Really, Another Storm? Part 2
Really, Another Storm? Part 2
Mark 6:45-51
If you can, make a quiet place to be alone with the Lord, and there is nothing like doing it first thing in the morning. Commune with him in his Word, with his Spirit, and have real, interactive communication with God. We have an eight-message series called “Get Alone With God” that you can find in the teaching section of MyDailyChurch.com to help you get alone with God and have real devotion time.
I encourage you to read the devotion, “Really, Another Storm?” because today is Part 2 of that devotion. Let’s review a bit, and then we’ll pray through the scriptures.
Jesus sees the circumstances that you and I are in today. Doesn’t give us a little bit of peace? Just knowing that Jesus knows, that he sees? In the middle of the storm that you’re in right now, Jesus sees you. He knows where you’re at. He has not lost track of you. He has not forgotten you.
Psalm 139 says there is no place you can go that the Spirit of God is not with you.
Romans 8 says there is nothing that can separate you from his love.
Maybe if you would say, “Okay, if it gives me some little peace that he sees me, then my next question is, why is he leaving me here? Why isn’t he saving me? Why isn’t he fixing it? Why isn’t he stopping the storm? I thought that was his job!” No! That’s not his job.
This is critical. Possibly, the reason that Jesus isn’t stopping the storm yet, is because it’s not time. Isn’t there a time when it’s right for Jesus to save us? Isn’t there a moment that Jesus says, “NOW!” and he reaches in and proves that he’s with us, and proves that he can save us. So maybe it’s not time for him to save you.
Jesus saw the Disciples the entire time. He was watching over them the entire time. And when the time was right, Jesus showed up in the storm with them.
Jesus showed up in the storm with them. He met them in their storm, and he experienced the storm with them. Do you want Jesus to fix your circumstances or do you want to know that he’s with you in your circumstances? You want to know that he’s with you. Here’s the difference. Jesus experienced the storm with the Disciples but there is one huge difference. The storm tormented, and tortured the Disciples but Jesus was using the storm as pavement for his feet to reach the Disciples.
He’s there. He’s experiencing the storm with them but it’s for a totally different reason. The Disciples are afraid for their life. They’re tormented, and tortured, and Jesus is using that same circumstance to reach the Disciples in a way that he could not reach them otherwise. And not just reach them, but reveal himself to them.
This is a life-changing moment just like a lifeguard reaching in and saving that person at the last minute, that person will be forever grateful for that lifeguard. For us, it’s the same. When we meet Jesus at this point, and he uses that storm as pavement for his feet to reach us, he reveals himself to us there like he can in no other way, and we realize that Jesus has the authority to walk on the storm.
Mark 6:45-51 (NLT)
45 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home.
46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land.
48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them,
49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost.
50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!”
51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed
Lord, Jesus, when you insist that I get back into the boat of another storm, when I sense another storm on the horizon, and yet, Lord, you insist that I get back into the boat and head straight-on, bow first into that storm I will. I will, Lord. If you tell me to go, I’ll go. Lord, no matter what I see ahead of me, I’ll move when you say move, Lord.
And Lord, I know that when you do send me into that storm, that you will be in that place of authority on that high mountain in the throne room of heaven, and you’ll be praying. You’ll be interceding for me, Lord, as you always do.
And Lord, when it gets late into the night, when I feel, Lord, that I’m in the darkness of the night, and I’m in the middle of the storm, in the middle of the lake, Lord, and I feel like you’re alone in heaven, Lord, I will know that you see me.
I’ll know, Lord, that you see me from your throne room, Lord, and you will see me when I’m in serious trouble. You’ll see me when I’m rowing hard against the storm. You’ll see me when the wind and the waves are tormenting me, Lord, you’ll see me when I’m struggling against the storm. And Lord, I acknowledge, and I give you the right, Lord, that you may wait until the fourth watch of the night. You may wait until it’s darkest just before the dawn. But Lord, I will know that you see me and I will know that you’re coming, Lord. And you will come, Lord. You’ll come and you’ll be using the storm that I’m in as pavement for your feet to reach me, Lord. Lord, I know that you’ll come. I know that you’ll meet me in the storm, Lord.
And I pray, Lord, that I would not be shocked, I would not be terrified when you show up, but that I would be expecting you. I pray that I would just be expecting you in the storm, Lord, any minute. Any minute, Lord, I’ll be expecting you to show up in the storm.
And when you do, that you’ll speak to me saying Fear not. Do not be afraid. Take courage because you are here. Lord, that’s what I need to hear, Lord. I need to hear you speak to me in the middle of the storm, “fear not. Take courage. I am here.” Lord, that’s what I need. I don’t serve you so that you’ll fix all my circumstances. I serve you so that you’ll be my Lord in the midst of my circumstance, Lord. I serve you so that you’ll be in the battle with me, so that I’ll sense your presence, Lord. I’ll feel your hand upon me, and be filled with your Spirit in the midst of the storm, so that I’ll meet you in the storm, Lord. That’s my desire. That’s my ultimate desire.
And Lord when you do meet me in the storm, you’ll climb right into that circumstance with me. You’ll climb right into the boat with me, Lord. You’ll climb right into that situation with me. And when you do, Lord, the storm will cease. Lord, it may still be going on around me, but like in the eye of a hurricane you’ll bring me peace, Lord. You’ll bring me peace in the midst of the storm. And Lord, I will be in awe. I am in awe of you already. But I will be in awe when I meet you in the midst of the storm and you create the eye in the midst of that hurricane, Lord. And the wind stops, and you speak to me, “take courage, I am here.”
And Lord, ultimately, the entire storm will be calm. The winds will cease and the waves will lie down. And you’ll bring peace, Lord. Lord, you will bring me through the storm. Your presence and your power, your authority over the storm will bring me through the storm, Lord. And so, God, I’m looking for you. I’m looking for you in the midst of the storm. I’m looking for you to show up, to be present, Lord, to have your hand on me, to fill me with your Spirit, your peace, and your power, with confidence and with awe that you are with me in the middle of this situation.
And Lord, when this storm ceases and I’m on the other side, Lord, I will glorify your name. I will speak your name, Lord, I will give you the honor and the glory that is due you, Lord, because you not only rode out the storm with me, but you calmed the storm for me. I love you, Lord. I’m so privileged to serve you. Lord, I’m privileged to be in the midst of the storm with you. I’ll cling to you all my days, in calm seas, and in raging storms. I’ll cling to you, Lord, you are my anchor. Thank you, Jesus. In your mighty name, Lord, and for your glory alone, amen.
Here is the link to the full message "Really, Another Storm?"
For more information on this ministry and to contact us go to MyDailyChurch.com.
I encourage you to read the devotion, “Really, Another Storm?” because today is Part 2 of that devotion. Let’s review a bit, and then we’ll pray through the scriptures.
Jesus sees the circumstances that you and I are in today. Doesn’t give us a little bit of peace? Just knowing that Jesus knows, that he sees? In the middle of the storm that you’re in right now, Jesus sees you. He knows where you’re at. He has not lost track of you. He has not forgotten you.
Psalm 139 says there is no place you can go that the Spirit of God is not with you.
Romans 8 says there is nothing that can separate you from his love.
Maybe if you would say, “Okay, if it gives me some little peace that he sees me, then my next question is, why is he leaving me here? Why isn’t he saving me? Why isn’t he fixing it? Why isn’t he stopping the storm? I thought that was his job!” No! That’s not his job.
This is critical. Possibly, the reason that Jesus isn’t stopping the storm yet, is because it’s not time. Isn’t there a time when it’s right for Jesus to save us? Isn’t there a moment that Jesus says, “NOW!” and he reaches in and proves that he’s with us, and proves that he can save us. So maybe it’s not time for him to save you.
Jesus saw the Disciples the entire time. He was watching over them the entire time. And when the time was right, Jesus showed up in the storm with them.
Jesus showed up in the storm with them. He met them in their storm, and he experienced the storm with them. Do you want Jesus to fix your circumstances or do you want to know that he’s with you in your circumstances? You want to know that he’s with you. Here’s the difference. Jesus experienced the storm with the Disciples but there is one huge difference. The storm tormented, and tortured the Disciples but Jesus was using the storm as pavement for his feet to reach the Disciples.
He’s there. He’s experiencing the storm with them but it’s for a totally different reason. The Disciples are afraid for their life. They’re tormented, and tortured, and Jesus is using that same circumstance to reach the Disciples in a way that he could not reach them otherwise. And not just reach them, but reveal himself to them.
This is a life-changing moment just like a lifeguard reaching in and saving that person at the last minute, that person will be forever grateful for that lifeguard. For us, it’s the same. When we meet Jesus at this point, and he uses that storm as pavement for his feet to reach us, he reveals himself to us there like he can in no other way, and we realize that Jesus has the authority to walk on the storm.
Mark 6:45-51 (NLT)
45 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home.
46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land.
48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them,
49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost.
50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!”
51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed
Lord, Jesus, when you insist that I get back into the boat of another storm, when I sense another storm on the horizon, and yet, Lord, you insist that I get back into the boat and head straight-on, bow first into that storm I will. I will, Lord. If you tell me to go, I’ll go. Lord, no matter what I see ahead of me, I’ll move when you say move, Lord.
And Lord, I know that when you do send me into that storm, that you will be in that place of authority on that high mountain in the throne room of heaven, and you’ll be praying. You’ll be interceding for me, Lord, as you always do.
And Lord, when it gets late into the night, when I feel, Lord, that I’m in the darkness of the night, and I’m in the middle of the storm, in the middle of the lake, Lord, and I feel like you’re alone in heaven, Lord, I will know that you see me.
I’ll know, Lord, that you see me from your throne room, Lord, and you will see me when I’m in serious trouble. You’ll see me when I’m rowing hard against the storm. You’ll see me when the wind and the waves are tormenting me, Lord, you’ll see me when I’m struggling against the storm. And Lord, I acknowledge, and I give you the right, Lord, that you may wait until the fourth watch of the night. You may wait until it’s darkest just before the dawn. But Lord, I will know that you see me and I will know that you’re coming, Lord. And you will come, Lord. You’ll come and you’ll be using the storm that I’m in as pavement for your feet to reach me, Lord. Lord, I know that you’ll come. I know that you’ll meet me in the storm, Lord.
And I pray, Lord, that I would not be shocked, I would not be terrified when you show up, but that I would be expecting you. I pray that I would just be expecting you in the storm, Lord, any minute. Any minute, Lord, I’ll be expecting you to show up in the storm.
And when you do, that you’ll speak to me saying Fear not. Do not be afraid. Take courage because you are here. Lord, that’s what I need to hear, Lord. I need to hear you speak to me in the middle of the storm, “fear not. Take courage. I am here.” Lord, that’s what I need. I don’t serve you so that you’ll fix all my circumstances. I serve you so that you’ll be my Lord in the midst of my circumstance, Lord. I serve you so that you’ll be in the battle with me, so that I’ll sense your presence, Lord. I’ll feel your hand upon me, and be filled with your Spirit in the midst of the storm, so that I’ll meet you in the storm, Lord. That’s my desire. That’s my ultimate desire.
And Lord when you do meet me in the storm, you’ll climb right into that circumstance with me. You’ll climb right into the boat with me, Lord. You’ll climb right into that situation with me. And when you do, Lord, the storm will cease. Lord, it may still be going on around me, but like in the eye of a hurricane you’ll bring me peace, Lord. You’ll bring me peace in the midst of the storm. And Lord, I will be in awe. I am in awe of you already. But I will be in awe when I meet you in the midst of the storm and you create the eye in the midst of that hurricane, Lord. And the wind stops, and you speak to me, “take courage, I am here.”
And Lord, ultimately, the entire storm will be calm. The winds will cease and the waves will lie down. And you’ll bring peace, Lord. Lord, you will bring me through the storm. Your presence and your power, your authority over the storm will bring me through the storm, Lord. And so, God, I’m looking for you. I’m looking for you in the midst of the storm. I’m looking for you to show up, to be present, Lord, to have your hand on me, to fill me with your Spirit, your peace, and your power, with confidence and with awe that you are with me in the middle of this situation.
And Lord, when this storm ceases and I’m on the other side, Lord, I will glorify your name. I will speak your name, Lord, I will give you the honor and the glory that is due you, Lord, because you not only rode out the storm with me, but you calmed the storm for me. I love you, Lord. I’m so privileged to serve you. Lord, I’m privileged to be in the midst of the storm with you. I’ll cling to you all my days, in calm seas, and in raging storms. I’ll cling to you, Lord, you are my anchor. Thank you, Jesus. In your mighty name, Lord, and for your glory alone, amen.
Here is the link to the full message "Really, Another Storm?"
For more information on this ministry and to contact us go to MyDailyChurch.com.