Be of Good Cheer!
Read St. Matthew 14:27
If You Ever Just Yearn Sometimes To Be By Yourself...... To Hear Yourself Pray..... To Be Alone...
This is what the Spirit of God gave us today in our worship service
and it was such a blessing. It comes from St. Matthew 14:22-39.......
Verse 22 says - “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into
a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the
multitudes away.”
It’s time to get into that place God wants us to be..... We might say, “ I
don’t ride in ships.... planes...... buses....... they scare me.....” The
Lord says - “Get in the ship and go before me. Let’s get in that place we’re
afraid to be in - where He is telling us to get in, and believe that He’s
right behind us..... He’s our safety! He’s our security! No harm will come
to us, if we get in the ship. Think about it ...... all those in Noah’s
“ship” were saved - all eight souls. There’s safety in obedience. Whatever
position - natural or spiritual, we’ve been called to - is the “ship.”
Verse 23 says - “And when He had sent the multitudes away......”
God says to lay aside all those weights which do so easily beset us, which
cause us to fumble and grumble.....to become discouraged..... to be
proud...... to love things more than Him........ to be selfish and to want to
do things when it’s convenient........
There are a multitude of things that are in our way of becoming that person
He has saved us to be. But what’s a multitude with Jesus? He is the One who
can save us from that multitude of traditions, complexes, or ideosyncracies
that confuse our walk with the Lord. Those things are against us..... Jesus
says He will blot them out for us. He will take them out of our way, if we
let Him.
“He went up into a mountain apart to pray......”
Let’s meet Him in that mountain. Let’s come apart from business... from
family..... from ambitious pursuits..... from whatever is separating us from
God......... Let’s go UP! The mountain where God is........ is UP! If we
let go of those besetting weights, and come apart from those things and
people who really don’t have a mind to serve God like we do..... we’ll feel
that desire that we covered over with “stuff,” to be with God! Don’t you
just yearn sometimes to be by yourself...... to hear yourself pray..... to be
alone? That’s really God putting that desire in you. He is calling you,
from within your heart. There’s a time for everything..... and we’ve been
giving everything time, except God!
“And when the evening was come, he was there alone.”
That’s where God wants us - alone with Him. Alone from others. Alone from
the husband...... the wife.... the sister and the brother.... the best
friend....... He wants His time with YOU! Let’s not make Him beg for our
time and love. Almighty God wants to spend time with YOU. Go up to your
prayer place, and prepare to speak with God. He’s there, waiting to hear,
and to speak to you. This is different from our regular “prayer and
meditation” we’ve been religiously doing. This is a CALL. This is the way
to get those answers we’ve been seeking God about. This is the path we must
take to receive heavenly counself and blessings.
Verse 24 says - “But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with
waves: for the wind was contrary.”
Remember when you were on the shore, and were afraid to launch out into the
deep? Look where God has brought you. You’re in the middle of the sea,
where the sharks are.... where the wind is contrary to the ship.... where you
can feel yourself being rocked to and fro...... Look at you! God has been
with you all the way! He’s never left you. So what if the waves of people’s
moods rock your peace..... You can take it! So what if there’s a wave of
fear, confusion and frustration that’s attacking your household! You have
the word - the authority - to use the name of Jesus! Speak to those winds,
those prevailing voices that are lifted up against you. Be of good cheer!
Run the devil crazy, with your cheerfulness. Let others see you unperturbed!
Your peace says a lot! When you exercise your God-given authority, folk
and devils will fear and tremble. There’s a time to be meek and humble, and
there’s a time to declare the power of God Almighty. The God in you is more
than those contrary voices...... See if those waves don’t settle down, when
you determine not to get upset. Hold on to your peace, thus preserving it!
Follow peace with all that oppose you!
Verse 25 shows Jesus coming unto the disciples in the ship, walking on the
sea. Get ready for the coming of the Lord into your situation! Get ready
for Jesus to step into your home..... come to your job...... meet you in the
marketplace..... or wherever the sea looks like it’s prevailing against you.
He’s going to place His feet smack dab in the middle of that opposition!
That force has got to give! That problem has got to be solved, because He’s
preparing to walk on your sea, and “un-trouble” your circumstances. He’s
going to “right the wrongs.” He’s going to put His divine footprints on that
which has wounded you, and heal you. He’s going to mend what’s been broken.
He’s going to squash underfoot, the multitude of devices which satan had
whipped up to hinder you! Jesus is right on time! Hallelujah! Thank you
Lord!
Verse 26 - “And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were
troubled.... saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.”
Let not your heart be troubled, my friend. Be of good cheer. Be joyous.
Expect company anyday now. His name is Emanuel - God with us. Jesus will
empower your life even more, when you put away the multitude of things that
are between you and Him, and go UP into your prayer place, and bare your
sweet little self before the God of peace! He’s already waiting for you
there. Let not your heart be troubled any longer, and don’t be afraid.
Ignore whatever threatens your happiness. It’s a vain threat. It’s like a
tinkling cymbal, when it has to stand up to an omnipotent God! So fix your
mouth to rebuke the spirit of fear and confusion! Speak up and defend your
soul against doubt! The Lord God is with you! And when you have done all to
stand........... keep standing! You have the victory!
Jesus is saying unto you, this day - “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not
afraid (v.27)
Whatever presents itself to you as a curse, has already been conquered
through my sacrifice. I died to save you already! By faith are you saved,
healed and delivered! According unto your faith, so be it unto you.........
“
Now, after you have received the word of faith, you will find yourself
treading on lying serpents....and flattering tongues. You’ll find yourself
doing like Peter - walking on the water... defying nature.....seeing only
Jesus.....You’ll find yourself using Holy Ghost power to tread over all the
power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you (St.Luke 10:19).
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Receive an increase
of faith this hour!
St. Matthew 14:29 - “And he said Come......”
“I beseech you this day, therefore, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.... and be not conformed to this world..... but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1,2)
The Lord extends an invitation to us to come unto Him NOW....while He is
near...... that our prayers will arise into the throne room as incense - as
that sweet-smelling savor - to be the delight unto the Father, that He
deserves to get from us, His redeemed. We have been reconciled unto God,
through Jesus Christ, so let us commune with the Father more earnestly, and
show sincere appreciation for so great a salvation.........
Amen, and amen!
***********
Feel free to share with whosoever the Lord leads you to do so. It has
been such a blessing to have first received this message for myself, and then
to be able to share with you - my beloved.
