Jesus, Lord of Creation

Rev Enoch Thompson | March 11, 2023 | Matthew 8:23-27

KEY VERSE:

He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Matthew 8:26 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

The demonstration of the power of the Lord Jesus over diseases and demons demonstrated in the context of Matthew 8 and 9 is taken to the control He had over nature. The power of nature challenges the smartest advancement of human knowledge and scientific advancement. The forces of wind, water, fire and earthquakes have remained untamed. We actually fear these forces of nature, and we continue to learn how we may bring them under perfect submission.

The devastating power of nature was shown in the fact that the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ did not forbid the storms from rising. The first show of the Lord that He was in charge of affairs was seen in the fact that while the storm was raging He was fast asleep. His disciples were frightened by the storm and cried out to Him to save them because they feared they were about to drown. He rebuked the disciples, and then rebuked the winds and the waves. The result was an immediate calm and quiet in the raging forces then at work.

The Lord Jesus still has power over nature and does what we may not always be aware of, to safeguard our safety and comfort. The whole of creation is in chaos and is groaning (Rom. 8:8-25), and the Church must call upon the Lord, to bring some order into the situation. We must also speak and act in ways that bring restoration rather than degradation to the environment. As Rom. 8 shows the fullest realization of the redemption and calming of nature will happen when Christ comes and releases God’s people completely from the limitations of the fallen world we live in.

In the journey of life also we meet storms that frighten us. The Lord Jesus has the power to intervene wonderfully. When that happens, our necessary response should be that of the disciples, “The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (Matthew 8:27).

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Appreciate the environment that God in His wisdom has given us to live in. Determine to protect the environment as much as it is in your power to do so. Speak up against the degradation of the environment. Look forward to the new Heavens and the new Earth where there are no storms or disasters.

PRAYER:

Lord, you made the heavens and the earth, you have power over the sin-stained world, and can silence its forces of destruction. Lord, please limit the occurrence of the natural disasters you predicted as signs of the end. Please make me an agent of environmental preservation. Above all, please speak to the storms in my life, and I will be careful to praise you. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!