We are walking in today: Do You Recognize God?
Matthew 14:24-27 24) But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25) And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26) And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27) But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. This is a question for every believer on this line. Do you recognize God? God has rebuilt us, revived us, replaced happiness with joy, and gets gooder and gooder, but one of the greatest challenges to all of us is to be able to recognize Jesus in the middle of a storm. Recognizing Jesus in the midst of the storms of life was even a problem for the disciples. They walked with Jesus. They talked with Jesus. They ate with Jesus, but they still had trouble recognizing Jesus in the storms of life. I know my Father is gooder and gooder, but there are some of us that are under attack in their marriages, finances, jobs, spiritual walk, etc... We have to address being able to recognize God to see the gooder and gooder. Matthew 14:24-27, is a very familiar Bible story of one of Jesus miracles. Jesus came to the disciples in the middle of a storm and He was walking on the water. Remember, prior to this miracle, Jesus had become very popular with the crowd. Jesus had just fed thousands of people with only a few loaves and fish. Jesus had become so popular with the crowd that the religious leaders viewed Him as a threat. His persecution began right in the middle of His popularity. King Herod had just beheaded John the baptist. It was at this precise moment that Jesus told His disciples, get in the boat and meet me on the other side of the Lake of Galilee. With a clear, direct command from the Master, the disciples got into the boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. When the disciples got into that boat, the water was probably as smooth as glass. There was no sign of wind or a storm. The storm was totally unexpected. We face a lot of unexpected storms and unpredictable circumstances in our lives. We may began a day full of joy and hope with the sun shinning and then wham, a storm comes rolling in. The disciples lived, ate, and knew Jesus intimately. Still, in the middle of the storm, they failed to recognize Him. It's the same with us. It is easy to sense the presence of God in church. It is easy to sense the presence of God in prayer and praise. It is easy to sense the presence of God in answered prayers. It is easy to sense the presence of God when you are serving Him. But what happens when: you are at home alone at night? what about the darkest moments in your family's life? what about the financial future that looks like it is in jeopardy? what about when you lost your dearest and and your nearest? what about the fear that grips you like a vice? what about the darkest and dreariest time of your life? what about the times when the waves are ten feet high and your ship is about to capsize? Do you recognize Jesus then? The disciples didn't. Two thousand years later, every one of us does the exact same thing. The disciples were wrapped up in the tossing waves and the howling winds. Then they saw Jesus and they thought He was a ghost. The disciples were about to learn a tough lesson. They saw all the miracles He performed, but they had not learned to recognize Him in the middle of a storm. What about you? For a long time we have been taking from God's hand, but when a storm hits we can't see Him. We don't recognize Him. Fiveamprayer, your gooder and gooder is right now, but do you recognize Him? Let's look at Matthew 14:25, And in the 4th watch of the night Jesus came to them walking on the sea. Notice one thing in this passage. It says that Jesus came in the fourth watch of the night. The 4th watch is just before dawn. It's the worst possible time. It's the time when all hope begins to fade. Jesus knew that only in the most desperate hour are His children ready to know and trust Him. No wonder the Lord Jesus said to Paul, It is when you are weak that the Lord makes you strong. Those who love the Lord Jesus must learn to recognize Him!!! Please don't miss God!! Your gooder and gooder is right now!!!! Amen!!!
We have been walking in joy and gooder and gooder. Sometimes there are different things that come against us. Do we recognize God in the middle of the storm? Jesus is always right there with us. You gotta recognize that no matter what you are faced with, He is there. You may not be in a storm right now, but one could hit at anytime. You have to be able to recognize Him in the middle of the storm. Don't worry about whatever is coming against you--God is doing a new thing. God is able and with God all things are possible. Jesus can speak to your storms and say, "peace be still." He is more than able. See God in the midst of the storm. When we are weak, He makes us strong. We need to recognize what God is doing--He will bring us out. All things work together for the good of those that love the Lord. He is that He is. Do you recognize Him in the storm? He didn't give us the spirit of fear, like it says in 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. We get up everyday, sacrificing to hear from God, to seek Your face. We don't want the recession or depression that the world is going through, to over take us. We must focus on You, the source of all that we could ever need or want. Let us see You in the storm, Lord. It is You Lord that makes a way of escape for us. He is the same God, yesterday, today and forever more. He has us taking new territory. Whenever God comes with a word, He is preparing us. Don't be discouraged, if God be for us who or what can stand against us?! Fiveamprayer, we have got to recognize God in the storm. When we come out of this storm, our testimony will bring someone else out. It is all for our good. What the devil meant for harm the Lord, turned it for our good. He goes before us to make the crooked places straight. He is the way, the truth and the life. Teach us Lord to recognize You, so we can see in the storm. We lift up prayer requests, those known and unknown. Have them to see You in the storm, Lord. Cover them Lord, let them know that You are right there. Teach us to recognize You in the storm. We ask for forgiveness, we don't always see You in the midst of the storm. Lord, thank You for being faithful to forgive us. Teach us how to forgive so that we can be forgiven. For when You forgive our sins are cast away as far as the east is from the west.
We write in the precious blood: Teach us how to recognize You, Lord.
Welcome to the overflow.....
Teach us how to recognize You when the distractions come up. Help us to grow, to walk without fear or doubt. Teach us how to recognize You in the pain. You told us that pain is a part of the process. Help us to hear from You. Some of us are in a desperate situation, teach us to find You in the storm. You are ever present with us. Nehemiah 9:31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God. Teach us how to hear from You, Lord. Fiveamprayer ask Him to teach you to see Him in the storm. "We ask to see You Lord in all situations. Have us to count it all joy." Lord You told us that weeping may endure for the night but, joy comes in the morning. Teach how to recognize You, Lord. We want more and more of You and less and less of us. The devil wants us to be distracted and discouraged. The Lord's strength shows up mighty in us when we are weak. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Take your focus off of the winds and the waves. Do you recognize Him? God was and is with us the entire time. He is the one who can put you back together. He is the potter and we the clay. He is in total control, and He is shaping us and making us how He would direct. Can you see Him? Can you see past the midst to God? Now do you recognize Him, in the middle of the storm? Even the disciples did not recognize Him, they were with Him all of the time. So we must become disciplined to read the word and spend time in prayer. That is how we can improve our vision and hearing. The more time that we spend with Him, the more we can recognize Him, even when the wind is blowing the rain into your eyes, you will be able to sense Him. The more time that you spend with someone, you get to know their voice when you can't see them; you will know their shape in the fog. There is so much that we spend time studying--why not the Creator? The only one who made us and can bring us out of what we are in? We must train ourselves to see beyond the distractions, situations, circumstances and storms to Him. Our Source--He has it all in control. Trust Him and seek Him out in all things. For who the Son sets free, is free indeed. We are free to seek Him out and study Him. We are to be like Him, how can we imitate Him with out studying Him? We are the children who are following after our Father, doing what He does, wanting to be just like Him. Following the Lord is a sure thing, there is no doubt of deliverance and success. Joshua 1:6-9 6) Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7) Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. 8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9) Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Recognize Him, follow Him, know Him. He has been with us the whole time and certainly knows you. Shouldn't you know your Heavenly Father? Read the scriptures for yourself today. Have a blessed day.
Hear It Again
If you would like to hear this mornings call again, please call 605-475-4849 and the pin is 258417, the reference number for this call is 193# as of 4/14/11. The recordings are available for about 6 months.
The new number will be is 760-569-7676 and the pin# is 910150. The playback for the recording is 760-569-7699and the same pin#. We will announce when the number is changing over, thank you.
Musical Selection
Edwin Hawkins and Tremaine Hawkins, Do You Know Him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Kirk Franklin, Smile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Lecrae, Faithful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
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