THROUGH THE EYES OF A STORM

TEXT: Isaiah 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

THINGS THIS STORM CAUSED US TO REMEMBER THE VALUE OF PRAYER Jonah 2:7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

THINGS THIS STORM CAUSED US TO REMEMBER THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD THE FLOOD Genesis 6:13,17 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

THINGS THIS STORM CAUSED US TO REMEMBER THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD DROUGHT Haggai 1:7,11 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

THINGS THIS STORM CAUSED US TO REMEMBER THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD STORM Acts 27:22-25 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. [23] For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, [24] Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. [25] Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

THINGS THIS STORM CAUSED US TO REMEMBER THE LITTLE VALUE OF THINGS “The most important things in life are not things.” Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: [20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: [21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

THINGS THIS STORM CAUSED US TO REMEMBER THE VALUE OF OUR SPIRITUAL FAMILY (THE CHURCH) 1 John 3:16-18 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. [17] But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

THINGS THIS STORM CAUSED US TO REMEMBER THE VALUE OF A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

BENEFITS WE RECEIVED FROM THE STORM 1. When the power went off… So did the television. 2. Families grew closer together. 3. We learned what “sharing” was all about. 4. We learned to economize. 5. We learned how difficult it must have been for first century Christians.

LET’S ALLOW THIS STORM TO DRAW US CLOSER TO GOD!