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Friday, October 22, 2010 @ 1:51 PM
my notes on the winds and the waves by pastor judah smith, 8th april 2009 there are elements that are out of your control in life, and those elements are much more hurtful and much more painful and because they hit so close to home and they are so real, often times we seek to try to fix it or control it in our strength, even though we are incapable. we do not have the power or the resource to control these elements. they are bigger than us, they are larger than us, we can't control what people do or say, or the injustice of life. it was not your fault, these are elements that are outside of your control. but just because they are outside of your control doesn't mean that they still don't hurt. and because they hurt so bad and we don't want them to happen again to us, we seek to control these elements that we don't even have the resource, the ability or the capacity to control. and often times, we exert so much energy, strength and stamina that we find ourselves at the verge of exhaustion because we are incapable of fixing these elements and in some cases, problems. it is an endless cycle. i know it hurts, but it is outside of your control. these elements can actually drive us to the right place and to the right person. mark 6:45 Jesus urged his disciples to get into the boat. Jesus is God. Even though he knew there was a storm brewing, he puts them on the boat anyway. why? It is good for us. But know this, Jesus will always save us, he will always deliver us, sometimes not from things but through things. his glory, his splendour, his majesty and his beauty often times is revealed in the winds and waves of life. the winds and the waves drive you to him, and for that you should be grateful for life's complexities, curveballs, challenges and elements that are outside of your control because they seem to perpetually drive you back to your source and saviour, Jesus Christ. some of you were called in the calm. but now the calm has turned into chaos and you wonder if you are still called. the truth is you are more called than you have ever been. and there comes a resolution to your calling, when your calling goes from the calm to the chaotic storm of life and then you realise that if you can stay calm and be who God called you to be, in the midst of this chaotic storm, you can make it through anything. at the end of the hell down there, there is a heaven. just keep going forward, do not be fooled into backsliding. one thing about challenges and storms, Jesus always sees you. Jesus puts us in the boat, not because He wants to see if we can handle it. He puts us in the boat, because he knows no matter what, He's in control. We may freak out and lose our minds, but He will be there when we need Him. He will watch us every step of the way and we will be better, stronger and we will love and trust Him more at the end of this day. if Jesus put you in that boat, that boat will not capsize. it might feel like it's going to capsize, you might get seasick, vomitting all over the side of the boat, but if He says you will get to somewhere, come hell or high waters, you will get there. do not trip, do not freak, do not abandon ship, You are not alone. it happens to the best of us, even to the apostles. these are the men destined for greatness, yet they too are being tossed by the waves. matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,'Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.' admist all of the horrendous upheaval, Jesus was now walking on the water, which should give them some peace. He had to speak up, because he was speaking that through the loud winds and the waves. as He's saying that, you are still up against the wall. This is a challenge of our faith. He says, 'Be of good cheer' and there is still chaos. Jesus says 'do not be afraid, be happy!' Many a times, people think that they will only be of good cheer if Jesus fixes the problem. But, Jesus is on top of what is harrassing you, so no matter how long this thing last, Jesus is on top of it. Know one thing. This pain will not last and you will get to where you were called to. you are going to make it. you can be going through something and yet you are happy. not because you are in denial. yes, the waves are big and you can't even stand in this wind. but when you look to Jesus, you will see that He's walking on your circumstances and He is in control and no matter what, you are going to make it through. This doesn't mean that it is not going to be painful, it is. but this is out of your control and if it is out of your control, then you got to turn to somebody who can control the elements. Luke 8:25 But He said to them,'Where is your faith?' and they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another,' Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!' The devil has to yield to Jesus. Satan is a created being. Jesus is the creator. Satan is at best, a dog on a leash. Pray that you will find Jesus in these times of winds and waves and know that He is in control. Jesus wants us to forever settle in our hearts, no matter how hard it gets, no matter how challenging it gets, no matter how much blood and sweat exudes from your body, make no mistake. Jesus is in control. Feelings come. Feelings are deceiving. They come and they go. My warrant is the word of God. None else is worth believing. so put your faith in Jesus. no matter how high these waves are, the time will come for the waves to cease. |
