GRACE_JO

Dr AR Bernard part 2
Pearls - formed in the oyster with parasitic infestation - from the sea(speaks of nation, oyster is tossed around spiritual immoral situation, darkness, turmoil, chaos, confusion )

Continue to go through the process of forming into something precious ( Jesus christ will come forth )

We are called to be the light of the world - if there is no darkness, there's no need for light. God has placed us in the darkness to shine for Him.

Formed in the image of Christ, formed in the midst of chaos, storms, confusion but were given assurance from God.

Matt 7:24-25(NLT)
"Anyone who listens to my teachings and follows it wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. "

V25- though ( despite the fact that )

Storms are facts of life ( violent disturbance)
While God is shaping u, you are gonna experience storms.

3 reasons storms comes

1) disobedience( jonah's storm)
Jonah taking the storm lightly while the rest are all anxious and praying to their God.

When u know what's right but you're doing it wrong anyway.
Or u let someone else talk you to doing something else.

Jonah fall asleep - when u are disobedient, u have false sense of what is going on.

Leads you to a place of self-pity, u began to feel that you are a victim.

Too fed up - I'm the problem, it's my fault, throw me overboard. When ppl thinks u are, u will eventually throw u over.

Landed in the belly of the whale, then he repented.

What got him out? : repentance- accepting responsibilities ( obedience )

2) obedience ( disciple's storm )
They followed God's instruction to go onto the boat.

Dun deal with it but expect God's divine intervention!!

3) other people's decision ( paul's storm )

You dun have a say about it.

You never know how God is gonna answer your prayers.
Learn to trust God and know what God has for us. Cos He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ (Phil 1:6)

Storms comes on - as a body of Christ , church, local level, individually

No matter what the fact is, God is purposed to do what He has to do.

Ride it out and thank God that it's over, at the end of the storm, you will come out stronger than before you went in.

Trust God and believe God in everything u put ur hands into cos God is faithful!

Build up resistance!!