Rough Seas

Pastor Debi Reynard

This short study will concern itself primarily with Philippians 4 . 

Many people assume that once an individual becomes born‑again and spirit‑filled, that he
will no longer suffer or endure pressure. People also assume that believers are happy all
the time. Those of us who have stood on the Word, and for the Lord for any length of time
realize, all too well, that we are still mortal beings with very human concerns and pressures. 

So then, how do we as believers continue to stand in times of great adversity and find
peace under pressure? 

Verse 4. In the midst of the great storms in your life how can you find joy much less rejoice
in the Lord? 

a. The most important thing to realize, understand, and fully believe is the following
principle. Mal 3:6. Can anyone explain why this is so?

b. Matthew 8:20 when your storms hit, will this question be put to you? Why was this
question asked?

c. Luke 7:50 If God changes not, the result of your believing then should end with this
verse. 

Rejoicing in the Lord is a choice just as praising and worshipping the Lord in adversity
becomes a choice. The outcome of your storms will be determined by which verse you
choose to follow. Rejoice in the time of storms and praise the Lord, and your faith will
make you whole. 

Become afraid, run from the word, and you will drown! Every principle written in the Word
of God, as well as every promise, relies upon the truth that God never changes. What he
wrote yesterday, will be true today, it will be true tomorrow. If we can believe that we are
born again of God's spirit, then too, should we be able to rejoice in times of storms for we
know that our peace lies with God. 

Verse 5. Let your moderation in the known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 

What exactly is moderation? What does moderation have to do with finding peace in the
midst of a storm? Does what you own, what you wear, where you live, determine the quality
of your salvation? Will it determine the quality of the salvation of those you witness to? So
what then is moderation? 

a. Hebrews 13:5 If we owned the world and all of its wonders, will we gain Christ? If we
own nothing, will we lose him? 

It is crucial to redeem the Times, for the return of Christ is coming very soon! If all of
man's salvation is dependent upon the way you live, there will be never enough time for
you to gain enough possessions to rise above all other men so that all may see the glory of
Christ through what you own! Once again, moderation can now be seen through the eyes of the Lord as letting your lifestyle be centered around God and his Word. What you do to
bring souls into the kingdom of the Lord is what determines your eternal wealth. We'll
receive rewards for how  well we stewarded what the Lord entrusted to us. What we sow
into the Kingdom today, will be returned unto us in the eternal. 

Versed 6. 

A. Matthew 6:25‑34 what are you going to do with your worries and your fears? 

B. psalms 55:22, I Peter 5:7. 

WORRY is never going to get the answers you desperately need in times of the storms, it
can only bring on further storms. Worrying about the future is not going to bring you one
second closer peace.If we believe in Malachi Chapter 3, we know that God changes not.
We know that God has perfect knowledge and he sees the future as well as he saw the
past. 

In the storms of life, when all seems hopeless, the one thing we have left, is the ability to
focus our minds on Jesus. We must remember, at all times, by prayer and believing for our
prayers to be answered in a relaxed manner, that the God who changes not, will answer our prayers, and meet our needs just as he always has and always will. 

What then, we your choice the? When your boat rocks, will you bail out? Will you have the
courage of your conviction to rebuke that storm in the name of Jesus Christ and the means that it will come to pass? With that kind of conviction, mountains will become mustard
seeds and nothing can stop you. 

!.what is your favorite scripture that calms your seas?

2.can you share an example of a prayer answered that to the world seemed impossible?

3.can a natural man ever rejoice?