Don't Settle For Facts, Discover The Truth - Mark 4:35-40; Numbers 26-14:1

John 8:32 'Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free'. In the first story (Mark 4:35-40), Jesus was sleeping while his disciples were worried about a raging storm; the second (Numbers 13:26-14:1) reveals the nation of Israel (save Joshua and Caleb) weeping upon discovering the existence of giant inhabitants in the land God had promised to give them. It is interesting to note that in both scenarios, the promise of God was abandoned or forgotten in the face of turbulence.

In the first story, Jesus' comment to His disciples before they embarked on the boat trip was very simple, was very clear and absolutely unambiguous: His comment was 'Let us go over to the other side' Clearly, He didn't say 'let's go into this boat and perish' or 'let's take a trip into the sea and die'. The disciples should have realised that no matter how fierce the storm was, they would definitely get to the other side SIMPLY because Jesus had said so. The second account is similar to the first. The children of Israel panicked and wept at the news of giants who inhabited the land God had promised them. Here as in the first story, they quickly abandon God's promise in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Again the promise was very clear and unambiguous: 'I will give you the land and all your descendants after you.' Clearly, what the promise didn't say was: 'I will take you to the land so giants could devour you in the land'I see two sets of Christians in the world today. There are those who panic when issues arise and there are those who are calm in the face of trouble; there are those who doubt the promise of God when tragedy befalls and there are those who have quietness in the midst of storm. There are those who are discouraged, disillusioned and ultimately limited by what they see, such as their circumstances; their joblessness; their childlessness and so on, and there are others who see beyond what they see; those who see beyond their immediate predicaments, those who see only the promise of God even in the face of their lager than life situations. The only time you see problems is when you remove your focus from God. There are those who fret in the day of trouble and there are those who know that God is with them especially in the midst of trouble -- Psalms 46: say God is our present help in times of trouble. They know that when they are in trouble that is exactly where God is. Psalms 103:8 says: though I pass through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil for thou ART WITH ME.

There are those who run after miracles and there are others who activate their own miracles. There are those who think they have to be at a particular 'miracle conference' or be anointed by a 'great man of God' for them to receive their miracle; and there are others who KNOW that miracles are their birthright and that they don't have to anointed by any man of God for them to receive what is lawfully theirs. Mark 16:17 says -- 'these signs shall follow them that believe, in my name they shall cast out devils . . '

Romans 8:28 says 'we KNOW that all things work together for good for them that love God'. Many Christians recite this scripture easily but do not grasp the implication therein. They recite: 'we know that all thing work together for good' but the million dollar question is: do they really KNOW? People who KNOW do not fret in the midst of trouble; people who KNOW do not get disillusioned when tragedy befalls. The difference between Jesus and His disciples in the boat experience is that Jesus KNEW but His disciples did not KNOW. Jesus was sleeping in the midst of storm because He KNEW without a doubt that He would certainly get to the other side but His disciples were fretting in the same situation because they did not KNOW. How you react to tragedies and troubles depend on whether or not you KNOW

You may have just lost your job and your bills are piling up but do you KNOW that He will never leave or forsake you (Joshua 1:5). Your bank account is in red and you have no idea where your next meal is coming from; but do you KNOW that He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory (Phil. 4:19). You may have just been diagnosed with a terminal disease and doctors are saying you have about six months to live but do you KNOW that by His stripes you have been healed (1Peter 2:24). You are looking to God for fruit of the womb and it seem your time is fast running out but do you KNOW that His word says there shall be none barren in the land (Exodus 23:26). It is not just about reciting bible verses, it is about owing and letting it permeate your spirit; it is about you anchoring your spirit on the infallible word of God.