Saturday, September 23, 2017

Message:The power of Jesus over the storm (Matt.8:23-27) by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce





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. 



[1] Witness Lee, the New Testament. (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985), 47.
[2] Witness Lee, the New Testament. (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985), 52

[3]  Roth Myers. 31 days of praise. (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 1994),144.
[4]  Max Lucado. God is with you everyday. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015), 280
            

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