Delay & Divine Acceleration
These days we've been exploring how to enter God's rest. While Jesus was on Earth, He gave an open invitation to all of which we read in Matthew 11: 28-30: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [f]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Jesus had peace and rest in his own life and hence he is able to offer the same to everyone who comes to Him. Jesus could peacefully during the storm while he took the human form, and if He can we too surely can rest in every stormy situation in life.
Jesus first told the whole world that He’d give rest and later He himself demonstrated how to experience that rest - a furious storm came up on the lake while Jesus and His disciples were in the boat, and the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion.
Peter who was with Jesus during this incident later after Jesus' ascension he was put in prison for preaching the Word. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, we read in Acts 12 that Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, though he was bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. He was trained by the Master to sleep in such a terrifying situation even after knowing that James, who was a great minister in Jerusalem, was put to death by the sword. If Jesus and Peter could, we too should be able to sleep during the storm.
Jesus slept peacefully in the boat because though He is God Almighty, being in human form, his body was tired. Secondly, he had no fear of anything. Perfect love drives out fear. Love God deeply and all fear will leave you. Thirdly, Jesus had a solution for everything. When there’s a problem in your life that you need to deal with the next day, you won't sleep well unless you have a solution to the problem. Fourthly, Jesus had the authority to rebuke and calm the storm. We too have been given the authority to rebuke and command over every crisis that we may face in life.
The disciples however couldn't sleep as they tried on their own to save themselves and the Savior. But they failed, and after trying everything that they could, they went to Jesus and woke him. They were terrified and most importantly, they had no faith. Faithless people are sleepless people.
How to sleep in the Storm?
1. Perceive and believe that Jesus is with you always and on all occasions. God’s presence is perdurable and it's not based on your feelings/ emotions. He’s promised to be with us to the end of this age (Matthew 28:20) Jesus acts based on our faith and not according to our feelings.
2. Jesus has a solution to all your problems and He Himself is the solution. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Many people treat Jesus as the last resort to their problems. That’s where we need a change. As His beloved, may we always go to Jesus first for comfort and guidance in every trial; and in that manner we can save time and energy and also be at peace throughout this life journey.
3. Use your faith to fight your fear away. Faith and fear are opposites, and it's always better to overcome fear with your faith in God.
4. Learn to relax and rest in Jesus. Jesus is the rest giver and he tells all who are weary and burdened to come to Him. Many think they'd get to rest in peace only after their death - just as it's commonly seen in Christian cemeteries - R.I.P Mr/Mrs so and so. But Jesus offers us rest while we’re still alive and on a daily basis.
In John 6:16 -21 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them. A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified. But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Before Jesus came into the scene, they had rowed for several hours and yet they did not reach the shore. A lot of time was wasted. But after they received Jesus into the boat, the boat immediately reached the shore where they were heading.
Being tossed by the wind, the disciples got delayed to reach the shore. There is something called the spirit of delay. Evil spirits prevent things from happening on time - delay in getting married, delay to receive salary, delay to complete schooling/college, etc.
However, the Holy Spirit functions in opposition to the spirit of delay and brings divine acceleration in disparate matters of our lives. As soon as Jesus got into the boat, the boat immediately reached the shore. This was a miracle. They already had wasted a few hours rowing the boat and perhaps they may have had to cover a few more miles to reach the shore.
God can redeem the lost time and seasons in your life. He can compensate for your loss. Also, He’ll let you arrive at the destination in no time.
Joel 2:25 - “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm — my great army that I sent among you.
If you’d rightly believe Him and permit Him into your life, you too can experience this divine acceleration. Do not be discouraged when you see your friends/ colleagues settle and succeed in life while you haven’t yet reached anywhere. If Jesus is with you, He’ll look into the matter and it will be fulfilled. The spirit of divine acceleration will fight against the spirit of delay!
Jesus had peace and rest in his own life and hence he is able to offer the same to everyone who comes to Him. Jesus could peacefully during the storm while he took the human form, and if He can we too surely can rest in every stormy situation in life.
Jesus first told the whole world that He’d give rest and later He himself demonstrated how to experience that rest - a furious storm came up on the lake while Jesus and His disciples were in the boat, and the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion.
Peter who was with Jesus during this incident later after Jesus' ascension he was put in prison for preaching the Word. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, we read in Acts 12 that Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, though he was bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. He was trained by the Master to sleep in such a terrifying situation even after knowing that James, who was a great minister in Jerusalem, was put to death by the sword. If Jesus and Peter could, we too should be able to sleep during the storm.
Jesus slept peacefully in the boat because though He is God Almighty, being in human form, his body was tired. Secondly, he had no fear of anything. Perfect love drives out fear. Love God deeply and all fear will leave you. Thirdly, Jesus had a solution for everything. When there’s a problem in your life that you need to deal with the next day, you won't sleep well unless you have a solution to the problem. Fourthly, Jesus had the authority to rebuke and calm the storm. We too have been given the authority to rebuke and command over every crisis that we may face in life.
The disciples however couldn't sleep as they tried on their own to save themselves and the Savior. But they failed, and after trying everything that they could, they went to Jesus and woke him. They were terrified and most importantly, they had no faith. Faithless people are sleepless people.
How to sleep in the Storm?
1. Perceive and believe that Jesus is with you always and on all occasions. God’s presence is perdurable and it's not based on your feelings/ emotions. He’s promised to be with us to the end of this age (Matthew 28:20) Jesus acts based on our faith and not according to our feelings.
2. Jesus has a solution to all your problems and He Himself is the solution. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Many people treat Jesus as the last resort to their problems. That’s where we need a change. As His beloved, may we always go to Jesus first for comfort and guidance in every trial; and in that manner we can save time and energy and also be at peace throughout this life journey.
3. Use your faith to fight your fear away. Faith and fear are opposites, and it's always better to overcome fear with your faith in God.
4. Learn to relax and rest in Jesus. Jesus is the rest giver and he tells all who are weary and burdened to come to Him. Many think they'd get to rest in peace only after their death - just as it's commonly seen in Christian cemeteries - R.I.P Mr/Mrs so and so. But Jesus offers us rest while we’re still alive and on a daily basis.
In John 6:16 -21 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them. A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified. But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Before Jesus came into the scene, they had rowed for several hours and yet they did not reach the shore. A lot of time was wasted. But after they received Jesus into the boat, the boat immediately reached the shore where they were heading.
Being tossed by the wind, the disciples got delayed to reach the shore. There is something called the spirit of delay. Evil spirits prevent things from happening on time - delay in getting married, delay to receive salary, delay to complete schooling/college, etc.
However, the Holy Spirit functions in opposition to the spirit of delay and brings divine acceleration in disparate matters of our lives. As soon as Jesus got into the boat, the boat immediately reached the shore. This was a miracle. They already had wasted a few hours rowing the boat and perhaps they may have had to cover a few more miles to reach the shore.
God can redeem the lost time and seasons in your life. He can compensate for your loss. Also, He’ll let you arrive at the destination in no time.
Joel 2:25 - “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm — my great army that I sent among you.
If you’d rightly believe Him and permit Him into your life, you too can experience this divine acceleration. Do not be discouraged when you see your friends/ colleagues settle and succeed in life while you haven’t yet reached anywhere. If Jesus is with you, He’ll look into the matter and it will be fulfilled. The spirit of divine acceleration will fight against the spirit of delay!
About the Author
Dr. Damien Antony
Born and brought up in a Christian family, Dr. Damien Antony possessed an unquenching quest for truth right from his boyhood days and eventually his relentless search led him to the Bible. He is a Revival Preacher, Bible Teacher, Leadership Trainer, Author and a Life Coach. He moves under the anointing for Prophetic, Healing, Deliverance, Inner Healing and Financial Breakthrough. God has also blessed him with an Apostolic Mandate to take the Universal Body of Christ to the next level of revelation and anointing.
Born and brought up in a Christian family, Dr. Damien Antony possessed an unquenching quest for truth right from his boyhood days and eventually his relentless search led him to the Bible. He is a Revival Preacher, Bible Teacher, Leadership Trainer, Author and a Life Coach. He moves under the anointing for Prophetic, Healing, Deliverance, Inner Healing and Financial Breakthrough. God has also blessed him with an Apostolic Mandate to take the Universal Body of Christ to the next level of revelation and anointing.
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