THE STORM’S AGENDA: DRY FAITH VS. WET FAITH…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I would first ask us to weigh and ponder this thought. THERE CAN BE NO RESURRECTION WITHOUT A CRUCIFIXION…
We hate the very thought of the Crucifixion, but FAITH KNOWS that the crucifixion and all the cruel words, meanness and action at the cross, we could have never known the BEAUTY OF THE THIRD DAY’S RESURRECTION. There were three dark days in a borrowed tomb, but the darkness of the tomb can never EXTINGUISH the POWER OF THE LIGHT.
WHILE WE CONSIDER THIS, MAY WE CONSIDER: WHAT IS THE SATANIC AGENDA OF A STORM?
We are talking about SPIRITUAL STORMS…
AGENDA: a plan or goal that guides behavior and secrets.
The Bible clearly tells us God’s agenda and warns us of the SATANIC AGENDA…
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
SEARCH AND DESTROY.
I love to talk to old people. I really love to talk with older men and women that served in the USA military. I knew an old man that served his whole career in the Navy. He told me about the SUBMARINES he lived in during WW 2. They were battery powered during the day to hide the sounds of the engines. The SUBS had large gas engines and they would surface in the safety of the darkness of night, run the engines that would charge the batteries for the next day. Before day break the SUB would return to service below the water. He told me his SUB cruised at about 8 knots. Wow.
His SUB had an encounter with several Japanese Destroyers. They actually sank one destroyer with their torpedoes. The Japanese had a fix on them under the water. The SUB descended as fast as it could and laid on the very bottom of the ocean for hours. The Japanese vessels started depth charges of explosives. The Japanese vessels had listening devices. The men on the SUB were not allowed to speak. The explosions shook the SUB. Everything, even the lights were turned off. The Navy men prayed hard. The explosions seemed endless. Finally a sailor had an idea. They loaded their clothes and garbage and anything they could gather up and placed them in the TORPEDO HOLES and launched the stuff. The stuff slowly made it to the surface of the water. The enemy thought the SUB must be broken to pieces, so the remainder of Japanese vessels quit the depth charges and left the area. The little SUB lay many hours on the bottom of the ocean in complete silence. The SUB
SURVIVED the assault. The man said, there were hours of silent prayer begging God for mercy and grace.
Late in the night the pumps displaced the water and the SUB ascended to the surface and recharged the batteries and they fixed what damage they could until they were towed into a port for repairs.
WELL, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE AN ENEMY. HIS DESIGN FOR US IS SEARCH AND DESTROY. Our enemy wants us to HURT and be OFFENDED to the point that we will throw in the towel and quit.
WE ARE IN A FIGHT AND BATTLE FOR OUR LIVES AND OUR FAMILIES. JESUS GIVES A NOTE OF WARNING ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES ABOUT SECOND COMING:
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
JOHN ASK ARE YOU THE ONE JESUS? Jesus gave them a report and then said:
Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
THE AGENDA OF STORMS IN THE ENEMY’S STRATEGIC PLAN BOOK IS THIS STORM WILL SEARCH YOU OUT AND DESTROY YOU!
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Luke 22:31 (MSG)1 "Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. 32 Simon, I've prayed that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start."
DO WE HAVE DRY FAITH OR WET FAITH? We will explain the differences in DRY FAITH AND WET FAITH… WET FAITH IS NEVER EASY.
JESUS HAD A PLAN: LET US GET TO THE OTHER SIDE… THE ENEMY HAS A PLAN DROWN THOSE BOYS AND DOOM ETERNITY…
ALL STORMS HAVE AN AGENDA, THEY WILL DETROY US --- OR THEY WILL MAKE US STRONGER? THIS IS UP TO YOU.
NEVER FORGET WHILE THE ENEMY HAS A STRATEGIC AGENDA TO DESTROY, OUR GOD HAS A PLAN OF LIFE, ABUNDANT LIFE OF VICTORY… THE SATANIC AGENDA LET US SINK IN THIS BOAT AND DESTROY GOD’S PLAN…
Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
JESUS HAS AN AGENDA AND PLAN: LET US GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. THE SATANIC AGENDA
1. LET’S GO TO THE OTHER SIDE, THERE ARE MORE LESSONS TO LEARN OVER THERE, WE CAN NOT ALWAYS SPIRITUALLY STAY IN THIS PLACE ON THIS SIDE...
2. JESUS HAD A PLAN: LET US GET TO THE OTHER SIDE… THE ENEMY HAS A PLAN DROWN THOSE BOYS AND DOOM ETERNITY… GOD’S PLAN IS TO STRETCH OUR FAITH AND LEARN HOW TO FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE.
3. ALL STORMS HAVE AN AGENDA, THEY WILL DETROY US --- OR THEY WILL MAKE US STRONGER? THIS IS UP TO YOU.
4. A GREAT STORM, NOT JUST A STORM. ARISES, IT IS MORE THAN THE STORM, IT IS THE AGENDA OF THE STORM.
5. THIS STORM IS A HOLY MOMENT, IF WE SURVIVE WE WILL GAIN FAITH’S MOMENTIUM. A GOOD THING ABOUT THIS STORM AND THIS BOAT RIDE: JESUS IS ON BOARD.
6. UP TO THIS TIME THE GOOD OLD BOYS HAVE DRY FAITH, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN A NEW LEVEL OF FAITH IS DEMANDED. THE WAVES ARE POURING IN… IT IS NOT HOW MUCH WATER YOUR BOAT IS IN, IT IS HOW MUCH WATER IS IN THE BOAT. DOES OUR FAITH WORK WHEN THE WAVES ARE POURING INTO OUR VESSEL.
7. THE SATANIC AGENDA: SINK THE BOAT AND DESTROY GOD’S PLAN TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. HELL IS TRYING TO KEEP YOU FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
8. STORMS HAPPEN EVEN WHEN JESUS IS IN YOUR BOAT. DON’T BELIEVE TV PREACHERS THAT SAY IF JESUS IS IN YOUR BOAT YOU WILL NEVER KNOW A STORM.
9. FEAR WAS IN THE BOAT. DOUBT IS IN THE BOAT. A LACK OF TRUST IS IN THE BOAT.
EVEN WITH FEAR, WORRY AND DOUBT IN THE BOAT, JESUS HAS ENOUGH FAITH THAT WHILE EVERYONE IS SCARED TO DEATH, HE IS SLEEPING…
10. ONE OF THE DUMBEST QUESTIONS IN HISTORY: JESUS, HOW CAN YOU SLEEP? DON’T YOU CARE? If we are doing God’s work, we are invincible until we accomplish God’s plan.
11. SOMEBODY GO GET JESUS --- TELL HIM WE ARE SINKING, WE ARE GOING DOWN… WE WILL DROWN!
12. WHY? WHY JESUS AM I SO WET? I DON’T KNOW? ALL I KNOW STORMS ARE A PART OF THE LIFE. WE MUST HAVE WET FAITH! MANY HAVE DRY FAITH.
13. JESUS ARISES, GET UP AND SURVEYS THE SITUATION, OH! THIS IS SMALL STUFF… CALM DOWN… JESUS NOT ONLY HAS TO CALM THE STORM, HE HAS TO CALM HIS MEN?
14. DON’T CONCLUDE YOU CREATED THIS WET RIDE…
15. OUR ENEMY FEARS WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE REFUSED TO BE DENIED TO ARRIVE AT THE OTHER SIDE.
16. JESUS JUST TALKS TO THE STORM LIKE A PERSON… THIS IS PERSONAL. JESUS DOESN’T SCREAM … HE JUST SPEAKS IN CONFIDENCE. SPEAK THE WORD.
17. REFUSE TO BE IN FEAR, DREAD, DEPRESSION, and TRUST GOD’S AGENDA TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. FIX MY EYES ON JESUS.
18. SETTLE DOWN… THE WIND QUITS BLOWING… THE WAVES BECOME SMOOTH AS GLASS.
19. THERE IS A NEW THING: A GREAT CALM… THERE IS A NEW THING HAPPENING ON THE WAY TO THE OTHER SIDE… AN AWE, A DEEPER RESPECT, A NEW LEVEL OF WET FAITH TO COME TO UNDERSTAND THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS WITH US…
CONCLUSION: JESUS CAN HANDLE THE HIDDEN AGENDA OF EVERY STORM. This storm shall pass. Some storms will require a WET FAITH. We may get wet, cold and feel like are we are going to sink. Philippians 4:6 (MSG) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
Come let us recognize we need to get to the other side. Let us stay focused that Jesus is in the boat. We trust --- the one that speaks to the wind and says PEACE BE STILL RIDES IN THE BOAT WITH US.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
