Right in the Middle of the Storm
Luke 1:31 "You will be
with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give
him the name Jesus." NIV
Let's thing for a moment
about when Jesus came to our planet. Was it during a time
of prosperity in Israel or at a time when the Israelites
where enjoying their country?
Not at all. He came at a
time when foreign oppression (the Roman Empire) reigned in
Israel, suffocating individuality and freedom. Many tried
to overthrow the Roman oppression, but with no success.
Jesus came in the middle of the storm of oppression in
Israel!
This is the Christmas message
I want to share with you: Where is Jesus when we are in
the middle of a storm? He is right there at our side!
This message is best
illustrated by Mat 14: 22-33.
While Jesus was praying (Matt
14:23 "And after He had dismissed the multitudes, He
went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was
evening, He was still there alone." AMP), Peter and
the disciples were facing a storm on the Sea of Galilee.
Waves as tall as 10 feet were very common on that lake,
thanks to the Northern valley acting as a wind tunnel and
compressing squalls on that lake. Matt 14:24 "But the
boat was by this time out on the sea, many furlongs [a
furlong is one-eighth of a mile] distant from the land,
beaten and tossed by the waves, for the wind was against
them." AMP
Jesus must have seemed far
from the disciples as they were fighting the elements.
All they could remember of Jesus is that He had let them
go alone on this furious lake while He enjoyed a peaceful
time of prayer.
Matt 14:25 "And in the
fourth watch [between 3:00--6:00 a.m.] of the night, Jesus
came to them, walking on the sea." AMP Wet by
the water splashing on His face, Jesus said: Matt 14:27
"Take courage! I AM! Stop being
afraid!" AMP
If you translate this text
literally from the Greek, it says "I Am". Isn't that
strange? He doesn't say: "I am here" or "It is I", His
words are "Take courage! I AM! Stop
being afraid!" These words were very familiar to the
Israelites, for this is the name God gave when Moses asked
Him for a name: Ex 3:14 "And God said to Moses,
I AM WHO I AM" AMP.
Jesus is not an ordinary
person, He is the "I AM". He could declare boldly John
8:58: "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, before
Abraham was born, I AM." AMP
We never can be I ams. We
change all the time. What interests us now, will be of no
interest to us in the near future. We are emotional
beings who often despair when facing huge storms. However
Jesus is the "I AM". He is unchangeable. Storms do not
scare Him. Why not? Because He is the "I AM".
He often used the words "I
AM" in His speech. Read on:
John 6:48 "I am
the Bread of Life." AMP
John 8:12 "I am
the Light of the world." AMP
John 10:9 "I am
the Door." AMP
John 10:11 "I am
the Good Shepherd." AMP
John 10:36 "I am
the Son of God." AMP
John 11:25 "I am
the Resurrection and the Life." AMP
John 14:6 "I am
the Way and the Truth and the Life." AMP
John 15:1 "I AM
the True Vine." AMP
Why? Because -- Heb 13:8:
"Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same,
yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the
ages)." AMP
If Jesus was caring during
His ministry on this planet, He is still caring now. If
He was healing people 2000 years ago, He is still healing
them now. If He was there for His disciples when they
were in the middle of a storm, He will still be there in
the middle of your storm as well. Why? Because He is the
"I AM".
We often refer ourselves to
"I was" so and so, and we often wish "I will be" so and
so. Jesus, however, never was and never will be. He is
the "I AM" and this is why no storm can phase Him.
In the middle of the storm
Jesus proclaims "I AM'. No matter which storm you are
(persecution, prison, ridicule, financial...) Jesus is
still the "I AM".
The way Mat 14: 22-33 is
written supports that idea as well. The story consists of
two parts, each of 6 verses long. The first verses
(22-27) center on Jesus walking on the water. The second
part (verses 28-33) centers on Peter's walk on the
waters. Two parts, each consisting of 6 verses. Each set
of verses containing exactly 90 Greek words, and in the
middle of those two parts is Jesus declaration: "I AM".
If you read the Bible you
will discover that from Genesis to Revelation, God is in
the middle of our storms.
It is no wonder that Peter
could walk on the lake as long as he kept his eyes on the
"I AM'. But as soon as he paid more attention to his
circumstances -- as soon as he began to rely on himself as
"he was" or "he will be" -- he started to sink. Only with
the "I AM' on our side can we face our storms boldly.
This is the Christmas message
portrayed in the Gospels. Jesus is right in the middle of
our storms. He cares for us so much that He came to this
earth to lead the way to salvation. He is the "I AM'.
With Him at our side we have nothing to fear. Hallelujah!
Thank you Jesus.
In His love,
Rob Chaffart
Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org