23/02/13

Experiencing storms in our lives

Matthew 14:22-24
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.


It is very interesting when we do research of the little things that are ignored in the Bible. They give such great information and land up giving a broader dimension of understanding of the Heart of God and the Kingdom of God.

The event given today's message happened at Lake Kinneret / Sea of Galilee. This lake has a unique formation which causes erratic and sudden storms. The lake lies 680 feet below sea level and to the east side of the lake it has hills that are up to 2000feet high. The large difference in height between surrounding land and the sea causes large temperature and pressure changes. The warm moist breeze blowing over the lake and the cool dry breeze blowing over the hills meet high over the sea. This results in strong winds dropping to the sea, funnelling through the hills. The Sea of Galilee is small, and these winds may descend directly to the center of the lake with violent results. When the contrasting air masses meet, a storm can arise quickly and without warning. The Sea of Galilee is relatively shallow, just 200 feet at its greatest depth. A shallow lake is "whipped up" by wind more rapidly than deep water, where energy is more readily absorbed therefore small boats caught out in on the storm are in great danger.

We see Jesus went to the mountains to spend private time with His Father. People go to mountains to find God, because the majestic presences of the mountains fascinate man. Jesus' going to a mountain to spent time with God was not for this reason He also went to gardens to spend private time with His Father. Jesus choice of place was because it was furthest point from earth or a place far from man made things or artificial world of man. Jesus in short is telling us the best place to pray is getting ourselves away from our worldly activities and our duties. Our mountain or garden can be even in a small room in our house, what matters is can we separate ourselves from our world to spend time with God. Even when we are in our house, or travelling, or office we can take a short escape to our mountain or garden mentally to pray without moving from our seats.

Jesus did not experience any storm but the disciples who were in the lake did. Today's message says when we live a life of hot and cold we will experience storms and if our lives are shallow and more worldly the more hard these storms will be. Jesus was in a cool place high on a solid mountain with the Father but the disciples were in a hot and cool place. Jesus says in the Bible if we are hot and cold (lukewarm) God gets very angry with us. If we want less of the storms in our lives, let us set our hearts away from the world, set it rooted high on the Truth of the Word of God.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we live a life which desires more of the world and things of the world, lacking knowledge of your Kingdom and far from you therefore face sudden storms that can destroy us. Lord we pray we set our hearts far from this world, rooted on the solid Rock which is your Word. A life holy unto You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Revelation 3:16 - So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)