Ready For Trouble

Ready For TroubleSummary:Let’s hear the words of Jesus as found inJohn 16:33 English Standard VersionI have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
What things had Jesus said to them. Well, if you go back and read the verses ahead of verse 33, you will see Jesus is telling them there is a time coming where they will not understand what’s going on and why. They will in fact be scattered, separated and would actually leave Jesus.
Of course Jesus was preparing them for what he was about to go through, the torture, crucifixion and death of Jesus. 
Can you imagine how confused the disciples must have been at this time. Their leader was gone. He was dead.  Now what were they going to do?
There may come times in our own lives where we don’t understand what’s going on. Maybe things the plans we had suddenly seem upended and our lives have changed in an instant.
Remember the words of Jesus, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Though they saw Jesus die on a cross, a few days later they saw him talking and even eating with them. 
We need to understand Jesus is alive and he is with us.
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Now I want to show you something about being ready for times of tribulation.
Matthew 7:24-27 ESV24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
James 1:2222 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
The man who built his house upon a rock was the man who heard the word and acted on it, who obeyed it, who constantly asked the question, “What does the Word say?”
Often times people turn to God when a struggle come and that’s good, the the scripture says it’s the man who built his house, or you could say built his life, by hearing and obeying the Word of God, that was ready and able to stand the storms of life.
How often do we find out we are sick and run to see what the Scriptures say about healing and try to believe God. 
Shouldn’t we live a life where we continue to be in the Word of God, studying the Word, believing and acting on the Word so that we stay built up in faith and are ready to trust God no matter what we face?
That’s the kind of life that God is calling us too. That is the kind of life that can stand against the storms.
Jesus said the man who knew the Word but didn’t act on it, was like the man built his house on the sand. He was deceiving himself, believing his home was find, that the life he had built was strong and able to stand. 
A life built on knowing and doing the word of God is a life prepared to trust God and stand against any storm and trial that may come and ultimately walk in the victory that Jesus has provided for us through his redemptive work.
Build a strong life. Build it on the Word. Build it by knowing the Word, believing the Word, doing the Word and trusting God.
Blessings,Tim Dumaswww.hopeforhealingfaithforliving.com