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.
The one girl that did not try the water walk told the story to the Korean Media and Christianity became the laughing stock of South Korea for a while. The media talked to Doctor Chou. Can you explain this tragedy? Chou said It is easy. Yes, PETER WALKED ON THE WATER, BUT WHAT THE THREE YOUNG GIRLS FORGOT WAS: JESUS BID, JESUS INVITED PETER TO WALK ON THE WATER. YOU BETTER STAY IN THE BOAT UNLESS YOU HAVE THE INVITATION: COME.
OK, PETER YOU ARE A HISTORY MAKER… WAS IT ALL SMOOTH WALKING BECAUSE YOU HEARD JESUS SAY COME?
NOTE: PETER WAS WALKING TO JESUS --- PETER’S FOCUS WAS ON JESUS… BUT THERE WAS A WET BLANKET TO THIS EXPERIENCE…
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Let we asked you a question: HOW CAN YOU SEE THE WIND? Peter saw the boisterous, contrary wind…
He heard the massive winds… Me thinks Peter felt the cold water running up his leg? Fear! Maybe Peter felt warm water running down his leg? FEAR! DOUBT!
HOW DO WE GO FROM FAITH TO STAND UP AND CRAWL OUT OF THE BOAT TO SINKING?
PETER TOOK HIS EYES OFF JESUS AND STARTED FOCUSING ON THE PROBLEMS… WOW, LISTEN TO THAT WIND?
Maybe Peter looked back and saw the little ship tossed by the waves and winds?
PETER WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE NEGATIVE SITUATION THAT THREATEN HIS VERY LIFE? Maybe Peter thought of his wife, his mother in law, his home? WHAT DO WE DO WHEN OUR PPROBLEMS AND OBSTACLES TRY TO OVERWHELM OUR FAITH? Is God stronger than contrary winds? Will we refuse to apply a wet blanket to dampen our fire?
My dear friend, will we allow the obstacles and contrary winds to sink our ship? This storm is a great opportunity to release FAITH and see TWO MIRACLES:
1. TO WALK ON WATER…
2. JESUS GAVE A HAND TO PETER AND CAUGHT HIM WHILE HE WAS SINKING…
How can you hold up the weight of yourself, little alone hold another up?
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SUPPOSE… EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD TO ME…
LET US IGNORE THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER. WE CAN DO THIS…
PAUL WAS A GREAT MAN OF GOD, HE UNDERSTOOD SPIRITUAL LIFE HAS MANY OBSTACLES,
Acts 27:10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. 11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
What does the Preacher know about life? Is that Preacher an expert, besides the good wind is blowing…
Acts 27:13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
HOW SOON CAN A WONDERFUL LIFE GO TO STORMS, DESPAIR, DARKNESS AND GLOOM? A TEMPESTUOUS WIND CAN HIDE THE LIGHT OF DAY AND BECOME A CONTRARY WIND OF WET BLEANKETS?
Acts 27:15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
I BELIEVE GOD--- I BELIEVE GOD DBEFORE THE STORMS, DURING THE STORMS AND AFTER THE STORMS…
MY GOD CAN HANDLE CONTRARY WINDS AND WET BLANKETS…
Acts 27:21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
FAITH MUST BELIEVE GOD’S PLAN WHEN OUR VISION IS DISTORTED, WHEN MY EMOTIONS ARE PLAYING GAMES WITH MY MIND? WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS SEA SICK…
WHEN THE WET BLANKET SEEMS TO BE SMOOTHERING YOU --- DON’T JUMP SHIP!!! THE OLD SHIP OF ZION!
Acts 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
WE CAN NOT ACCEPT THE WET BLANKETS OF OTHERS… GOD’S PLAN IS NOT BY POPULAR OPINION…
Acts 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
MY DEAR FRIEND: WE MUST LEARN BY FAITH TO SHAKE IT OFF… SHAKE IT IN THE FIRE…
Acts 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
CONCLUSION: WE must refuse to be a wet blanket or allowing 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.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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