What manner of man is this?
Luke 8:22-26 and it happened on a certain day that He went into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them; Let us go over to the other side of the lake. And they put out to sea. (23) But as they sailed, He fell asleep. And a storm of wind came onto the lake. And they were being filled with water and were in jeopardy. (24) And they came to Him and awakened Him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing! Then being aroused, He rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was calm. (25) And He said to them, where is your faith? And being afraid, they marveled, saying to one another, what manner of man is this!? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him! (26) And they sailed down to the country of the Gadarenes, which is across from Galilee.
Demographic experts tell us that 5.8 billion people inhabit planet earth, last night another 124 000 were born. All that human life exists on the planet yet no two people are born with the same DNA or fingerprint
God has a Purpose for us,
Eph: I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
God has placed within each person a vision that is designed to give purpose and meaning to life
God is a God of plans purposes and pursuits
God has a specific purpose and plan for your life. However, it is your responsibility to discover your God-appointed destiny. If you are frustrated in your current job or not finding fulfillment, it may be that you are not doing what you have been destined to do.
if you ask people “why do you exist most people can’t tell you they can’t explain there purpose in the world.
o Do you have a sense of personal purpose?
o Do you know why you were born?
o God has a specific purpose for you to fulfill.
Yes God has specific purpose and wants you to live a life that is full and driven by a plan that is bigger than yourself
God did not created you to live a boring mundane life but to live a life
It will be your responsibility to find and fulfill the destiny God has given you.You can choose your :
• Job
• Spouse
• Friends
• But not your destiny, you were created at this time for a specific purpose to fulfill, in fact God had a purpose and looked down the corridors of time and said you would be the perfect person to accomplish the goal.
• Your purpose will bring excitement to your life walking in your Gods given purpose will bring peace and fulfillment and a sense of belonging.
You a created an original, unique and special so be yourself, run your race. Don’t compare with other people because it is not wise. God has put a lot more in you than you’re living out. This might shock you but your greatest fear should not be death, your greatest fear should be that die to soon , too easily before God is finished with you, You don’t want to die prematurely that’s when you haven’t fully explored the purpose or potential that God created you for.
God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors, the ransom he paid was not silver or gold it was more precious than that it was the blood of his son Jesus.
o God doesn’t play dice - Albert Einstein
Life is a journey and adventure, God has planned out a wonderful life and his desire is for us to live the abundant life. With nothing missing and nothing broken
John 10:10 the thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly
Most people mistakenly think that Jesus was able to work wonders to perform miracles and live above sin because he divine powers that we don’t have. Thus they never really aspired to live like he lived. Oh my they say with great humility “I could never live like Jesus did, after all he had an advantage he was God.”
They don’t realize that when Jesus came to earth he voluntarily gave up that advantage, living life here not as God but as Man. He had no supernatural powers. He had no ability to perform miracles until he was anointed with the holy sprit, he worked miracles not by his own power but by the power of the father saying” the father witch lives in me, he doeth the works (John 14:10). And when he prayed he prayed not as a divine one who had authority as God, but as a man who walked in obedience to God.
Jesus the divine son of god set aside the privileges and powers of deity for a time and lived as man on earth. We should be thrilled at this because as a born again child of God filled with the same holy spirit as Jesus, we have the same opportunity to live as he lived here on earth in fact that is what he intends
John 17:18 as you have sent me into the world, even so I Have sent them into the world.
Jesus has sent you in the world to live as he lived; through the finished work of the cross he made the exchange for your sinful nature for the nature of God. He has given you the ability and the command to live the abundant life
We don’t see things as they are we see them as we are
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
1Pe 2:10 which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1Pe 2:11dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
What is a storm
a. Test or trial
i. Tests and trials will always be part of the human experience, but there is still the promise of deliverance (1 Cor 10:13).
ii. There will always be tests and trials.
iii. No test or trial is unique; everyone experiences them.
b. Storms are something that will come and steal your peace.
c. Something that will distract you from your destiny in God
d. Impossibilities that exist in your life
e. Something that will come and steal faith
f. Something that will try and cause stress and anxiety
i. stress is one on the leading causes of death
g. Something that tries to get you to turn your back on God
i. Gives a wrong impression of God to you
h. The storm came suddenly
i. Impossibilities
i. Impossibilities exist for a reason: They exist so that the over comers can overcome
Types of storms.
a. Circumstances
i. Money:
1. God wants us blessed and to have all your needs met and left over to be a blessing
2. God wants you blessed but will always check out your heart
3. Have to develop a lifestyle of giving
4. Sometimes we battle because of bad stewardship
a. Not budgeting
b. Speeding fines
c. Living above our means.
ii. Healing
God wants us healed and made whole walking in divine health
Have to look after our bodies
a. Diet
b. Exercise
c. Speaking the healing word over ourselves (build our faith)
b. Love – How is your love life
Self image – inferiority e.g. Gideon
What you are is a God’s gift to you
What you do with yourself is your gift to God
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
What do you think about yourself? Do you believe in yourself? Are you confident?
Gideon was a man who had a very bad self image but God looked past the problem and saw the potential!
Jdg 6:12 and the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.
Jdg 6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? But now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
Jdg 6:14 and the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
Jdg 6:15 and he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
Jdg 6:16 and the LORD said unto him, surely I will be with thee, and thou shall smite the Midianites as one man.
1. What are your gifts? What do you do well? If you have good health, acknowledge it. Be thankful if your family and your friends love you.
2. What are five things you like about yourself? You could include your appearance and/or qualities such as punctuality, honesty, and a loving spirit.
3. What people make you feel special? These individuals inspire something within you. What is it?
4. What moment of personal triumph do you remember? Take a moment to recall it.
Too many people dwell on the negative things about themselves instead of the positive. In one of his letters Paul the Apostle wrote:
Philippians 4:8
“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”
The admonition applies to things about you as well as about the things of God. Think about all the things you have going for you. It will make a difference in how you look at yourself.
i. love others e.g. Peter
Gal 5:14 for all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, "You shall love your neighbor as yours
Gal 5:14 for everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom
1. In storms our love for other people will always be tested and strife will try and come, strife is a trap and will strangle our prayers and faith.
2. Peter was a impulsive person who had to learn to love people but God raised him up and used him preach the sermon of Pentecost where 3000 people got saved and know as the Rock because of the revelation that God gave him of the Christ.
3. He blurted out inappropriate suggestions during the moments of Christ’s transfiguration
4. Strike out wildly with his sword at Jesus arrest
ii. Love for God
1. The devil would love to distort the image of God in your life and try and make him into a person that is against you
2. We must understand that God love us and is committed to us
3. We need to keep our heart right towards God and love him regardless of the circumstance , whether he never does another thing for us we love him because he loves us
c. Past
Rom 8:1 there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
i. don’t make a monument out of your past
ii. the past is the past today is the present tomorrow is the future
iii. there is a spiritual law about looking back
iv. Jerry Savelle once said that looking back is like a person driving on the high way only looking in the rear view mirror sooner or later you bump into things that you should never have hit.
3. Act 9:1 And Saul, still breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
4. Act 9:2 and asked letters from him to Damascus to the synagogues; so that if he found any of the Way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
5. Act 9:3 But in going, it happened as he drew near to Damascus, even suddenly a light from the heaven shone around him.
i. The person who looks back will not see what’s in front of him.
1. Paul had a bad past but god chose to look at the purpose that placed inside of him. Acts 8:1 , 9:1-2
a. Son of a Pharisee born roman citizen
b. Student of excellent student in the sandidran
c. As a young man he witnessed the first Christian martyr, Stephen.
2. Paul was a persecutor who went around hunting and killing Christians.
3. Paul said
Phi 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Phi 3:15 let us therefore, as many as be perfect, are thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
b. Sin – Compromise – e.g. Joseph & David
Temptation is a sign that Satan hates you not a sight of weakness or worldliness
There is a story about a beautiful bird that was known for its great singing. It would sit at the top of a tree and make lovely melodies. One day a man walking through the woods passed by the tree and heard the beautiful bird singing. The bird saw the man, and that he was holding a box.
“What do you have in the box? “The bird asked the man.
The man replied that he had large, juicy earthworms in the box. “I will sell you a worm for one of your beautiful feathers,” he offered.
The bird pulled out a feather and exchanged it for a worm. He reflected to himself, “Why should I work hard to get worms when it is so easy to get them this way?”
The bird and the man repeated this process over the course of many days, and soon the bird no longer had any more beautiful feathers with which to pay for worms.
Furthermore, he could no longer fly, nor was he still pretty. He did not feel like singing beautiful songs, and he was very unhappy.
Like this foolish bird, we are always tempted to look for shortcuts, ways to get ahead and obtain the results that we desire. But as the foolish bird learned, there was a price for taking shortcuts.
1) We will all be tempted
a) We have to predetermine what we will in a circumstance before we get into the circumstance, often times it is too late when we are in the test.
b) Just because you are tempted doesn’t mean that you have sinned it is what we do with the temptation.
c) David was tempted:
i) He looked at Bathsheba (bible says that she was beautiful) have having a bath
ii) He meditated on the option
iii) He inquired about her
iv) He chose to sleep with her
d) Joseph was tempted:
i) His masters wife kept on propositioning him ( she was a hottie, wearing the low and behold outfit)
ii) He never entertained her
iii) He honored God
iv) He ran away sometime we have to be unpopular to do what is right to God.
6. Jesus slept
a. Often times while we are going through different things we think that God has become quite, that we are praying and that no one is hearing.
b. He slept because he knows what the outcome will be because he said we will go to the other side.
c. He gave us authority that we can handle the circumstance he trusts us.
7. Faith –where is your faith
Don't have weak faith.
Weak faith is a short burst of faith that starts out strong but doesn't last.
Pressure is just an opportunity to build your faith, trust and ability to endure.
The pressure won't stop until the character of Christ is developed in you.
Heb 12:2 looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Mar 10:27 Jesus looking upon them saith, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.
a. Where is your faith can’t see it
i. Jesus was saying that I know you have faith but I don’t see the evidence or actions that show your faith
ii. God has his part and you have your part
iii. God is waiting for you to do something and show your faith
iv. Without faith it is impossible to please God
v. Example sitting on the chair if you believe that the chair will hold you up you will sit down if you believe that the chair will not support you won’t sit down.
b. What is faith?
i. Faith is doing what the word of God says regardless of what the you feel
ii. Faith is believing what the word says and speaking the word
iii. Faith is not accepting anything less than Gods best
c. What is faith built of?
i. Faith is build on the Word of God
ii. If the Word of God says it you can have it
iii. The word will protect you have to make sure what you are trusting for is in the word of God
d. Where does faith come from
i. Faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of God
ii. Have to spend time reading the word
8. God is faithful – He rebuked the storm
1Co 10:13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.
a. Even when you are not faithful to God, He is faithful to you.
b. God is love and He is compassionate toward you.
c. God will never allow you to be tested beyond what you can handle.
d. Before you are tested, God has already determined you are able to win.
e. The test would not exist if God didn't know you could pass it.
f. Don't tolerate the test, pass it.
g. Resist your temptations; endure and outlast them.
h. Don't give up and say you can't take it anymore.
i. Keep believing in God to meet your needs.
j. When you go through trials, it is because God has already determined you are able to overcome.
k. With every test, temptation and trial, there is a way of escape
(1 Corinthians 10:13).
God would never allow you to be tested, tried or tempted if He didn't know you would be able to resist.
Don't run from your tests, pass them. Be an over comer by choosing to resist the enemy's attacks.
You have the power to overcome through Jesus Christ in you.
Keep God's commandments and obey Him (Deuteronomy 8:2, 3).
Keeping God's commandments and obeying His Word protects you from affliction
And positions you to receive His blessings.
God is always present during tests and trials (Psalm 71:20).
When you are in the middle of a trial, God is there to bring you out.
No matter what trial or temptation you face, God always makes a way of escape.
You have the ability to sustain and conquer through God and His Word.
You have security in the midst of turmoil (John 16:33).
You will have security as long as you hold on to what Jesus has said.
Peace comes from His Word.
If you don't know what He has said, then you won't have peace.
Lasting peace only comes from God (Isaiah 26:3).
When you trust and believe, you will be whole, with nothing missing or broken in your life.
Through the Word, you will see the wisdom of God.
