Six Big Reminders From Hurricane Katrina

The news networks are covering the facts of Katrina, but the leaders of the church must now stand and speak the underlying spiritual truth, from the Word of God, about the trying events facing our nation. I am shocked at the lack of spiritual leadership coming through the news channels. I have seen several Catholic leaders say nothing more than "this is devestating" during the minute or two they are given on the air. That is exactly what the anchors and the political leaders are saying. We must offer more!

I have changed my sermon this Sunday to help my congregation come to terms with the deeper truths involved in this storm and the aftermath. Lord willing (whichI do not say lightly) I will be making the following six points. They are big reminders from Hurricane Katrina. I say "reminders" because we should know them already. These are only the points and the Scriptures, not my additional comments, but I encourage you to think through them and meditate on the truth that our battle is not against flesh and blood.

God is Sovereign

He Sends Storms for His Own Mysterious Purposes - Job 36:27-33 For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist, ²⁸ Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man. ²⁹ Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy? ³⁰ Look, He scatters his light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea. ³¹ For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance. ³² He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike. ³³ His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.

He Calms Storms - Matthew 8:23-27 ²³ Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. ²⁴ And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. ²⁵ Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" ²⁶ But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ²⁷ So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

Life is Fleeting

James 4:13-15 ¹³ Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

Sin has Terrible Consequences

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death,

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

God Brings Good Out of Suffering

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 ⁸ For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹ Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

People need To Repent and Be Rescued

Luke 13:4-5 "Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? ⁵ "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

In Eternity, Sin and Its Consequences Are Obliterated For God’s People

Revelation 21:1-6 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." ⁶ And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.