4 steps for helping people weather life’s storms
“But everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall” (Matthew 7:26-27 NKJV).
When storms come into the lives of individuals and groups in our spheres of influence, many will turn to God or to the world for help. My hope is that we will be those “houses” with strong foundations standing nearby. We need to be Christian leaders who can show others the way to restoration and together pursue a strong relationship with the Lord.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV).
Christian leaders are the workmanship of God for the good work of building “houses” that will stand in the storms of life. Of course, one can’t help in the building a strong house until he is a strong “house” himself. The process for that good work is simple.
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25 NKJV).
Here are four steps to building a strong “house,” whether you’re strengthening your own or mentoring someone in building theirs.
- Read the sayings of Jesus.
- Understand what they say.
- Believe Jesus’ words are for you and possible in Him
- Do them.
Notice that having a house founded on the rock is a result of this process, not the cause. I hope this makes sense, for it is a critical distinction. Some will read this verse and equate “founded on the rock” with “believing in Jesus,” concluding that because they believe in Jesus that their “house” is secure. In doing so, they conveniently (and tragically) exclude the cost of discipleship and put their “house” in danger.
Let me close with this encouragement:
“The Church at this moment needs men, the right kind of men, bold men...They will make no decisions out of fear, take no course out of a desire to please, accept no service for financial considerations, perform no religious act out of mere custom; nor will they allow themselves to be influenced by the love of publicity or the desire for reputation” (Of God and Men, by A.W. Tozer. p. 11-13).
Tozer wrote Of God and Men in the middle of the 20th century. “The right kind of men, bold men” are needed now more than ever before.
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19 NKJV).
May God bless you with courage and boldness for those in your spheres of influence and responsibility.
Photo source: istock
 | Rob Streetman serves the body of Christ as President of two parachurch ministries: inLight Consulting (a workplace transformation ministry) and 2:2 Collective (a unity and church growth ministry). He is the author of two books: The Map Maker and A Storm is Coming. Rob’s heart desires is to encourage, edify and equip Christian leaders as disciple-makers and transformation agents—that they would become houses that stand in the storms of this life. He previously worked in various IT industry positions. Learn More » |
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