A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (October 7, 2016)
And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. (Luke 8:24-25)
We are on the road again headed toward Charlotte, NC to see our youngest son, his wife, and our two precious grandsons. As we write this devotional hurricane Matthew is bearing down on the East coast of Florida where a lot of our friends reside. We are praying for all the people in that area.
As I was listening to the television this morning there was an interview concerning insurance coverage. One of the statements made was that this was considered an Act of God by insurance companies. If you are familiar with our devotionals at all you know that this is a pet peeve with us. Just because the insurance world calls storms Acts of God does not make it so. However, I have talked to many Christians that have adopted this definition as true. Let’s take a closer look at this:
And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:23-26)
In this account we see that Jesus rebuked the storm. Question, why would Jesus rebuke something God orchestrated? Answer, He wouldn’t. Jesus had just conducted many miracles before He and His disciples entered the boat and He was on a mission to minister to a demon possessed man on the other side of the sea. Now, why would God try to obstruct that ministry? Answer, He wouldn’t. Then who would want to shipwreck Jesus and His disciples? Who would want to keep the demon possessed man in bondage?
The key scripture in the Bible that gives you the answer to these questions is John 10:10 where Jesus said the following:
The thief cometh not but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
God gets blamed for everything that the world doesn’t understand. In this case, the insurance companies use God as a scapegoat. The sad thing about it is that Christians, that are supposed to know the Word of God, buy into this same nonsense which negatively affects their prayers. For example, what Christian is going to rebuke a storm if they think it comes from God?
It is time to wake up!!! We are in a spiritual war and in war you need to know the tactics and attributes of your enemy. Our enemy is Satan (the prince of the power of the air) and he comes to kill, steal, and destroy. That is what a storm does! Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly. That is not what a storm does. As a Christian you and I have been given power and authority over the enemy. We have to learn the stark differences between Jesus and Satan and learn how to pray in faith against and rebuke those things that are enemy generated.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
