Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Gbagada HQ
2nd September 2019
Study 26 – CHRIST’S PREVAILING POWER AND OUR UNWAVERING FAITH
Text – Mark 6:45-56; Matthew 28:18; Mark 12:24; Luke 4:14,32; John 17:2; Acts 10:38; 1 Corinthians 1:24; James 1:5
As we read the whole passage, we will see some peculiar and specific things that Christ did. He proved Himself to be Unique in Power, Performance and Operations. Christ did and said what no other person that came before Him ever did or said. We must always hold that uniqueness of Christ in our hearts: He walked on the sea, turned water into wine, dried up the fruitless tree, calmed the raging and stormy sea, multiplied bread to thousands, healed all that came to Him with His word, raised the dead with the spoken word, ruled the sea and wind, and governed the fish of the sea – said to Peter, catch that fish and with the money you take from its mouth pay our taxes. As He walked on the sea, the disciples saw him and were afraid, but he said to them, “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.” Jesus is different and unique. No man ever spoke like Him. ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life’; ‘No man cometh unto the Father but by Me’; ‘I am the Bread of Life’; I am the Resurrection and the Life’; ‘he that believes in Me shall never die’; ‘I and My Father are One’; ‘he that has seen Me has seen the Father’; ‘I will rise the third day’. He predicted it and indeed rose the third day. No man ever said or did what He said and did. That is our Saviour. Power to do all things was associated with Him from His Birth, to His death, to all the miracles that He did, and to all His encounters with everyone, power was associated with Him. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). This is peculiar to Jesus. This is our Saviour, Sanctifier, Baptiser in the Holy Ghost and Power; power in everything He said or did. He knew the Scriptures and that they would be fulfilled in Him with the power of God. Anytime we mention the name of Jesus, power must accompany the mention of that Name (Mark 12:24; Luke 4:14). The Name, Authority, Prayer, Salvation, Sanctification, Transformation, Deeds, Words, and Doctrines of Christ are associated with Power. Whatever the tribe, language or nation, the Heavenly Father has given Christ all power over all flesh (John 17:2). Jesus, as our Saviour, Sanctifier and Substitute is associated with Power. The Lord in His Death, Burial, Resurrection and ongoing ministry, all filled with His Power. If He lives in your heart, power lives in your heart and life. If you have received and accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour, and He lives in your life, then there will be power in your life. Christ is the Power of God, “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). As Christ is full of power, His Name, Authority, Message and Ministry communicate power to us, then we must have unwavering faith in Christ. If anyone lacks salvation, holiness, love, blessing, spiritual gift, let him ask of God in faith without wavering and it shall be given unto him (James 1:5-6).
3 points:
Point 1. HIS CONQUERING POWER OVER UNCOMMON TEMPEST
Mark 6:45-46; Matthew 14:22-23
“And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people” (Mark 6:45). We need to understand that whatever Jesus says, will surely come to pass. Heaven and earth may pass away, but His word will never pass away. And since He said, ‘go to the other side’;He will meet them there. He must meet you on the other side, nothing will cut short your journey before you get to the other side. Hold on to His word and promise. “And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray” (Mark 6:46). That is the Son of God, He has left a perfect example for us to follow that we should live the life of prayer. Before, and after any service, duty, or performance, spend time to pray like Christ. No matter the contrary wind on the journey, they must still get to the other side, and you will get to the other side no matter the contradiction of the winds against your life (Matthew 14:23-25).
Three lessons here:
(i) His Personal Prayer – Mark 6:46; 1:35; Luke 18:1-8; 21:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:17. He depended so much upon the Father that He prayed all the time. “And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray” (Mark 6:46). This was His lifeline and reason of his constant power; He prayed. This is an example for us, that our lives should be marked with praying at all times, without ceasing and with unwavering faith. Never allow any day to pass without waiting upon the Lord in prayer. The Lord told the parable in Luke chapter 18 verses 1-5 to make us understand that importunity, constancy and continuity in prayer are very important and essential in a Christian’s life and ministry. We should not miss our privilege of prayer. When we have asked and not received, we should ask and demand from God again. Keep holding on to the promises and the Lord will answer your prayer in Jesus’ Name. “And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily” (Luke 18:7-8). “Watch ye therefore, and pray always……” (Luke 21:36). Don’t just pray occasionally when the water is about to drown you, or when you are driven to the wall; but pray always. When you are happy, pray to thank Him; for solutions to any problem, pray because He has solution to every problem. Pray always, daily and without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Convert part of the time you spend in talkativeness and on things not profitable to praying and your life will take on a new splendour, power and breakthrough in Jesus name. I pray that we will be doers of His word and spend our time in praying in Jesus’ Name.
(ii) His Prevailing Power – Mark 6:47-48; Psalms 93:3-4; 104:3. “And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them; and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them” (Mark 6:48). When the wind is contrary to you, look away from it and look unto Christ your Saviour, and He will uphold and carry you through. He has prevailing power over the sea, storm and every challenge of life. Our problem is that we look too much at our circumstances, the frowning face of an opposer, and things around us. But Christ was not looking at the contrary wind, because it was not going to determine His destiny and decisions. He walked upon the sea, and you will walk on your stormy sea. “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind” “The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. (Psalms 104:3; 93:4). This is our God and Saviour; and if we will pray, answers and miracles will come.
(iii) Our Promised Privilege – Matthew 14:27-29; Psalms 107:27-30. As we follow Jesus and look up to Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith, we will walk through the contrary winds and we’ll get to the other side. “And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water” (Matthew 14:28). You will do it; contrary wind, bad situations, stormy sea or tempest, you will ride on them and make progress in Jesus’ Name. The Lord did not refuse the request of Peter to walk on the sea, and you will walk on your sea as well, the Lord will calm your storm (Matthew 14:29). “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still” (Psalms 107:29). That tempest will be calm in your life. From tonight, you are entering your place of quietness and rest in Jesus Name (Psalms 107:30).