Last night at the Gathering, we talked and about living confidently! I enjoyed the discussion and Word as it always comes at exactly the right time for me and while I may be leading, I am doubly blessed each time by the interaction of the women and their honesty and how candid they are in our environment together. I count it a great joy and blessing to be “doing life” with such amazing, Godly women!
Our text last night started in Mark 4:38-41 where Jesus had just preached to a multitude and had taken His disciples and retreated to a boat to go to the other side. Jesus tells them they are going to the other side and thereafter takes a nap. During the time He is sleeping a big storm comes up and starts filling the boat with water….
Beginning in verse 38:
Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mark 4: 38-4.)
We questioned that when God wants us to do something or is telling us where He wants us to go, we know for sure the enemy comes to create distractions and storms to attack our faith. We so identified with the men in the boat, afraid, without faith (Jesus says still you have NO faith?). In a moment, the men walking face-to-face with God, allowed fear to grip them, choking out the promise of God.
How does Jesus handle the storm? He rebuked it and told it what to do.
Rebuke in the Greek language looks like this: From epi and timao; to tax upon, i.e. Censure or admonish; by implication, forbid -- (straitly) charge, rebuke.
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.)
It wasn’t something He did after prayer, or waited to see what could/would happen. It was immediate and it was with authority.
When the enemy comes calling with lies (we aren’t good enough, we can’t do THAT, we will NEVER be THIS….) do we allow those thoughts to “rent space in our heads” or do we stand up and immediately rebuke the enemy’s attempts to pull down our faith and confidence? Not always our first response but a habit that, when well-learned, really goes far in living confidently and abundantly!
If you read on in Chapter 5 of Mark and you see mighty miracles of God working and healings. An amazing work is done with a man who is demon-possessed by a LEGION of demons (that are cast into 2,000 pigs who fling themselves ultimately off a cliff). This man was living in the graveyard and no one could tame him he was so out of it and in one fell-swoop Jesus casts out the demons and many come and find him clean, orderly and 100% healed and sane! This is only one of the miracles that is performed after they arrive.
So, what would have happened if they had let the enemy keep them in the storm and boat and lost their faith? God had a mighty plan for these men on the distant shore and the enemy knew it. And, while he may have done his best to distract and destroy and even kill, it could not stop God or harm his people.
How did the disciples handle the situation? How does that relate to how we handle things in our own lives when the enemy comes to with lies?
We remember and thank God that we know that the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy but Christ came so that we may have life, and have it ABUNDANTLY!!! (John 10:10).
Believing in you,
Cori
Our text last night started in Mark 4:38-41 where Jesus had just preached to a multitude and had taken His disciples and retreated to a boat to go to the other side. Jesus tells them they are going to the other side and thereafter takes a nap. During the time He is sleeping a big storm comes up and starts filling the boat with water….
Beginning in verse 38:
Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mark 4: 38-4.)
We questioned that when God wants us to do something or is telling us where He wants us to go, we know for sure the enemy comes to create distractions and storms to attack our faith. We so identified with the men in the boat, afraid, without faith (Jesus says still you have NO faith?). In a moment, the men walking face-to-face with God, allowed fear to grip them, choking out the promise of God.
How does Jesus handle the storm? He rebuked it and told it what to do.
Rebuke in the Greek language looks like this: From epi and timao; to tax upon, i.e. Censure or admonish; by implication, forbid -- (straitly) charge, rebuke.
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.)
It wasn’t something He did after prayer, or waited to see what could/would happen. It was immediate and it was with authority.
When the enemy comes calling with lies (we aren’t good enough, we can’t do THAT, we will NEVER be THIS….) do we allow those thoughts to “rent space in our heads” or do we stand up and immediately rebuke the enemy’s attempts to pull down our faith and confidence? Not always our first response but a habit that, when well-learned, really goes far in living confidently and abundantly!
If you read on in Chapter 5 of Mark and you see mighty miracles of God working and healings. An amazing work is done with a man who is demon-possessed by a LEGION of demons (that are cast into 2,000 pigs who fling themselves ultimately off a cliff). This man was living in the graveyard and no one could tame him he was so out of it and in one fell-swoop Jesus casts out the demons and many come and find him clean, orderly and 100% healed and sane! This is only one of the miracles that is performed after they arrive.
So, what would have happened if they had let the enemy keep them in the storm and boat and lost their faith? God had a mighty plan for these men on the distant shore and the enemy knew it. And, while he may have done his best to distract and destroy and even kill, it could not stop God or harm his people.
How did the disciples handle the situation? How does that relate to how we handle things in our own lives when the enemy comes to with lies?
We remember and thank God that we know that the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy but Christ came so that we may have life, and have it ABUNDANTLY!!! (John 10:10).
Believing in you,
Cori
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