Standing in the Storms of Life (1 of 2)
You don't always see the connection between your actions and the current storm. Sometimes there's a bit of time takes place before finally you start to reap the consequences of your actions and your inner storm, whether it be in your marriage, in your family, in your finances, in your personal life, in your work life and actually it's the result of neglect or the result of poor choices. You're going to have to not just pray about it and blame the devil on it. You've actually got to own and take full responsibility, you only have power over the storm if you own responsibility. The second kind of storm then is a God-directed storm, that kind of storm is to bring you to surrender. There's just some natural storms that come in life. There can be some storms which are just straight out demonic.
Standing in the Storms of Life (2 of 2)
Jesus shows His dominion over nature, total authority over the law of gravity when He's walking on water. When He got into the boat immediately the wind just stopped. The third thing that happened was immediately the boat was on the other side, transported! Sometimes when we read the gospels we just read them almost with eyes blinded to the reality of the supernatural. Go preach the gospel, and signs will follow those who believe
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You don't always see the connection between your actions and the current storm. Sometimes there's a bit of time takes place before finally you start to reap the consequences of your actions and your inner storm, whether it be in your marriage, in your family, in your finances, in your personal life, in your work life and actually it's the result of neglect or the result of poor choices. You're going to have to not just pray about it and blame the devil on it. You've actually got to own and take full responsibility, you only have power over the storm if you own responsibility. The second kind of storm then is a God-directed storm, that kind of storm is to bring you to surrender. There's just some natural storms that come in life. There can be some storms which are just straight out demonic.
I want to share with you on: standing in the storms of life. How many know that storms come on us once in a while, a bit unexpected aye? Every one of us faces storms of some kind. Storms, sometimes we see them coming on the horizon, sometimes you don't see them, they just blow up, and they just come. I want to just talk about some storms, a particular storm that Jesus' disciples faced, and the Holy Spirit, in the word of God, separated out from everything that Jesus did, just some things that we need to hear about. So there's so many things, if you wrote them all down it would fill the books of the world, so the ones we see here that are written have really got something for us, so let's have a look.
On the same day when evening had come, Jesus said - Mark 4:35 - let's cross over to the other side. And when they left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was; no time to change, no time to get packed, hop in the boat and leave. And other little boats were also with Him, and a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat - it was already getting filled with water. But He was in the stern of the boat, asleep on a pillow. Isn't that wonderful aye? That's Jesus - and they awoke Him, and said to Him: teacher, don't You care we're about to die? We're perishing! And He arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: peace, be still! The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then He said to them: why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? And they were even more fearful. They feared exceedingly, and said: who can this be, even the wind and the sea obey Him!
So you notice this is a story of a storm, and how to handle a storm. Every one of us faces storms in life. This particular storm was a dramatic storm. Notice what Jesus says at the beginning. He says: let's cross over to the other side. In other words, He had an assignment for them. Jesus had in mind a territory to be reached. Jesus had a vision of a whole region of people He wanted to reach with the gospel; so when He said: let's cross over, what He's really saying is: I don't want to just stay preaching to those who've already heard the word of God. I want to go out to where people haven't heard the word of God. There's a whole territory out there, that I want to go to; and He said: let us cross over to the other side. So this is a tremendous picture for us, of God speaking about the need for us to break out of limitations, break out of comfort zones, to bring the gospel to people who never heard Him. People need to hear about Jesus Christ. The only way they're going to hear is if we bring the good news to them.
So notice the mandate they have, is to leave the comfort zone, and go out to where people haven't heard the gospel; and so they had to leave the crowd behind. It's great to be gathering and meeting like this. We have a great time, we enjoy the presence of God, but there are people around you every day that have never heard about the kingdom of God, they've never heard about a saviour who loves them. They're wrestling with storms in their life, unable to know what to do, and we've got something that can help them. It won't matter what stage you are at in your journey in your Christian life, you have something to help someone who doesn't know Christ - even if it's a simple act of kindness opens the door, but you have to cross over. You've got to cross over the great gap between: being with my friends; and being where people are who don't know Jesus. You've actually got to initiate it. Notice that Jesus said: you leave where you are, and go to where they are. It's always like that.
Often we think: well, we'd love to invite people to come; and it's great to have events to gather people too. They're great to do that, but really the bottom line is, God wants us to go where people are in need. I just so appreciated Thomas this morning, just his willingness to go to desperate people in need. I mean that's a - to have a young man stepping out like that to do something like that, he's never put any demand on anyone. He's worked sacrificially to do this. This is a thing that's inspiring, and it's a great example, but the bottom line is: he's going where people are; and we go out those doors to where people are, but you've got to intentionally leave the comfort zone.
Notice: they left the multitudes, left the crowd, left the place of comfort, to go to where people are in need. You actually have to engage them; and in the engaging with unsaved people, there will be a clash of kingdoms. We have to just understand the reality of that, and in this particular passage, and the next one that follows, there are two clashes that take place. In other words, Jesus has given the disciples an assignment, but always with the assignments of God, there will come a spiritual conflict. It is inevitable. If you are walking into what God has for you, you will face a clash between: the kingdom you represent; and the kingdom of darkness. It will not yield it's captives readily. It's something we have to bear. A lot of Christians aren't aware, that around the issue of reaching souls, there is a spiritual conflict; and it requires we overcome some of the things that arise against us. I want to help you understand some things that arise against us, some storms that arise against us, and what to do. But always it costs you something, always it costs you something.
Let's have a look at the story there, and it says: a great wind-storm arose. That word 'great' is 'mega'. It's a MEGA storm. Don't know if you've ever been out in a boat in a mega storm? It's horrendous! The word storm there, indicates there were great furious thunderclouds; there were driving blasts and gusts; and then there's this torrential rain. That's what it describes. When you read it: oh well there it is, yeah, a great windstorm. No, no, no. They were in a life-threatening thing. This thing rose up out of nowhere, and threatens to sink the boat before they've even got there; and so the storm came up. Now I want you to understand there's a whole number of storms that we can face in life. I want to identify for you four different kinds of storms. When you face a storm, usually what happens is: it affects your thought life; it affects your emotions; it affects your decisions. You feel like your life is a little bit out of control, because you're in the middle of a storm. How many understand what that's like?
There's all kinds of storms. You can have a financial storm, and suddenly there's this dramatic pressure; things look black and cloudy, the rain is on you. You look like the boat is sinking. That's a financial storm. You can have a storm in your marriage, it looks exactly like that in your marriage. It can be black and cloudy, and the winds are beating, and you're feeling very distressed, and thinking: I'm sinking very quickly. There can be storms in the family, especially if you have teenagers. You can have dramatic storms arise, suddenly overnight. Out of nowhere they just suddenly turn up, and there's a crisis call, and then you have to leave home and go down to the police station; or leave home and pick someone up from some place; or you leave home and you've got to sort out some crisis. Anyone who's had teenagers knows, there's a whole number of storms come during that period of life. How many understand what I'm talking about here? There we are, everyone! That's right. Be nice if you knew what to do in those storms wouldn't it? [Laughs]
Okay, so those are a couple of storms, different kinds of storms. When a storm comes, you're in turmoil. Now there's four different kinds of storms - there may be others, these are four that I'm aware of, four that I've had. I've gone through every one of these storms, so I know a little bit about storms. The first storm is the storm of your own making; the storm of your own making. In other words, you brought it on yourself. Now that is a storm, let me just give you a simple example. If you spend more than you have coming in, a financial storm is about to arise. It's only a matter of how long, then it arises, then you complain: ooh, the devil's attacking me, my finances are down, God's not coming through. Listen, you goofed up! It's just as simple as that. You just goofed up, and mismanaged; and now you're reaping what you sowed. It's just simple like that, so a storm of our own making means: there's stuff we did, and now we're getting the consequences of it; or there's stuff we didn't do, and now we're getting the consequences of it.
So husbands, if you neglect to love your wives... I was just talking to a guy recently, and I remember trying to help him out a little while ago, and now he's a very, very lonely person, and his marriage has broken up. His wife left him, and I said: did you learn anything from it? He said: yes, I did. He said: I realised I neglected her. I didn't want to say: we came and talked to you about that - it just wouldn't be appropriate in the middle of a storm. People are really needing help; not to sink. They don't need us to help point out they got there, but the thing was that he was reaping the consequences. Now the problem with this is, that you don't always see the connection between: your actions; and the current storm. Sometimes there's a bit of time takes place before finally you start to reap the consequences of your actions; and your inner storm, whether it be in your marriage, in your family, in your finances, in your personal life, in your work life; and actually it's the result of neglect, or the result of poor choices.
Now one of the hardest things is to connect that. You go to someone, like a Pastor or a leader, and they talk with you, and they'll ask you the questions, and help you link the storm you're facing now, to what you actually did or didn't do. That's one of the things of having someone external helping you in the middle of a storm. My observation over many years, is often in the middle of a storm, you can't see one thing from another. You're just fearful, and you want to survive; and you can't connect where you failed with what you're experiencing. Sometimes we just need someone to help us in that; so the key questions to think about here: what has been my contribution to this storm? Has there been any contribution by me to this storm? Now the financial one's an obvious one. If there's more going out than coming in, then you've absolutely been messing up. You've actually made some bad judgement calls, and you're going to have to not just pray about it, and blame the devil on it. You've actually got to own and take full responsibility; you only have power over the storm, if you own responsibility. So the first question then you ask is: what's my part in this? Then the key response is: will you acknowledge, and repent, and make the practical changes?
So some storms, they're not really spiritual. Demons will use them to torment, and trouble, and harass you; but they're basically not a demonic storm. They're just a storm of consequences. How many have had one of those? Probably that's the one that brought you to Christ. [Laughs] I think of the one that got me to Christ. Yeah, it was a storm, and it was horrendous, and in the end I came to the Lord. There was nowhere else to go. How many knew there was nowhere else to go, that's why you came to the Lord? Yeah, well that's good and honest. That's where most people are, so you'll find people who are in a storm, a lot of people you meet in life, their problems - yes, there's demons around it. Yes, there's kinds of issues around it, but the core of it is: they're messing up. There's sin, there's irresponsibility, and that's why they've got the problem. Many marriages break down because of neglect, not because of actually consciously doing bad things. They've just neglected the marriage over so many years, that in the end there's nothing left, it just ran out when the kids left home.
So the second kind of storm then, is a God-directed storm; a God-directed storm. This one here, you can't pray your way out of it; you can't work your way out of it; you can't repent your way out of it. You just can't get out of the storm, because God's the one who blew the thing in, in the first place, so that's a challenging storm, another storm. We like to feel we have the power to make things happen, but sometimes we can't; so a classic example of that is in Jonah 1:4, where Jonah had been told by the Lord: go and preach the gospel in Nineveh. He said: I don't like them. In fact, actually I despise them; and I'm not going, and he got on a boat and went the other way; and he went a long way the other way. That's kind of the condition of a lot of the church. God says: go and preach the gospel - I don't want to. I don't want to. It's inconvenient. People are not nice to me. It costs my time and my money, I don't think I want to. I think I'll get on a boat and go somewhere nice. It'd be lovely to go somewhere nice; so that kind of storm, it says: the Lord caused a great wind to blow; so it's definitely true in the Bible, that sometimes the winds that people have in their life, are the winds God causes.
The worst part of it is this: everyone around you gets caught up in your storm. I mean we're meant to advance the kingdom, and bring peace and blessing; that's righteousness, peace, joy and the Holy Ghost, isn't that right? That's what should be flowing out of our lives, so people at your work say: it's great to have you working for us, we see things are right. There's peace, there's joy, it's great we've got you here. Instead of that, they're all in turmoil, because you're in turmoil, because you're totally missing it in God. I think of the marriages where the wife and family are in turmoil because the man's not doing what God says, just deliberately on a boat somewhere else. Well, that storm comes into that boat! Think about that, so some storms God lets happen, and some happen for a purpose. It's actually to realign us with kingdom. It's just to realign us with kingdom. It's to get you realigned, so you don't go off track any further.
I mean, I wonder how many of us here, are going exactly 180 degrees away from where God wanted. You can be sitting in church, and still going 180 degrees away from where God wants you to go, you know. Praise the Lord - but I'm going this way! So we come into worship: oh oh oh praise the Lord! - but I'm going this way; and God says: but I want you going over here. Why aren't you doing this? And we say: oh the worship wasn't very good today. No, of course it wasn't good today, there's a storm blowing, and God's blowing the storm around you. The reason he's blowing around you, is because you're not in a right place in your heart; and God is helping you, because he loves you, to sort something out. So that kind of storm is to bring you to surrender. It's to bring you to surrender, to bring you to the cross; where you stop fighting God any more, and say: God, I'm yielding and letting go.
Usually people are in the belly of the whale before they actually cry out the prayer, when at last the big fish closes in over you, and you're swallowed, going down into darkness, oh how your praying changes. [Laughter] It does, doesn't it? YAAAHH! GOD, help us! I'm really sorry! You know, as that fish is opening up, and you're swimming as fast as you can. It's following you. You know, you do change. [Laughter] The prayers get quite different. They're not sort of long, complicated prayers. It's just a [Sobs loudly] I'm about to go into the belly of whale, of the fish, swallow me up; and there it is, slime; and the last thing he prayed. It was a great prayer he prayed, because it brought him into resurrection. When he let go, and he surrendered, and acknowledged the goodness of God, the bigness of God, and surrendered to God, it got him into resurrection. The fish got a belly ache and chundered him out! Can you just imagine?
Now this is not good, to fight against God, you realise that. You don't want to end up being vomited up by some fish up on a beach, covered in slime and seaweed. It's not really a nice place to be. It's where a lot of Christians get to somehow. At least if they come around and say yes to God, then things can only look better after that. So I wonder if God has been speaking in any area of your life, and the storm you're facing is just because God is wanting you to yield. Even Jesus faced His own storms. Think in Matthew 26, in the Garden of Gethsemane, He faced a storm. Now you see, the storm He faced was the cross; but it brought a storm in his emotions. You imagine if you know, if you knew that in twenty-four hours of walking out that door, you would face the most horrendous death. You've probably heard and seen of others, a terrible slow death, and then you know you're going to face that, what would you feel?
The Bible says: He was extremely sorrowful, but He didn't isolate. He gathered key friends around, and He asked them to pray with Him, and stand with Him through the difficulty He was facing. One of the things that people tend to do in a storm is isolate; and when you isolate, you're going to go down under a tree in depression, wanting to die like Elijah did. Isolation's not the answer, connection is, and then in the connection He asked His friends, even though they weren't able to solve His problem or change the circumstances, He just shared His heart with them, and gathered them in to stand with Him in prayer. He said: pray with Me an hour, and He shared His heart with them. It takes great courage and humility, when you're going through the face of a storm, and things are very, very difficult, to just share your heart with people; and say: could you stand with me in prayer? Not ask them to solve it, try and pray and fix it, prophesy some great thing. You just ask them: I just want you to stand with me in agreement. That's a Godly thing to do. No one should be alone. We should all be part of the body, and build connections; so when the pressure's on, you've got someone you can talk to, and say: can you pray with me? I really need prayer right now.
And then Jesus personally worked through, and wrestled through, to the place of surrender to the will of God; Father, not my will, your will be done. That's a huge challenge to go through those kinds of surrenders, but don't think He didn't have a storm with His emotions. It was a major storm, and the storm was about surrendering to what God wanted, when His flesh didn't want to do it. You may come across that in marriage, you can come across it in family. There's every area of our life we can face those kinds of pressures; and it's about: will you align with God, or not? When you're going through financial pressure, and someone talks to you about realigning your finances, that can be a terrible storm; and it takes huge courage to break through, and yield, and put your finances in God's hands; and then walk through the practical process of budgeting, and managing, and debt repayment, and getting yourself back on top again. Isn't that true?
Here's another one. There's just some natural storms that come in life. Now I hadn't thought about this, but I was thinking about it as I was praying, there are just some situations come. God didn't arrange it, the devil didn't arrange it, and you didn't do anything wrong. It's just because we live in a sinful world; like there's landslides happen, there's storms happen, there's earthquakes happen. There's things that happen. People do stuff. You drive down the road, and someone crosses the line, and there's an accident. It doesn't mean that the devil made it all happen, or that God was trying to get your attention and punish you. It was just we live in a fallen world, and in a fallen world - stuff happens. People are born with DNA issues, and it's a tragedy, and the parents grieve; where's God in this? And they go through all this whole thing. Sometimes it's just, we're living in a sinful and a fallen world; and God calls us - it says in Romans 8: the whole world groans, because of it's travail and it's problems.
The whole world is groaning because of sin in the world; so we're in that world. It's not heaven, but we are called to bring heaven into the earth, so some storms are just because there's stuff going on; and there are many people face storms in life. One of the key things, if it's a God directed storm is: what's God trying to say to me; and will I surrender? But if it's a natural storm of life, then the kind of question you have to ask is this: how should I respond to this? See sometimes it's no use blaming people, no use blaming yourself, no use blaming God, or blaming the devil. Just ask: what do I need to do, to walk through this storm? How do I walk through the storm; and then second: release grace into it; not judgement, because most people get offended, and want someone to blame when they're in a storm; rather than saying: God, how should I respond? How can I bring grace, the goodness of God, the life of God into this situation? I've got to come to the Lord and say: God, just give me the grace to stand in the middle of it.
The Bible says: by faith and endurance we inherit promises of God; you know, be followers of those, who by faith and patience, receive the promises of God. Sometimes it's just like that, you've just got to learn how to stand, and learn how to bring the grace of God into a difficult circumstance. Now that's part of being a kingdom person; so a lot of people just look around, and they complain; but we don't do that. We don't look around and complain. We're the sons of God, the sons of light; we find a way that we can bring goodness into it, overcoming evil with good, blessing where we're being cursed, starting to engage in reconciliation, or restoration of relationship. So think about that. The storm you're going through, no one may be to blame. It's just something to grow you;
Here's the last one. This is the one I want to pick up here, because this is the one this story's about; and there can be some storms which are just straight out demonic. In this situation, Jesus faced two demonic storms, one after the other. The first was in His natural circumstances, the wind and waves that were going to sink the boat. Second was, He met a totally demonised man, who become a life-threatening danger to them, because of his supernatural strength. One was circumstances, the other was a person; and in our life, we may face some circumstances which are demonically empowered, some people which are demonically empowered; but all have the same effect. They tend to intimidate, and cause you to feel like you're sinking, and can't handle it. I want you to just see what Jesus did. He did the same in both situations. Let's have a look what He did in this one here, because it's a great key to what to do in this situation.
If it's a demonic situation, here's the core question: what is the source of this storm? Is it God? Is it me? Is it reaping something? Is it just a natural storm of life; or is it a demonic storm? If it's a demonic storm, God will give you some indication of it. Now whenever I go overseas, I have demonic storms. I have them before I go, I have them when I'm there; even the people I go to have them. They constantly can't get over the problems they have: power failures, equipment failures, difficulties, setbacks of all kinds, miscommunication. They're just normal, just little stuff; and sometimes it's bigger, but not often. Notice now how they respond, and Jesus models for us how you respond when there's a spiritual pressure comes on you. Your emotions, and your mind, and your body or spirit are in turmoil. This is the first thing they did: they had a panic attack.
They had a panic attack; and then they went to Jesus, and literally they just complained: you don't seem to care about us! You seem to be totally not concerned about this terrible issue we're facing. Can't you see our boat's about to sink! See, they're getting quite angry, because Jesus is totally unconcerned. Now this is why Jesus is unconcerned: He's on a kingdom assignment, and He knows absolutely He will arrive there, and He will deal with the thing, and He'll finish His assignment. His life cannot be ended before His assignment is finished. Your life can't be ended before your assignment is finished, unless you do something goofy on the way. But in the midst of the storm ,the tendency they had was to: one, be filled with fear, and that magnifies the emotions, and all the situation, out of control, out of perspective; second, they got angry and upset; third, they wanted to blame Jesus, and accused Him of not caring about them.
This is ridiculous. His idea to get in the boat in the first place, His idea to lead them over there. He had a harvest in mind, but there were unexpected demonic resistance on the way to harvest. Every one of us who intentionally reaches people, will find demonic storms of difficulty and pressure will come. You've just got to toughen up, and learn what to do in it. It's very simple. They woke Him up; and this is what Jesus said. He arose! Don't lie down, don't go down in your prayer life. Don't go down into self pity and depression. Rise in your spirit! Start to begin to pray, and let your spirit rise up again. You have to stand up!
When I come into worship service, I'm interested not in what the musicians are doing, because they work hard, and they pray and they prepare well and everything. I'm interested in what the church is doing in it's spirit; whether we're standing up to worship God on the inside, or whether it's only on the outside. Whether our spirit is bound under sadness, and heaviness, and difficulty or oppression; or whether we've risen inside, by conscious choice.
You don't have to keep praying for God to pour His spirit out. He's already poured His spirit out. What you need to do is, remember that truth; and arise into it again. You see when storms come, they flood your soul. They affect the mind, the thoughts, the emotions; and if the enemy can get management of that, so you're not managing it properly, down you go; your spirit shuts down, then there's disengagement from the kingdom. The only answer to demonic storms is: engaging in the kingdom. It's the only way, because you actually have to demonstrate your determination and authority to beat the spirits behind it. To do that, you have to arise, number one; second, you have to speak into it. From arising into the presence of God, arising into His throne room, arising and standing before Him; then see it from His perspective: it's just a few demons hassling you. Speak and command them to shut down! Speak and direct them to be quiet! Speak and command them to depart! In other words, speak over the circumstances, and direct how they ought to be; rather than let the demons manipulate them. Get up every day, and rise in your spirit with gratitude to the Lord, because gratitude is vital for maintaining your relationship.
Start to thank Him for all the blessings, allow your spirit to rise and come into His presence; then begin to speak, and command your day to align with the kingdom of God, and align with God's will. You start to command your day to align, oh my, you'll start to engage a few things that are pushing against you through the day.
You'll be surprised when you start to command each and every part of your day to align with God's will. I speak to every spirit assigned against me today, to block and distract or to frustrate. I take dominion over you! Be quiet and silent today! You start to order your day, it's quite interesting. The first two or three days, you'll start to find yourself entering in to sight some awareness of the spirit world; then after that your life will start to become smoother, things will start to come into order. You see, storms come to every person who's determined to carry the gospel. Why would we think we're any different? Why would we lie down when some demon says: boo; when we have a command from heaven to go? Why would we allow ourselves to be overcome by rejection, and self pity, and defeat and fear; when we have a mandate from heaven to advance the kingdom?
I tell you what, it brings shame to the gospel. It brings shame to the kingdom we're called to represent; because I've been to enough nations now, and been to places where people die for their faith. There are more people dying for their faith today, than ever happened in the New Testament church, on a per capita basis. The numbers of people dying today in the world, this Century, exceeds what happened in the New Testament church persecution. Globally, there are challenges to the gospel; and I tell you what amazes me. There's people standing up, and refusing to be intimidated; and saying: God, we will carry the gospel. We will represent You. We will bring Your word to those who don't know. In New Zealand our opposition is not so direct. In Pakistan it's quite direct, you know, it could be just someone with a gun or a bomb, and you're done, just like that. But here it's more subtle. It's like it just saps away your strength, a little day by day, until you become weak inside; and just no energy, and full of apathy. That's what comes against us. We've got to fight that, speak against it. Today, every demon of apathy, indifference, passivity, you're defeated before me! I'll arise in the strength of God today!
Come on church, we need to determine we're going to do that, determine we're going to do that, arise [Applause] in the strength of the Lord! Be passionate about making Christ known! Halleluiah. Why don't we close our eyes right now. I wonder just in this last moment or two, is there any person here who doesn't know Jesus? What a great day to come to give your heart to Jesus. If you'd like to raise your hand, I'd love to pray with you. I'd love to pray with you, if you don't know Jesus Christ. Becoming a Christian is about putting your life in Jesus' hands, it's about trusting Him to break the power of sin. He's the one who'll make the change in your life. You don't have to try any more. You just walk with Him, so today Jesus offers you salvation. Is there anyone ready to receive - I'd love you to raise your hand. I'd love to pray with you and lead you to Christ.
Those who are facing storms, why don't you stand right now. We want to pray for the power of God to come around your life. You don't have to face the storm alone. Storms can be in marriage, family, finance, every part of our lives, spiritual storms, relational storms, whatever. Here's the thing: you're not alone. God says: I'm with you; two, there's other people in the body are with you, even if you don't realise it; three, if you'll pray, God will help you, and show you what to do.
Father, we just thank You today, for Your mighty power to help us through the storms of life. We thank You Jesus, your word says: though I walk through the waters, they'll not overwhelm me; if I go through the fire, it'll not consume me; for You are with me. You will hold me, You'll help me, You'll hold my hand. I thank You Lord today. Today we release strength and encouragement. We stand against every oppressing, depressing spirit. In Jesus' name, we command you to release your hold over the body of Christ. We command you to release your hold over members in this church. We command you to release your hold. Father, we pray great grace will come upon each one here today, in Jesus Mighty name.
1. Introduction
· 1 Cor.10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it”.
· Temptation = NT3986= to put to proof, to put to the test.
· Every person faces pressures and difficulties in life – storms can come unexpectedly.
· Storms = Financial, physical health, marriage, family, relationships, work, ministry.
· God Promises (i) You are not the only one facing this
(ii) God is faithful – never leave – always help
(iii) You are up to the challenge (even if you think you are not)
(iv) God has a way to walk through the storm and grow
2. Confronting Your Storms
(a) Mark 4:35-41 The Great Storm
(b) “Let us crossover to the other side” v35
· Jesus’ purpose and priority is clear – seek and save lost people.
· God always wants to reach people with the gospel.
· “Crossover” = leave your comfort zone to expand the Kingdom.
= Jesus’ mandate/direction to the harvest field.
· “Left the Multitude” = Left the place of success and achievement.
= Left the comfort of the crowd to pursue Father’s priority.
= Always costs something to focus on the harvest.
(c) A Great Wind Storm Arose (v37)
· “Storm” = NT2978= black thunder clouds, strong gusts of wind, torrents of rain.
· “Great” = NT3173= Mega – very big.
· Wind and rain beat upon the boat – all in imminent danger - sinking.
(d) 4 Different Kinds of Storms
(i) Storm of own Making
· You are reaping the consequences of actions or inactivity.
· Every person is responsible for choices and decisions.
· Every person experiences consequences of choices and decisions.
· Key Question – What has been my contribution to this storm?
· Key Response –
(ii) God Directed Storm
· There is a need for change and only a storm brings you to recognise this.
· E.g. Jonah 1:4 “The Lord sent a great wind into the sea”.
· The storm is intended to bring you to a place of surrender/alignment.
· E.g. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt.26:37-41)
· Key Question – What is God trying to say to me?
· Key Response – Surrender – yield to the Lord.
(iii) Natural Storms of Life
· Not personal failure, Not God, Not the Devil – consequence of being in a fallen world.
· Pressures come in our life – recession, job loss, conflicts, set-backs.
· E.g. Joseph – Heb. 6:12 Faith and patience – Heb. 10:36 Need of patience.
· Key Question - How should I respond?
· Key Response - Release grace not judgement – overcome evil with good.
(iv) Demonic Opposition
· This is a spiritual reality – active evil spirits set on destroying us.
· Evil spirits arise against us fulfilling God’s purpose and plan.
· E.g. Jesus faced the storm (circumstances) and discouraged men (people).
· Key Question – What is the source of this storm?
· Key Response – Exercise governing authority – speak the word of God.
(e) “Teacher do You not care?” v38
· The disciples were filled with fear – did not respond well.
· Jesus seemingly unconcerned about their storm.
· They accused Him of “not caring” – blinded to Kingdom realities.
- Looked for someone to blame!
(f) “He Arose – Rebuked the Wind and Spoke to the Sea” v34
· Jesus demonstrated how faith is exercised.
· He spoke directly to the storm – words of faith – words of command.
· Fear quenches faith and causes storms in the mind and emotions.
· What storm has arisen in your Life?
· What kind of storm is it?
· How should you position yourself to respond?
Jesus shows His dominion over nature, total authority over the law of gravity when He's walking on water. When He got into the boat immediately the wind just stopped. The third thing that happened was immediately the boat was on the other side, transported! Sometimes when we read the gospels we just read them almost with eyes blinded to the reality of the supernatural. Go preach the gospel, and signs will follow those who believe
We were in Mark 4 this morning, and we were talking about storms. We're going to look at storms again, but in a different place, a different storm. Have a look in Mark 6:45, and I want to just share on the gospel on the supernatural. I'll just keep it brief, because I think the testimonies are just very powerful themselves, in letting us know that God wants us to have his power, and to make His gospel known.
Let's have a look in this scripture here. Immediately He made His disciples - Jesus compelled His disciples - verse 45 - to get into the boat, and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida. Bethsaida means: house of fishing. And He sent the multitude away, and when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. And when evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land; and He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, He came to them on the sea, and would have passed them by. When they saw Him, walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and they cried out. Now that word 'cried out' means: AAAGH! They shrieked out; so if you thought you someone saw someone walking on the sea, you would probably shout out too; and they all saw Him, and were all troubled. But immediately, He talked with them, and said to them: be of good cheer! I am; or: it is I. Do not be afraid. Then He went into the boat to them, and the wind ceased, and they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marvelled; for they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.
Tonight we were hearing about the loaves and the fishes, and the disciples had just seen an amazing miracle. Sometimes when we read the gospels, we just read them almost with eyes blinded to the reality of the supernatural, so this is a problem particularly in the west, as we start to rationalise everything, and lose our understanding that the God we serve is a supernatural God. This is what Jesus said, when He commissioned the church: go preach the gospel, and signs will follow those who believe. See, Owen's not an ordained Pastor, but he's a believer. Sandra's a believer. People that are believers, signs can follow them; and so Jesus made it very clear that the supernatural would accompany the preaching of the gospel. Why? Because the gospel will go to cultures where there are idols, idols openly worshipped, sorcery, witchcraft. There's a need for demonstration and release of the power of God. Our idols are different. We cover them over. We call them a car, and we put them in a garage and then take them out and dust the dust off them, polish them all up, and spend half our life paying them off.
We've got our own set of idols that we worship in the west. It's usually material things, but nevertheless they do represent idols, when they've got a hold of your life, and take the place of God. I want you to see in this story here, Jesus wants every believer to engage in the work of harvest, every believer. Notice what it says: He compelled His disciples. He had to pressure them, and persuade them, because there was a reluctance in them to get into the boat. The place He wanted to send them to, was a place He intended there to be a harvest. It's called Bethsaida, the house of fishing. Jesus said: follow me, I'll make you fishers of men. The heart of God is to help people who are broken. There is a harvest everywhere. You don't have to walk very far to meet someone who tells you their story; a story of tragedy, of heartbreak, of marriage, of family, or abuse, or some kind of horrendous thing that has happened in their life.
I was praying and ministering to a girl recently, and she was adopted out at the age of five, and all her life she lived with this bitterness and grief and rejection in her heart. She encountered the Lord, and He took away all of the pain. We prayed with her, she went into an encounter that lasted an hour and a half. I've got a picture of her, and she's literally frozen like that, reaching and stretching out to Jesus, and Jesus is encountering her. She spent an hour and a half just - I can hardly do that for a minute, you know, hold your hand out like that's pretty hard going. It strains your back, strains your arm, and in the end you get tired; but she was frozen in an encounter with Jesus for an hour and a half, and in that time, He spoke with her, and ministered to her; and all that pain of her adoption and abandonment was just taken out of her soul. Just amazing. People need the power of God. Why are lives in such a mess? They're in a mess because there's wounds, there's griefs, there's abuse, there's traumas, there's issues that people cannot get free of without the power of God. People need the power of God.
Some of you here tonight, you'll be stuck in your life, stuck in your spiritual walk, because there's issues in your heart where you're not free, and you need God to touch you, need a breakthrough, need to get someone to speak into your life and help you. So Jesus compelled them to get into the boat to go before Him. Jesus always requires we go before Him. Now this is an interesting thing. It said: He sent them. In Luke 10:1 he says: He sent them into the cities He Himself would come. Now you've got to understand this. God has commissioned us to carry the gospel. He will come when we will go. He is already wanting to touch people. You've got to go out of your comfort zone, and engage where people are lost; and as you do that, you'll find God will come to them. You'll see your best miracles where there are people unsaved. You'll find continually, whenever you talk to people who are out reaching unsaved people, reaching lost people, that's where you see the biggest, and the best of the miracles; because the supernatural will always accompany people with faith in their heart, that carry the gospel out.
Let's have a look what happens in the story here. So the first thing we see is, God requires all of us: He compelled them and pressured them. They didn't want to go. He pressured them to engage the boat; got a picture of the local church, He literally persuaded them get involved with the local church, in the mission of reaching for souls. Get involved. How involved are you? How involved are you? Who is it, you're reaching out to? When did you last reach out intentionally to someone, to find out what's happening in their life, in their journey; listen to them, and let them see and feel the compassion of Jesus, and get touched by His love flowing through you?
Notice what happens there. He sent the multitude away. He sent them away, He went into the mountain to pray, and so He spent quite some significant time in prayer. You can't minister and see the power of God flow unless there's prayer in your life. When we look at it there, He came and met them at about the fourth watch of the night, that's 3am in the morning, so that means He was in prayer from about 6pm right through to 3am. Now if Jesus needed to pray - I'm not saying you've got to pray all that many hours. I don't think many can - however, what you've got to see is this: for the supernatural to manifest in your life, you must be a person of prayer. Without prayer, we don't see God move; and so Jesus spent time. Why did He need to spend that time? If you read in the gospel before that, you'll find several things happened. One of the things that happened was, He'd been ministering to thousands of people, and He and His disciples were incredibly tired. The second thing is, He got bad news, His cousin had been beheaded for his stand for the gospel, and so He was grieving over that. The third thing was, He tried to get His disciples to get away and have a break, and the crowd followed them; and instead of saying: hey guys, we've done our day, He continued to minister to them.
So He had poured His life out, even when He was in personal pain, and He was in discomfort. He fed the multitudes, and did one of the greatest miracles at that time, and so He needed to get alone. If we're going to see God move in our life in greater ways, we have to make a priority on time with God. I have been recently over in Asia. I did about 45 to 50 meetings in the space of about three weeks, just one after the other, meetings with people, meetings with groups, praying for hundreds and hundreds of people. I think how do you do it? You can't do it. You actually have to wait on God; so every day just wait on God, spend time in His presence, and God would speak and say: what to do, where to go, how to move. This is where the strength comes. The strength comes out of intimacy and prayer. If Jesus needed to pray, make prayer a priority in your life. Notice this: He made the disciples leave Him. He just needed time by Himself, with the Father.
Now if you have a look what happened straight after that, you start to see this overwhelming flow of the supernatural. The kingdom of heaven is a release of the supernatural to the earth. Notice what happens here: He saw them straining rowing, for the wind was against them; and the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. When they saw - now, get this. This particular story is written out three times. Matthew speaks of it, Mark speaks of it, and John speaks of it; and all tell something a little bit different about it, because it's something that stunned them. Each of them brings out a different aspect, so you want to read the three different accounts, you'll see the three things that happened.
Here's the first thing we find, from the gospel of John. After rowing for nine hours, they were only three miles out, in the middle of the lake. Now can you imagine rowing hard for nine hours, how exhausted you'd be? It gives you an idea of the kind of opposition and difficulty they had, and it says that Jesus saw them. You may be going through pressures, difficulties, you may be going through adversity now. You may feel you're at the end of yourself, but Jesus sees where you are. I want you to see what Jesus said. Now you look at it, it's an amazing thing. Just it's hard to comprehend this, but this is what happened. There's a great storm, there's winds blowing, He sees them struggling; and then He begins to come to them, and He walks out into the sea, and He begins to walk on water. No one in history has ever walked on water, before that day. On that day, He demonstrated His total dominion over creation. He'd given them a miracle, and shown them the miracle of the loaves and fishes multiplying. Now He's about to demonstrate three other things to them, and you'll get the key point just in a moment.
The first thing He demonstrates to them is this. He demonstrates His total dominion over creation, over the law of gravity - you try stepping out on a pool and see what happens. You'll just go straight to the bottom. He stepped out and He began to walk across the water. Now probably the water would have been up to, you know, maybe between His feet and His knees. He was just walking through like it seemed shallow water. I've heard of revival in Indonesia ,and some people were being pursued by people who wanted to kill them, and they ran down. This guy Maltari and his team. They were running away from persecutors, who wanted to kill them. They ran down to a river, they put their foot in the river - it didn't seem very deep. They ran across the river, it was only up to about here, ran across away the other side. The others following them tried to do the same, went into the water, it was over their heads, and they were swept away. It's a modern day example of that very, very same miracle - amazing.
So you've got to understand, can you imagine someone walking out across Napier Harbour? Can you imagine someone walking across the Westshore area there? Can you just imagine how scary and freaky that is, to see something like that happening? It's just very scary. Now the disciples are absolutely exhausted, it's the middle of the night; so miracle number one, Jesus shows His dominion over nature, total authority over the law of gravity, and He's walking on water. Miracle number one.
Miracle number two, the second thing it tells us, is that when He got into the boat, immediately the wind just stopped. Now you know how gusty it was last night. Have you ever been in a storm where it's just going; and it suddenly just seems like it stops? It's not very often you have that happen, but it's like; there's this eerie - so you get it in a hurricane, when you get to the eye of the hurricane, and then it suddenly it's just still. Now you're in the eye of the hurricane, and it's about to start up again; but it wasn't like that. What happened was, the winds are blowing and blowing and blowing; and suddenly it just stops. All winds stop. They were amazed. What man is this, that has that kind of power? So there's miracle number two, He can control the weather. You would be amazed when we do missions, outreaches in Uganda and places like that, how often the moment you get into preaching the gospel, the weather suddenly changes; because occult people stir up spirits, stir up witchcraft.
I remember in Uganda there, man it was scary. You want to see the kind of wiring they had. They had this generator over here, and bare wires. They put sellotape around them, and they had the lights all going there, and then it just poured down like that; and I'm thinking: man, I don't want to step in the water, I'll get electrocuted somewhere; but it happened exactly at the altar call. The moment we come to the altar call, been no sign of rain, suddenly [pa-doompa!] down the rain came, and it just pummelled down, just drove everyone away. So we had to pray each night to restrain the heavens, so that there'd be no rain that would destroy our attempts to bring the gospel to people; and we saw that each night, God held it back for us.
So Jesus demonstrated His total authority over creation, over the wind. What man can stop wind? No one can. Now the third thing that happens, you read this in the gospel of John. Once Jesus got in the boat, and the winds stopped, here's the third thing that happened. Immediately, the boat was on the other side. Now if you don't read all three accounts of the gospel, you don't get it. There's one more thing that you'll need to read in a moment; so three amazing miracles! One, He walks on water; two, the wind ceases, the moment He's in the boat; and three, immediately the boat is transported. Remember the nine hours rowing, and they're only half way? Then when Jesus gets in the boat, it's there.
The nearest thing you find to that, is the example of Philip; where Philip is preaching, and suddenly he's gone, and he turns up somewhere else. It's called transportation - physically literally shifted from one location to another. That is the power Jesus has. All creation yields to His power. That's why He said: all authority of heaven and earth is given to Me, I have all authority, authority over the laws of nature; because when heaven invades earth, heaven's authority is greater than anything in the earth. It's most amazing, so God is able to do creative miracles. He's able to restrain nature. He's able to overcome natural laws. He's able to accelerate things. He's able to increase things. He's able to move you quickly from one place to another. He's able to do those things.
I was talking to a guy - now this happened in Hastings. I was talking to this man, and he's a great guy at sharing the gospel, just a great servant of the Lord; and he had a motor accident. It was a very severe motor accident, and he was in hospital, I think for probably up to a year recovering, and he doubted that he was ever going to recover. He thought he might even go; and the Lord said: no, I've got something for you to do. Once he'd recovered, he was out; and he began to work for a local Christian organisation here, and he would come into town and do the banking. Anyway, one particular Friday, or whatever day of the week it was he had to do the banking; and he had to go to seven banks I think, on the one day, and he only had about an hour to do it before closing time; it was a very short time, whatever it was. I'm not quite sure of the exact time but it wasn't very long. Now get this. He said: God, I do want to get this job done today. He went into the first bank, made the banking, came out and when he came out he saw, this is quite strange - he saw an angel standing outside the bank, and he saw like a crystal area around the ground.
He stepped on it, and the moment he stepped on it, he was at the next bank; so he went and did the banking. He stepped out, and there was the angel again, and the crystal all on the ground; and so he just stepped on it, and he was at the next bank. He did the whole of the banking - now that is supernatural transportation. That's the very thing that Jesus did - happened to a guy in Hastings here, not so long ago. So the God we serve has got enormous power, and the power is released through faith. I'll just finish with this, because I want to finish on half past seven. In the account of this story in Matthew - and you'll remember this - when Peter saw the supernatural happening, he said: I want to be part of that. Jesus, if that's you, bid me to come; and Jesus said: come; and he stepped out, and began to participate in the supernatural dimension of the kingdom. Now you've got to see this, that before that time, Jesus was the only one who walked on water. Then Peter was the second man; and here's the thing.
It was faith; when he saw what God was doing, and he linked his faith to it. Faith comes by hearing. He said: Jesus, if that's you, bid me to come; and Jesus said: come; and he stepped out of the boat, and he was walking on water. Of course a little bit later you know, that he got his eyes on the circumstances, and the big waves and the wind, and he lost his sight of what God was doing, and his faith diminished. He began to slowly sink, and then Jesus reached after him, and lifted him up again. Don't focus on the fact that he sank. The ones who were in trouble really were the guys in the boat, who saw it all, but never stepped into it. Tonight I want to challenge you to think about this. We've had Owen talking about things he's been doing in New Zealand, and things he's been doing overseas, and many of the miracles and things God's been doing. We've had Sandra talking about the great miracles that God has been doing, so we know that God is doing miracles, reaching and touching people, but will you see what God is doing in this hour of reaching unsaved people, and extend your faith to be part of it, and see God working through you? You see, Peter was the only one that extended his faith to get hold of what God was doing, and be part of it.
Now I look around. I've been around a few years in ministry, a few years. I've seen thousands upon thousands of Christians coming and going. You get a few people that stand out; and I see someone like Owen, who hasn't been a Christian very long - how long have you been a Christian? [3 years] Three years; but you see there's something unreserved about his giving to the Lord, and God has opened up avenues for him. I believe it's connected to the call of God on his life, but God has opened up for him the opportunities to speak, preach and minister; and God has provided supernaturally for him - but he's stepped into what God is doing in this hour, by saying an unreserved yes to Jesus.
Sandra's unnoticed. I don't think anyone notices Sandra; but over in Asia, they know her. She's becoming well known now, and she just said: yes, I'll go; and she went; and she's been in Indonesia, she's been in Malaysia, she's been in Singapore, been up in India, and probably going to be up in other places as well. But here's the thing: that she has seen the need; and stepped in, and joined her faith to walk in it. Now I encourage you to think about this. We are mandated to share the gospel, and always the gospel contains the supernatural. What are you doing to stir your prayer life, and to engage with others in reaching people for Christ? That is the challenge we all face today, to actually let our faith rise, and say: God, I'm believing.
I saw Girda tonight, and she had her testimony. She went and prayed for that lady, and then saw the lumps miraculously disappear. See, that's what I'm talking about. She's actually doing something, where hurting people are; and God loves people that are in need, and loves to reach out through someone. The question is: will He reach out through you? Who's life will be impacted by your testimony, by your efforts, by your commitment, your sacrifice? You know Jesus compelled them to get into the boat. They were a bit reluctant, and some of us may be a bit reluctant, but nevertheless Jesus still is putting the pressure on: get involved in harvest, it's harvest time. He's saying: even if you feel it's a bit out of your depth, and you don't know where you are; and there's some storms blow up, and you feel uncomfortable; nevertheless, go and reach the lost, reach unsaved people, build a relationship, build a connection, build friendship, find ways to minister to needs.
Get God to give you an idea, and show you what you could do. Who'd have thought of Owen being all over the world? Be the last thing you'd think. I don't even know how he does it. He's got a criminal record! He was deported from Australia. How does he get into places like Pakistan? Everywhere you go overseas, they ask you: what's your criminal record? You've got to fill it out on the form, and then if you've got a criminal record, you don't go there. Yeah, same with China, exactly - he got into China as well. China is very rigid on your criminal record, and they can look it up. You know we've got one guy in the church here, and his criminal record vanished; it just doesn't seem to be there on the computer anymore. Who knows how that happens?
See, God is committed to get people, who've got their heart towards Him, out into the harvest field. The challenge is: will it be you? Will it be you? Come on, let's just close our eyes tonight. Close our eyes right now, and I'd love Sandra to come on up, and I'd love Owen to come on up; you're going to lay your hands on some people, and let's fire up the evangelistic gift in people.
Church, tonight if it's in your heart, if you felt challenged and inspired to say: God, I want to make my life available. Lord, I want to commit myself to pray, and to start to reach out in a way I haven't done before. If that's you, would you make your way to the front. I want to get these evangelists to lay hands on you, and to believe for an impartation to increase your faith tonight.
Father, we pray for each person responding today. Father, let the power of the Holy Ghost come upon them. Let there be an impartation of faith and boldness in evangelism. We call for divine encounters; we call for divine opportunities; and we pray miracles to be released in Jesus' Mighty name.
1. Introduction
· 1 Cor.10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it”.
· Temptation = NT3986= to put to proof, to put to the test.
· Every person faces pressures and difficulties in life – storms can come unexpectedly.
· Storms = Financial, physical health, marriage, family, relationships, work, ministry.
· God Promises (i) You are not the only one facing this
(ii) God is faithful – never leave – always help
(iii) You are up to the challenge (even if you think you are not)
(iv) God has a way to walk through the storm and grow
2. Confronting Your Storms
(a) Mark 4:35-41 The Great Storm
(b) “Let us crossover to the other side” v35
· Jesus’ purpose and priority is clear – seek and save lost people.
· God always wants to reach people with the gospel.
· “Crossover” = leave your comfort zone to expand the Kingdom.
= Jesus’ mandate/direction to the harvest field.
· “Left the Multitude” = Left the place of success and achievement.
= Left the comfort of the crowd to pursue Father’s priority.
= Always costs something to focus on the harvest.
(c) A Great Wind Storm Arose (v37)
· “Storm” = NT2978= black thunder clouds, strong gusts of wind, torrents of rain.
· “Great” = NT3173= Mega – very big.
· Wind and rain beat upon the boat – all in imminent danger - sinking.
(d) 4 Different Kinds of Storms
(i) Storm of own Making
· You are reaping the consequences of actions or inactivity.
· Every person is responsible for choices and decisions.
· Every person experiences consequences of choices and decisions.
· Key Question – What has been my contribution to this storm?
· Key Response –
(ii) God Directed Storm
· There is a need for change and only a storm brings you to recognise this.
· E.g. Jonah 1:4 “The Lord sent a great wind into the sea”.
· The storm is intended to bring you to a place of surrender/alignment.
· E.g. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt.26:37-41)
· Key Question – What is God trying to say to me?
· Key Response – Surrender – yield to the Lord.
(iii) Natural Storms of Life
· Not personal failure, Not God, Not the Devil – consequence of being in a fallen world.
· Pressures come in our life – recession, job loss, conflicts, set-backs.
· E.g. Joseph – Heb. 6:12 Faith and patience – Heb. 10:36 Need of patience.
· Key Question - How should I respond?
· Key Response - Release grace not judgement – overcome evil with good.
(iv) Demonic Opposition
· This is a spiritual reality – active evil spirits set on destroying us.
· Evil spirits arise against us fulfilling God’s purpose and plan.
· E.g. Jesus faced the storm (circumstances) and discouraged men (people).
· Key Question – What is the source of this storm?
· Key Response – Exercise governing authority – speak the word of God.
(e) “Teacher do You not care?” v38
· The disciples were filled with fear – did not respond well.
· Jesus seemingly unconcerned about their storm.
· They accused Him of “not caring” – blinded to Kingdom realities.
- Looked for someone to blame!
(f) “He Arose – Rebuked the Wind and Spoke to the Sea” v34
· Jesus demonstrated how faith is exercised.
· He spoke directly to the storm – words of faith – words of command.
· Fear quenches faith and causes storms in the mind and emotions.
· What storm has arisen in your Life?
· What kind of storm is it?
· How should you position yourself to respond?
