Can You Stand the Rain?

Sea of Galilee

A few weeks ago, I was asked to speak at The Life House Church in Stone Mountain, GA.  The Pastor, Mauricio Sonny, was doing a series of messages on "The Gospel According to New Edition".

Some of you may recognize "New Edition" as a R & B group back in the 80's -- they were the original "boy-band" -- they recorded a song "Can You Stand the Rain?" which was # 44 on the Top 100 Billboard chart in 1988.  The gist of the song is summed up in the chorus:  

Sunny days, everybody loves them 

Tell me 

Can you stand the rain?

Storms will come 

This we know for sure 

Can you stand the rain?

I want you to know that "Rain Happens"!  "Storms Happen"!  In life, in marriage, in business, in relationships, even in church -- Rain happens!

Rain isn't bad -- life needs it! We all need it!  Sometimes we want it to stop -- but you can't stop the rain -- the question is "Can you stand it?"

When trouble comes or when storms hit your life and family -- can you stand?

In Matthew 14:22-36 - you find a true story of the disciples of Jesus getting into a boat on the Sea of Galilee, at Jesus' command, to cross the sea, only to meet with a violent storm which threatened to destroy them.  Jesus comes to them walking on the water.  He reveals who He really was, and Peter steps out the boat and walks on the water to Jesus.

Let me call to your remembrance the following ideas:

1. It took a storm to set-up a miracle.  So many times when troubles and 'storms' come into our lives we fail to recognize that God is setting us up for a Divine Intervention.  What the enemy sends your way to destroy or discourage you, may just be the "tool" for your miracle.

2. Jesus' word always 'trumps' the storms.  HE was the one who ordered his disciples to get into the boat and cross the sea, when a storm hindered them. Whatever is hindering you now, if God has spoken His word to you -- HIS word cannot be stopped by the storm!

3. Jesus CAME to them in the midst of their storm.  What a comfort to know that in the middle of our storms, Jesus can and will come to you!  You are not really alone!

4. His word to the disciples and His word to you -- "Don't be Afraid" -- what a "word" when you can't see your way out of your trouble -- Don't be afraid!

5. Jesus reveals His true identity -- one translation says, "It is I" -- the Amplified Bible simply says, "I AM" -- that is God's name -- remember the burning bush and Moses in the Old Testament when God revealed His name and His character.  HE IS!  HE is everything you need Him to be in your life.

Out of this miracle revelation, another miracle happens -- the disciple Peter asked Jesus, "If that is really you - tell me to come to you" -- Jesus says one word -- COME -- and Peter miraculously walked on the water too.   Yes, when he saw the waves and sensed the wind, he doubted and temporarily started to sink --- notice I said TEMPORARILY -- just for a moment -- Jesus quickly picked him up -- Peter did not sink --- and neither will you, if you will just get out of the boat of your circumstance -- look to Jesus - and obey His word to you --- C O M E !

Can YOU stand the storm?  Can YOU stand the rain in your life?  Your miracle is on its way to you right now!  Don't be afraid, the great "I AM" is with you --- COME to HIM now!  The storm ended when Jesus and Peter walked back to the boat -- and got in!

The same will happen to you!  Just believe and obey the Master of the Sea - Jesus!

SECOND CHANCES

I remember posting a blog back in 2011, when the entire city of Atlanta was totally shut-down by crippling ice storms, and thousands of vehicles were stranded on our Interstate highways and city streets.  We, obviously, were not prepared.

Well life has a way of coming back around.....the city of Atlanta, and the state of Georgia invested millions of dollars in snow plows and salt trucks, after the storm in 2011.
We were determined to be ready!

Well - that time has come again --- TWICE -- to demonstrate our ability to deal with the weather.  Tuesday and Wednesday, January 28 and 29 -- two days to remember.  That morning, after being warned that something big was coming, school children were taken by buses to their schools -- people went to the jobs. At noon things changed fast -- and the snow came quickly -- and suddenly the schools were released -- and seems like everybody in downtown Atlanta left work at the same time -- and guess what --- look at the photos above and  you'll see what happened --- TOTAL GRIDLOCK!  Where were the salt trucks and snow plows --- back of the pack -- could not even get to their positions!!  Three inches of snow -- melted -- then froze -- and school children were stranded on highways in their buses --- many kids had to sleep at their schools because their parents, trying to get them, were stuck in GRIDLOCK!  A conservative estimate says there were 1200 traffic accidents; 300 injuries and one fatality (due to this storm).

It was somewhat amusing, yet sad, as politicians blamed each other -- or just refused to accept any blame for lack of coordination.  Mistakes were made AGAIN!  We had the trucks -- we had the salt -- we were just not in the right place at the right time.

Many folks like the lady in the photo below - spent the night in grocery stores and other businesses that were open -- they had abandoned their cars, and walked (if they could) to a safe place.

Guess what?  -- Would you believe we got another chance!  Two weeks later --- February 11-12 -- more snow and ice. This time ---- we finally got it right!  People did NOT go to school -- did NOT go to work -- and the trucks rolled and we made it through, although due to ice, thousands were inconvenienced by power outages across the state --- many cars and houses were damaged by falling trees .... but we will live!

What's the point of this blog --- a news report -- NO!  Just like I wrote in 2011, how many of us will heed God's warnings?  Trouble is coming!  Will we be prepared?  Jesus Christ will one day soon, return to earth -- will YOU be ready to welcome Him?  Is YOUR heart and life what He wants for you?  Do YOU love and serve HIM?    If you were to die in the next 24 hours, would YOU be prepared to meet God?  You ARE going to meet Him -- ready or not!

It's been a cold winter in Georgia this year!  We've had a lot of "strange" events!  Last night, as the city was recovering --- we had an earthquake just across the Georgia line in South Carolina -- and it was felt all over the city.  Do you think that God is trying to talk to us?  

I'm listening-- are YOU?  I'm ready -- are YOU!