by sister Phyllis

I want to focus on two portions of scripture in this little message. The first one from the Gospels

and and the second one is taken from the Acts of the Apostoles concerning the life of Paul. These

are the accounts of two storms. More than that there are disciples of Christ in both storms.

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The Mark account takes place on the sea of Galilee. Jesus had spent a full day teaching and healing.

On this occasion they waited for nothing before they went across the Sea.Other vessels went

with them . Jesus was dead tired so as they moved across the Lake Jesus fell asleep in the stern of the

ship on a pillow.

The Sea of Galilee is nearly 700 feet below sea level an deis situated in a basis surrounded by mountains.

It is particularly suseptible to fierce storms and on this occasion a storm was unleased without warning.

The disciples fought the storm until the boat was filled with water. We can almost see them bailing and

rowing with growing panic .In the meantime Jesus is still asleep .

Finally they woke Him up with words of rebuke. We re going to drown for all you care. It was a rude

awakening. Understand that the disiciples are still rookies. They have seen a few things happen, but Jesus

ministry is still young. They are still quite a distance from believing Jesus is God .They saw Jesus as a

Teacher not God.

Jesus faced a terrified group of disciples as He stood in the nearly swamped boat. He rebuked the wind

and said to the waves, Peace Be Still!. The wind died down immediately and the sea became immediately

calm I: ve lived by the ocean enought years here in Canada to realize that after a storm it sometimes takes

another day or two for the heavy swells to subside. But here it was calm immediately. The sovereighn Lord

had spoken and creation had responded.

Jesus then rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith. It seems that they were more terrified of the miracle

than they had been of he storm.. We dont know how long the storm lasted; A few minutes or an hour or two;

but it was over quickly.The disciples shook their heads in amazement. What kind of man is this. Even the

winds and the waves obey him.

The voyage begins with fair winds, but the rest of the story Luke relates with tense details. A storm with

hurricaine force winds struck. The KJV calls it Euroclydon or a Northeaster as we would know it today.

I have been in many a Northeaster as many of you likly have. In any case it was a fierce, tempestuoues wind

often experienced by navigators, expecially in the spring , in the eastern Mediterranean. Sometimes of hurricane

or typhon force., this tremendous wind is so called because it blows from the northeast or east-northeast.

Aftter two weels they were weak from lack of food and perhaps they were too seasick to eat. Ever been

seasick. At this point in the story aul stood before them and addressed the storm weary vrowd. Sirs, ye

should have heartened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this marm and loss.

The conclusion of the storm and the voyage and the storm came quickly on the 14th day . The sailors

began to sense that land was near. They sounded for the bottom and determined the water was getting

shallower. Paul reiterated his warning that they should stay with the ship. He urged them to eat

something in preparation for the ordeal they had yet to face. He said grace over a meal and then they

lightened the ship to help it float closer to shore.

Can I stop here for a brief moment. When things go wrong too many people immediately

abandon ship. When there is pressure and stress in business relationships, families and church, it may not

be an indication these ships are sinking.. I admire the people who have stayed in their church despite some

decisions that have been made contrary to Gods Word. They felt they can do more to represent God on the

inside then they could by abandoning their faith community.

Folks , the Church of Jesus Christ is the best ship afloat. We have choises. When things go wrong we can

abandon ship and try and tread water on the outside until we lose stength and drown. Or, we can work

on the inside to help repair the damage that sometimes can get done. Lets stay with the ship.

Paul had never shrunk from his vision. He promised the 276 people aboard that they would all be survivors.

In a little while the ship ran aground. The pounding surf broke the ship apart. It was every man for himself, but

all 276 made it to shore safely. Paul would continue his trip to Rome later.

These are the stories of two storms. That seems to be the constant factor. Storms come . We will see raging

billows and wonder if we will make it through. These storms were similar in their intensity and in their potential

to take the lives of thosewho went through them In both cases there is a miraculous delivery.

There are a few key elements about the stories, however, that are different. The duration of the storm on

Galilee was likely only hours long but we know that Pauls Northeaster lasted at least two weeks. We

will find that some issues in our lives are like these storms. Some blow in with vengeance and test us a while,

others last for weeks and months . Some bring us to the point of despair and we feel as if this long, dark night

is never going to be over.

Sometimes the calming of the storm takes place instantly. On Galilee Jesus intervened immediately and dramatically.

We can see Him standing in that fishing boat, waves dashing against the boat nearly full of water., His hair wet

from the spray and He stands and cries out Peace! Be Still!! Jesus brought immediate answers many times.

The centurion had a sick servant that Jesus merely spoke the word and he was healed. The crowds who came to

hear Jesus teach were so hungry . Within minutes 5,000 were fed with bread and fish that earlier constituted a little boys

lunch. We all like immediate answeres to our needs and our problems . Lord, do it NOW!!

Sometmes, however, we take the buffeting of the gale much longer. The answer to prayer seems delayed in comiong.

Like the sailors on Pauls ship we want to find our own ways God, move NOW or I ve got to try some other way.

Follks, there are times we have to endure the storm, torturous days of toil, wind and rain lashing us, no sleep, disaster

on every wave. We may wonder ,Lord , will I ever reach my destimation. We may get like Job. Though He slay me ,

yet will I trust Him..

Ever lose hope. Ever feel you would never make it Mary and Martha must have endured difficult days as their brother

Lazarrus sickened grew worst, finally died and Jesus didnt show . Ever wonder if God really caress.s Has your Christian

joy been overshadowed with disappointment. Lord, where are you when I need you .

We dont prove our seamanship in calm waters. We prove it in the storm. We prove God in adversity. When the storm has

lasted for two weeks or two months or two years or two decades, we need assurance that He is with us.I have been in

storms when I felt my frail ship would be blaslted to bits, but like Paul there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose

I am , and whom I serve , saying .Fear not

In the storms we prove that our lives are hidden in Christ .We need security that gets above the storm and allows us

to see that God never forsakes us. Our assurance must be rooted in the fiathfulness of God to keep us...for better for worse,

for richer or poorer, in sicknes, and in health and in life and in death.

It is very difficult to second - guess God We are the creature, He is the Creator; We cant insist He do everything

the same in every occasion. We cant make up the rules of life and expect God to submit . Maturity means I submit to Him

I acknowledge His lordsipHis yoke is easy and His burden is light. Maturity means I dont always get angry because the storm

came up The Christianlife is not a bed of roses . In the storm I ask Lord , what can you teach m ein this.

Folks you will see storms. Some will blow up and calm down in a hurry. Some will last a while and threaten to defeat youl You

may even see a few shipwrecks, but if you stay with the swhip you will make it safety to the other shore.

I have found that since I came into this wonderul truth of Acts 2:3 8 which says:

I found the answer to help me endure through any storm that comes into my life and there have been many . Once I

received the Holy Ghost in my life and was baptised in Jesus name for remission of sins I had the power to help me

handle the storms in my life . All power is in the name of Jesus folks and in not other name . I just have to call on

the name of Jesus and He is always with me and He calms down the storms that hit me.

If you are going through any kind of storm in your life today I ask you to turn to Jesus and follow the simple plan

of salvation found in Acts 2:38 and many other verses are also there to back up this one . If you obey the word

of God completely you will have the power to handle any situation that you may face in life. and Jesus never fails us.

He is the same today as He was yesterday and will be. and He loves you and me so much .

You are in my prayers . I know of late I talk so many people who are going through so much physically,

spriitually, emotionallly, financially and some are in bondage or in prison literally and also within themselves and

they dont know the the answer . I feel a compassion for these folk for I for years was in that situation with no hope

until I found Jesus and the real way to be saved and now the void I felt in my life is filled and I have never been

so happy in my life . I am here for any of you that may need prayer or encouragement There is hope real hope and it

is found in Jesus name

God bless

His humble servant

sister phyllis

Prayer Intercessor and bible teacher.

World Wide Prayer Minstry