I believe that this is a life-changing message.
No matter what storms you face in life, you will become stable and not be rocked out of the boat.
You were not meant to go being beat up by the storms of life. Look at the storm of gas prices, the economy, your job statuses, can’t pay your bills, etc. But I have question for you – Did God leave the storm?
One thing I can’t stand is some fickled people. Up one day and down the next. Unstable in all their ways.
Job 21:18 – That they are like stubble before the wind and like chaff that the storm steals and carries away? (Amplified)
James 1:8- A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Stable - steadfast or firm of purpose; resistant to change of position or condition; not easily moved or disturbed; not subject to extreme change or fluctuation.
God wants you to be stable in life. Knowing that no matter what the wind blows. No matter how many tornados come – he wants you to be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding toward the work of the Lord because your labor is not in vain.
We have a generation of people who need the Lord. You can’t be reacting just as the world if you are a born-again Christian.
How to be Stable in the Storm:
1. You need to know that you have been anointed to fulfill destiny and purpose.
Isaiah 61:1 (The Message Bible) - The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners.
What is anointed and what does it mean?
The origin of anointing was from a practice of shepherds. Lice and other insects would often get into the wool of sheep, and when they got near the sheep's head, they could burrow into the sheep's ears and kill the sheep. So, ancient shepherds poured oil on the sheep's head. This made the wool slippery, making it impossible for insects to get near the sheep's ears because they would just slide off. From this, anointing became symbolic of blessing, protection, and empowerment.
The New Testament Greek words for “anoint” are chrio, which means “to smear or rub with oil, and by implication to consecrate for office or religious service”; and aleipho, which means “to anoint.” In Bible times, people were anointed with oil to signify God’s blessing or call on that person’s life (Exodus 29:7; Exodus 40:9; 2 Kings 9:6; Ecclesiastes 9:8; James 5:14).
A person was anointed for a special purpose—to be a king, to be a prophet, to be an builder, etc. There is nothing wrong with anointing a person with oil today. We just have to make sure that the purpose of anointing is in agreement with Scripture. Anointing should not be viewed as a "magic potion." The oil itself does not have any power. It is only God that can anoint a person for a specific purpose. If we use oil, it is only a symbol of what God is doing.
Say out loud, “I’m anointed”.
2. Confess God’s word to be stable in the storm.
God created the universe simply by speaking it into existence (Genesis 1), and that humans have been endowed with the ability (power) to speak things into existence. Thus, making a "positive confession" (by reciting a promise of scripture, for example), and believing that which one says, generates power which enables those things to come into fruition.
Mark 11:22-23 (New Living Translation) - Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.
"Negative confession" can yield negative results, and hence believers should be conscious of their words. This is argued on the interpretation of Proverbs 18:21, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and they that love them will eat the fruit thereof", also Numbers 14:28, "...saith the Lord, as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do", among other scriptures.
The Word does the work.
The earth was created by words. God said (Genesis 1).
Jeremiah 1:12 – Then said the Lord unto me, thou hast seen well: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
That’s what we are going to do today. We are going to change what we have been confessing.
Say – I’ m a champion! I am God’s champion! If you say I’m healed, I’m healed. If you are wealthy, you are wealthy.
3. Don’t let circumstances over take you. You need to be stable and unmoveable when trials or circumstances come against you to stop you.
So often in our lives we are beset by the devices of the enemy that try to wipe us out before we come into our purpose, calling and destiny. The adversary is always at work to this end and has many tricks and traps and may even work through and operate in people around us to throw us off course.
Let’s look at David and what happened to him at Ziklag: (I Samuel 30)
Ziklag was the place where David lived while on the run from King Saul. He lived in many places during his years as a fugitive running from the enemy of his destiny. However, Ziklag was David’s final address before he walked through the door of God’s purpose for his life and became the King of Judah in Israel. While held up in Ziklag, David experienced one of the most devastating setbacks of his entire life.
Saul’s purpose was to prevent David from entering into the place God had ordained for him. This final destination or personal destiny of David was the office of the King of Israel. David’s battle began at the tender age of young boy when the Prophet Samuel anointed him. It was from this day forward that the battle for his destiny began.
While David was with King Achish preparing for the battle the Amelekites invaded Ziklag. The Amalekites ransacked his home base and took off with all his stuff, including his family. When David returned he found his home and his stuff in ashes; smoke bellowing from his roof. All had been lost, including his family and the wives of his 600 men or war. Smashed by the devastation, David and his men cried until they had no more power to cry.
This kind of devastation will brings you to your knees and cause you to wonder if God is alive. Have you ever had something happen to bring you to your knees?
When David heard the news he told the resident priest to go get him his prayer cloth and the bible says that he encouraged himself in the Lord his God. (I Sa. 30:6). David began to sing songs and worship God and revive his spirit.
Once the battle plan was in hand David moved without hesitation. “So David went, he and six hundred men that were with him.” David got up and went off to execute the battle plan!
4. You must know that God is stable.
a. Need to know that God is the same, yesterday, today and forever.
What he planned for you from the beginning of the earth; before your mommy knew your daddy – he hasn’t changed his mind.
Malachi 3:6 (KJV) “I am the Lord; I change not.”
Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.”
In this world where men forget us, change their attitudes toward us, revise their opinions of us for the slightest cause, isn’t it wonderful to know that we have a God who does not change?
He is Available. He is Accessible. He is Awesome!
b. Need to know that God’s Word will never pass away. What he says will come to pass.
Matthew 24:35: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Isaiah 40:8: “The grass whithers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God shall stand forever.”
Jesus stood in the Temple in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago and preached the Word of God. Today the Temple is gone, but the Word of God abides!
5. Who is on the boat with you? Religion, scared folks, Doubting Thomas, Haters?
Matthew 14:22-33
Somebody has to trust God and remain stable. Now is the time to build your life on the solid foundation of the Word of God. Not it’s time to know who you are – your purpose and destiny.
Now is the time to speak His Word. It’s time to be stable in the storm.
(Start confessing the Word)
