April 26th 2020 Sermon Notes:

Speaker: Apostle Dr. Lucille Baird
Theme: Building with a storm in mind
Text: Matthew 7:24-29

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

1. Know the storm whisperer – Jesus speaks peace be still
2. Make sure your foundations and structures are strong and secure
3. Never let go of the one who stills the storms
4. You will be victorious over the storm

1. Know the storm whisperer – Jesus speaks peace be still
The Bad News, you must live your life expecting a storm, they are inevitable, brace yourself you will have a storm, not only a physical storm but spiritual storm, to test where we are with God, expect a storm.
We are in a war with a faceless enemy called Covid 19. In the Caribbean we are now experiencing Category 5 hurricanes but Jesus is the ‘storm whisperer.’ These hurricanes are now creating storm surges, flooding the area. In the same we that we try and prepare for them before the hurricane season.
But we must prepare ourselves for the storms of life, they are inevitable, they can create havoc and cause us to become disillusioned and backslide. But the storm whisperer is in the boat with us. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Jesus Calms the Storm
Mark 4: 35-41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Jesus could have told them what was going to happen, but He didn’t but He was there resting in the bottom of the boat. The ‘Storm Whisperer’ was on the boat. I bet the disciples thought that all would be well, they were going over with Jesus.
The Sea of Galilee can get sudden storms, why would Jesus take them over when He knew there was going to be a storm? Because He knew He would be with them, He is in control, He can calm the storm.
You will not be destroyed by this Corona Storm, Jesus is in the boat, do not fear. Because your God is the King of King, stop worrying in your storm. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

2. Make sure your foundations and structures are strong and secure
The foundation is vital if you are going to have a Category 5 resistant house.
We must come to a point that we realize we can’t do it alone, we must have Jesus with us to get to the other side.

If you build cheap, with no iron and structural strength you building will shift in the midst of a storm. You must learn to lean on God so when the storm comes you will build on these good foundations. If you get to the stage that you don’t pray and ask God for direction, then when the storm comes, it will reveal the depth of your foundations.

You need good artisans in the natural, so in the Spiritual you need a good Pastor, anointed and walking holy. You need good church leaders, exhibiting holiness and righteousness. You need to be sure you can follow them
So too you need to worship and have good prayer partners around you. You can’t be a lone ranger a straggler, the lion picks off the stragglers, the weak ones.

Practice worship as a culture in your home and your car. David said I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Bless the Lord at all times, in the calm and during the storms.

You need artisans in the natural, and in the spiritual you need good godly councilors as your spiritual artisans. Good council to give you guidance. If you are building with the storm in mind you need to receive good advice.

Have church mothers that will intercede until daylight comes, until breakthrough comes. Who will birth you into your purpose and ministry, who will birth your into the place God would have you to be.

Listen to good motivational materials, watch good programmes that will challenge and encourage you.

The roof is essential, the wind will take the roof and all will be loss. Have a prayer shield in your life, cover yourself with prayer. Now in the Corvid 19 we are not running anywhere, stores are closed and we are locked in.

Storms are not forgiving, they are not selective. So your house must always be prepared. The architect makes your house look beautiful but the structural engineer will enable you to have a structurally sound building

Jesus is the master builder he said ‘And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’

In our storm we speak negative things but when Jesus got up from his sleep in the boat He spoke to the storm and said ‘Be still’

Don’t complain and grumble, the thing that you fear will come upon you. We can “speak those things that are not as though they are,” sit back, and enjoy the fruit of our words.

Stay connected to God, thank God we don’t need internet to connect to God, you can talk to Him at any time to build good foundations.

Jesus is in your ship, you knew Him before this Corona crisis, He will see you through

3. Never let go of the one who stills the storms

Stay with God, He is fixing it for you, He will take you through, you will not die going over, because Jesus is in the ship. Keep praising during the storm, worship is a weapon against Satan. Wave and shout and dance before the Lord, God is seeking true worshippers that will worship through the storm. He is working for you

4. You will be victorious over the storm

Jesus will still the storm. Victory comes to those that hope the longest. Anticipate with pleasure what God is going to do that is hope.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The Good news is that Jesus is the Storm Whisper and you will survive the storm. He is in control, he is in the ship.

Whatever you do build with the storm in mind. Build on the Rock King Jesus. He will speak peace to your mind, your emotions, peace into your life. God has got this.

Bless you to be a blessing, out of this storm you will come out with more anointed, more direction. Jesus is in control don’t live another day without Him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryEMpNG95WY

Mount Zion’s Missions EVENTS 2020