BIBLE READING

Mark 4: 37-39 NIV

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Matthew 5: 38-45 NIV

‘You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.” But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

REFLECTION

In the midst of the hurricane-force storm the disciples are facing, they find Jesus asleep in the stern of the boat. Look at what they say: "Do you not care Jesus? Can’t you see what we’re going through, why are you not doing anything about it?" It’s not so much a question as an accusation.

I love how He doesn’t even respond to their rant at him. He simply gets up from where he’s been sleeping, no big fuss or spectacle or show, and He rebukes the wind and the waves: "Quiet, Be still!"

Most translations say: Peace, be still.

How do you think Jesus said this? Did He scream and shout? I don’t think so. I think it sounded more like a parent telling their two your old child to stop doing something naughty.

Jesus stood up and spoke with total authority and absolute assurance: 'peace, quiet, hush, be still.' Look at what it says:

“Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”

That word for 'completely calm' is literally ‘mega calm’. It couldn’t be any more calm or peaceful. Just like that, millions of horsepower of wind and millions of gallons of water submit to His authority. They have to, because that which is within Him is greater than that which is around him.

I love what Bill Johnson says: "The only storms we have authority over are the storms we can sleep through."

Once you allow the storm out there to get inside you, you no longer have authority over it. You can’t have authority over something which has authority over you.

If you work in an environment of gossip or backbiting – and you take that on and become part of it, you have no authority to change it.

If you are in a stressful environment, and you allow yourself to get consumed with stress and anxiety, you have then given up all authority to make a positive impact on that place.

The way to have authority over something is to come against it in the opposite spirit. That’s what Jesus did. When all around him was chaos and fear, Jesus came against it from a place of rest and peace. He overcame the lack of peace all around him because of the incredible peace He carried within him.

Whatever your greatest fear is – come against it in the opposite spirit.

Confront enemies with love. Respond to harshness with gentleness. Come against violent storms and great fear with calm assurance anda spirit of peace.

A few years ago we faced a situation as a family where our monthly income was significantly reduced. However our outgoings remained the same. I felt fear begin to rise within me as money is an area I had struggled with in the past. Everything within me wanted to reduce our giving to our church. To pull back on generosity. However, the Holy Spirit prompted me to break this 'poverty spirit' by coming against it in the opposite spirit. I went online and increase our monthly giving by another 10%. Immediately the fear was gone and I have to tell you, within a few weeks we experienced a huge breakthrough in our finances.

What is coming against you today - anger, jealousy, fear, lust, intimidation, apathy – the way to break the power it has over you it is to come against it in the opposite spirit.