Master of the Storm

MASTER OF THE STORMS

Matthew 8:24-29 (New International Version)

24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

Matthew 8:26 - "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"

Why does Jesus have to ask His disciples this question?  He knows why they are afraid.  They are weak, vulnerable human beings.  They are no match for the violent forces of nature.  What normal human being wouldn't be afraid?   What Savior wouldn't understand this human tendency?  Jesus asks this question because these normal, fearful people in the boat with Him have missed the key element in the situation.  It is not the storm that matters.  It is not the size of the waves or the structural integrity of the boat.  It is the company they are in.  They are accompanied by the image of the invisible God.  The one by whom all things were created (Colossians 1:15-16).  As his disciples, wherever we are, no matter how fierce the winds are, we are with Him, and HE is with us in the storm-this FACT changes everything!

We need to hear this convicting question on numerous occasions in our lives.  "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"  Storms swell, sometimes gradually on the horizon, and sometimes storms can be suddenly and furiously, without warning.  Either way, fear is usually our first reaction.  It is not that we overestimate the storms.  They really can be damaging.  We've seen them destroy the lives of other people.  Our problem is not having an inaccurate view of the storm  It is in having an inaccurate view of Jesus.  As long as we are preoccupied with the storm and Jesus seems to us to be asleep in the back of the boat, we will fear.  It is a natural human response.  Many times we do not feel that the Lord is with us in our heavy trials, suffering, devastation, persecution, losses, or abandonment. Jesus asks us to do the unnatural and avoid the inevitabilities of our human frailties.  He asks us to have faith in Him.  Yes, the storm is dangerous.  Yes, we are weak and vulnerable.  Left with those two facts alone, we are overcome.  But Jesus gives us another fact to throw into the equation-Himself.  He is the King of all creation, God with us.  With our eyes fixed on Him, we can say, what storm? What danger? What weakness?  The storms must obey Him.  What do we have to fear?

Jesus lets us get into the middle of the storms so we will know Him.  When we avoid the dangerous waters, we avoid the Deliverer.  When all is well, our faith only needs a Jesus who is asleep in the boat.  MANY people today who are not considering Jesus as Lord do not care WHAT JESUS IS DOING!  Because they do not want to focus on Him for fear that they may have to give up sinful desires, pleasures, relationships and many bad habits.     However, we were meant to Know our creator!   It is God who can bring storms into our lives because He is tired of people neglecting him.  He wants attention.  He wants to be praised because He feels that He is worthy to be Praised by his creatures.  After all it is HE that woke us up this morning.  It is HE who knows us better then anyone else.  It is HE who watches over us while we sleep at night.  It is HE that thought us into existence!  We need to know and realize that we can't really know the Deliverer unless we need deliverance.  We can't know our Redeemer unless we need redemption.  We can't know our Refuge unless we experience danger.  

As the Lord will gently place us into the FIERY FURNACE, we need to know that He will be in the furnace with us.  He is the MASTER of the Storms.  Will you trust HIM Today with whatever situation you are going through?

You can bow your head right now and PRAY, Lord Jesus, thank you for laying down your life on the cross for my sins.  I believe that you died and rose again from the grave.  I ask forgiveness of my sins  and I invite you to COME into my life even right now, Lord Jesus.  Come into my life.

If you have prayed this prayer, feel free to contact me on this face book and let me know of your decision to walk with Christ.

PASTOR SHARON T. SPENCER

THE BRIGHT & MORNING STAR PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLY