Post by Les Brewer on Dec 8, 2014 15:55:02 GMT
Preface
Stay the Course! When we sail there are unseen forces that affect us. There are currents which move us and also steering winds that can take us off course. This is true of life. One key is to always know where true north is and to stay the course by tracking inline with true north. We must use our spiritual compass. This is also true of our spiritual course. We need to stay focused on Jesus. Through the pain we learn to endure and the Holy Spirit will guide us if we learn to humble ourselves and obey.
We sit watching as another storm bears down on the Philippines and many feel helpless. I read a statement on GMA News online yesterday, that quoted some pundit saying “we can’t remove the storm so just endure it”, or something like that. This is fatalistic! We have to be careful where we get our truth or how we speak it. Sometimes the Lord does allow storms, but before we go there we should rebuke the storm first. We don't give in so easy to just riding out the storm. Instead our mindset should be, repent, rebuke, resist and rejoice and never relent! Fight on your knees, but even if you go through the storm rejoice in your victory through faith!
Sometimes these truths are not truths at all, but a lie disguised as truth , like this quote. We must understand God can remove our spiritual storms or move them, it is our faith that is in question. Today let’s learn more about Who we put our faith in.
Luke Chapter 8 World English Bible
22 Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23 But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water. 24 They came to him, and awoke him, saying, “Master, master, we are dying!” He awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and it was calm.✡ 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” Being afraid they marveled, saying to one another, “Who is this, then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” 26 They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.
27 When Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him. He wore no clothes, and didn’t live in a house, but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me!” 29 For Jesus was commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For the unclean spirit had often seized the man. He was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters. Breaking the bands apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered into him. 31 They begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss. 32 Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into those. He allowed them. 33 The demons came out of the man, and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned. 34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.
35 People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who saw it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed. 37 All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. He entered into the boat, and returned. 38 But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your house, and declare what great things God has done for you.” He went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. WEB
Introduction
One thing about life there is no shortage of storms or tough times. Sometimes we forget that we do not have to persist in just barely surviving a spiritual storm. We actually can be victorious over the enemy and overcome. Are you tired of being defeated each day? Let us get a biblical perspective of the Storms.
As we read the account of Jesus in Chapter 8 of Luke we learn a lesson about what to do between storms too. The chapter opens with these words:
VV1-2
1 Soon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God. With him were the twelve, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who served them* from their possessions.
The words “Soon Afterwards” tells us that there was "something", an important lesson that happened before this lesson. In Chapter 7, we see this:
36 One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at the table. 37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”He said, “Teacher, say on.”
41 “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”43 Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.”He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48 He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Part One - We learn that prior to the storm comes a teaching on humility and servanthood.
Jesus is not merely a man, He is God who forgives sins. But we must stay humbled to Christ before the storms and in the storms to overcome sin and death. Our way to overcome is through Christ. He calms the storms not us. We need to see how important casting down pride and trusting God in our storm is most imperative. Even when there is no storm, yet!
We have come through a great victory and the results of the concert are in. Many received Christ at the concert. Now what we must do is get to our knees and humble ourselves. Jesus was victorious. He calmed the seas and stopped the winds, even the Tropical Depression that night or Typhoon Ruby could not survive His power. Yet we must not be prideful about this. He gets all the glory. The reason for the signs and wonders is to bring Him glory. Not a singer, a preacher or an usher can boast. It is His grace! The resurrection power released. The greatest sign and wonder is the miracle of salvation. Thank you Jesus!
I challenge us all to stay on our knees and give all the glory to Jesus! We must see that the enemy is roaming around and is even more angry because of this defeat. He may attack just in spite of us even though he loses another battle if a demon attacks you.
Part Two - Be ready and put on the full armor of God through prayer.
We start with praying without out ceasing and praying that we will still be bold in preaching the gospel and NOT become complacent:
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; 16 above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word* of God; 18 with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints: 19 on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. WEB
Remember Paul’s description of the solder in Ephesians Chapter 6 is a Roman soldier girded as part of a formation, team or body, not just a Rambo type soldier or operative. A military formation designed to maximize force, to move a unit from place to place in an organized manner and to protect all the members through shielding. Compared THIS to the prayer of faith, like a shield. Each of us praying for each other is the key:
Military Tactics of the Roman Army
In the early days of the Roman Republic, military tactics were influenced by the methods used by the successful Greek Army. The combat formation used by the Greeks and Romans was called the phalanx. This involved the soldiers standing side by side in ranks. Just before contact with the enemy, the soldiers moved in very close together so that each man's shield helped to protect the man on his left. With only about three feet between the rows of soldiers, the Romans would move towards the enemy. The phalanx was a very difficult barrier to break through. If a man in the front was killed, he was replaced by the man behind. The shields would not only be used to protect the soldiers, but to push the enemy soldiers to the ground or to make them break ranks.
These shields were able to extinguish the firey missiles of the enemy and prevent deep penetration. The material was not combustible and was thick enough to be a complete barrier. They were also as tall and a man and just as wide. The Lord is my shield...
Psalm 28:7 Yahweh is my strength and my shield.
My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped.
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices.
With my song I will thank him.
CONCLUSION
We all have similar reactions to spiritual storms in our life. We either try to fight in our own strength or we run or sit and do nothing. May I encourage us all to run to Jesus and hold onto each other. We will be victorious in the storm THROUGH FAITH!
