What is a
storm? A tempest. A violent commotion or disturbance. It could also be
described as a direct and violent assault on a stronghold.
It seems that this is a time for
storms.
Whether it be: Family, Finances,
Sickness, Depression, Temptations… You are just battling away and looking for not only a
way out but some are just looking for answers.
For some of us, we have been in
the storm way too long. And it’s our fault because while the storm passed on
by, we chose to remain in the devastation. We chose to live in the mess that
these storms created.
First you have to understand that,
storms are a way of life.
And even for our Christian life, storms
are going to take place. But it’s how we react when they come upon us that we
have to address.
v. 22-24
The storm came while they were in
God’s Will
Stop worrying about how you got in
the storm and start working on getting out.
v. 26 - They didn’t recognize
Jesus when He came to them.
We are so caught in what we are
going through that we don’t recognize when God shows up.
The disciples couldn’t see Jesus
due to the fact that their attention was on the storm that was around them.
But, I would rather much be in a
storm while sitting in the center of God’s will than to be out of God’s will wondering
where He is.
Get your eyes off the storms and
start looking for Jesus.
v. 26 – The bible says the
disciples cried out in fear. Not because of the storm but because they thought
the saw a ghost.
You know:
God may not always show up in an
angel outfit
There maybe times where His way of
getting you to your next level comes in form of something that scares you.
Anytime God moves us up, He is
moving you out of your comfort zone of service. Why does He do that?
We get so comfortable in our
situations and circumstances that we start living as though we don’t need Him.
So just about the time you get settled, God will send a storm in your life that
causes you to turn back to Him.
v.27 - But He does offer this
encouragement:
“It is I, be not afraid”
v. 28 – Peter speaks up.
Jesus if that is you, bid me to
come to you on the water.
v. 29 – What a statement. It’s
only one word but what a statement Christ makes here.
I found it interesting in other
parts of the Bible, when Christ spoke to one individual He would call out their
name.
· “Lazarus, come forth” – John 11
· “Zacchaeus, come down”- Luke 19
“Come” the same word used in:
Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me all who are weary and
I will give you rest…”
This was an open invitation to
anyone who was on the boat. First of all you have to see that the boat was
where the fear was settled. The disciples were in a storm while they were in
the boat. Christ was giving them an opportunity to get out of the storm.
He said, “Come” – The same
invitation that He is giving to you.
For you to come out of the place
where you are:
· You too will have to get past
your fear
· You will have to close your ears
· You will have to quit looking at
the possibilities of failure and look to the positive
· Stop looking at the storm and
start looking for Jesus
Listen to the promise in Isaiah 43:1,2
“But now says the Lord, your Creator
O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I
will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you, when you
walk through the fire, you will not be scorched nor will the flame burn you.”
Notice the action in that text:
“Through”
These storms were not created for
you to just sit down and feel sorry for yourself.
If you are ever going to make it,
you have got to go “through” your situation.
DON’T STOP!!!
v. 32 – When THEY got into the
boat.
Peter lost his faith and began to
sink, but Jesus still had compassion enough to bring him back into the boat. So
what was different this time? Jesus was in the boat as well.
v. 34 – this may not mean much to
you
But notice after the storm was
over, they made it to their destination.
Isaiah 25:4
“God is our refuge from the
storm…”
The storms we go through will
cause us to make some decisions about ourselves. Some will be tough.
But sometimes, God is just waiting
to see if we are willing to get out of the boat.
Summary: Sometimes to get out of our
storms of life we first have to get out of the boat.
DEACON YINKA ANIBABA
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