Weekly
Message: Jesus’ power over the storm (Matt.8:23-27). 9/10/2017
By
Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts &
Gospel Music
Facing
the storm, does your house built on the rock and stand still? When the rain
came down, the stream rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, yet,
it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Matt.7:25). Jesus
said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who
hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish
man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the
winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash.”
(Matt.7:26-27). Rock here portrays not Christ but His “word”, the word that
reveals the will of heavenly Father. The “rain” here “is of God”; the “rivers”,
which from the earth, “are of man”. And the “winds”, which blow from the air, “are
of Satan”. “Sand” refers to human concepts and natural ways. If we live and
work according to our human concepts and natural ways, our living and work will
be founded on sinking sand. The living and work of the kingdom people must be
founded on the word of the new King for the accomplishing of the will of the
heavenly Father. [1]
A furious storm described in Matt.8:23-27, illustrated “the fallen angels in the air and the
demons in the water collaborated to frustrate the King from going to the other
side of the sea because they knew He would cast out the demons there. (vv.28-32).”
When
Jesus saw the crowd around him he gave orders to cross to the other
side of the lake. (v.18). Jesus got into the boat and his disciples
followed him, without warning, a
furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But
Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, and “Lord, save
us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so
afraid?” then Jesus got up and rebuked the winds
and the waves. It was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What
kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him! (Matt.8:23-27).
Jesus the King rebuked the winds and the sea
because in the winds were the fallen angels of Satan (Eph.6:12) and in the sea
were the demons (v.32). “It was not the wings and the sea that obeyed the
King’s authority but the fallen angels above the winds and the demons under the
sea.” [2]
the Lord gave them a word, telling them to depart to the other side. If they
had believed that WORD, they would not have needed to pray as they did in v.25 “Lord
save us! We are going to drown!” The fallen angels in the air and the
demons in the water collaborated to frustrate the King from going to the other
side of the sea because they knew He would cast out the demons there. The
narrative described in v.32 “He said to them, go! And they came out and were
into the hogs. And behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep slope into the
sea, and they died in the waters.” (vv.28-32).
What is the theological principles and life application?
1) We are not
fight with flesh, but darkness of evil. Be aware of when we answered calling and obeyed His
words, the fallen angels of Satan and demons will do many ways collaborate to
frustrate, hinder and block us to fulfill God’s will. Jesus’ orders to His
disciples “to cross to the other side of the lake”, on the boat, disciples were
frighten by a furious storm came up on the lake and the waves swept over the
boat.
2) Praying,
resting, and wait the Holy Spirit transforming process. As disciples woke Jesus to save them.
In this generation, it’s important that we pray and call upon the name of the
Lord to subside the storm. Prayers and trust our savior Jesus is King of kings,
and Lord of lords, the fallen angels of Satan in the winds and the demons under
the sea must subject to the King.
3) We shall know
the truth; the truth shall set us free. When we know the savior Jesus Christ has such great
power, we will rest in Him and calm our souls without anxiety attack. He is
great I AM, who said, “Before Abraham was born, I AM”. He ensured us, “in
me you may have peace, in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I
have overcome the world.”(John16:33).
4) Taking the
sword of spirit which is word of God. Boldly declare Ps.91:1, “He who dwells in the shelter
of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. If you make the Most
High your dwelling even the Lord, who is my refuge… then no harm will befall
you, no disaster will come near your tent.”(Ps.91:1, 9).
5) The powerful
of the resurrection of Christ is with us; our blessed assurance is in Christ. As David said about
Christ, “I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I
will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body
also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave. Nor will
you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.” (Acts2:25-28)
6) Do our best to
find tranquility in our soul, and rest in the Word of God. As Matt.6:31-34 says, “So do not
worry, saying what we shall eat? Or what shall we drink or what shall we wear?
For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that
you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these
things well be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worries about tomorrow
for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each
day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt.6:31-34)
My friends
are you facing a furious storm, boldly rebuke storm like Jesus, and claim the word of
God by praise Lord, and worship God. “Praise thwarts Satan; praise is a
powerful weapon against Satan. Satan hates praise, for it reminds him about God
is still supreme in spite of all his evil efforts throughout all the ages.” [3]
How to praise in order to defeat Satan?
1) Declare and
magnify the victory of Christ with His word in the powerful name of Jesus.
2) Praise for the
blood of Christ on the cross, and the triumph of the resurrection.
3) Extol His risen and His exalted position.
4) Lift up His name in triumphant faith.
Christ
Jesus has given authority to disciples who followed Him in Jesus’ time; the
powerful authority is same in this era. In Moses time, God led Israel crossed
over the Jordan River. In this generation, in Christ; we can “cross over the
mod of sin and death to the dry ground of life eternal.”[4] When
your house had its foundation on the rock which is Word of God and praise Lord
for His victory in your life every day, your house would not fall.
(Matt.7:26-27).
Bibliography,
Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English
Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd
Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.
Brown, Robert, Philip
W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New
Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.
Friberg,
Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon
of the Greek New Testament.1st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford
Publishing, 2005.
Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim,
CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.
Lucado, Max. God is with you every day.
Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015
Myers,
Roth.
31 days of praise. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 1994.
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).
Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.
Strong, James. Strong’s:
the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 2010.
