There's no way we can abandon the Lord, even if we sometimes feel that He hasn't fulfilled some promise made in the Scriptures. Now, from the testimony that God gives in His Word, we begin to understand that His part has already been done. So, starting from revelation, we need to begin our own: to take on board what we have been told in the Bible. But in reality, we are still immature in this matter.

         Driven by despair, the disciples woke Jesus up and asked him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing? (Mark 4.38b). With this attitude, they showed the same haste as when they took the Savior to the boat. Why didn't they ask Him where they were going wrong? Jesus did what they should have done: He rebuked the wind and told the sea to calm down. Did they try to do that, something they knew, or did they cry?

            We can't blame them, because we too often ignore the Lord's instructions and act like the lost, who don't know the rights of the saved in Jesus. Those who learn from the Master need to act like Him, walking in His footsteps: He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1 John 2.6). The lessons taught by Christ must be accepted and practiced, not abandoned.

         Let's always be in communion with the Most High, learning from the Bible and not just from those who claim to be His servants. God's method of teaching is through the Scriptures:  God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets (Hebrews 1.1). He has spoken and now bears witness to the promise that belongs to us - the explanation of the Word.

         With authority, using the Name of Jesus, we have to speak to the mountain, to the problem, to get it out of our lives. The Master's last words were: And these signs will  follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16.17,18). It is our mission to obey this command, so that the Lord's work will grow among people all over the world. Christ confirms the Word!

             Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea, demons and diseases, and other kinds of evil. Let's learn how He operated in His ministry so that we can do the same. One day, we will answer for what we have done with the power of the Spirit given to us: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1.8).

          In the next lesson, we'll see that the Master asked the disciples to do what they had already learned, but they didn't do it. Let's make this clear to everyone, because we will undoubtedly have to answer to the King of kings for everything He has taught us: For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you (John 13.15). He is our example!

In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares