OVERTAKEN BY A GREAT WIND?
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HE'S STILL SPEAKING PEACE
By Denise Shaw
Mark chapter 4:1-20 is one of the most important passages in the New Testament. It contains the parable of the sower.
We do not have room to quote the entire passage within the confines of this article, but we encourage you to look at it in your Bible as you read along.
The parable of the sower is the essence of the Kingdom of God (also see Luke 8 and Matthew 13).
The Word of God is the seed. When planted in our hearts, in good soil, it will produce a great harvest - the abundant life Jesus came to provide.
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.
In examining the parable of the sower, we can see that it is the Word of God the enemy tries to steal, smother, or to bring to no effect in our lives.
Understanding this truth, its principles and the importance of the Word of God are keys to successful Christian living.
The Word of God bearing fruit in our lives is the very last thing the devil wants to see happen.
It's not a coincidence, then, that upon having heard the Word of God through this parable, the disciples immediately faced one of the biggest faith challenges of their lives.
The more understanding we gain of the Word of God, the bigger the challenges we'll sometimes face.
Mark 4:35-38
And the same day, when the even was come, he [Jesus] saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship... And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 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?
Right now, within the Body of Christ, it seems that many are in that same ship.
We've received the Word. We are on the verge of seeing that Word produce awesome fruit in our lives and in the kingdom of God. Yet, it seems that the enemy is doing as much as he can to steal the seed (the Word), to keep it from producing an abundant harvest in the earth.
I wonder how long it took the disciples to decide to wake the Master?
How long had they tried to deal with the situation with their own efforts - bailing, pitching, and rowing?
The ship was nearly ready to go under before they called upon the Lord for help. And when they did call upon Him, did they call in faith?
"Don't you care we are perishing?" sounds like a blame game to me.
Mark 4:39
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.
If Jesus didn't care, He would have let the ship sink. Not only did He care, He did something about it.
Are you being tossed about by a great wind? Is your ship on the verge of sinking?
The words, "Peace, be still," are still ringing throughout the earth - eternally bringing calm and serenity to lives filled with turmoil and dismay.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
A couple of years ago I had the awesome opportunity of visiting Israel, including the region of the Galilee.
We were in that region for three days. During that time the water was never still.
Mountains on three sides surround it, producing a "tempest in a teapot" effect. The climate and constantly changing weather conditions, cause the lake to be continually tossed and rough.
Sailing on a tour boat across the Sea of Galilee, it was easy to understand how truly miraculous it must have been when Jesus commanded it to be still. When He spoke, not only did it quiet down, there was a great calm.
Do you need great calm in your life? Have you been overtaken by a great wind? Does it look like you're going under if something doesn't change?
My friend, Jesus cares. His peace is still in the earth and is available to us when we call upon Him.
This brings us to another point: What happened next?
Mark 4:40
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Jesus rebuked them for having no faith.
How did He know they had no faith? They were afraid. They had no peace.
They should have had faith for what? - To keep from perishing, to not be afraid, to make it over to the other side?
The Scripture is not specific as to what Jesus was referring - perhaps all of the above.
He did say they were going over to the other side, didn't He?
The Word of God (the seed), in Psalm 91, promises divine protection and long life - of which they should have been well acquainted.
Is your ship really going to sink?
Hasn't His Word promised abundance and victory to us?
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ...
Was it even necessary for the disciples to wake Jesus?
Could they have ridden the storm out? Would they have gone under? Could THEY have done something about it?
The Scripture does not mention specifically as to what Jesus thought they should have done, except the fact that they should have had faith.
Now, as believers living under a new and better covenant, not only can we have faith not to perish, we can do something about the storms that attempt to overtake us.
Matt 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth...go ye therefore...I am with you always.
Philippians 2:10-11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus has given us His authority, His Name, to be used in the earth to accomplish those things He has instructed.
Anytime we face obstacles that prevent us from doing what God called us to do or from living an abundant life, we now have the authority, as members of His Body, to speak to those storms for ourselves, using the Name of Jesus.
All the authority of heaven is wrapped up in His Name. We have the right and privilege to speak to those things which would attempt to put us under, causing them to be of no effect, speaking peace and calm to situations filled with turmoil and fear.
Don't wait until you're on the verge of sinking to call upon the Master.
Don't be moved by the effects of a great wind.
Don't cower down, hoping the storm will blow over.
Don't let the enemy of your soul rob you of the precious victory Jesus has already won.
Let Jesus' peace rule in your heart and mind.
Let faith arise in your soul, confident that He is well able to carry us over to the other side - to a place of victory and quiet rest.
Use the Name of Jesus and speak to the wind and waves, expecting a great calm and total victory.
He's still speaking peace.
September/October 2002
Mark chapter 4:1-20 is one of the most important passages in the New Testament. It contains the parable of the sower.
We do not have room to quote the entire passage within the confines of this article, but we encourage you to look at it in your Bible as you read along.
The parable of the sower is the essence of the Kingdom of God (also see Luke 8 and Matthew 13).
The Word of God is the seed. When planted in our hearts, in good soil, it will produce a great harvest - the abundant life Jesus came to provide.
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.
In examining the parable of the sower, we can see that it is the Word of God the enemy tries to steal, smother, or to bring to no effect in our lives.
Understanding this truth, its principles and the importance of the Word of God are keys to successful Christian living.
The Word of God bearing fruit in our lives is the very last thing the devil wants to see happen.
It's not a coincidence, then, that upon having heard the Word of God through this parable, the disciples immediately faced one of the biggest faith challenges of their lives.
The more understanding we gain of the Word of God, the bigger the challenges we'll sometimes face.
Mark 4:35-38
And the same day, when the even was come, he [Jesus] saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship... And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 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?
Right now, within the Body of Christ, it seems that many are in that same ship.
We've received the Word. We are on the verge of seeing that Word produce awesome fruit in our lives and in the kingdom of God. Yet, it seems that the enemy is doing as much as he can to steal the seed (the Word), to keep it from producing an abundant harvest in the earth.
I wonder how long it took the disciples to decide to wake the Master?
How long had they tried to deal with the situation with their own efforts - bailing, pitching, and rowing?
The ship was nearly ready to go under before they called upon the Lord for help. And when they did call upon Him, did they call in faith?
"Don't you care we are perishing?" sounds like a blame game to me.
Mark 4:39
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.
If Jesus didn't care, He would have let the ship sink. Not only did He care, He did something about it.
Are you being tossed about by a great wind? Is your ship on the verge of sinking?
The words, "Peace, be still," are still ringing throughout the earth - eternally bringing calm and serenity to lives filled with turmoil and dismay.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
A couple of years ago I had the awesome opportunity of visiting Israel, including the region of the Galilee.
We were in that region for three days. During that time the water was never still.
Mountains on three sides surround it, producing a "tempest in a teapot" effect. The climate and constantly changing weather conditions, cause the lake to be continually tossed and rough.
Sailing on a tour boat across the Sea of Galilee, it was easy to understand how truly miraculous it must have been when Jesus commanded it to be still. When He spoke, not only did it quiet down, there was a great calm.
Do you need great calm in your life? Have you been overtaken by a great wind? Does it look like you're going under if something doesn't change?
My friend, Jesus cares. His peace is still in the earth and is available to us when we call upon Him.
This brings us to another point: What happened next?
Mark 4:40
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Jesus rebuked them for having no faith.
How did He know they had no faith? They were afraid. They had no peace.
They should have had faith for what? - To keep from perishing, to not be afraid, to make it over to the other side?
The Scripture is not specific as to what Jesus was referring - perhaps all of the above.
He did say they were going over to the other side, didn't He?
The Word of God (the seed), in Psalm 91, promises divine protection and long life - of which they should have been well acquainted.
Is your ship really going to sink?
Hasn't His Word promised abundance and victory to us?
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ...
Was it even necessary for the disciples to wake Jesus?
Could they have ridden the storm out? Would they have gone under? Could THEY have done something about it?
The Scripture does not mention specifically as to what Jesus thought they should have done, except the fact that they should have had faith.
Now, as believers living under a new and better covenant, not only can we have faith not to perish, we can do something about the storms that attempt to overtake us.
Matt 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth...go ye therefore...I am with you always.
Philippians 2:10-11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus has given us His authority, His Name, to be used in the earth to accomplish those things He has instructed.
Anytime we face obstacles that prevent us from doing what God called us to do or from living an abundant life, we now have the authority, as members of His Body, to speak to those storms for ourselves, using the Name of Jesus.
All the authority of heaven is wrapped up in His Name. We have the right and privilege to speak to those things which would attempt to put us under, causing them to be of no effect, speaking peace and calm to situations filled with turmoil and fear.
Don't wait until you're on the verge of sinking to call upon the Master.
Don't be moved by the effects of a great wind.
Don't cower down, hoping the storm will blow over.
Don't let the enemy of your soul rob you of the precious victory Jesus has already won.
Let Jesus' peace rule in your heart and mind.
Let faith arise in your soul, confident that He is well able to carry us over to the other side - to a place of victory and quiet rest.
Use the Name of Jesus and speak to the wind and waves, expecting a great calm and total victory.
He's still speaking peace.
September/October 2002
