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Life: If It Only Came With Instructions
Morning Worship Service -
I. Review - Well folks, this morning we want to get back into Chriss instructions for our lives concerning how we handle and deal with the storms and trials of this life. They are inevitable, Jesus told us that!! (Illustration: Marsha Chapman having a heart attack this Wednesday) Now when times such as that, other kinds of trials in our lives arise, how are we supposed to handle them without letting them overwhelm us and lead us into wrong thinking and acting? - Well, for the last several weeks now we have been looking at what Christ has to say about this whole matter and the instructions that he would have us to follow. And the main text in our Bibles that we fine these instructions and that we have been centering our attention on is fount in the book of Matthew chapter 14. - Now since we have been considering these instructions for the past several weeks now, and really have only gotten through two main instructions from Christ concerning handling the storms of life, Im hoping that the majority of us have caught on to the instructions that we have considered thus far. And to see how well we have caught on, I want to give you a little quiz as we get started this morning. Now, I know for some of you the word quiz sends you into an immediate panic as it brings you back to school, but really have no fear because this a group quiz, meaning I am looking for group answers - In other words, you are not on your own here. Question #1 - When facing a life storm, the first bit of instruction that Christ shares with us is that we need to face that storm with what? >>> A CONFIDENT ATTITUDE (Have the congregation help you read Matthew 15:27) Humanly speaking, our first response to trials and storms of life is usually a troubled, fearful, anxiety filled spirit And because Christ himself understood what it was like to be troubles in the midst of a trial, he gives us the instruction to battle that troubled spirit with a confident attitude - BE OF GOOD CHEER/TAKE COURAGE Question #2 - However, in order to have a confident attitude it must always be based on something, and so Christs second bit of instruction to us when facing a storm is that we need to have what? >>> AN UNDERSTANDING MIND (Have the congregation help you read Matthew 15:27) It is impossible to have confidence if you have nothing to base it on. And so Christ makes sure that we have a foundation to base our confidence, and that foundation is an understanding mind. A mind that knows and fully believes certain truths. Question #3 - And here is the bonus question, can anyone remember what the two truths are that we must know and fully believe in order that we might have confidence in the midst of a life storm? >>> THAT THE ALMIGHTY, ALL-POWERFUL, SELF-EXISTENT, FAITHFUL GOD OF THE UNIVERSE IS WITH US >>> GOD ALWAYS DESIRES TO USE THE TRIALS OF LIFE FOR OUR BENEFIT AND DEVELOPMENT (Have the congregation help you read James 1:1-2)
- Well, thats enough of the quizzing for this morning. (Illustration: Marsha Chapman had a real life quiz regarding this stuff this week, and after spending time visiting with her in the hospital, I think she passed her quiz with flying colors.) How would you do?
II. Christ Instruction for Handling the Storms of Life - Well folks, this morning we want to get back into our text in Matthew 14, because I want us to see that there is more to Christs instructions than just these two things. There is more to the quiz than just having a confident attitude and an understanding mind. (READ Matthew 14:22-29) - This morning we are going to get into the part of this account that I really like and that is the part where Peter gets involved one on one with Christ. And in the midst of this one on one involvement between Peter and Christ, we find Christ give a third very simple, yet very important instruction.
A. To handle the storms of life correctly, we need to have a submissive will 1.) The Example of Peter Folks, I want you to just take notice of the one on one interaction between Peter and Jesus in verses 28-29, and I would like for you to tell me what is the only thing that Jesus says to Peter in those verses? - The only thing that we have recorded for us in this verse that Jesus says to Peter is one word and that one word is the word COME. As I said, this instruction from Christ is really pretty simple - one word - but it is essential to handling the storms of life correctly. - Really, in essence, what Christ is telling Peter with this one word is the fact that TO HANDLE THE STORMS OF LIFE CORRECTLY, WE NEED TO HAVE A SUBMISSIVE WILL.
- Folks, while Christ only shared one word come with Peter, the one word was really a challenge or a test for Peter in order to see how truly submissive he was to following the instructions and commands of the Lord in spite of the storm around him. - Let me explain what I mean: Folks, before Peter became a full-time disciple or follower of Christ, he had another full-time job. His other full-time job was a fisherman. Now if his original full-time job was that of a fisherman, than it means that Peter spent a lot of time on the water. And because of his time spent on the open seas, Peter knew all too well the dangers of the sea, especially in the midst of a storm. In all his time spent as a fisherman, he has most assuredly seen and heard of other fishermen, who as a result of a storm and the strong winds and current and waves were thrown overboard and as a result drowned in the water. As an experienced fisherman, Peter knew that the safest place to be in the middle of a storm in open waters is in the boat.
- And here is Jesus, instructing Peter to get out of the boat and COME to him in the open waters in the middle of a terrible storm - WHAT WOULD YOU DO? - If you truly want to handle the storms of life correctly, it will require a submissive will, and Christ was testing Peters will in this very instance. And what was Peters response to the test? (READ Matthew 14:29) - In spite of all that Peter knew from his years of being a fisherman and his experiences in the storms that he came across on the water, he submitted himself to the instruction of Christ, got out of the boat, and began to walk toward Christ.
- Folks, Im not sure what it is about trials and storms, but I have noticed - at least in my own life - that not only do they first and foremost bring about a troubled spirit but they also trigger an independent and even a resistant spirit toward Christs instructions and will for my life Its as if at that moment in time I convince myself that I know what is best, I know what I need to do, and that is the only thing that matters at that time. Therefore, instead of having a submissive spirit, I have an unsubmissive and independent one. - In the midst of trials it is hard to continue to maintain a submissive attitude toward God and his instructions to us. It is hard to continue to follow and obey him. Here is Peter, in the midst of real storm, and his mind is probably telling him what is best, but Christ is telling him to come to him - Paul had to make the choice follow his independent mind and emotions or have a submissive will. - Let me take you to another example of someone who had to face a somewhat similar decision but instead of being in a literal storm, he was experiencing a life storm.
2.) The Example of Joseph (READ Genesis 37:26-28) - Joseph is sold into slavery by his own brothers, which is a pretty serious life storm. (READ Genesis 39:7) - In the midst of this storm, Joseph had a decision to make. His emotions are probably running high from being sold into slavery by his own brothers. He is away from all that he knows and is comfortable with, yet he becomes the highest servant in the house of Potiphar. And here come Mrs. Potiphar with an offer to go have a little fun and lie with her. Joseph knows that with his position he could make sure that no one would be able to find out about this little escapade, and based on all that he has gone through, doesnt he at least deserve this little indiscretion? Joseph has a choice to make (READ Genesis 39:8-9) - Joseph made the decision to have a submissive will and obey the instructions of God. If you and I faced the same storm, how submissive would our spirits have been? Or would our emotions and independent spirit have taken over?
For some reason, a life storm convinces so many of us that it is OK to stop submitting your will to Gods will for our lives and to no longer live in obedience to God. (READ Genesis 39:10) - Not only did Joseph make this choice once, but he had to make it every day for quite some time until we are told... (READ Genesis 39:11-14,16-20) - Josephs submissive will led him from being a slave to prisoner. And while in prison we are told in chapter 40 that he interprets the dreams of two other inmates, the chief butler and the chief baker. And as the dreams interpretations come true and the butler was released from prison, Joseph simple asks the butler to remember him and put in a good word for him before Pharaoh. (READ Genesis 40:23, 41:1) - Man, if things cant get any worse. The butler forgets all about Joseph and as a result he spends another two FULL years in prison. The storm in Josephs life went from about a category 4 to a 5. Well, at the end of those 2 full years, it just so happens that Pharaoh, who is more powerful than Potiphar has a dream and no one could interpret this dream. And finally, the events trigger the memory of the butler and he remembers Joseph locked up in prison. (READ Genesis 41:8-15) - Joseph has another choice before him. He could submit to God and allow him to give him the interpretation of the dream, or he could, based on his emotions and all the wrong that was done to him used the opportunity that he had to tell Pharaoh off, tell him how bad his country was and the leadership that he has set up in the country, and basically shown no respect and honor to the one that God had placed in charge at that particular time. (READ Genesis 41:16) - Even after two full years in prison for a crime he didnt commit, Joseph continued to have a submissive will to God. And because he had this submissive will, I want you to notice how in end he handled this huge storm in his life. (READ Genesis 50:19-21)
At the end of all that Joseph went through, which was all caused by his brothers selling him into slavery, did Joseph handle this life storm correctly? >>> Yes WHY? >>> because he maintained a submissive will to God leading, direction and instruction for his life.
3.) Pointers Learned About a Submissive Spirit - And folks, the same is true for us today, if we truly want to handle a particular storm of life correctly, than we must have a submissive will to Gods will for our lives. - But as we have talked about and seen demonstrated, maintaining a submissive will in light of a trial or life storm is not that easy. Or human nature tells us something different. - However, after looking at the example of Peter and Joseph, there a few simple pointers that we can apply to lives that will help us to maintain a submissive will to God and his leading, direction and instruction for our lives in the midst of trials.
Have a conviction that is always better to be within Gods will in a storm than out of Gods will and no storm - For the first pointer lets start by going back to the example of Peter in Matthew 14. If you are familiar with the story or you have some good reading comprehension, whose idea was it originally for Peter to go out to Jesus? >>> Peters (READ Matthew 18:28) - Now, ultimately it was Jesus who gave the command to COME in order to see how truly submissive Peter was to following his instructions and commands in spite of the storm around him. - But the idea started with Peter, and when thinking about that, again keep in mind Peters original full-time job. Peter knew the power of the sea, and that the best place for him to be under normal circumstances would have been in the boat. However, these werent normal circumstances. The I AM just announced his presence, and by Peter making such an unusual request for a fisherman in the midst of a storm on the sea, indicates that he was convinced that it was safer to be with Jesus on the water, than to be without Him in the boat. Therefore, when Jesus made his will known to Peter, without hesitation he got out of the boat and began to walk toward Jesus. - Now when you think back to the example of Joseph that we just rehearsed together, you cant help but see the same conviction on Josephs part. Particularly when you read a statement such as the verses that we looked at in Genesis 50. (READ Genesis 50:19-20)
Joseph also had the conviction that it was better to be in Gods will as
a slave in
- When in the midst of a storm it is never easy to have a submissive will to Gods will. I know in my own life trials and storms seem to bring about independent and resistant spirits. Therefore, when the Lord makes his will known to me in the midst of trial, I make excuses and say lots of different things in order to convince myself to do my own thing. - However, handling life storms correctly as follower of Jesus Christ means that even in the midst of the storm we will continue to follow Christ, which requires a submissive will on our parts which will only come about as we bring about a conviction in our hearts that is always better to be within Gods will in a storm than out of Gods will and no storm - Without that conviction it is hard to continue to have a submissive spirit when facing life storms.
Be listening to and looking out for the commands of God - Since we are in the book of Genesis and looking at the life of Joseph, lets just stay here in order to find the second little pointer that we can learn in order to have a submissive will in the midst of a storm (READ Genesis 39:7-9) - Now folks, we have already pointed out Josephs submissive will in these verses, but let me ask this question, How did he know that committing such an act would have been one of great wickedness and a sin against God? - I believe he knew that this would be an act of great wickedness and sin against God because Joseph was an individual who was always listening to and looking out for the commands of his God. He had a spiritual sensitivity about him, so that he wanted and was always ready to here God instruct him. - Same thing goes for Peter, he was waiting to hear from Christ the word COME. He was always trying to listen and learn the commands of Christ, his master.
- Again folks, there is a lesson to be learned here. Because both Joseph and Peter has a spiritual sensitivity and were always listening to and looking for the commands of God for their lives, when their submissive will was put to the test, they passed with flying colors because they knew exactly what God wanted of them. - The problem many of us have is the fact we struggle responding to Gods will in our lives because we dont know what Gods will is - we dont know any of his commands or teachings. And we dont know any of his commands and teachings because we arent spiritually sensitive at all, and hardly ever listen to or look out for what God might be directing us to do in obedience to him.
III. Conclusion - Folks, there are all kinds of people all over the world today and right now who are facing a trial or life storm of some kind. And Christ has always been and continues to be here right now offering instruction so that we might be able to not just make it through the particular storm, but make it through in a successful way. Part of that success means facing the storm, going through the storm, and coming out of the storm with a confident attitude, which comes about as a result of having an understanding mind. The other part of that success means facing the storm, going through the storm, and coming out of the storm with a submissive will to Gods will, which only comes about by having a conviction that is always better to be within Gods will in a storm than out of Gods will and no storm having a spiritual sensitivity that causes us to listen to and look for Gods will
- Now, before we close let me just make one last comment about the two examples that I have chosen to use this morning. You see there are some who might look at these examples and say that the only thing Joseph and Peter got from their submissive will was more failures and trials. Therefore, what is so great about Gods will. Joseph and Peter both submit to Gods will, and in return it seems as if God deserts them and is no where to be found. - But that is one of the reason I love the passage in Matthew 14. Yes, Peter submitted and got out of the boat and started to walk to Jesus. And yes, he also started to sink, But Jesus didnt dessert him. Instead, as a result of Peters submissive will, Peter was that much closer to Christ so that when the life storm started beating on him even greater, Christ was right there to grab him by the hand and help him back up. - Folks, a submissive will does not lead to more failures and trials, but instead it leads us closer to Christ so that when the inevitable trials and storms come we are that much closer to having him reach out and grab us and help us on our feet in order that we might walk through the storm together. |
