TOPIC: PEACE IN A STORM
MEMORISE:
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2
READ: Mark 4:35-41
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 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?
39 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.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
MESSAGE
In a storm, there is always so much turmoil, but right in the middle of it is the part called ‘the eye of the storm', which is usually peaceful and calm. When you are connected to the Almighty God, no matter how much trouble surrounds you, you will always experience peace and calm.
In 1 Kings 17:1, rivers dried up, and people suffered. There was so much hunger in the land, yet God provided for Elijah at all times. At one point, God sent ravens to bring him bread and meat every morning and evening. When the brook dried up, God sent him to a widow to sustain him (1 Kings 17:9). When you are connected to the King of kings, your experience will always be different from that of others around you. For example, during an economic downturn, when people are anxious about their finances, a child of God will be calm, knowing that his or her economy is in Zion, where the streets are made of gold.
In today's Bible reading, when Jesus and His disciples were travelling on the sea, a storm arose, but Jesus slept peacefully through it because He is connected to the Father. While the disciples were scared of perishing, He slept like a baby with a pillow (Mark 4:38). Paul also faced a huge storm, and in the midst of it, while the other people on the ship spoke of dying, he spoke of life and deliverance because God sent His angel to assure him of safety (Acts 27:20-2 5). His connection with God gave him the assurance that nothing evil would befall him.
Beloved, if you are in a storm and you don't want to be swept away, you must remain connected to God. What can destroy this connection is sin. Isaiah 59:1-2 says that there is always a gap between sinners and God, and even though His arms are everlasting (Deuteronomy 33:27), they cannot reach the sinners. When people allow sin into their lives, they leave the center of God's will where peace and joy reign.
When Jonah chose to go to Tarshish in disobedience to God, a storm arose, and he found himself in the belly of a big fish (Jonah 1:1-17). Sin will always bring a fellow into negative situations, and that is why you must not toy with it at all. Economies and nations will fail, but if you want to keep blossoming and flourishing amidst negative reports, you must shun sin and remain connected to God.
KEY POINT
Believers who remain connected to God will thrive amidst storms.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 50-55
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 19: ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME
1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee
Let the water and the blood
From Thy riven side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure
Save me from its guilt and power.
2 Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands
Could my zeal no respite know
Could my tears forever flow
All could never sin erase
Thou must save, and save by grace.
3 Nothing in my hands I bring
Simply to Thy cross I cling
Naked, come to Thee for dress
Helpless, look to Thee for grace
Foul, I to the fountain fly
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
4 While I draw this fleeting breath
When mine eyes shall close in death
When I soar to worlds unknown
See Thee on Thy judgment throne
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee.
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