Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
We all face storms in life.....
Even Christians.....Who are doing what God has said.....
....who are going where He has sent them.....
That’s what happened to the disciples that day.....
verse 23 says that Jesus got on a ship, then his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea,
I think that many times we have the idea that Becoming a Christian and following God means that we Never have to struggle or go through anything.
Many Christians, when they find themselves in hard times Immediately BLAME God for their trouble.
They don’t realize it, but that’s playing right into satan’s hands.
That’s what he wants you believe.
That God wants to hurt you somehow and it’s supposed to be good for you.
Or he may say that God just doesn’t love you at all.....
You need to understand that satan doesn’t have any power other than his deception.
Jesus DISARMED satan in front of the whole spirit world.....
Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled (Disarmed) principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
satan doesn’t have any power to harm you......
But he knows that if he can get you to Believe the Wrong thing....
....then you will Say the wrong thing.....and you will Get the Wrong thing.....
God said in Isaiah 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips;.....
That’s why.......If you don’t know his tricks and Control your Thinking and your Talking.....
He will get you to use the things God meant to Help you and make you an Overcomer against you.
Jesus said Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
There are some things we need to know.
Paul told us that We aren’t to be Ignorant of satan’s devices.
We need to Know HOW he operates.....
So we don’t fall for his tricks and traps
This is also why it’s so Important for us as Believers..Especially New Christians.. to Get Into the Word.....
I know that Just as SOON as you make a public statement for Jesus......
satan comes to steal that Word from you.....
That’s what Jesus said in Mark 4:15 when He explained the Parable of the sower
He said....... Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
What we All need to Understand is that WE HAVE an Enemy.....an Adversary.....who wants to destroy us.....
And it doesn’t matter if you are a Christian or Not.....
HE WANTS YOU DEAD......and he’s doing everything he can to get you there......
But thank God that even though satan comes to steal kill and destroy.......Jesus said "I have come that you might have LIFE"
and not just any old life.....but a Life of Abundance......
A life without Limitation.....
A Phil 4:13 I can do ALL things through Christ which strengtheneth me life.....
A "My God SHALL SUPPLY all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" Life......
A Long Life that Satisfies you and Shows you God’s Salvation.
David said in Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
I like that word ALL....don’t you.....
That tells me that there’s a BUNCH of them....Amen
I’m glad he didn’t say there 2 or 3 or 10...but he said ALL
David knew he didn’t know it all .....he just knew there was a bunch of them.....
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:9 ...... Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Satan doesn’t want you to know it but Living for God is where all the Benefits are at......
Jesus said that following satan’s path leads only to Destruction.....
Only God has the Benefits....
And He has them Laid up for those that Love Him......
Let’s look at some of them David did list in Psalms 103
It’s not an Exhaustive list but the Psalmist goes on to list some of them......
In Verse 3 he says.....3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
I know satan doesn’t want you to know it and that’s why I like telling it so much.....
That said God Forgives ALL our iniquities......
That means that All that junk he’s been feeding you about how.....
God doesn’t love you because you’ve sinned.....
or God will never forgive you of your past.......
or You’ve blown it too many times and God is through with you.....
It’s all a pack of lies....
My Bible says God FORGIVES ALL MY Iniquities.......
And more than that He Healeth ALL my diseases......
I know many times we bring things on our own selves by stupidity.....
But Thank God, when He Forgives my Iniquites......I’m Qualified for His Healing.....
Don’t let anyone tell you that you have to live with the Consequences of your past sin where sickness is concerned.....
God Heals All our diseases......
Then the Psalmist went on to say in Verse 4 ....
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Bless God......Malachi said He even Rebukes the Devourer for my sake.....
We need to know that Destruction and the destroyer has no right to us if we’re in Christ Jesus.....
I know that the Wages of sin is death.....
but My Debt’s been paid and so has yours.....
You don’t have to settle for what you deserve....
You can have the FREE GIFT of Eternal and Abundant Life......
Then David said "He CROWNETH thee with Lovingkindness and tender mercies......
That word translated "crowneth" means "Compass About"
He wants to surround you with lovingkindness and tender mercies....
Psalm 5:12 says He will "compass" (Surround) us (the Righteous) with favour......
God’s favor Prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies....
God’s favor brings Promotion and Protection.....
That’s His Lovingkindness....
It Includes His Goodness and Favour and His Steadfast Love
I want you to know this ain’t no "Hard Old Way" ....where you just barely get by......
This is a life that Satisfies.....
Verse 5 says..... Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
When your Hooked up with God.....You’ve Got the Source.....
James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights....."
Jesus said in Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom
Religious people don’t like this kind of preaching ......but......I’m gonna say it anyway.....
God Loves Me and Blessing me Blesses God.....
That’s why Hebrews 11:6 says "....without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a REWARDER of them that diligently seek him."
We’ve been going about it all wrong....
We’ve been trying to find Success and Contentment on our own.....
1 Timothy 6:6 says "....Godliness with contentment is great gain"
The REWARDS come as we Diligently Seek Him.....
We need to Set Our Sights on Jesus......and Delight ourselves in Him.....
Stop Chasing after things and Chaise the Maker of All Things....
Find your Contentment IN HIM......
Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
God’s looking for some folks who will Believe Him for some Benefits.....
Let’s go back to Matthew 8:23 ....they followed Jesus into that ship.....
....and the storm came until the waves covered the ship.....But He Was Asleep.....
I’m glad the storms of life don’t worry Him......
Verse 25.....And his disciples came to him,.....
I’m glad that No Matter WHAT is going on around us.....We can always go to Him......
He’s never gone on vacation....He never has a headache or a Bad Day......
He’s never to Busy to help us......
but His ears are Open to our cries.....
Verse 26 says.... And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
He knew WHY they were fearful....it was because of their little faith....
but He wanted them to know that .....
When we have His Word on something .....We can take it to the bank....
It doesn’t matter Who or What comes against us.....
If we just Keep Going Forward .....Believing His Word......We Cannot Fail
But He didn’t get mad at them and refuse to help them because of their lack of faith.....
I know satan belittles you and your faith....
but Jesus said that it doesn’t take MUCH FAITH....
We just have to Plant the faith we do have Like a Seed and Leave it in the Ground.....
Knowing that It WILL PRODUCE the Desired Result.....
Verse 26 continues.......Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
He Always will come to our Rescue...IF we will just Call on Him in Faith.....
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
We need a Fresh Revelation of this Today....WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS......
We need to understand that .....
There is NOTHING to hard for Him.....
With God All things are possible....
If God be for us, who can be against us.....
What Manner of Man is this?
He’s a man like no other.....He’s the man that Cannot Fail.....
He’s the God-Man.....The Saviour.....The King of Glory
