FAITH IN TIME OF CRISIS
Frank Ottati

"…the wise man built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." Matt 7:24

Who is the house?
Us, 2 Cor. 5:1
Who is the Rock?
Jesus, Dan. 2:44,45; 1 Cor. 10:4;
What is the sand?
Dependence on self; own traditions, Mark 7:6-8
What are the rain, the floods and the winds that beat on the house?
Crisis, trials, temptations, John 16:33; 1 Cor 10:13
What is the purpose of these winds of crisis?
To prepare us for the final test, Rev. 3:10
"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the flooding of the Jordan? Jer. 12:5
Can we change foundations during the time of crisis?
The house does not change foundations in the storm
A crisis doesn't change us only reveals who we really are: we will stand or we will fall. (It can change us after the crisis, if there is still time)
This is why the Lord in His infinite love allows small winds of crisis to blow on us, to show our condition, and invite us to change while there is time, because at the end there will be no time to change (and there is no chance to change after). Amos 8: 11,12
At the end of time when the big storm comes, we will respond as we do right now, because decisions made in time of crisis, are premeditated
How can our house have a Rock foundation?
1. Knowing Jesus personally, Matthew 7:23
2. Doing God's will, Matthew 7:21
Invitation: To invite Jesus to be the foundation of your life, to know Him personally while there is still time. "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart," Hebrews 4:7 and to thank Him for having some small winds in order to be ready for the big one that is to come.