A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (July 7, 2015)
“Why are you so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:40)
What storm have you been through in the last year or two? What storm are you in the midst of presently? There is a story in Mark 4:35-40 about a storm the disciples went through with Jesus that can teach us a few lessons.
Jesus told his disciples to get into a boat with Him and go to the other side of the lake. About half way across the lake a violent storm arose. The winds were blowing so hard that waves were crashing over the boat causing it to fill with water. The boat was in danger of sinking. The disciples were in fear for their lives and ran hastily to awake Jesus who was sleeping peacefully in the rear of the boat.
Jesus arose from His sleep and immediately rebuked the wind and commanded the sea to be still. He then asked the disciples a very pointed question, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” We can learn a lot from these scriptures. The following are just a few tips on how to react in the midst of a violent storm:
1. Don’t act worse than the storm.
2. Don’t be so quick to blame someone else for the storm, especially God. The disciples first statement to Jesus insinuated He did not care if they perished. Can’t you just hear the enemy reminding the disciples that it was Jesus that told them to get into the boat and now they were going to drown.
3. Recognize where some storms come from. Jesus rebuked the storm. Do you think He would have been able to do that if the storm was from God?
4. Speak to the storm! You speak to it!!! Don’t expect someone else to speak to it. You have more authority than you think.
5. Make sure Jesus is in the boat with you. If He is not in the boat, and has not told you to go to the other side, abandon ship. If He is in the boat with you then you will make it to the other side if you just don’t abandon ship.
Remember, faith is a verb, not a noun. It is something you do, not something you are. Out of your mouth flows rivers of living water. Faith without works is dead. Life and death are in the power of your tongue.
Just think about this. Where would we all be if Jesus had abandoned ship when things got tough? He finished His race and is seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for all of us. Thank you Jesus for not abandoning the ship.
Peace I leave with you; My (own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid – stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled. (John 14:27, AMP)
For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:7)
