Walk Above Your Storm

Walk above Your Storm
Lee Cheng Huat (LEECH)
26/07/2009, Poiema Church, Kota Damansara

Joh 6:11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.

Jesus gave to those who were resting. We cannot receive the Word of God if we are not resting at Jesus’ feet. Also, there is no quota as how much we can get from God. To pray for others doesn’t diminish what we can receive from God.

We need to give permission for God to bless us. Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. Man can stop God’s blessings to us.

Mat 14:22-23 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. (23) And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

The disciples didn’t hear Jesus clearly so they went into a storm.

Mar 6:45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

Jesus instructed them to go to Bethsaida.

Joh 6:17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

The disciples went to Capernaum (meaning city of comfort) instead.

Mat 14:24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

Mat 13:20-22 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, (21) yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (22) As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

We want to rest in the Lord and hear from Him so the seeds he has sown in our heart can grow. Fruits come from the seed. We need to let God plant the seed in our heart and let it take root.

Eph 4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

We have to be careful when we study the Word. God found fault with the old covenant that’s why He gave us a new one.

Mat 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

Mar 6:48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,

Psa 121:4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.


Luk 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Mk 6:48, Ps 121:4, Lk 15:20
Jesus is always looking after us. Like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son, he received the son readily. He must have been looking out for the returning son. He didn’t scold him. Christ will embrace us as we are. Just come to Him and He will clean us up.

Mat 14:26-27 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. (27) But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

Gen 3:10, Gen 14:18 (1st mention), Gen 15:1

Whenever we read about angels or God, man is told not to be afraid.

Gen 3:10 And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."

When we sin, we are afraid to meet God. God knows this and He told us not to be afraid.

God’s covenant with Abran after Lot’s rescue. Abram brought his tithes and offerings to Melchizedek (king of righteousness, a type of Christ). Melchizedek gave bread and wine which is a foreshadow of the Holy Communion.

• Joseph comforts and reassures his brothers – 3x
• Moses assured Israelites at parting of Red Sea
• God’s commission to Joshua before Jordan crossing
• Agnel of Lord assurance to Joseph and Mary separately
• Mount of Transfiguration
• Last mention – Rev 1:17 (Rev 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last)

“Do not be afraid” is always followed by His provision and blessings – health, wealth, deliverance, victory … for the battle is the Lords.

When God told us not to be afraid, what are we afraid of? Condemnation.

Fear of condemnation
An adulteress faces the Light of the World.
Joh 8:11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."
Jesus wrote on the floor, perhaps a polite way of telling them He is the one who wrote the law (cf God wrote the 10 Commandments on the stone tables.) When He continued writing after asking anyone who had no sin to cast the first stone, it paralleled the 2nd time the law was written on the tablets.

When Jesus died on the Cross, he made provision for the forgiveness of our sins. When we bath in His blood, we are made righteous.

Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

We can approach the God’s throne of grace without fear of condemnation because of what Jesus has done.

2Ti 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Christ is living is us. We have to decide whether we want to allow Him to work in us and through us to touch live and influence people. It is only when we try to run our lives on our own we get into trouble.

Shalom in Hebrew; Eirene in Greek = well, happy, wholesome, friendly, also welfare, that is health, prosperity, peace.

Let’s rest in Him and hear Him and see Him and put in the first place in everything that we do.

Know that He loves you and your position in Christ.

Rom 8:33-35 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

It is God who justifies us. He acquits us (no more guilty) not just pardons (still guilty just spared the punishment) us.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Mat 14:28-29 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." (29) He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Jesus is a willing God who came to us. Don’t limit what He could do. He also wants us to worship Him willingly.

Lame man at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:6).
Jesus cleanses leper (Mt 8:2)
Mat 8:2-3 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." (3) And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

A clean person is not to touch the unclean. Jesus touched the leper and healed him. This is like the Divine Exchange on the Cross, God took on our infirmaties and sins and He cleansed us.

Mat 14:29-31 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." (31) Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

When Peter saw Christ, he could walk on water. When he looked at the pounding waters, he sank. We should keep our eyes on Jesus. Don’t look at the natural circumstances. If we are already sick, why look at our sickness, it doesn’t help. Look to Jesus.

God’s delay is not God’s denial.

2Co 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

We each have a hero vacuum in us and most of us cast our eyes on the wrong target.

Seeing Christ
• Children of Israel follow cloud. Ex 40:36 (Exo 40:36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out.)
• Bronze serpent on a pole. Num 21:9 (Num 21:9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.). Bronze is a picture of judgement in OT. Bronze serpant = the devil judged.
• John 10:27 (Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.)
• Ps 23:6 (Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.) When we follow Jesus, that means we turn our back to our problems.
• Deut 28:2 (Deu 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.)
• John 21:1vv Breakfast by the sea (Joh 21:7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.) The robe / garment = righteousness. Fish caught for a fisherman represents blessings, perhaps even financial.

O you of little Faith – mentioned 5 times, 4 in Matthew
Our God of “take as much as you want”

Mat 14:32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Joh 6:21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

As Christ is, so is us in this world. Is God a good and honest person? We should be one.

Psa 91:14-16 "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. (15) When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. (16) With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Salvation (Yeshoo in Hebrew, Soteria in Greek) – deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health, help(-ing), salvation, welfare.

Christians sometimes feel disenchanted with God because prayers were not answered.

Noah persisted in building the ark even though the flood didn’t come so soon.

Moses did not make it to the Promised Land. But he made it on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Elisha prayed for the Shunamite woman and she got a child. The child died. Elisha’s servant went to pray and the child remained dead. Elisha went on his own and raised the child from death.

It’s sometimes when God doesn’t answer our prayer because He is an all-knowing God. Elijah prayed that God take his life when he was running away from Jezebel. God had a better plan.