Built on the Love of God, Part II (Standing When The Storm Won’t Stop)
Lesson Text
Matthew 7:24–27 (KJV)24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Introduction
In Part I, we learned that love must be built on the revelation, preparation, and protection of God. Today, I want to take us one step further.
The first sermon was about building before the storm.
This sermon is about standing during the storm.
How many of you have been in a place or season where it just seemed like the storm would never end? Or maybe you just keep getting storm after storm after storm?
- 2 Corinthians 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
- Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
If you live long enough, you will discover that although some storms pass quickly, others seem to come and just park on top of you. Some storms are light, and some are intense.
In a natural storm, atmospheric pressure begins to change before the storm actually arrives. The barometric pressure drops. The lower the pressure falls, the stronger the storm becomes. This change in pressure creates instability in the atmosphere, producing strong winds, heavy rain, lightning, and turbulent conditions.
And so it is with the storms of life. Some pass quickly, some seem to stay forever. Some bring light rain and others have a lot of pressure and are intense.
These storms of life shake your finances, shake your family, shake your health, and even shake your faith!
The question is not whether it’s a quick and light storm, or a long and intense storm with pressure. The question is how you are built to prepare for the storm. Can you still stand when everything around you is shaking?
Matthew 7: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Notice that Jesus did not say the storm touched the house, he said the storm beat upon the house.
The enemy doesn't just want to visit your life, he wants to beat you down.
But if your life is built on God's love, you can stand even when the storm won't stop.
Series and Sermon: Activating First Love: Built on the Love of God, Part II (Standing When The Storm Won’t Stop)
(The Testing of God, The Perseverance of God, The Assurance of God)
- Love Built By Pressure (The Testing Of God)
Matthew 7: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Love that stands is proven by pressure.
Every foundation eventually faces a test. You never truly know how strong a building is until pressure is applied.
You never fully know how strong your faith is until adversity arrives. You never fully know how deep your love is until it is challenged.
Anybody can love when the weather is sunny. Anybody can praise when the bank account is full. Anybody can worship when the diagnosis is good. Anybody can serve when everyone appreciates them.
But what happens when the winds begin to blow? What happens when prayers seem unanswered? What happens when people disappoint you? What happens when life doesn't go according to plan?
The storm reveals what the sunshine concealed.
The test is not designed to destroy you. The test is designed to reveal what God has already built inside of you.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Just like Gold is revealed by the test of fire, Faith is Revealed by the test of Adversity:
- 1 Peter 1: 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
And just like Faith is revealed by the test of Adversity, Love is revealed by test of pressure:
- Romans 5:3–5 (KJV)3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Love gives us the ability to keep standing when pressure keeps pushing.
The storms may come to test us, but they cannot destroy us. All they can do is reveal what God has established in us.
Love Built on God Is Proven Under Pressure.
- Love Built By Persistence (The Perseverance of God)
Matthew 7: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Love that stands refuses to quit.
“IT FELL NOT” – three powerful words that represent the essences of love during a storm. The rain came. It fell not. The flood came. It fell not. The wind came. It fell not.
The reason some people survive storms is not because they never get tired. We all get tired – tired of pressure, tired of struggle, tired of trouble!
The reason why they survive the storm is because they refuse to quit; they are persistent!
Before the enemy attacks our purpose, he will attack our persistence.
If he can get you to quit, he doesn't have to defeat you. If he can get you to walk away, he doesn't have to destroy you. If he can get you discouraged, he doesn't have to overcome you.
But God's love teaches us how to endure.
Galatians 6: 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Romans 8: 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
We don’t avoid the storms; we conquer them. And we conquer them because we survive them. And we survive them because we never quit.
You may be bent. You may be bruised. You may be battle-scarred. But if you're still standing, God's love is still working.
Three Powerful Words – “It Fell Not!” Now make it personal, “I Fell Not!”
The rain came. I fell not. The flood came. I fell not. The wind came. I fell not. The attack came. I fell not. The criticism came. I fell not. The disappointment came. I fell not.
Love Built on God Produces Persistence from the Perseverance of God!
- Love Built By Confidence (The Assurance of God)
Matthew 7: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Love that stands possesses a rock-solid confidence.
Philippians 1: 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
The house stood because of what was underneath it. The strength was not in the walls. The strength was not in the roof. The strength was in the foundation!
Many people spend their lives working on appearances. But God spends His time working on foundations.
The world focuses on what people see. God focuses on what people cannot see.
The wise builder understood that foundations determine futures.
Isaiah 26: 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Peace is not the absence of storms. Peace is confidence in your foundation.
The reason we can smile through tears is because of the foundation.
The reason we can worship through pain is because of the foundation.
The reason we can keep believing when others quit is because of the foundation.
Jesus is our Rock. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Economies change. Governments change. People change. Circumstances change. But Jesus never changes.
Psalm 62: 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
Not shaken. Not broken. Not moved. Why? Because our confidence is not in the storm. Our confidence is in the Rock.
Love Built on God Produces Confidence.
We were Built for this: Built for the rain. Built for the wind. Built for the flood. Built for the battle. Built for the pressure. Built for the struggle. Built for the season you're in right now.
When your life is built on the Love of God, you don't merely survive the storm – you stand until the storm passes.
Midweek Study Lesson Plan (Sermon: Built on the Love of God, Part II (Standing When The Storm Won’t Stop))
Lesson Text
- Matthew 7:24–27
Sermon Outline
- Love Built By Pressure (The Testing Of God)
- Love Built By Persistence (The Perseverance of God)
- Love Built By Confidence (The Assurance of God)
Questions: (What was your main takeaway from this message?)
- Getting to Know “Me”
- What is your favorite thing to do on the 4th of July?
- What person, book, or experience has been key in making you who you are today?
- Into The Bible
- Why does trouble surprise us, and how does Jesus’ victory give us courage? (Reference John 16:33)
- In Matthew 8:26 Jesus says the disciples are afraid because they have “little faith.” When sudden, overwhelming trouble hits our lives, how does our fear show what we actually trust? How can we choose to trust God’s character instead of our changing circumstances?
- Life Application
- When life keeps applying pressure and the storm doesn’t seem to let up, what helps you keep standing and moving forward instead of giving up? What is one way you can choose perseverance this week?
- The house stood because it was built on a solid foundation before the storm arrived. How does knowing God’s love for you give you confidence during difficult seasons, and what area of your life needs to be anchored more firmly in that confidence?
