Lu 8:22 ¶ Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
(He went into a ship with his disciples)
The ship represents your life, your destination, the course of your life.
(One song writer put it this way) The soul of a man is like a ship that sails on the sea of time.)
When Jesus entered the ship he changed the course, he gave them a purpose and a destination.
I just want to know tonight: Is there anybody here that remembers when Jesus got into your ship?
Is there anybody here that remembers when he changed your course?
You were lost, you were drifting, you were bound, you were on your way to a devils hell; but one day you found your way to an old fashioned altar and Captain Jesus came on board.
And he washed you in his blood, delivered you, put his spirit in you and his anointing on you and he gave you a purpose and he gave you a destination.
As soon as Jesus entered the ship he gave them a Word: That word was prophetic, that word carried the spirit of destiny in it.
That word said you are going somewhere.
Has anybody got a word that you’re going somewhere?
Has anybody got a word that has pointed you toward something greater than what you have?
Has anybody got a word that stirs your faith, wakes you up in the morning, and carries you through the day?
Tell your neighbor: I’ve got a word
They got a word of destiny that assured them of his presence with them.
Somebody said: I heard a word, but I couldn’t find God in it
I’m going to tell you something:
When God gives you a word it carries his presence (I didn’t say it will always make you happy, and I didn’t say it will always make you feel good) but I said it will always carry his presence.
Moses said: If your presence go not with us, then do not take us up from this place.
His presence and his word go together: I don’t care how religious it sounds or how appealing it is to your flesh or your desires (the first thing you better ask yourself is) does it carry his presence?
Because the Word that carries his presence has the power to carry you, and keep you.
They got a word of purpose that assured them of their destination.
That word made them Unsinkable
Tell your neighbor: Hold onto your word.
Listen: I didn’t say that the word guarantees you that you will have an easy life, and you will never have to go through a storm.
I said: The word will carry through the storm, the word will hold you up, the word will make you Unsinkable.
I wouldn’t be here today if it hadn’t been for the word of the Lord.
*The enemy would have killed me, but I had a word.
*Debt would have sunk me, but I had a word.
*Family turmoil and strife would have capsized my vessel, but I had a word.
*Attacks on my integrity and my character would have drowned me in a sea of despair, but I had a word.
*Depression and fear and anxiety would have swallowed me up, but I had a word.
I’m telling you: Hold on to your word
Your word makes you fire proof.
Your word makes you invincible.
Your word makes you unsinkable.
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, (they shall not overflow thee): when thou (walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;) neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
The devil says: Your gonna die, the doctors report says (incurable) (terminal).
But the Word of God says:
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD….. Ps 118:17
The Word of God says: But he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed ……. Isa 53:5
The devil says:
Your ministry is over; you might as well throw in the towel:
But the Word of God says: Behold, I will do (a new thing; now it shall spring forth ;) shall ye not know it …….. Isa 43:19
The devil says:
You’ll never see those children saved, you’re just wasting your time praying for them, they’re never going to serve the Lord.
But the Word of God says: And (all thy children) shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children ……. Isa 54:13
Ge 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and (all thy house) into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Ac 11:14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and (all thy house) shall be saved.
So here were the disciples of Jesus sailing in the power of their word:
Then as they sailed Jesus fell asleep and there came down a storm
Storm: (A whirlwind, a tempestuous wind, a violent attack of wind)
Literally it was as though they had a bulls eye on them and this storm violently attacked them. It was launched against them to destroy them to sink them.
Let me ask you a question: Have you ever felt like there’s a bulls eye on your back and like the devil has singled you out, and like he’s concentrating extra measures, and extra opposition and extra weapons on you?
I remember in high school some of the upper class mates would play tricks on the freshman class, and one of their favorites was to tape a sign to the back of a freshman that said: (please kick me)
After three or four good swift kicks, (the freshman) would figure it out, something was drawing this unwanted attention to them.
Have you ever felt like that?
Have you ever felt like the devil has called off the little imps, and he has sent out the big dogs after you?
If the answer is yes (you ought to be shouting and praising God right now, because the devil wouldn’t be concentrating so much of his energy and his resources on you if you weren’t a threat to him.
The devil heard your word too: He knows you’re on your way to something:
That’s what keeps me moving: I know I’m on my way to something
I’m not going through this storm for nothing
I’m not going through this hell for nothing
I’m not walking through this valley of the shadow of death for nothing
I’m going through because I’m going to.
The fight isn’t about who you are today, or where you are today, the fight is about your word (the fight is about your destiny, the fight is about where you’re going and what you’re getting ready to do).
The greatest storm of your life means your closer to your destiny than you’ve ever been and your on the edge of the greatest breakthrough of your life.
Josephs brothers wanted him dead, not just because he was their fathers favorite (but because he had a dream, he had a word, a destiny, a future).
As long as you ain’t got nothing, and don’t want nothing, you have no dreams, no visions, no passion, no aspirations to go anywhere or do anything (then you got a lot of friends).
But as soon as you start dreaming of a better tomorrow, and you start prophesying your destiny and it’s bigger than your friends can see, it’s bigger than they can handle, They will try to discourage you and talk you out of your destiny.
And if you won’t sale out, and won’t forfeit your dreams, and settle back into a life of mediocrity and religious expectation, then you become a threat to them and they will turn on you and try to destroy you.
You need to examine your friendship circle (everybody can’t go where God is taking you) You need friends that believe in you and what God is doing in you.
People are either wind in your sails or weights around your neck “Rod Parsley”
These disciples were moving in their word, sailing in the spirit of destiny and purpose and they were attacked.
Believe me; if you ever set out to do anything for God, and if you ever get bold enough to launch into your word and work out and walk out your destiny (you are going to be attacked).
Physically, spiritually, financially, emotionally, there will be attacks against your marriage, attacks against your ministry.
Why: Because you are dangerous, you are a threat to hell, your dreams make you dangerous, your word makes you dangerous.
We understand that now (and we have come to grips with that now, and we realize that our word makes us a target for the enemy, and puts us in his line of fire)….
But here’s the part that makes it really hard even for the most spiritual, most anointed, most mature believer.
Vs 23 says (Jesus fell asleep)
Have you ever felt like God did this great thing in your life, stirred you up, gave you this great powerful word of destiny (and then he just went to sleep and forgot about you?)
And he just laid there and let the devil beat up on you (let people lie on you and cheat on you, and persecute you and criticize you, steal from you, ignore you, overlook you, underestimate you?)
Come on: I’m trying to talk to some real people in the house.
I want to talk to some people that will just tell the truth.
Just because you’re called doesn’t mean you won’t ever have any troubles, just because you’re anointed doesn’t mean you won’t ever be lied on.
It doesn’t mean that God is going to wrap you in cotton so your feelings never get hurt.
In fact the more anointed you are and the more destiny you embrace and the more focused you become on fulfilling your purpose (the greater threat you are to hell, and the greater the attacks against you).
Joseph was anointed, Joseph was favored by God; and repeatedly the bible says (The Lord was with Joseph).
Well if the Lord was with Joseph why didn’t God stop his brothers from stripping him out of his coat and throwing him into a pit?
Why didn’t God stop Potiphars lust filled wife from lying on Joseph and destroying his character and integrity in the eyes of Potiphar and his whole house?
Why did God let the butler forget Joseph for two full long years, after Joseph interpreted his dream and it came to pass?
Was God on vacation? Was he asleep?
(It was all part of making Joseph the kind of man that God could trust with the dream he gave him.)
From the day God gave Joseph the dream, the dream never changed, but the dreamer went through a process of stripping and refining to bring him to the place that he was qualified to live that dream.
Tell your neighbor: I’m in process
I know tonight that God never sleeps
Ps 121:4 Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
I know God never sleeps, but I promise you there will be times in your life when it feels like God is in such a deep slumber that nothing can wake him.
Tell your neighbor: It’s just part of the process.
Some of you I’m talking to right now, have felt like God just went to sleep and let the devil have his way with you, and to tell the truth it looks to you like and feels to you like you are farther away from your word than ever before.
But I came to tell you tonight: God is not asleep, he has not forgotten you, his eyes are on the sparrow, and his eyes are on you every minute of the day.
He’s been watching you all through the process, he’s been in charge of the temperature.
He’s been controlling the speed of the wheel.
He saw that storm coming before it ever got to you and he filtered it through his hands of love and …..
He pre-determined that this storm was not going to kill you.
He pre-determined that this storm was not going to sink you.
He pre-determined that this storm was not going to destroy your ministry.
Before you ever entered the battle, He pre-determined that you had everything you need to conquer, you had everything you needed to put you over and come out on top.
How could Jesus sleep through the same storm that threw the disciples into hysteria?
The answer is: He believed the Word that he spoke.
He knew the Word that came out of his mouth had the power to take them through anything, (he knew that his word could not come back void but it would accomplish that which he pleased and prosper in thing whereto he sent it.
I wish I had some people in here that believed the Word:
You’re going through the storm of your life in your finances, but you believe the word
You’re going through the greatest fire of your life in your health, but you believe the word
You’re fighting for your children, they seem farther away than ever before, but you believe the word.
You’re been tried in your ministry, your character and your reputation and your integrity are being attacked, but you believe the word.
The bible says: They woke up Jesus
(In other words they went back to the word.) Jn 1:1(In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God, the same was in the beginning with God,
Jn 1: 14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth.
I don’t care what the enemy is doing today, or trying to do, it doesn’t matter what the storm or the test or the trial is.
It doesn’t matter how hot the fire is or how the flames, or how deep the water.
The answer is the same:
(Hold on to your word)
(Get back to your word)
Your word will get you through it.
God is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent, hath he said it, shall he not do it, hath he spoken it shall he not make it good …… Num 23:19
Mt 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Ps 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Get back on your word
1Tim 1:18 ¶ This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, (according to the prophecies) which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
Take that word and make it a weapon
God didn’t give you that word just to be a soft pillow for your head, he gave you that word to fight with.
He knew the enemy would attack you, he knew the enemy would oppose you, and he gave you a word to war with.
Somebody I’m talking to right now:
You’ve got a word about starting a business; (but the devil is telling you it could never happen in this economy).
Somebody else: You’ve got a word about a new house, but you’ve almost forfeited your promise because of the economy and your financial situation.
Somebody else :You have a word that God is going to save your Husband, and save those children, and deliver them off drugs and alcohol (but they look farther away than ever before and you’ve almost given up).
I’m talking to somebody in ministry: You have carried a dream of ministry in your spirit for years, and you fought to hold on to it (but to tell the truth you’re just tired and you’re on the verge of just letting it go).
I came to tell you hold on to your word: God is not a liar
He doesn’t give us a word to frustrate us, he gives us a word to motivate us and to strengthen us in the battle and to give us a weapon to fight discouragement and doubt, and weariness.
Soldier of God: Pick up your weapon, (pick up your word)
The bible says: Their boat was filled with water.
That means doubt and worry, and anxiety and stress, and all the negative circumstances that surround you are trying to drown your faith and steal your word.
That’s what the devils after: he wants you to throw that word away.
The devils telling you today that it’s hopeless, enemies are telling you that it’s hopeless:
But I came to tell you Hold on to your Word
If God ever spoke it, God will bring it to pass:
If God spoke to you about bringing that Godly husband into your life, then shop for your wedding dress.
If God spoke to you about a new house, then start looking at plans, and start looking at the furniture you want to put in it.
If God spoke to you about writing a book, then buy your paper and get on your computer and expect him to give it to you.
If God spoke to you about going to other countries, then buy some suitcases, and get your visa so they’ll let you in when you get there.
If God said he’s going to save your family, quit calling them heathens and acting like they’re unreachable.
Hold onto your word:
The bible says:
Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
The devil wants to steal your faith in The Word of God
As soon as Jesus wakes up he says: Where is your faith?
They had let the storm rob them of their faith in his word.
I don’t know what storms you may have went through or are going through right now, but I’m telling you (Hold onto your Word)
The boat may be demolished, the economy may be at an all time low, Gas prices may go to $10.00 a Gallon, and Bread may be $20.00 a loaf.
And the government may go bankrupt.
But your word will deliver you
Your word will sustain you
Your word will carry you to the other side.
My faith is not in my boat, or my church, or my job, or the economy or the government, my faith is in the word.
I’ve got a God said
If you’ve got a God said on the inside of you, you are unsinkable.
Faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it.
(It’s as good as done.)
He that hath begun a good work in you will finish it till the day of Christ.
What you need to do right now is get your eyes off the storm and get them back on the word and begin to praise God (Praise him because he told the truth) Praise him like it’s already done.
Praise him like you’re already out of debt
Praise him like you’ve already written that book and are enjoying the blessings
Praise him like you’ve already moved out of the projects, Praise like you’ve already moved into that new house, walk through it in your imagination, smell the carpet, touch the walls.
Praise him like you’re ministry is already international, you may be a pastor of 30 people but you’ve got an international vision and you’ve got a heart to touch the world for Jesus.
Praise him like that family is already saved, holy ghost filled fire baptized, praise him like their standing beside you with their hands raised tears streaming down their faces, glorifying God.
I wish I had some people that knew how to praise God
You just got to get your eyes off the problem and get them back on the promise.
I don’t care what’s happening in your life right now: I’m telling you Hold Onto Your Word.
