Hurricane Harvey, From Mega-Storm to Mega-blessing
The Mega-Storm Called Harvey
Today has been a rather interesting day to say the least. I woke up to the news that a tropical storm named Harvey was brewing in the Gulf of Mexico and that it would bring some much needed rain to South Texas. The forecast called for 1 or 2 inches of rain in San Antonio Texas and some 6 inches of rain along the coast. So where did this mega-storm come from?
Ten minutes later, the meteorologist on the radio started to say that since the last
update, Tropical Storm Harvey had gained strength. The storm was expected to make landfall near Corpus Christi Texas Friday night or Saturday Morning as a category 1 Hurricane! He sounded shocked and in disbelief as he gave the news and said,”This Storm has come out of nowhere and has surprised us all. Harvey could become a high category one Hurricane before it’s all said and done with winds sustained near 80 miles an hour and rain along the coast of 10 to 12 inches. It could make its way to San Antonio dumping some 4 to 6 inches of rain there.”
Mega-News
That was the last update I heard, until about 7:00 pm CST when I heard the meteorologist on the radio again. He said, “Harvey is rapidly strengthening and is forecast to become a Category 3 hurricane with winds of at least 111 mph by the time it hits the middle Texas coast late Friday or early Saturday. It’s expected to bring 15 to 25 inches of rain to the Texas coast, with isolated instances where rainfall totals could reach 35 inches”. How did we go from a Tropical Storm to a Category 3 Hurricane in just 8 hours? “It’s like scientists created a mega-storm on a computer and then unleashed it into the real world,” I heard the meteorologist say.
Well, all of this got me thinking. I began to think about one such storm recorded in the bible. Shall we read it?
Mark 4:35-41 The Message (MSG)
The Wind Ran Out of Breath
35-38 Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”
39-40 Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?”
41 They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!”
Mega-Attacks
Any time you are on the front lines of battle and are doing something for the kingdom of God, the enemy’s attacks against your life will escalate. Since I began Manly Training Ministries, I have seen this first hand! I have seen it every time my family and I serve the Lord and start making progress in bringing the kingdom of God to men, women and children.
Even Jesus came under such an attack when He was preparing to cast a legion of demons out of the demoniac of Gadara. Violent and destructive winds seemed to come from out of nowhere to capsize Jesus’ boat & drown Him & His disciples in the middle of the lake.
Verse 37 – (KJV) “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full…”
NOTICE the phrase – “And there arose…” This is a phrase from a Greek word which occurs more than 200 times in the N.T. with the meaning that describes something that happens “unexpectedly“”or something that catches one off guard.
Mega-Surprise
The word contains an element of surprise. This tells us that Jesus and His disciples did not expect bad weather that night – these winds took them by surprise.
Many of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen before they were called into the ministry and they knew the weather of the sea. Had a mega-storm been brewing that night, these men would never have taken their little boat out into the middle of that sea. You would have to be crazy if you purposely went into a storm that you know is coming and you can avoid it. From that we can be sure that when they began their journey that night it was a perfect night for sailing.
Suddenly and unexpectedly “there arose” a great storm of wind. NOTICE: Mark tells us it was “A GREAT STORM OF WIND” or (NIV) “A FURIOUS SQUAIL.”
The word “Great” is taken from the word Mega, which denotes something of magnificent proportions. It is where we get the idea of “Mega-bills,” “Mega-work,” “Mega-tired,” or the word “Mega-phone.” Mark is telling us that this was a Mega-storm.
Notice also that it was “a great storm of wind…” Mark doesn’t say that it was a thunderstorm, or a rainstorm; he tells us that it was “a great storm of WIND.”
This word “wind” describes a “turbulence” or a terribly “violent wind.”
An Invisible Mega-Storm
The mega-storm which came against Jesus and His disciples that night was an unseen storm; you could not see this storm, but you could feel the effects of it.
This was an attempt of the enemy to destroy Jesus and His crew before they reached the other side. On the other side, in the country of the Gadarenes, Satan had a prized possession: the demoniac of Gadara. Satan did not want his prized possession to come in contact with Jesus. The devil knew that if this happened he could loose this prized possession.
In order to stop Jesus from reaching the other side this unexpected attack of “violent and destructive turbulence” came down upon them to kill and destroy.
The disciples were soon to learn that Jesus is Lord of the wind and the waves! After 
exercising authority over this unseen turbulence & speaking to the waves of the sea, the scripture says that “the wind ceased, and there was a GREAT CALM” (v. 39, KJV).
Mega-Authority
Just as sure as such attacks came against Jesus we to can be sure the enemy will attempt to do this to us as well. We must deal with these attacks. We, through the name of Jesus must take authority over the wind & the waves that come against our lives, our families, our businesses or our bodies, just like Jesus took authority over the wind & the waves that came against Him.
NOTICE the words “GREAT CALM”. Verse 37 told us that the storm was “A GREAT STORM.” WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID & DONE Jesus matched a “Mega-storm” with a “Mega-calm”!
Mega-Evil
Let me break the news to you this way…
If the enemy has created a Mega financial problem in your life then Jesus wants to match it with a MEGA financial blessing.
Anytime that the adversary has creats a MEGA sickness in your body, then Jesus wants to match it with a MEGA healing.
If the devil has created a horrible MEGA marital mess in your life, then the Lord Jesus wants to match it with a MEGA marital blessing.
Whatever the devil does, Jesus wants to at least match it in your life! Really he will not only match it but he will do more than the devil. He will give you blessings greater than the problems the devil gave you.
So what are you facing today? Whatever it is, there is a light at the end of your tunnel and the blessings far outweigh the problems you are facing now.
Here are some other good reads on Manly Training:
Women can Help Too
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