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Voice of Inspiration
by Andy Castro
'But Jesus was in the stern, asleep [with His head] on the [sailor's leather] cushion. And they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are about to die?" ' Mark 4:38 AMP
How could Jesus be asleep in the middle of a violent storm? Mark 4:36-39 AMP
How could Jesus face two fierce demon-possessed men and cast the demons out? Matthew 8:28-32 AMP
Here's the story line up to this point.
Matthew 3; Jesus is water baptized and filled with the Spirit.
Matthew 4; Satan tempted Jesus with everything in his capacity to temp Him. Jesus began teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Matthew 5; Jesus began His famous Sermon on the Mount. It lasted throughout chapters 6,7. He spiritually took a plow and broke the hardened ground of the religious elite. He gave the blueprints of God's kingdom to the people who had been held back by dead religion.
When He finished [speaking] these words [on the mountain], the crowds were astonished and overwhelmed at His teaching.
Fast forward to Matthew 8.
Jesus heals a leper, a paralytic servant to a Gentile, and Peter's mother-in-law. He did this with a large crowd following Him. (No pressure)
Remember, before the Apostles were in the boat with sleeping Jesus, they witnessed all of His exploits.
I can almost read Peter's mind. "Is this for real? Our Messiah is sleeping at a time like this! You brought us this far to let us die in the lake? When is He going to do something to get us out of the storm?"
We, like Peter, have our question for Jesus when times are difficult? I know I do. I tend to question His timing on what I consider essential issues. I've been doing better since I've learned Jesus is neither surprised nor alarmed by the attacks of Satan.
In this story of Jesus sleeping in the boat in the middle of a fierce storm, we have conflicting emotions facing off with each other. Fear attacked peace through the voices of the disciples. Jesus ignored the attack and calmed the storm. Then He spoke to the root of the problem. Jesus said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith and confidence [in Me]?"
Mark 4:40 AMP
Jesus could fearlessly sleep in a boat during a fierce storm because He knew His Father well. The disciples didn't have enough of a relationship with the Father to believe in His protection.
Jesus is always the gauge to reflect on for our lives. He lived fearlessly. It enabled Him to fulfill the call on His life without pandering to peers, religion, and earthly desires.
Living in fear panders to Satan, but knowing who our Daddy is, puts us in a place of peace, protection, and provision. Knowing our Daddy keeps us on the track of God's perfect plan for our lives.
If Jesus could know His Father and live a fearless life, we can also.
I'm asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the more of the Father, so I can live in perfect peace while living out His plan.
Ask for perfect peace and refuse to live in fear.
Andy
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He now writes and speaks as a voice of inspiration to encourage people to 'find the call' for their life and to fulfill their God given purpose. He writes to help you in your pursuit.
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