storm of your life.

Notice what he says.

And I love this.

How Jesus prepares us for this storm.

These things, verse one, have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended.

The word offended there means that ye will not stumble, that ye will not fall away.

He says, so that you will what?

Uphold your faith.

You will not throw away your faith.

You will not be afraid.

And then he goes on and he says, They shall put you out of the synagogues.

Yea, the time comes that whosoever kills you will think that they've done God a service.

Wow.

Talking about persecution.

And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me.

But these things have I told you that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.

And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

But now I go my way to him that sent me.

And none of you asked me whether I'm going.

You don't none of you have even asked me why am I leaving?

Where am I going?

Verse 6, but because I have said these things unto you, sorrow has filled your heart.

Now they realize he's going away.

See, they thought he was going to come and set up his own kingdom and rule forever, and they were going to be main people, should I say, they were going to be monarchs in the kingdom of Jesus.

But now he says, No, I'm going to die.

See, Jesus dying was not in their plan.

Sometimes we get so frustrated and we get so discouraged and we get so defeated because we don't what?

Allow Jesus to do his plan.

And when he does, hey, when Jesus doesn't do the plan that we think he should do, we get upset.

We get sorrowful.

We get discouraged.

We get defeated.

Exactly what happened to the disciples.

Man, they're they're they're just, I'm talking about they're out.

They're saying, oh no, this can't be.

Why me?

Hello.

How can this happen?

Now, watch the next verse.

Mm-mm.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth.

It is expedient.

Now that word expedient there literally means it is profitable for you.

It means not only profitable, it is good.

It is to your advantage that I go away.

Because if I don't go away, the comforter, Parilochis, hey, hey, if I don't go away, your helper, your friend, your counselor, your advocate, your hey, your best help can't come.

That person that's going to come alongside you and see you through the storms will not come if I don't go away.

But they didn't understand that.

They didn't understand that.

For if I for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you.

But if I depart, I will send him unto you.

And when he has come, he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.

Now let's start and let's look at three or four things I want you to see here today.

First of all, let's look at how Jesus prepares us for the storm.

Jesus is talking to the disciples here, and the first thing Jesus does for his children when there is a storm approaching.

And last week, what do we learn?

It's not if the storms are coming, but what?

Count it not strange.

And we're going to look at that in 1 Peter chapter 4.

1 Peter 4 · chapter mention

But in James 1, what does he say?

Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations.

When, and that word diver's there, when all kinds of storms come your way, count it all joy.

And we learned about how we could do that last week.

So here's what he's saying.

Number one, he lets us see the clouds coming.

He lets us see the storms coming.

In other words, he prepares us for the storms.

He doesn't allow us to be caught off guard.

Now, see, he's setting the disciples up.

He's telling them, look again in verse 1, he says, These things have spoken unto you that you should not be afraid.

I don't want you to be taken off guard.

I want you to understand what's about to happen.

You're about to go through the worst storm of your life.

And I want to teach you how you can be prepared for that storm.

Can I get an amen?

And that's what he tells us.

1 Peter 4, 12 and 13.

Remember what we saw that last week.

He says, Count it not strange, beloved, think it not strange concerning.

Now notice the next word.

What does that next word say?

Why couldn't he have just said trial?

Why couldn't he just say trials?

Why did he have to say fiery trials?

I don't know about you, but the word fiery before the word trials means it's gonna be hot.

Amen.

I mean, you're gonna go through it.

Like Chadrap, Meshak, Nebed Nico.

They went through, they literally went through the fiery furnace.

But notice what he said, which is to try you as though some strange thing.

I don't want your fiery trials to catch you off guard.

That's what he's saying.

And here's why.

Verse 13.

Then he says, rejoice.

For remember we talked about last week having the right attitude.

He says, but rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffering.

In other words, God, hey, in his plan for your life and my life, guess what?

Has in, hey, in his, should I say, scheme of things, suffering for you and me.

We cannot go through the Christian life without suffering.

Hello.

That will help you.

We cannot go through the Christian life without suffering.

I wish we could.

Wouldn't you like to get saved today and know the whole problems?

No more suffering, no more problems.

That's it.

Hey, the rest of my life I'm going to live on the mountaintop.

Am I the only one that would really like that?

Well, I got news for you.

It ain't gonna happen.

Because the Bible says, fiery trials.

But the Bible says, 2 Timothy 2, 3, thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 3, excuse me, says, all that will live godly shall suffer persecution.

It's coming.

But there's a reason.

And notice what he says.

Because he says, But as we are partakers of Christ's suffering, by the way, can I say this?

You cannot really get to know Christ without suffering.

Amen.

Now that's going to help you.

Philippians, thank you, Lord.

This is a great verse.

Philippians 3.10.

That I might know him, Paul said.

And the power of his resurrection.

Oh, I want the power of God's resurrection on my life.

Can I get an amen?

That I might know him and the power of his resurrection being, hey, and the fellowship of his suffering.

That I might be conformed into his image.

No suffering, no power.

Hello.

No suffering, no power, no conformity.

That's good.

Hey, you gotta go through the suffering to see the glory.

You gotta go through the suffering to see the deliverance.

You gotta go through the suffering to see the personal power of God and his presence and his perseverance and his protection.

So we see that.

He says, hey, look at verse 16.

I meant, excuse me, chapter 16, look at verse 1.

I'm telling you to keep, hey, I'm telling you this to keep you from being afraid.

Then look at what it says in verse 2.

You will be chased out of the Jewish meeting places.

The time will come when people will kill you thinking they're doing God a favor.

Verse 3, they will do all these things because they don't know me and my father.

Then verse 4, I am saying this to you now, so when the time comes, watch.

When the storms come, that's the key.

You will remember what I've said.

And then verse 5.

I was with you at the first, and so I didn't tell you these things.

But now I'm going back to the Father who sent me, and none of you ask me where I'm going.

Now, real quick, look.

Man, this is good.

He lets us see the clouds.

Why?

Coming.

He lets us know to get prepared for the storm.

Why?

Number one, so that our fears will be lessened.

So that our fear, you won't be taken off surprise by surprise when your doctor says, I'm sorry you got cancer.

Or you walk in, happened to Sylvester.

Walked in one day, he's the leading salesman in his company, and they said, We need to talk.

And he says, Sylvester, we got to cut back.

The whole company's coming back.

We got to let you go.

I just met Sylvester.

Just met him.

Hey, your storms are coming.

You can't be caught off guard.

And therefore, they, I'm sure, and I would have too.

He was, man, he was low.

But then he said, wait a minute, I'm a child of the king.

I'm a child of the king.

Hey, he's my father.

I'm his son.

And my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

All.

By the way, the Greek word for all means all.

All things.

Amen.

All things.

And we see that right here.

God's not given a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7.

2 Timothy 1:7

If you're his son, he's going to take care of you.

There's nothing you wouldn't do for your own children.

You would die for your children.

Well, I got news.

Jesus did die for you and me.

Wow.

So that our fears will be lessened.

The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

All troubles.

Psalms 34, 19.

Number D.

So we will be secure in him.

Look at verse 4.

Boy, this is good.

He says, I want you to remember the words I've said when this time comes.

In other words, when that major storm comes into your life, remember the words.

Jesus said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

Amen.

And not only that, you've got the comforter.

You've got the Holy Spirit.

You've got your best friend walking alongside you as you walk through that trial or that storm.

Amen.

And that's good.

That's what he said.

God, 2 Corinthians 3, 5, we're not sufficient in ourselves, but our sufficiency is in God.

I will not put my trust in man.

I'll put my trust in God.

Can I get an amen?

Psalms 118, 6.

I will not put my trust in the government.

Hallelujah.

I'll put my trust in him.

Psalms 118, verse 9.

Psalms 118:9

I tell you what, our government needs revival.

I think any of us in here could do a better job than what they're doing.

I'm not going there and see.

Because the timing is right.

Oh boy, this is good.

Verse 4 and 5.

There's a time for us to hear God talk to us about the storms of our life.

If God was to open another window right now and show you all the storms that you got to go through in order to be what he wants you to be, you'd probably give up right now.

Amen.

You'd probably say, Well, I'd just go on to heaven.

Yeah, but the only problem with that, you wouldn't be, you wouldn't have finished what God wanted you to do.

And see, you've got to go through the refining process so that God will get you to where you need to be so he can use you the way he wants to.

Amen.

He's got a purpose for you, and we're going to see that.

I'm getting ahead of myself.

Man, I'm excited.

Because the timing is right.

Look at what he says.

By the way, Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, there's a time and a purpose for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Can I get an amen?

There's a time and a purpose for everything.

Amen.

Now listen to what he says in Psalms 31:15.

Psalms 31:15

Boy, this is good.

In Psalms 31, 15, my times.

God says, my times, I meant David's saying to God, my times are in your hand.

Your time, my time's in his hand.

Can I get an amen?

He said, Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from them that persecute me.

That's pretty good.

Hey, when you're going through the storm, you can say, Oh, Lord, stop help.

You can't say, stop it.

Even though you do, he's not going to stop it until he's through.

By the way, I forgot to tell you last week.

Remember the refining process with the silversmith and how he was sitting right there watching that silver.

And if he took it out too soon, it wouldn't be worth anything.

If he took it out too late, it wouldn't be worth anything.

He had to get it just to the right point so the draw so the silver was completely gone.

And it was at its peak.

One of you ought to ask me the question last week.

How does he know when to pull it out?

Good question.

When does he know?

When he sees his face in the silver.

Ooh.

Ooh.

My, my, my, my.

When he sees his reflection in the silver.

Wow, Judge.

So how does he know when it's time for you to be taken out of your storm when he sees his image in you?

Woo! When he sees his attitude, his thankfulness in you and in me.

That's when it's time for the storm to stop.

Is that not good?

Man, that's good.

Oh, that's true.

When the timing is right, look at the second thing.

He assures us that he has our best interests in mind.

Oh boy, isn't that good?

Look at verse 6 and 7.

He says, in verse 6, part of verse 6, but because I have said these things unto you sorrow has filled your heart, and that's usually what happens when a major storm comes.

He says, You're very sad from hearing all of this.

But look at what he says.

But I tell you that.

And he says, I tell you this, and I tell you that.

Now underline the next phrase.

I'm going to do what is best for you.

I'm going.

He says, I am going to do.

It is expedient for you that I go away.

What that means is it is for your best interest.

I'm going to do what's best for you.

Romans 8 28, you know it?

Quote it with me.

For we know all.

All things work together for good.

To them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

Amen.

All things.

Say it with me.

All things.

Not some things, all things.

And we see that.

What a beautiful, beautiful picture.

The storm that comes our way that you're about to go into or you've just come out of.

You either, hey, let me tell you something about a storm.

You're either going in or coming out.

That's life.

Hello.

That's life.

Amen.

But we see whether you're going in or you're coming out, it's for your benefit.

Say this with me.

My storms are for my benefit.

Say that with me, church.

My storms are for my benefit.

Amen.

I'm preparing you and I'm helping us.

I'm preparing us.

Notice the third thing.

He sends the Holy Spirit to minister us in the midst of a storm.

Verse 7 and 8.

Again.

He says, But if I, he says, for if I go not away, the comforter will not come.

But if I go away, the comforter is going to come.

Parakelas.

Parakelas.

The comforter.

The Holy Spirit.

Notice what he does.

The Holy Spirit reveals truth about sin in God's justice.

It's in your outline.

He reveals what?

Truth about sin in God's justice.

Can I say something as a Christian?

Look at verse 8.

He says he reproves the world of sin and righteous judgment.

Can I say something?

You cannot get away, hey, with sin if you're a Christian.

Hello.

You can't get away with sin if you're a Christian.

The Holy Spirit convicts you.

I said something yesterday.

And I just is clear.

And the Holy Spirit just nailed me.

And I said, Lord, I am sorry.

I should not have said that.

That just quickened my spirit through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Well, a few minutes later, Susan walks in the kitchen.

She says, Honey, you know I love you.

And when your wife tells you, I know, you know I love you, that means she's fixing to nail you.

I've been married 32 wonderful years, that woman.

But when she's honey, I know.

You know I love you.

I know, oh no, what have I done?

Or here it goes.

Most of the time I know what I've done.

And I I keep thinking, she was in the other side of the room.

How did she hear that?

I said, you're right.

I was wrong.

She said, Well, I just love you.

I said, Yeah, you and the Holy Spirit.

But thank God for a wife that loves me enough she's going to tell me the truth.

Do I hear an amen?

As long as you speak the truth in love, it's okay.

It's not okay to speak the truth in anger and malice.

Amen.

So we see again, he reproves us.

Let me say something right now.

If you if you are continuing in sin right now and there's no conviction, you need to examine your heart whether or not you're saved.

Amen.

Amen.

Ladies, you heard what did K.

Arthur tell you.

She said, hey, you can't continue in sin and be saved.

That's what 1 John says.

And by the way, don't just label the big sins.

Well, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do this, I don't do that, I don't do that.

Hey, bad attitudes, being disobedient, not witnessing, not reading your word, not praying.

All that's sin.

He that knoweth to do good and doeth at not.

Oh, what did it say?

He that knoweth to do good and doeth at not, to him it is what?

Sin.

Hello.

Romans 14, 17.

Where is it?

James 4.17.

It's one of them.

I think it's James 4.17.

Notice B.

He guides the believer in truth.

Notice what he says.

Oh, that isn't that beautiful.

Look at what he says in verse 12, right here.

He says, I have yet many things to say unto you, but I yet cannot bear them.

No, that's let's see.

I'm sorry.

Go back to verse 7.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth.

I tell you the truth.

I will guide you.

The Holy Spirit will guide you in truth.

Look at John 14, verse 26 and 27.

John 14:26

This is powerful.

If you go back a few chapters, he says, but the comforter has come for the purpose of guiding us into truth and to be our comforter.

John 14, verses 26 and 27.

John 14:26

Listen to what he says.

This is powerful.

But the comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I've said unto you.

That is a powerful verse because when you're in the midst of your storm and you don't know what to do, you don't know where to turn, you don't know where to go, that's when the Holy Spirit, who's walking beside you, is going to grab that arm and say, Follow me.

Amen.

Through the word of the living God.

Go this way.

When David had his cancer, God gave him direction through the power of the Holy Spirit through a verse.

Amen.

Guides the believer in full truth.

Then see, glorifies God during the midst of the storm.

Verse 16, 14, and 15, we see what he says.

Let me get there.

John 16, 14 and 15, look at what he says.

Therefore said I that he shall take of mine and shall show it unto you.

Everything that God sends our way through his son and through the teaching and leading of the Holy Spirit is for one purpose, and that's to exalt Jesus.

Because John 12, 32 says, if Jesus is lifted up, what does it say?

He will draw all men unto myself.

So even in the midst of our storms, our purpose is to glorify him.

All four Gospels is recorded.

Jesus told us believers that he would send the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to walk alongside of us, and to minister to us.

Number four, he gives us enough light for today.

Well, this is good.

In other words, you can't handle light for Friday, but you can handle light for Sunday.

Amen.

If Ivil had known what was about to happen to him, he would have skipped it.

Amen.

I like an honest fellow.

Amen.

I would have skipped it.

You went to the doctor on that morning.

What was that thirsty?

Wasn't it thirsty?

Well, Thursday morning, he and Roach Marie were planning on just going in there, getting his little thing, and then going on out and having a great day, going fellowship together, go, you know, just spend the day together.

God had a different plan.

But if God had shown him that Wednesday what he was going to go through, he would have skipped it.

How many of you when you get in your car at night?

How far does your light shine?

Only far enough to get you, what, about a quarter of a mile, maybe?

Not even that far.

And then when you get to that quarter of a mile or that eight hundred feet or whatever it is, you see more light.

More light as you're driving.

Isn't that a blessing?

Well, that's the same way God does his light.

And let me say something to you right here.

Don't you miss this.

He's not going to give you any more light until you're obeying the light he's already given you.

Hello.

You okay?

Look at what he said.

Oh, this is verse 16.

Jesus told his disciples, You will see me for a little while, then for a little while you won't see me.

Then look at what they said in verse 18.

They said to each other, What does Jesus mean by this?

That's a good question.

Hey, you're going to see me a little while, then you're not going to see me a little while.

What in the world does that mean?

Then notice what he says.

Look at what he says in verse 12.

Jesus said, I have much more to say to you, but right now it would be more than you could handle, more than you could understand.

Then look at verse 23.

When that time comes, you won't have to ask me about anything.

Right now, hey, you're full of questions.

They're about to enter the storm.

They are.

The disciples are asking the typical question.

Why is this happening to me?

What in the world's going on here?

He's leaving, he's not leaving.

He says he's, hey, hey, he's going to the Father.

Remember in John 14, he's already told him he's going to go and prepare a place.

If Jesus, the reason he had to go away, he had to go prepare a place for them.

If in a state, we wouldn't have a mansion.

Amen.

Hello?

God's got the whole picture in mind, not just you.

But he does have you in mind too.

Amen.

So, man, what a beauty.

And then verse 24, then it will be given to you that you will be completely happy.

He said, Look, you're going to know, but you trust me.

You're going to know when you need to know.

Say that with me, church.

You're going to know when you need to know.

That's unbelievable truth.

God's going to give you the peace and the answer when you need to know.

Man, that's good.

And then look at what he said in verse 25.

I have used examples to explain to you what I've been talking about.

He was using Proverbs.

But the time will come when I will speak to you plainly about the Father, and you will no longer need examples.

You know.

Man, that's good.

The word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Can I get an amen?

Look at the fifth thing.

By the way, let me give you the verse.

1 John 1.7.

Here's what you got to do.

1 John 4.7 about the light.

He says, if we walk in the light, watch this.

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.

And the blood of Jesus Christ, his sons, cleanses us from all sin.

Folks, listen to me.

As you're walking in the light with Jesus, and you're walking in light with Jesus' brothers and sisters, they help through the power of the Holy Spirit's leading you, but your other brothers and sisters come alongside with you to help too.

So you're doing this together.

You're walking together in the light.

That's why it's so important that you have a dynamic church that you know that hey has these core values, clear biblical truth, vibrant worship, fulfilling service, getting involved, and intimate fellowship.

That's why we eat together.

That's why we have small groups.

We are a family, and when the family's hurting, I told a couple of people today I'd ask them, they said, Well, I uh we weren't able to do this, couldn't be here because of this.

I said, if you don't call me next time, I'm gonna get very upset.

Actually, I said I'm gonna whip you, but I'm here to help one another.

Can I get an amen, church?

That's why I ask you every Sunday, if you know people in need, please tell us.

Write it on a prayer card, give it to us so we can help.

And that's what Jesus is all about.

And then look at what he says in Ephesians 5.8.

For you were once in darkness when you were lost, but now you're light in the law.

Hey, light in the Lord, walk as children of light.

What is walking as children of light?

You're taking one day at a time, sweet Jesus.

You don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow.

There's nothing you can do about tomorrow.

It's not here yet.

You can't do anything about yesterday, it's gone.

But you can do everything about today.

You can live for him today and be a blessing today.

Amen.

You can be like him today.

Man, that's good.

Number five, he reminds us of his unconditional love.

Look at verse 31.

He says, Don't miss this.

This is the most powerful part of the whole thing.

Let's look at it.

Jesus replied, Do you really believe?

Jesus said, Do you really believe me?

This is pretty good.

In fact, look at verse 30.

The disciples, now are you sure that, hey, he says, now are we sure, the disciples are saying, that thou knowest all things.

We know, God, you know everything, and need not that any man should ask thee.

But this we believe that thou hast come from God.

They finally are kind of getting the picture.

We've seen you do all these miracles.

We know that you really are sent from God.

And then he says, Jesus answered him, do you now believe?

In other words, I've been telling you this for four chapters.

Hello! Do you now believe?

Do you get it?

He says, because you better get it.

You better, here's what he said, you better understand it because you're about to get it.

Bless our hearts.

Hey, if the disciples can make it, whoa, we can make it.

They weren't too smart sometimes.

Amen.

Just like me.

Just like me.

I'm not too smart.

I'm not smart sometimes.

Thank you, Randy.

And there's about 160 more, too.

They're just not omitting it.

Do you really believe me?

He said, now watch, verse 32, because the time's gonna come, it's already here, when all of you will be scattered.

Oh my.

Each of you will go back home and leave me by myself, but the Father will be with me and I won't be alone.

He said, Y'all can walk out on me, but God the Father's not gonna walk out on me.

Hey, you can walk out on me, my wife can walk out on me, my husband can walk out on me, my children can leave, but Jesus is gonna be there with me.

He's not gonna walk out on me.

Amen.

And we see that right here.

Now look at verse 33.

He said, I've told you.

I've told you all this.

Why?

Why have I told you this?

That you might have peace.

He just told him they're gonna go through the storm of life so that he can have peace.

Huh?

You mean to tell me I'm gonna go through hell and I'm gonna have peace?

Yep.

Yep.

How you do that?

He said, I'm trying to tell you.

Notice.

He's saying the disciples, brother, in a few moments things are gonna get drastically changed.

Your world's about to be turned upside down.

That's what he's telling them.

They're gonna take me away from you.

They're gonna, hey, he says, they're gonna take me away from you.

I want you to know what you're gonna do when the storm comes.

He says, when I need you the most, you're gonna walk out on me.

I'd say that's unconditional love.

When's the last time somebody you love and they walked out on you?

You still love them, or you want to kill them?

Huh?

Hello.

Oh, get that sucker.

Who does he think he is?

Give me my 357.

No.

I shouldn't have said that.

Too many people have 357.

But really, what did he say?

That's what he said.

I need you the most.

Instead, hey, you're gonna leave.

Now, what's really funny, and we're gonna see this in a minute.

Right after he said that, Peter jumps up, smart Alec.

Well, I can tell you this much, Jesus.

They may leave you, but I'm not.

He's the first one to leave.

Denied him three times and even cursed him.

Peter! What does he mean, Peter was asking?

Deny me?

Yeah.

Judas is gonna, hey, turn me in, betray me?

Yeah, all this.

But when you scattered, when you fail, when you I wrote this thing, oh I'm about to have a spell.

Short of the glory of God when you don't measure up, when, hey, you sin after making a promise, God, I'm gonna start coming to church, but then you don't.

I'm gonna start tithing, but you don't.

I'm gonna start down, I'm gonna start, but you don't, all that.

He says, I want you to know I still love you.

Mm-mm-mm.

Amen.

Now that is conditional love.

But God commended his love toward us, and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5.8.

Number six, he gives us courage in spite of our circumstances.

Look at verse 33.

While you're in the world, you have to suffer, but cheer up, I've defeated the world.

Jesus said, Hey, the next 48 hours, the world is gonna throw everything he can on top of me and you.

But be of good cheer.

I've overcome the world.

Oh, death, where's thy sting?

Oh, grave, where's thy victory?

And because he came up out of that grave, he said, Yes, on Friday they're gonna put me in the grave.

But hey, boys, just hang around.

Because two days later, I'm coming up out of the grave.

Amen.

And because I live, ye shall live also.

You'll have victory over every storm.

Statements about the storm, look at it.

Somebody say that's good.

Is that not good, truth?

Doesn't that encourage you?

Well, it may not really encourage you.

Yeah, it should.

Does that encourage you?

Hey, say it with me.

We said last week.

My storms are coming.

My storms are coming.

Now let's add this.

My storms are coming, but I can be victorious.

My storms are coming because I can be victorious.

Amen.

And here's what Jesus said about them.

Ready?

Number one.

Storms allow us to see ourselves.

You get to see who you really are when your storm comes.

Remember, we talked about that last week.

I gave you, if you got your outline for last week, we talked about the nature of our faith, the strength of our commitment, the level of our maturity, the healthiness of our attitude, and our teachability.

Remember that?

I'm giving you good truth, folks.

Storms tell us where we are.

Peter thought he was a strong, dynamic Christian.

Boy, did he fall flat on his face?

Amen.

I meant completely.

Let's throw it up.

John 13, 36.

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, where thou goest?

Oh, hey, where there goest thou?

Jesus answered him, whether I go, thou cannot follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

He's talking about, after all the storm, hey, I'm gonna meet you in Jerusalem after I've been reading all that.

Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?

I will lay down my life for thy sake.

Hey, I don't care, I'll die with you.

Two.

You're talking about dying, I'm gonna die with you.

I'll fight with you.

Now, and you gotta give the old boy credit.

He tried to do that in the Garden of Gethsemane.

That was real smart.

Hey, one man draws a sword and cuts off Malcolm's ear, and there's 600 against twelve.

That's real smart, isn't it?

Verse 38, Jesus answers him, Oh boy, will thou lay down thy life for my sake?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, the cock shall not crow till thou hast denied me three times.

Storms reveal who we really are.

Shows us who we really are.

Number two, storms are times of restoration.

Storms of are times of restoration.

John 16, 25 through 30.

That's what he's talking about.

He said, Hey, you're gonna go through, but we're gonna be restored.

We're gonna be restored.

Restoration.

The three Hebrew children, it was in the midst of the storm that Jesus showed up.

It was in the lion's den that Jesus showed up.

He didn't deliver them from the fiery furnace.

He didn't deliver them from the lion's den.

He delivered them in the lion's den and in the fiery furnace.

Amen.

So we see that.

So important.

Number three, storms can bring spiritual growth into our life.

Verse 30.

What a powerful statement.

They said we believe now.

In other words, they were really starting to grow.

They really were.

We believe now.

In other words, we're increasing our faith.

2 Peter 3 18, but grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

They were growing.

Listen, church, our purpose, the reason I want you here on Sundays, and for you that can't on small groups.

Groups, but mainly on Sunday, we we we put so much into this service to teach you, to build you up, to grow you in the likeness of Christ, so that when you walk out there and those storms come, you know why they're coming.

And not only do you know why they're coming, you know how to handle them.

Amen.

Man, that's good.

We learn.

They bring us and look, and I'm gonna just give you to them.

Hey, they bring us into conformity with him, verse 13.

Look at what he says in verse 13.

This is so good.

It speaks for itself.

The word always does.

Howbeit, when the Spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of him, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come.

He will show you what you need to do.

Remember the light right in front of you?

He'll show you the light you need, moment by moment, day by day, month by month, year by year.

He'll show you.

That brings happiness in our Christian experience.

You know what we find out in verse 22?

And ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice.

And your joy no man takes from you.

No man can steal your joy but you.

Man, that's a good verse.

If you let somebody, hey, if you let somebody else steal your joy, that just tells me you're not walking in the spirit.

That's hard to do, isn't it?

The younger I was when I was the younger I was.

When I was young, I used to let people steal my joy all the time.

All the time.

They'd say something, I just, they don't like me.

You know, the older I've gotten, you know what I've learned?

All that I'm supposed to do is to please him.

And when I please him, my joy will be there.

When I'm obedient to him, you can fuss at me, you can cuss me, you can disgust me, you can do all you want to.

But long.

Now, sometimes, hey, remember what Matthew chapter 5, I think I had it in there somewhere, Jerry.

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

You remember what Matthew 5, Jesus told the disciples?

He said, What do you think?

They persecuted me.

They said all things wrongly about me.

Now, what you want is to make sure when they're cussing you and discussing you that what they're saying's wrong.

It's gossip.

It's not the truth, okay?

But then if it is truth, then you need to make it right and you need to change.

Amen.

Hello?

Like my wife, I knew she said, honey, I love you.

I knew what was coming.

I've been caught.

I got my hand caught in the cookie jar.

Amen.

And fess up and get it right.

Change.

Can I get an amen?

Amen.

So that's what he's saying here.

Hey, man, that's good.

And then, hey, we yield the fruit of righteousness.

We yield the fruit of righteousness.

We glorify God.

They produce praise, glory, and honor to him.

Every storm we go through is for one reason for people to be able to look at us.

Keith, I hope you don't mind because we want to be praying for your wife.

What, a month ago, you found out?

About six weeks ago.

His wife has breast cancer.

He's going through a storm right now.

But I have seen him handle it as maturely and as I I know he's concerned.

His wife's got breast cancer.

That's deadly.

How old is your wife, Keith?

44.

That's young.

That's young.

But he's got a peace of God that passes all understanding that's going to keep your hearts and minds through Christ's safety.

You know why he's got that peace?

Because he knows that the Holy Spirit's in him, guiding him, directing him, and he knows we know, we know, we know all things.

Amen.

Work together.

For good to them that love God and to them who will call according to his purpose, that they are fulfilling the purpose of God.

Let me tell you, sometimes your storms come.

Listen to me now.

Sometimes your storms come because you're not listening to him.

You bring your storms on yourself.

Hello, oh me.

Oh me.

Teach now teach, preacher.

Amen.

Hey, if you're disobedient, God's gonna ring your bell if you're a child of the king.

Because he loves you and he chastens the ones that he loves.

Hebrews 12.

So now listen to me.

In fact, listen to what Hebrews 12.11 says.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful.

Look at this.

Go to Hebrews 12.11.

I'm sorry, I'm preaching now.

I tell you what, Jeremy does an awesome job back there.

Let's give Jeremy a hand.

Amen.

Anyway, let me tell you what it says.

I can quote it and I've got it written in my outline.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful.

Can we get a do you like going through a storm?

Do you like getting a whipping?

No.

Javon, do you like getting I was growing up, my granddaddy used to say this every time.

He'd say, This is gonna hurt me more than it's gonna hurt you.

That's a lie.

That's a lie.

I'm sorry.

And Papa, you're in heaven, and I'm sorry, but that didn't hurt him more than it hurt me.

He beat the devil out of me.

Now he did get the devil out.

Amen.

Oh, I'd still, even thinking about it, I get scared.

No, let me tell you, even thinking about it, I straighten up.

I guarantee you.

But one thing I'd say after he'd whipped me, he'd always come back later and say, Danny boy, I love you.

I love you.

See, when Jesus pulls you through, or pushes you through, or throws you in, you got the assurance that you have his unconditional love.

He loves you.

And what he's doing is for your benefit and your purpose.

Can I get an amen?

All right, let's end it up.

How to grow during a storm.

First of all, you got to have a decision.

You've got to make a decision.

Learning from storms require decision.

Verse 30 and 31, notice what they said.

We believe.

We believe.

We know you from God, and we believe.

You got to make a decision for Christ.

You got to make a decision for Christ to be saved.

If you're here this morning and you're not saved, and you're going through a storm, well, you're going through that storm by yourself.

You're on your own.

But if you're saved, you're going through the storm, you got the helper.

You got the Holy Spirit, you got the comforter.

Amen.

He's going to help you.

You got to make now.

After you get saved, you got to make another decision.

Here's another decision you got to make.

I'm going to, I'm going to give, I call it the Lordship.

I think I got it in note.

The Lordship decision.

You got to say, hey, I no longer gonna run my life.

I'm gonna let you run my life, Lord.

Hello, come on.

See, the first one's the easiest one to make.

You know, I used to think that's the hardest one.

That's not true anymore.

I've been doing this 34 years.

I'm here to tell you, really, the easiest decision for Clay is to get saved.

Because it doesn't cost, hey, hey, he doesn't have to do anything, he has to put his faith in the Lord.

But now the faith to be like him, to grow in his likeness, that's justification when he gets saved.

But now there's what we call the sanctification process where you grow in his image and you become like him.

That's when all the storms start coming.

To make you like him.

Well, let me tell you something, folks.

The hardest decision is for him to say, okay, Clay Brockton is no longer gonna make his own decisions.

He's gonna make his decisions based on the power of the Holy Spirit, the teaching of the Holy Spirit, the guiding of the Holy Spirit, and I'm gonna do it God's way, not my way.

That's the toughest thing you're gonna do in the Christian life.

Being obedient to him in all things.

All things.

Say it with me.

All things.

The Lordship.

The Romans 12, 1 and 2 issue.

Look at B.

Anything I encounter is for my benefit.

We already talked about it.

You gotta believe that.

You gotta believe that.

You've got to believe that.

Number two, learning from storms requires dedication.

Dedication.

Job, remember poor Job?

Job lost everything he had.

You remember?

Hey, hey.

Satan was roaming to and fro.

By the way, Satan's roaming to and fro.

Can I get an amen?

Be not, hey, he says, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5, 8, verse 9 says, But resist him by being steadfast in the faith.

By what?

Listening to the power of the Holy Spirit teaching us what to do through the Word of God.

Amen.

Man, that's good.

Now watch.

Listen to me.

But when he's roaring, he said, Hey, what about you?

Hey, he said, Job?

He's I can't touch him because you've blessed him too much.

He said, Okay.

You can have Job, but one third condition.

You can't kill him.

You can do anything you want but kill him.

He did.

Boys all over him.

Lost his ten children, killed him.

Tornado came through, killed him.

Lost all his all his wealth, all his cattle, everything.

You know what Job said?

Though he slay me.

Yet will I trust him?

I know.

And in whom I have believed, and that my Redeemer is alive and well and will deliver me.

Wow.

Wow, wow, wow.

We got to be dedicated.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is coming to man.

But God is faithful and just, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you're able, but with the temptation make a way to escape.

1 Corinthians 10 13.

Number two, I mean number three, learning from storms requires humility.

1 Peter 5, 5 and 6.

Peter learned this.

Peter was not a humble person.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you.

Now notice what it says: humble yourselves.

God will not humble you.

Well, God will bring you to the place where you'll humble yourself, but God prefers you to humble yourself.

So that the storm doesn't have to humble you.

Hello?

I've had some storms that humbled me.

Am I the only one?

I knew why I went through that storm.

I was guilty.

It humbled me.

Humble yourself, therefore, in the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

Verse 5 says, Be clothed, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

You know when Peter was humbled?

Remember when Jesus was cooking him fish on the side of the shore?

He asked him three times, Peter, do you love me?

Three times.

Why did he do that?

He had denied him three times.

What humbling.

And humble.

Peter was never the same after that.

And that's why he was able to write 1 Peter 5, verse 5 and 6.

1 Peter 5:5

He knew.

He knew.

And it's good.

Then number four, learning from storms requires living with a sense of destiny, purpose.

God's got a purpose for your life.

Say that with me.

God's got a purpose for my life.

Destiny.

He says he's going to guide you in all truth.

He's going to show you what God wants you to do.

Folks, everybody in here, listen to me.

You've got a destiny.

You've got a purpose.

God loves you and He thinks about you and He's got great things for you.

He's not interested in your past.

He's interested in your future.

Jeremiah 29, 11.

Amen.

And then number five, learning from storms requires the prayers of saints and the help of the Holy Spirit.

We are to pray for one another.

Amen.

We're to pray for one another.

I close with what God gave me this week.

The psalmist said concerning God, you have been a shelter for me.

Isaiah said, You've been a refuge for me.

I got let me tell you what I did.

I've had the best time this week in my quiet time.

I've done something I haven't done in a long time.

I used to do this quite often.

I just went through the Psalms and started asking my the question, what is God to me?

Are you ready?

Are you ready?

I'm just going to share with you real quickly what God gave me.

The psalm that says about God the Father, that God is his father, but then he says, He's God is my king.

He's the glory and the lifter of my head.

He's righteous and he's my Lord.

He's my strength.

He's my rock.

He's my fortress.

He's my deliverance.

He's my shield.

He's my stronghold.

He's my support.

He's my savior.

He's my redeemer.

He's my shepherd.

He's my light.

He's my salvation.

He's my help.

He's my hiding place.

He's my delight.

He's my refuge in time of trouble.

He's my lover.

He's my strong tower.

He's my deliverer.

He's my father.

He's my portion.

He's my comforter.

Woo! Now, if that doesn't crank your truck, your battery's dead.

Amen.

That's what he is to every one of us.

Can I get an amen, church?

Six.

Thank you, Paige.

They help my Holy Spirit.

I'll put those two together.

The Holy Spirit.

Whoop! Is that good?

Glad you came church day.

I am.

Because some of you right now, you're going through a storm.

You're in a storm.

Keith's in a storm.

Keith, do you mind coming up here?

Can I pray for you?

I want us to church to pray for you.

And your wife.

Tell us your wife's whole name.

Katrina.

Okay.

Guess what?

He's not the only one that he's praying for today.

You're in a storm.

You're in storm.

Let's stand to our feet.

Thanks again for tuning into this week's message.

We pray that your life has been changed.

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Send us an email at office at the church at cw dot com.

We hope you have a wonderful day and again, God bless you.