How Jesus Prepares Us for the Storm:

1. He lets us see the clouds

So that our fears will be lessened.
- If you know it’s coming you are better prepared, fear is less

So, we will be secure in Him.
- What you’ll remember even more than the storm is the fact that I prepared you for it and told you it was going to happen. There’ll be a sense of security and you’ll say, " God knew all about this before it came.”

Because the timing is right.
- You see, there’s a time for us to hear God talk to us about the storms of life. And for the disciples, it was time. He said, "While I was with you, I didn’t tell you these things. I’m waiting until now because the timing is right, because I’m going to leave and you’re going to be asking questions, and you’re going to be battered and bruised and you’re going to be wondering what’s happening."

How Jesus Prepares Us for the Storm:

2. He assures us that he has our best interests in mind.

He said, "I’m going away. I want you to understand that this storm that you’re about to encounter is what’s best for you."

Now, humanly speaking, when we’re in the middle of the storm, none of us really feel that, do we?

How Jesus Prepares Us for the Storm:

3. He sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us.

He sends the Paraclete, or "one who walks alongside of us." He sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us and to comfort us during this very dark time in our lives.

How Jesus Prepares Us for the Storm:

3. He sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us.

He sends the Paraclete, or "one who walks alongside of us." He sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us and to comfort us during this very dark time in our lives.

The Holy Spirit cannot come and help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you.

The Holy Spirit will:
-Reveal truth about sin and God’s justice
-Guide the believer in full truth
-Glorify God during the storm

In all four gospels, it’s recorded that Jesus told us believers that he would send the Holy Spirit to us to comfort us, to walk alongside of us and to minister to us.

4. He gives us enough light for today.

He reveals enough knowledge to help us get through the storm. He doesn’t let us see the end of the storm. Would you look at that in verse 16?

When he prepares us for the storm, He gives us just enough light.

That’s the same way it is during the storm. Jesus said, "You’re not ready yet to understand everything. It’s okay. I’ll just give you enough light for you to see where you are right now, and you just keep walking." Our problem is that many times we stop and say, "God, I ain’t going unless you show me more light." Then the light stops. "If we walk in the light as He is in the light..." -- walking in the light, not standing in the light.

How Jesus Prepares Us for the Storm:

5. He reminds us of His unconditional love.

He’s saying to His disciples, "Guys in a few moments, things are going to drastically change around here. They’re going to take me away from you. I want you to know what you’re going to do when the storm comes: when I need you the most, instead of staying with me and being courageous, you’re going to run and scatter”. This is just a few minutes after Peter has said, "Lord, I don’t know about the rest of these disciples, but you can count on me." And Jesus said, "Peter, no I can’t." Now, notice what he said:

"These things I have said unto you so that you will have peace because of me."

What does He mean? "Peter, when you deny me and the rooster crows, you’re going to weep bitterly. You’re going to run out of that garden and say, ’How could I do this to the one I love?’"

He says to the disciples, "You’re going to go to a closed room, and lock the doors and huddle like a bunch of scaredy-cats. You’re going to hear news out on the street about this man who was unjustly accused, and you’ll go on a supreme guilt trip. You’re going to feel so bad and so unworthy, and so rotten deep down inside, because you’ll know that when I needed you, right in the middle of my storm, you deserted me. But when you scatter, when you fail, when you come short of the glory of God, when you don’t measure up, when you sin after making promise after promise, hang on.

He said, "I want you to know that I knew it was going to happen, and I want you to have peace because of me. I knew you were going to fail, and I told you ahead of time, but I love you unconditionally anyway."

How Jesus Prepares Us for the Storm:

6. He gives us courage in spite of our circumstances.

Jesus said, "While you’re in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up I have defeated the world." Basically, Jesus said to the disciples, "In the next 48 hours, the world is going to throw everything they can on top of me. You’re going to see me encounter the worst that the world has to offer. I want you to understand that when I encounter the worst that the world has to offer, I’m going to be victorious. Cheer up, because I’m going to overcome the world. You’re going to see me taken away. You’re going to see me in a mock trial. You’re going to see me die on a cross, in the next 2 days. But if you’ll hang around, on the third day, you’ll see me resurrect from the dead." And He said, "I want you to understand that because I was victorious over the storm of death, you’ll be victorious over every storm you encounter in life." That’s what it’s all about. Cheer up. He said, "I have overcome the world."

How Does Jesus Prepare Us for the Storm?
He lets us see the clouds
He assures us that he has our best interests in mind
He sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us
He gives us enough light for today

He reminds us of His unconditional love.

He gives us courage in spite of our circumstances.

It’s a new day a new season… GENUSTRONGER