OUR DAILY BREAD: THE PERFECT STORM

[cimi]

Jun 26
Tuesday

THE PERFECT
STORM

READ:
Mark 4:35-41
_________________________

They feared
exceedingly, and said to
one another, "Who can
this be, that even the
wind and the sea obey
Him!" __Mark 4:41
_________________________

In his book The Perfect Storm, author Sebastian Junger reports astonishing facts about the power of a hurricane: "A mature hurricane is by far the most powerful event on earth; the combined nuclear arsenals of the United States and the former Soviet Union don't contain enough energy to keep a hurricane going for one day. A typical hurricane...could provide all the electric power needed by the United States for three or four years."

Seafarers encounter diverse weather conditions. But those who experience a severe storm have on emotion in common--fear. Mark 4:35-41 records a gale that threatened the boat carrying Jesus and His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. In a panic, the disciples awakened Jesus. He calmly rebuked the wind and sea by saying, "Peace, be still!" (literally "hush") as if He were quieting and agitated child (v.39). Immediately, the gale stopped and the water became inexplicably placid. The diciples asked, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him! (v.41).
Do you feel as if your life's circumstances are a mighty storm? Look to the God-man Jesus Christ, who has authority over heaven and earth. He will give you the strength to survive the storm until He ultimately calms it. __Dennis Fisher
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Our loving God is always near,~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Forever by our side;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~He'll bring us comfort in our fear~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~And peace that will abide. __Sper~~~~~~~~~~~
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**************Today's Bible Reading__mark4:35--41***************

35 On the same day, when
evening had come, He said
to them, "Let us cross over
to the other side." 36 Now
when they had left the
multitude, they took Him
along in the boat as He
was. And other little boats
were also with Him. 37 And
a great windstorm arose,
and the waves beat into the
boat, so that it was already
filling. 38 But He was in the
stern, asleep on a pillow.
And they awoke Him and
said to Him, "Teacher, do
You not care that we are
perishing?"

39 Then He arose and
rebuked the wind, and said
to the sea, "Peace, be still!"
And the wind ceased and
there was a great calm.

40 But He said to them,
"Why are you so fearful?
How is it that you have no
faith?" 41 And they feared
exceedingly, and said to one
another, "Who can this be,
that even the wind and the
sea obey Him!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Mark 4:35-5:43 records four miracles that clearly show Jesus'
absolute power as God of creation: power over nature (4:35-41),
power over demons (5:1-20), power over physical illness (5:21-34),
and power over physical death (5:35-43). Each miracle is a defeat
of hostile power. Jesus is the victorious sovereign Lord. Yet in this
passage, Mark provides one of the most amazing contrasts. Just
before Jesus displayed the awesome powers of His Deity, we are
given a touching picture of His humanity__Jesus was so exhausted
that even the violent tossing of the waves did not wake Him (v.38).
__SKT

[Mackenaw]

Oh Wow, does this message speak to me. Thank You Holy Spirit. In the Garden of Eden, God gave authority to Adam (to man) over the earth. He gave it to Adam (and Eve) out of Love. All God asked of Adam (man) was obedience. Then along comes the snake (satan) and tempts man, and man collapsed like a two-dollar suitcase. Some would say, but man had no training, he had didn't know. Isn't that what obedience is all about? Being obedient isn't conditional on knowing, it simply is -- being obedient to something or someone without proof? Cool, sounds like faith might be connected to obedience.

So man falls, and basically gives up his authority to sin (satan), now sin runs around and dictates what is, yet sin makes man think sin is justified if it gives man what he/she wants. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Oh geez -- now what?

God knew all this. Yes, God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit knew this before creation of the earth. so why did they allow it? Love! God created us for and out of love. And He wanted us, man, to love Him. So now, we can tie obedience to our love for Him. We now have obedience, faith and love so tightly knit together, it's hard to separate them.

Satan and fallen man made a real mess of this. So we fast forward 4,000 years and God comes to earth in human form, blessed Jesus. He now uses His authority, given to man by God -- but stolen by satan -- but now God is man, so He takes it back. How? because holiness conquers evil (sin / satan).

Jesus sacrifices himself for man, to give authority of the earth back to man. He died and arose. He lives. He defeated death and He defeated sin. And God and Jesus made a way for man to be redeemed. But what about this authority? On the scene, Holy Spirit. The very Spirit of God, living on the inside of anyone who will confess the blessed name of Jesus as God knowing their sins are forgiven.

But for a little while longer, satan creeps around, pretending he has authority, that the battle was never fought, and he is so CONvincing, that many believe him.

Tick, tock, tick, tock -- satan's time is running out.

I stand on the blessed name of Jesus. I pray you will too.