Authority in the Storm
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In the storm, in Mark 4:35-41, Jesus had the authority to calm the storm and rebuke the wind and waves. Who gave him that authority? God, the Father. Jesus had the Holy Spirit on the inside of Him, working all the time. Jesus had ALL the authority in heaven and earth and under the earth, and He knew it. He walked it out. It was a free gift given to Him by His Father. He knew who He was and Whose He was.
We, as believers, need to find that authority and use it. In Mt. 28:18-20 it shows us that Jesus took ownership of His authority, because He speaks it aloud to His disciples. He said, “All AUTHORITY in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” So, He knows what authority He has. Do you? If you are a believer, you need to first and foremost understand that you are a child of God. We are His children, just like Jesus was His child. He endowed Jesus with power and authority. That’s good news, but the best is yet to come. Jesus took His authority and gave it to US!
He told us in Mt 28:19-20:
• 19 therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
That is authority! You know you have authority when you give it away. It’s like a person who is in charge of other people, such as a boss at work. They have been given authority by the company, but you have no authority until they give it to you. Let’s say it this way, God is the head of all: the Company. He (they) gives authority to someone to lead and rule people (Jesus). Then, the leader, (Jesus) uses His authority to help you. Let’s say that boss died, and you obtained his job at work. Now the company (God) gives you all the authority the other leader had, (Jesus). The point is, you have the authority that Jesus had, and died to give to you.
• In Mark 4:35-41 we see that Jesus knew how to use His authority.
• Jesus Calms the Storm
• 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?”39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
• 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
• 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
There are many important lessons in these scriptures, but I want to focus on the fact that Jesus used His authority. He spoke to the wind and waves. All He had to say were 3 words, “Quiet! Be still!”
If I were on that boat today, going through a storm, like we all are, I need to understand that I have the authority to stand firm and say to my storm, “Peace! Be still!” It may be easy to say, but you have to understand the authority behind it before it will work. You have to believe that you have it. You have to know that God has given you this authority. So, take ownership of it. Jesus TRUSTED in God, and we need to trust in Him, too. You cannot speak with authority you do not believe you have. You have to know in your heart who you are. You are a beloved child of God. He will never leave you for forsake you. When you let Jesus become the Savior of your life, you give control over to God. He gives you the authority He gave Jesus, so that we can do even greater things than Jesus did, because we have the assurance of the cross. The disciples didn’t have any authority, because Jesus had not died for them to have it yet. But, WE have it when we become believers.
So, we know we have authority; we just need to use it. How do we do that? By standing on the Word. Find out who you are in Christ in the Bible, and how important you are to God. He loves you so much. Seek Him first. When you have a problem, seek His advice and counsel. He is always there to help you. He will never leave you or forsake you. He recently told me, “You can never get rid of Me. You may walk away, but I’m still there.” There is no where you can hide from the love that IS God.
Let us leave you with a few reminders of who you are in Christ.
I am a new creation, created in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor. 5:17)
I am the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21)
I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (Eph. 6:10)
I am complete in Him. (Col. 2:10)
I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. (Eph. 2:10)
I am a son and heir of God. (Gal 4:7) I am a world over comer. (1 John 5:4, 5)