Share on Facebook 193 Share on Twitter Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Devotionals   

Prophetic Encouragement During the Storm

By       (Page 3 of 3 pages)   3 comments

God may not be in the wind but He still can command it! God may not be in the earthquake or fire, but He still can command them! If you are a born again believer then you need to remember that Jesus is in your boat! The disciples were so busy looking at the waves they forgot that God was in their boat. The waves caused fear and fear is the lack of faith. The same principle applies to Elijah. As long as he focused on Jezebel he forgot who he served. He forgot about Mount Carmel. As long as he was looking into the wind he forgot who commands it. His fear of his circumstances resulted in a lack of faith in his God. The same happens to us as well.

I know that may sound harsh but look at what Jesus says to the disciples -- "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" I know sometimes in the world of super-spirituality we fancy ourselves as never losing faith. Let me pop that bubble right now. If you find yourself so afraid of your circumstances that you feel like Elijah did or as Joseph must have felt, it is not a fear issue -- it is a faith issue. We limit ourselves so much by our finite thinking. Faith is all we need beloved. Jesus is in our boat but the truth is that we do not even need the boat! Peter proved that the day he walked on water! As long as he kept his focus on his God, Peter defied the very laws of nature. Why? Because God is above the laws He created! But do not think for a minute it is anything but a matter of faith. Here is what Jesus said to Peter when he began to sink:

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?" -- Matthew 14: 31 (NLT)

When we look into the problems we face and feel like giving up God is asking us -- why do you doubt me? When we look for God in the wind and in the fire, God is asking us -- why do you doubt me? When the earthquake is tearing our lives apart to the point that we want to give up, God is asking us -- why do you doubt me? Today across the wreckage on Staten Island and the Jersey shore God is asking us -- why do you doubt me?

You see, God is writing the story beloved. He needed Elijah to reconstitute his faith before He would move him on in his story. God needed Joseph to work out his bitterness and anger towards his brothers and Potiphar's wife before the next chapter can be written. It was the next chapter for Joseph that had him becoming Prime Minister over all of Egypt, solving a seven year famine crisis, and preserving the nation of Israel. God knew he could not do that if he was looking into the fire instead of the boat. I do not know the next chapter God will write for you beloved but I know that this chapter will end. Sometimes new beginnings start in the most unlikely of places. Sometimes the palace comes out from the rubble.

That is what God is saying to us today. Stop looking where I am not. Stop concentrating on how serious the waves look and focus instead on how powerful your God is! Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear is actually the lack of faith. God does not want you cowering over the earthquake. He does not want you cringing from the fire. Look instead inside of you to where God is. He still is in your boat. Storm? He doesn't want you afraid of the storm -- He wants you walking above it!

The key verse reminds us of two important lessons for us today; in the middle of such great loss and tragedy. The first thing is that God is the author and He is still writing the story of your faith. It is not over yet beloved. All parts of the story matter. Those 12 years Joseph spent in prison mattered in who he became. Realize that when he got out God took him from the prison to the palace in ONE day. Joseph would spend the next 90 years in prosperity. It would take 400 years for the blessings for Israel in Egypt to end. He will finish your story and this chapter will be a memory of a time when your faith grew because you relied upon the God you serve.

The second lesson is that we must look unto Jesus. The devil wants you looking at the catastrophe and despair. God wants you to take your eyes off of the catastrophe and place them squarely upon Him. Take your eyes off of the fire and put them squarely on your God. Take your eyes off of the earthquake and put them squarely on your God. Take your eyes off of the hurricane and put them squarely on your God.

That is the word for someone today. You feel as if you are at the end. Like Elijah, you want to give up. Like Joseph it all seems like a bad dream you cannot wake up from. God is telling you that it is a matter of faith. This time is a matter of faith. It is one of those moments that pave the way to the next chapter God wants to write for your life. Do not look into the heart of your problems and ask where God is. He is still in your boat. He is still writing your story.

Hallelujah!

Reverend Anthony Wade --    Rewritten November 3, 2012

 

Portions taken from "God Is Not In The Wind -- He Is In The Boat!"

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3

Rate It | View Ratings

Anthony Wade Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Joel Osteen Blasphemes "I Am" (55007 views)

Why I Have Left the Assemblies of God (38841 views)

Joyce Meyer Teaching the "Relationship over Religion" Heresy (19818 views)

Joyce Meyer -- A Prisoner of Heresy (17524 views)

Francis Chan Stands With Outright Heresy, Again (14580 views)

Bethel Teaches to Declare God is in a Good Mood and Other Insanities (14272 views)

Total Views: 160042

To View Comments or Join the Conversation: