Expect Contrary Winds And Wet Blankets.

EXPECT CONTRARY WINDS & WET BLANKETS

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Our enemy desires to be a GRINCH and steal the joy of abundant life. He is a killjoy. Life can become a wet blanket. We must not allow other people to become a wet blanket to us. Life is full of difficult situations that we make for ourselves. You will have some people that will enjoy watching you fall. They want you to stay down for the 10 count. Life has a way of quenching and dampening our pleasure, joy and enthusiasm. Never allow the Grinch to fuss and complain and knock you down.

SHOULD WE LEARN TO EXPECT AND PREPARE FOR THE CONTRARY?

WOW, HOW SPECIAL AM I… I AM LISTED AS THE ONLY PERSON NEXT TO THE SON OF GOD THAT WALKED ON WATER…

IF THE LORD SENT US TO THE OTHER SIDE, WILL NOT WE HAVE SMOOTH SAILING?

Matthew 14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

MAYBE WE SHOULD GET REAL, PROBLEMS ARE PART OF LIFE AND MINIISTRY.

What a nice peaceful ride. The boat was an opportunity to get away from the demands of the crowd.

Seems like every one wanted something… LIFE AND MINISTRY CAN BE DEMANDING.

I love smooth sailing…

Jesus said “GO TO THE OTHER SIDE.” This is a piece of cake?

Matthew 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

REAL LIFE’S SMOOTH SAILING SEEMS TO ALWAYS FIND OBSTACLES AND CONTRARINESS …

***CONTRARY: against, exactly the opposite to what was expected, entirely different, not helpful, GRINCH

SURE, JESUS CAN CALM THE STORM…

BUT SOMETIMES THE STORMS ARE TO STRETCH OUR FAITH…

APPARITION: THERE IS MORE THAN A STORM BREWING THERE IS FEAR IN THE BOAT… THERE IS SUPERSTITION AN APPARITION IN THE BOAT.

Here we are stuck in a storm WITHOUT JESUS?

SOMEONE WAS LOOKING OUT OF THE VESSEL AND SAW SOMETHING THAT WAS ANOTHER GREAT OBSTACLE…

LOOK, THERE IS SOMETHING OUT THERE… AN APPARITION… SUPERSTITION.

Superstition? Maybe one of the boys said something like this… MY COUSIN IS A PROFESSIONAL SAILOR AND HE TOLD ME MANY TIMES THAT WHEN A GHOST APPEARS AT NIGHT THAT IT IS A SIGN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SHIP WRECK AND WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE WHEN THE SHIP GOES DOWN…

FEAR BREEDS FEAR: THE CONTRARY WINDS, THE APPARITION, --- PROBLEMS SEEM TO FEED PROBLEMS.

Maybe another well intentioned brother said: I HAD I FEELING, I JUST KNEW WE ARE DOOMED?

THE CLOSER YOU GET TO JESUS, THE CLOSER HE GETS TO YOU, YOU SEE BEYOND THE PROBLEMS, YOU FEEL BEYOND THE CONTRARY WINDS, YOU SEE BEYOND THE SUPERSTITIONS ---

Matthew 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Praise God when Jesus comes on the scene. But wait there is still more to learn…

DON’T BE AFRAID, --- IS ONE LEVEL OF FAITH…

BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER IS A MUCH DEEPER LEVEL--- THIS WET BLANKET MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY…

THERE IS A BIG DOUBT EXPRESSED BY THE BIG MOUTH IN THE BOAT… THERE IS A SPECIAL INVITATION WHILE THE TROUBLES OF THE CONTRARTY WIND AND THE APPARITION ARE STILL FRESH. IF…

IF IS A BIG WORD…

Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

There is a big invitation: TRUST ME…

MANY PEOPLE WANT TO WALK ON THE WATER, WITHOUT THE INVITION ON GOD’S SON: COME…

Matthew 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Pastor Chou of Korea wrote a book on prayer. He tells in his book “THE FOURTH DIMENSION” about 4 young girls that loved Jesus and were eager to grow deeper in their relationship. The girls were going to a Christian camp to pray and know Jesus more. There had been very heavy rains in the area. On their way to camp the 4 girls came to a swift, swollen river. The river was flooding the whole area.

The girls were so disappointed they could not attend camp. The knelt by the flooded river and prayed. One asked, is Christian Camp good? Yes, they all applied. Would we be better if we went to camp? YES! Does Jesus want us to go to camp? Sure, he does. Did Jesus help Peter walk on the water? Sure.

So three of girls came to the conclusion THAT JESUS WANTS US TO GO TO CAMP, SO WE WILL WALK ACROSS THE SWOLLEN RIVER. They stepped into the water and the flooded river swept them down stream. Several days later the 3 bodies were found, 3 girls died.