Weathering The Storms of Life- Part #2

This is Chris Hughes with the Christian perspective podcast with Chris Hughes. We encourage our listeners to engage the culture with Jesus Christ your chosen Truth Network podcast is starting a just a few seconds. So enjoy it share but most of all, thank you for listening to The Truth Podcast Network. This is the Truth Network. The following is part two of a two-part program. Do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill. Do you feel like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God.

Find God, and please God do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today. Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose, glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious but that weaponry not what I felt like her all 68 say a bad word about anybody white neighborhood black neighborhood anybody.

She was just a wonderful woman. She had her children along microsystem gave her children became her son. She became my second mother. What a great mother. She was tried in the last seven years of her life to visit her as often as I could. My sisters have done the same thing as well as my boys and my grandchildren, Children and grandchildren. Joan son and Maggie think of all of us as part of a family she think of my sons as her sons and grandsons and my grandchildren as her grandchildren, boys 20 – I got five grandsons and a dollar to do a great night a lucky they would stop off in Tampa, visit her. Maggie lives in a very simple home in the black section of that which you some of these a smoking habit still segregated was my primitive man to go to that house, which was not much, and sit in her home with her and every time I went with her you know she was doing she be sit in the car that day in her chair. She quit with a huge smile knock at the door and right or left. You have a Bible and I imagine we do it all the time just sitting pretty and I pray for you guys reading about content later known about negative but let me just say this. Maggie was prepared for every storm. Alexa came to her including the one she was facing this past Sunday evening the final storm of her life. The final page of her life, death wish for the Christian. The Bible says it is referred to us departing this life is there, but is falling asleep and I watch Maggie start to fall asleep Sunday night, how she so prepared, you might ask. I can take gases versatile. She built her lying on her solid rock Jesus Christ and she made a solid foundation for her life by living according to the preaching should be to the precepts of the commandments.

And what about access. She lived her life according what assess. In other words, she trusted Jesus and obey his war. Eventually the recipe if you have a blessed life and you want to make a gestalt of life.

So what can we learn not only from God's word but also from this life of a godly woman.

We should learn that we may, we can trust in a by election like this disciples in force today with Jesus, stole seven versus 46 to 49 is Jesus concludes this powerful message to his disciples, he offers three simple stages.

Many women we all have to pass through.

We want to follow his example and negative example of a solid foundation first met you cite one desk we must come to Jesus. We must all hear what Jesus says, but we we gotta understand what he says. And finally, now must we hear and understand that we must do what he says is really that simple. And it is so difficult you know why we have a world chose to do the exact opposite commercials, magazines, the media live alive. Now Pamela Custer. You can even pray to you best like now that's not what this is what he said.

Look at verse 26 to follow a look at lease versus care verse 26 is Jesus to his disciples that what you call me Lord, Lord, and do not USA. Many people call Jesus Lord Lord. They do it every Sunday with attend church, not many people who attend church actually do what they say they believe have on the job listening to what he what they say and I watch what I do you see somebody in church on Sunday and oligopolies using GD every allow you to give a self is a lot another Jesus is a very strong warning in Matthew two religious people who say one thing but do another Curtis in Matthew seven verse 21 to 23. See Alan if you have it. This is the conclusion. This is so important is right after Jesus warned about what The Pharisees at any give this warning to religious people and any concludes about tell us how to build a life on a solid rock. One stick is writing here.

What is a warning as this is one of the major traps in this world. It cite has he is captivated so many different world religions, including churches of Jesus. Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will in the kingdom of heaven, but only he does the will of my father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on a day what day of judgment day, Lord, Lord, do we not prophesy in your name that were prompts out of the lease to preach doing it. We preach tonight in evening dropout payments in full. Many Americans always use is always good things supposedly unite and then she said I want to tell them plainly.

I never what do you apart from the evildoers. I don't think will say that when you join his heart. God does not wish anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance takes no delight when the wicked perish, but is a God of justice, but is one way that one way she have to come through Jesus, and you have to know him personally, and if you say Lord, Lord, man.

You should your life should convey to everyone around you that Jesus as your Lord and you should obey him like you do any Lord of all this are if you want a Lord back in the day when they had the castles you brought up by the Lord to be executed, do this for 47 listen to what he said I will show you what he is like a comes to me and hears my word and put us in the pricey everybody that they don't listen to him all the people all disciples, and it's probably numbered in the hundreds and maybe that biologist is Jesus. He drew crowds and they come to Jesus so they took the first step want to come to Jesus because he's healing the sick, and they never seen a teacher who spoke with the authority and the power that he did so Dell came to Jesus he had their attention. But the question is, do they really understand what he was saying how you have come here not to see me or hear me but I bet you come here because you want to see Jesus right up close and personal, and obligate you come because you know you will hear the word of God.

The question is that we must all answer but do we truly hear and understand the word of God.

When you hear it from the when you hear on the radio when you're from another preacher said many times when Jesus finished his sermon, he would say yes. Let him who has ears here what you mean by that we would talk about these years he was talking about the spiritual ears that are there any of the injuries of your heart. You see is is one thing to hear what God's word said is another thing altogether different to actually understand Spiritual understanding first.

For this to 14 describes the main method ears to hear what he may read about. Listen to a sermon, but he SP the mentor does not have nuclear know what he may read the Bible.

The mayor sermon, but he could really get it didn't really connect with his heart is what Paul right the man without the spirit is the unbeliever does not accept the things to come from the Spirit of God for the foolishness to him he cannot understand why this is because they are spiritually discerned to take spiritual discernment. Your spirit is getting a lot Wellborn would get spirits to be born again. This is what happens is when a man places trust in Jesus and him alone and you you want and you you want to be one of his true disciples.

Then one of the evidence that you really are is spiritual understanding. You have to have ears that hear is how it happened that you place your trust in Jesus, he sent his Holy Spirit just like you said in John 14 is not going away, but I send off another copper I will come to you is the spirit of Christ that comes in indwelling John 6 to 1636 and the Spirit himself. The spirit of truth, he will guide you into what all truth to host.

You know it gets inside of you are from when I was 10-year-old read by JB Phillips paraphrase the Bible.

I got it and I was 10 years old my mother living Christ. Maggie was there. Tell her that her Jesus and the Holy Spirit came into me as a young boy and I sit there, 12, 1349 were not written about it was like Jesus was in the room would let you know what he was. He walks with me.

He told me he tells me I am what is to the question, yes is always good and you and he is the most important spiritual task. We all need to take my first Quicken starting classes examine yourselves to see if you are in Christ. What is a spiritual gifts.

Do you understand God's word is a connection with your heart and your mind so so that you you know that you ears to hear about I'm in this weather greatest teacher in the nation.

Visual came to Jesus at night a man by the name of what Nicodemus became, and asked him to ask a question. He made a statement we know your great pictures. Kevin God is notable for the powerful miracles that you're doing in Jesus bypass excitement in which what he was really there for while either he was the greatest teacher in all of Israel. You like the most important thing he had not been what born again, he said to the truth Nicodemus. No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

That is what he means by see us explained to the guys yesterday in our attorney. Bible study acid you when you first see the two bus tickets for when you follow protocol models and whether my voice to get to my will here get to mow their want to post to go up three of four. When I finally could see them if they understood they got that's what it means to see the kingdom of God. You understand spiritual things is beginning can only happen in truly be born again editable again nor the idiom of the proof is in the building who is never that the proof is in the pudding, never know whether must be motivational. Fill out the private magnet going and what it means is this before you can know if the pudding is good yet what taste so the proof that we belong to Christ is the taste. The aroma of our lives. It would be fruit textures was a man was man like sound like was it look like look at verses 43 to 45 will barely deny the appeal of the board of a special lady is no good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each was recognized by its own fruit.

People do not take Trish from thornbushes, or grapes from briars. The good man brings good things out of the good stored in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things stored in his heart. While the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks out of the overflow of his heart the mouth speaks is another idiom was in the well because of the block in your that Stephan is like Roy Young without having to make sense.

What's in the Wilkins of the what's in your heart will come out just long enough unlike some things coming out so what was the will what is coming to do with you about what you see in you claim to be followers of Christ. What do you hear what I hear coming out of your mouth.

Do they see you between other Tennessee training others didn't get it generous to those in need to remember as God sees everything including the deep recesses of your heart. Again Jesus explain three stages of about who must look at what was up with what we must do want to follow Jesus first was come to him was here and not on here will miss understand and you must put what we hear to practice that which we obey him, and then Jesus says if a man does this, he is like a builder to build a strong health. Look at verse 48 is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid a foundation on rock when a flood came, the torrents brought that house but did not shake it, as it was will good Milan you got on the your builders and I noticed some of the otherwise builders and all of your known about a lot of the wise man that's a good piece of good lot and the first thing he does. He digs deep until he gets solid ground and then he carefully lays a strong secure foundation use OF equipment, bulldozers and backhoes and then he feels the software is with rocking horse usually five or six ears of concrete to make sure he got a solid foundation to want to get all this trouble is you want to make sure that when the storms with the Hugos of this world, that his house is only a block standing no matter how strong the reins on how strong the wind is his house will be standing tall and firm help no matter how powerful the storm to work with is God given us the benefit relation he's given us the indwelling Holy Spirit first and foremost he's given us his word. He is given us fellowship with other believers in your local church and about us and what is we need one another would be that band of brothers is given is what prayer is all you need man Jesus in his work and communication with the father that you have the Holy Spirit, the standard rock lighthouse is one of the most famous in the world, situated on Lake Superior is known as the North American white station. The most distant from land 25 miles from land to the west and 42 miles to the south and you'll see pictures of your sick upward a minute. In August 26, 1835 the legendary navigator Capt. Charles standard he was out with his bow and I think he bought into a reef that he never dreamed about that that wanted to build lighthouse standing there yet.

Can you imagine how shocking was the man he's 30 miles away from land and the likes appears about 13 I think the US about rock so shipping activity increase the danger that rock became more more perilous as it was really just south of a very busy shipping like she was referred to as one of the structures raised the entire Great Lakes views lighthouse service near the regular navigation light but the question was really Bill want tall enough that on that single reef which was like a rock and it was exposed to 100 mile radius of war in order noticed the fresh water.

I did notice this weather stiff yell.

I got so rough. Somehow it because of his smallness and the quality of the water.

It is more susceptible to winter new. It will kick up quickly, but they said they will give it a try to lighthouse. There is affability, a massive concrete base that they called a career in 11 feet of water based on the tower to tower sandstone blocks which wait anywhere from 12 to 30 times will coordinate Kelly's out on Lake Erie and Gibraltar standard field by barge, to be certain everyone will be transfer the entire town was built sure it in the hole get out of this re-piece by piece and reassembled it.

They hold that man what are 240,000 tons of rock in our steel and ego such a strong foundation in a century later still standing sentry like the new light was first eliminated July 4, 1882 classic 19th-century tower standing tall in product is empty Lake and Scott.

However, as you all night violent Northwest almost constantly hit that lighthouse with 30 foot waves to the point with the ways that the spray would go to talk about 100 Tempe, the top of it. Now here we are 140 years after his first eliminated in that lighthouse. He does not functioning longer is still standing. That's what you would like to. That's what Maggie was reminds without waiting for that light of remind me of her. She was to the veteran storms of racism holiday loneliness and pain she get her life upon a rock.

Jesus is benefiting word just this past Sunday. She was prepared to enter a pass through her final storm SOS this past Sunday when I went to Robin about Hoskins, about 7 PM I went to the Doyles cold RING THE BELL COUPLE TIMES THIS MAN CAME UP AND LET ME IN, ALONG WITH ONE OF MAGGIE'S NIECES. HER NAME IS CATHERINE. SHE'S ALSO A NURSE. WE GOT THERE BEFORE MAGGIE ARRIVED AND THEY TOOK HIS DENTAL WORK DONE EVERY ROOM 101 DOWN THE HALL AND WE STOOD THERE WE SELDOM BRING MAGGIE AND I COULD SEE ABOUT NEEDLE COMPANY ON AN IT TOOK ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO GET READY AND LOW SAND AND Standing OUTSIDE HER ROOM WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT.

WE GOT IT. I WALKED IN THERE IN MAGGIE WAS LAYING THERE COMFORTABLE. HER EYES CLOSED WITH A PEACEFUL LOOKING THINGS AND I WON'T OVER HER TELLING DEBORAH HER ELEGANT ARMS. HEY MAGGIE IT'S RUSS GUYS I WAS MISSING EFFECTS. I THOUGHT YOU THOUGHT YOU SEEN THE FACE OF JESUS.

HER EYES OPENED UP A SMILE FORMED ON HER FACE. I TOOK ABOUT A HAND AND I BEGAN TO TALK TO HER TELLING WHAT WE LOVE HER AND I TOOK MY CELL PHONE RIGHT THERE IS A JOAN COULD GET THERE AND YOU CAN MUSTER TO face time with them and in each one of them. I heard about the Maggie and then face time with my wife with Russian Smith and if you say market ritual to other nations, they were out of state and every time she saw or the spaces they just let up and all the boys who love you Maggie nearby for letting then she said I love you more print out well, but she had.

She was alert, face time, I reminded Maggie this for a while and my baba reminded her that she was headed to the shot she knew it she was heading to a place that she longed for heaven gas is a place that she'd only seen on your that happened back to share that surgery to difficulty. Maggie told everyone after surgery that she was transported in the spirit to happen again. I don't have washing a revelation, but I listen to her story and forth about. I believe Maggie is probably Maggie and she told the same story for seven years and never changed and it totally matched up with what Revelation had described heaven is what you say she's all split on my back in a river room and it was clear as crystal water and also my back goodness of Maggie hated the water is probably the string to direct visual strength is afraid of working together great with us and begin like war and she said she on each side of the bank were beautiful trees just line in lush grass. She came to a going guy and that gate open and there was Jesus all dressed in white with a big smile on his face, and she says she saw I almost upon thousands of beautiful flowers and children running plain everywhere but the Lord understanding replied to her was not her time. She still at war in Maggie said and Maggie didn't look up an offering type and she would believe that God sent her back to sit in that house by herself with her baba and prayer, and that was worse on what you know she was doing praying for my family. Sunday night I share the store with Maggie low sand cabinet with the nurses to extend the listed everything that I was to my prayer in the row cited got took my Bible this right here after the Revelation chapter 22.

It is where rid of Maggie you think about her vision of being there in spirit relish 22 verse one. Since then the angel showed me this is John presents home out of Patmos and the Lord appeared to him and gave him these visions about heaven in the last days we should write things down.this is true what you see any said.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the land in the middle of the great street of the city on each side of the river stood the tree of life. 12 crops of fruit urine is fruit every month and the leaves of the tree of the healing of the nations no longer with the bin curse the throne of God and the Lamb will be the city's service will serve him, they will see his face. Maggie seen his face now is they will be on their forwards will be no more night there were not even like that of a lamp like the sun, for the Lord God given like they will reign in ever told Megan a minute on image Maggie. I wish I could trade places with Chris. This is the death of a Christian is your city falling asleep, waking up in paradise invest the destiny of every follower of Christ who places the company Jesus hears his word understand and abase him and he will bless you in this life. Not to say with money but with himself and his guidance in his presence. When you go to the start of life. I thought about this. Megan is probably not should remove probably the greatest person ever met in my life ever a woman true faith in Jesus Christ who stood firm upon his word understand all the storms and came away clean the final storm death upright with Maggie and I left her off state.

About an hour. I really want to leave the left her knowing that would be the last time I would ever see her this heaven a lot 1115 I got a call from Lois and tell me that Maggie Stickel in heaven and delivers all of this? This question upon what foundation you building your life is a truly a foundation like a rock member.

All of the ground seeking sand. Maggie is a great example of a life well lived in Christ and Christ alone and all I know is this. I want to be more and more like LG to hear about this premise, thank you for this day like it was Ms. Patience and I went to swim at 50 minutes upright all that you would bless me as I go to the group to lower weight, which is to ask you to tell Maggie hello is valid for your own health and all my sisters and everyone who knows her will have a great time ever, and I hope you will project him upright being a Christian is not about being religious about having the dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living. You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net. This is the Truth Network