The Storm's End

“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8:23-26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus rebuked the disciples for their unbelief. He questioned why they were fearful in the storm. The disciples had been with Jesus, and they had seen Him perform miracle after miracle before, so why would they they question His will to save them in the storm? Why would they doubt His love for them? His rebuke to His disciples was an encouragement in love to believe, and His rebuke to the storm was an example of His authority and power and purpose. In His name, we are not to be afraid, but rather, we are to rebuke the storms in our lives with an assurance that it is His will to save that we would accomplish His purposes in our lives.

1. From rebuke to belief to purpose.

“Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:14-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If the devil can keep you in fear and unbelief, he can keep you from your purpose. In the power and authority of the name of Jesus, confident in Him, we will rise above the storms in our lives. God’s got a purpose and a plan for each one of us and He is calling us to belief in Him to see His will come to pass in our lives. We must be willing to receive and give rebuke in love, wherever we are struggling with unbelief.

2. From rebuke to power to peace.

“Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:37-42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If God has called us to the purpose, then we know He’s called us through the storm. What is required is belief in the midst of the circumstance. It takes believing His Word and promises rather than the voice of the opposition. Are we confessing the storms ability to bring chaos or are we confessing the will and power of Jesus to save. It is up to us who carry His name. He has called us to believe Him to see and command the storm’s end.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 14:12-14 NKJV

Go Boldly,

Joshua David Brawner

The Word, The Pen, and The Mic.