The current world financial crisis has three soulish drivers: greed debt fear. You know you are in a storm if you are suffering the following symptoms: awake at night worrying tossing and turning in bed running hot and cold heart palpitations curling up into the foetal position walking the floor at 3am. How will you handle your storm - both global and personal?

 

Storms of the Bible

 

 

Category 1 Storm:  Intervention

Don't think the story of Jonah is fiction. I have been to the Eden Killer Whale Museum (south coast of NSW) where the story is recorded of a whaler who was lost overboard and swallowed by a whale that was later beached, split open and the sailor released to live out the remainder of his days. So in the account of Jonah who caused his storm and why? Is his storm connecting with your story? Are you running away from God or his purposes?

 

 

Category 2 Storm:  Disobedience

Paul was under arrest and sailing from Israel to Rome. The ship sailed against the clear advice of Paul and between Crete and Malta they were caught in a hurricane force storm that resulted in the destruction of the ship, although all on board were saved. Are you caught in a storm as a result of your disobedience to the word of God to you?

 

 

Category 3 Storm. Transformation

In Psalm 107:23-32 maritime merchants were caught in a tempest that melted away their courage, caused them to reel and stagger like drunken men and drove them to their wits end. When they cried out to the Lord in their trouble He brought them out of their distress, stilled the storm and brought them to their desired haven. Will it take a huge storm to bring you back from arrogant independence to the worship of almighty God?

 

 

Category 4 Storm. Discipling

"Then he (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, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and 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 8:33, Mark 4:35, Luke 8:22).

What can we learn from the detail of this story?

How does it speak to your situation and the future impact of the current global financial storm?

• this storm occurred in the disciples marketplace - their fishing fleet on Lake Galilee

• Jesus took the initiative to go to sea at dusk (Mark 4:35)

• they were on the RIGHT journey; with the RIGHT people; at the RIGHT time; heading to the RIGHT destination; and Jesus was with them in the boat.

• the disciples had not done anything wrong to bring on the storm!

Imagine you are in the boat. Check again the picture at the top of this article - this is a terrifying situation: it is dusk, you are out of sight of land, you are in a furious storm and the waves are coming over the side of the boat. You are in a life threatening situation!

 

Questions:

• who caused the storm (God, the devil or natural weather conditions)?

• why did Jesus knowingly sail into this storm?

• why was he asleep in the boat during the storm?

• knowing what you know now... how would you like to have reacted to the situation?

Take time to think through with these questions before proceeding.

In reality you have either been in a storm;  you are in a storm;  or you will be in a storm!

The last question above is the critical application to how you will handle your storm.

The disciples had CHOICE: look at the waves and FEAR... or look to Jesus and TRUST.

 

The outcome for us will be determined at 3:30am as we make a conscious and disciplined choice - give in to FEAR (what can you change at 3:30am anyway), or in your mind write TRUST on the ceiling of your room and in your soul.

 

Pray:

• that the Holy Spirit will rise up within you to overcome soulish FEAR and gain mastery over your emotions by FAITH (ie: trusting Jesus in your circumstances even if he's asleep and your not)

• that God will give you divine wisdom so that you can progressively bring His order to your disorder - for this is the creation mandate from the beginning (see Genesis 1:28).

This is a journey of discipleship in the marketplace (or any place). It takes time. The storm will blow until God says the job is done and he stills the storm. You do not have control. This is why Jesus was asleep in the boat... not that he isn't present, but that he is taking you on a journey into maturity and he is waiting for you to move on from FEAR to FAITH.

 

This is a journey from Agreement to Alignment... from agreeing about faith in theory to applying faith in reality:

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

Which category storm are you in and what will you decide to do?

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
(Phil 4:4)

Peter

Peter Kentley
airborne778@gmail.com