The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Matthew #2516a

Christ rebukes the "wind" and the "sea", and there was a great calm.

Matthew 8:23
And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him.
Do you think either of the two fellows we just read about followed Him on the ship? Christ did not reject either one of them... so let's hope so!

Now "behold" what happens next and "see" the power of Jesus Christ, the Word of God.

[24] And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep.
Should this come as a surprise to the followers of Jesus Christ? Did He promise those who follow Him that they would have "smooth sailing" the rest of their lives? Hardly. However, He did promise that we could have serenity and peace of mind in knowing that He "will never leave nor forsake us" (Heb. 13:5), that "He will be with us always, even unto the end" (Mat. 28:20). And so Christ shows us two things by example in verse 24: First, that He is with us, on board our ship, and secondly, that one can "rest peaceably" even through a great tempest in the sea, spiritually speaking!

The Greek word translated "tempest" in this verse is "seismos" which is the same word used for "earthquake" (Mk. 13:8). This has great relevancy for us these last days as we see the "sea and the waves roaring" (Luke 21:25).

tempest = G4578 seismos sice-mos'
From G4579; a commotion, that is, (of the air) a gale, (of the ground) an earthquake: - earthquake, tempest.
Matthew 8:25
And his disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
The disciples obviously had some doubts about the Word of God, even though Christ said they were going to the other side. But even though they were fearful (next verse) that they were not going to make it, that they might perish in the tempest, they at least knew who to turn to in the time of their troubles.
[26] And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Christ first rebuked His disciples charging them with possessing little faith. Then He rebuked the winds and sea and there was a great calm... which gives us a good graphic illustration of just how quickly turning to Christ can "calm the storm" in our lives. Again, this is given for our benefit in these last days when the waters (people) are stirred up, agitated, by the blowing winds!
Wind = G417anemos,  an'-em-os


From the base of G109; wind; (plural) by implication (the four) quarters (of the earth): - wind.

Psalm 65 declares that the God of our salvation has the strength to "set fast" the mountains (nations) and to "still" the noise of the "seas" (peoples) and the "waves".
Psalm 65:5
By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

[6] Which by His strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:

Again, mountains are symbolic of nations.
[7]Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
Seas are symbolic of people and waves are the movements or actions upon them. You see, it is written that in these last days the nations would be distressed, with perplexity (confusion, babylon), and "sea and the waves would be roaring". In fact, it is a sign of the times.
Luke 21:25-26
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
"Roaring" is "echeo" in Greek which means to "make a loud noise" or "reverberate"! The sea and waves roaring are caused by the rising of the beast in Rev. 13:1, i.e. the "New World Order" as it rises up out of the sea (from among the people) through the control of the four hidden dynasties. Christ told us in Mark 13 and Matthew 24 that when ethic nations and the royal nations (of the house of Israel) began to rise up along side each other, i.e. when globalization begins to take to take place politically, economically, etc., that it would cause earthquakes (seimos) in divers places, i.e. shakeups in different areas of society. For example, we have recently seen a great "seismos" in economics, in the corporate arena in America.
Mark 13:8
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Note: #4016   "Nation against nation" doesn't mean what you first think it means!
Check out the word "troubles" in Mark 13:8. It comes from the root word "tarasso", Strong's #5015, which means: to stir or agitate (roil water): - trouble. All these are the beginnings of "sorrows" (labor pangs) which precede the birth of a new age.
Luke 21:26
Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
This has nothing to do with "heart attacks" but rather with people spiritually "fainting", stumbling and falling down in the great deception of these last days, for soon there shall be a great "shaking" of the powers of heaven when Satan and his angels are cast out to this earth (Rev. 12:7-9).

Here is a little study of some of the terminology in verse 26 (definitions taken from Strong's) which you should find interesting in the current political/social atmosphere.

Hearts failing = apopsucho From G575 and G5594; to breathe out, that is, faint: - hearts failing.
 
Fear = phobos fob'-os
From a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright: - be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.
Looking after = prosdokia pros-dok-ee'-ah
From G4328; apprehension (of evil); by implication infliction anticipated: - expectation, looking after.
Coming = eperchomai ep-er'-khom-ahee
From G1909 and G2064; to supervene, that is, arrive, occur, impend, attack, (figuratively) influence: - come (in, upon).
Shaken = saleuo, sal-yoo'-o, Greek 4531; from Greek 4535 (salos); to waver, i.e. agitate, rock, topple or (by implication) destroy; figurative to disturb, incite :- move, shake (together), which can [-not] be shaken, stir up.


Let us now return to Matthew where Christ has just rebuked the "wind" and the "sea", and there was a great calm.

Matthew 8:27
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!
The disciples were struck with deep awe when they saw Christ still the winds and the sea! For sure it must have been awesome to witness, but as it is written Christ has ALL POWER in both HEAVEN and EARTH. Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Therefore, have no fear! Christ is in complete control (has all power) and you know what else? He has given that power to His disciples which we will document a few verses hence!

Read on!

Matthew 8:28
And when He was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
Nobody messed with these two men who were possessed with demonic spirits because they were exceeding fierce and intimidating. But notice how they themselves cower before the presence of Jesus Christ, who they KNOW is the very Son of God.
[29] And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
There is a time coming when they shall be vexed and tormented for all eternity, which means they shall be destroyed along with all else that is evil and offends. Nevertheless, the point to made here is that they cried out because they knew that Christ was present and they knew who He was and that He had power over them. And if Jesus Christ is in you, you will also feel His presence and His power which He has given to His disciples, to those who truly love Him and follow Him. We find the documentation for that in Luke chapter 10.
Luke 10:17
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Understand that it is the power and authority of Christ, i.e. through His name, to which the devils are subject.
[18] And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

[19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

He has given us power through His Word, His Spirit, over ALL the power of the enemy. And how much power does Christ have? Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
... to be continued.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

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