A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (October 25, 2018)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (Timothy 1:7)
We just returned from Frisco, TX (suburb of Dallas) late Monday night. We were there for four days attending a “PURE” conference and serving as Chaplains for that corporation. This was our first conference with this company and it was a great success. We had a Sunday morning church service that was attended by several hundred people and we had a great altar call. We handed out approximately sixty new believer packets and we had a special time of prayer and ministry with these people.
It never ceases to amaze me how God is so faithful to a very simple service that lifts up the name of Jesus. In this particular case I could almost assure you of what was going to happen because we faced so much spiritual warfare. We faced it preparing to go to this conference and all the way, and up to, the very opening of the church service. We have been through this fight so many times that we have named these occurrences “Pre-Victory Tribulations”. The enemy just keeps on being the enemy. He is very persistent. We just have to be more persistent.
I am reminded of the disciples when they were in the boat with Jesus. Jesus had told them that they were to go to the other side of the sea. As they were going a great storm arose and the disciples were all afraid that they were going to perish in that rough water. All this time, Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat. I can just imagine what the disciples were thinking as they fought this storm. How did we get into this mess anyway? We are going to drown out here! Jesus is the one that told us to go to the other side and look at Him. He is asleep while we are fighting for our lives. He had to know this storm was going to come up. He’s the Lord. He had to know. It’s all His fault!!! Go back there and wake Him up!
Do you recall what Jesus said when they woke Him up? 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? 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. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:38-41)
We taught at a women’s Bible study last night and there was a lot of talk about Hurricane Michael before we started our teaching. Our area was devastated by this hurricane and I just mentioned the fact that Jesus rebuked the storm in Mark 4 and He would not have done that if that storm was sent by His Father. So, who sent it? It gets back to John 10:10 again. The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy!!! Did you know that some people in that room had never thought about that simple truth? That is how God gets blamed for the work of the enemy.
The simplicity of the Gospel always astounds me. Religion makes everything so complicated and yet following Jesus, and understanding His Word, is so simple that we actually miss it many times because of that. This is what I think Jesus was saying to the disciples. I told you guys we’re going to the other side. If you are in the boat with me, and I tell you we are going to the other side, we are going to the other side. The enemy will always try to put roadblocks in your way but you have to keep moving forward and never let fear stop you. I have given you power and authority over the enemy and you have to stand strong in your faith and command him to be quiet. Resist the devil and he will flee. Cast down every imagination that exalts itself over the knowledge of God. I have not given you a Spirit of fear but power.
Are you going through a storm? Go to the other side!!! There is work to be done there. There are souls to be saved and people that need to be delivered there. Keep going until you get to where Jesus told you to go.
