Scripture

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Observation

Jesus used stories and illustrations to teach the people. He explained it all when he was alone with the disciples.

Jesus and the disciple sail across the lake on a boat, leaving the crowd behind. A fierce storm comes up. High waves begin to fill the boat with water.

Jesus sleeps through it all, until the disciples wake Him up. Jesus stands up, rebukes the wind and commands the waves to be still. Suddenly, the storm dies down.

The disciples are terrified, asking “Who is this Jesus that the wind and waves obey Him?”

Application

The storms, winds and waves that threaten our lives are inconsequential to the Lord, so our greatest fears are so easily overcome.

There are times when Jesus does sovereignly work exciting miracles for us to rescue us out of storms and other dire situations.

Other times He walks with us through the storm. He goes with us and gives us strength and resilience to cope with all things.

Why does God seem to act so capriciously giving miracles for some and peace or strength to cope to others?

This is always determined by what is good for us. If we need to go through the storm, He will take us through it. If it is better to remove the storm, He will do that.

Our God is awesome in His ability to ensure that all things work for our good.

Listening

Lord, I am intrigued that Jesus used so many parables and illustrations. Why was this?

Keith, the language of the spirit is not analytical or propositional language. It is always above all else firstly picture language.

The power of speaking through stories is that they speak to the heart. Those who are ready to receive swallow the message quickly, while the hard of heart reject it because they cannot get past the surface level.

Parables reveal the heart of the hearer and not just the truth of the message. You see the truth according to your depth of your heart.

Parables are meant to be chewed over. That is why I made them so memorable.

Read, hear, meditate. There is more depth than, you know.

Scripture

“To those who listen to my teaching more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

Observation

Jesus asks, would you light a lamp and then conceal it? Of course not, the lamp is placed so that its light can shine out. The mysteries of the Gospel are being revealed to those who seek them.

The more we pay attention to Jesus, the more understanding we will receive. Those who refuse to listen will lose even the little understanding they have.

The Kingdom of God is like seed that grows. Nobody knows how it happens, but little by little the plant grows and matures.

The kingdom of God is also like a mustard seed planted in the ground, even though it is the smallest of seeds, it grows into a great tree

Application

It has been said that faith is like a muscle. The more you exercise it the stronger it becomes. Similarly understanding of spiritual things increases as we press into Jesus and listen to Him- reading the word, praying, fellowship.

I am sometimes impressed by the depth of spiritual understanding of some people who struggle to read but have a deep comprehension of not just the written word, but how to apply it in their lives.

Understanding means that we see the spiritual powers and authorities and can discern what to pray to overcome them. Understanding means that we train ourselves to think about what Jesus would do in the challenges of life, or to ask the Holy Spirit what we should do.

Understanding means depending on God’s wisdom rather than our own in all of the messy times of life or in helping others to navigate their own chaotic lives.

As we listen to Jesus to find His ways, He will reveal more to us, so that we truly do grow in wisdom.