Peace be still

Peace be still

Mark 4: 37-39

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

I think we all know this story very well that is documented here in Mark. If not in these three verses is documented the summary that took place.

 As we reflect on the story the disciples marveled at the fact in verse 41 that even the wind and waves obeyed him. We know and sing that Christ is the master of the sea, so we have come to expect him to say to the winds and storm in this story Peace be still and they listen.

We have come to expect Miracles in the bible, but we lack faith when it comes to the storms in our lives.

I ask that you indulge me for a minute as I speak under the caption, Peace be still

Let us Pray.

Although we know that Christ is the creator and as such he had the power to command the winds. I beg to ask the question, was Christ speaking as a man or as God that the winds and the waves obeyed him?

Note your answer is in verse 41. The disciples saw Christ as a man. This is the quandary of our age. We can clearly see Christ as God but struggle to see Him as man. They could clearly see Christ as a man but struggled to see him as God.

If you doubt even further that Christ spoke as man consider what he says to them in verse 40. Why did you doubt it? Where is your faith?

When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. But He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the "Master of earth and sea and sky" that He reposed in quiet. That power He had laid down, and He says, "I can of Mine own self do nothing." John 5:30. He trusted in the Father's might. It was in faith--faith in God's love and care--that Jesus rested, and the power of that word that stilled the storm was the power of God.  {DA 336.1}

This is a redundant question, but I have to ask it for emphasis  Were the disciples men? 

The obvious answer is that the disciples were indeed men, however in Christ’s statement was the implication that if they had faith, they could have done what he did. If they had faith they really had nothing to fear. If they had faith all would have been well.

 

Don’t get me wrong we are all striving towards that mark. Even the strongest of us, buckle sometimes under pressure. Do you remember the story of Elijah, i.e. after the monumental display of God’s power on Mount Carmel, Jezebel’s threat, sent the strong faithful Elijah running. Just imagine the one who called fire down from heaven that consumed a captain and fifty twice. This same Elijah buckled. 

Going back to ur story in Mark, it was not light circumstances that caused these hardy fishermen to buckle. Those hardy fishermen who had spent their lives upon that same lake, and had guided their craft safely through many a storm; were now affrightened as their strength, experience, and skill availed nothing. They were helpless in the grasp of the tempest, and hope failed them as they saw that their boat was filling.

 {DA 334.3}

No doubt absorbed in their efforts to save themselves, they had forgotten that Jesus was on board. Now, seeing that their labor was in vain and only death before them, they remembered at whose command they had set out to cross the sea. 

Jesus was their only hope. In their helplessness and despair, they cried, "Master, Master!" Their cry arouses Jesus. As the lightning's glare reveals Him, they see the peace of heaven in His face; they read in His glance self-forgetful, tender love, and, their hearts turning to Him, cry, "Lord, save us: we perish."  {DA 335.1}

 

Never did a soul utter that cry unheeded.

Just in case you have forgotten Christ is still near. He has the solution to your problem. He has the answer to your question and he is no less powerful now than he was back then.

Is he not still holding up the Earth right now in space? Is he still not warming the sun and holding it too in place?

Then you claim the promise, I have never seen the righteous forsaken, but the truth is you’re asking yourself, is it that I am not righteous enough that I’m being forsaken.

Again friends, if you look to yourself, you will feel lost, but if you look to Christ you shall be an overcomer.

Turn with me to john16:33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Christ has promised that there will be tribulation. 

Notice the word that precedes tribulation. He said You shall have tribulation, in other words, this a certainty. Consequently, we should have the expectation of tribulation and as best as possible prepare for it.

Jesus endured in tribulation, Paul endured tribulation and you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. Be encouraged. It won’t last forever.

The sad part is that being human we don’t want to go through this tribulation.

But tribulation is necessary for our growth and development. Consider a nurse dressing a wounded soldier.  We see it in movies and I think we can assimilate when sometimes putting alcohol on the wound is a necessary evil.

God is our nurse and he knows just how much we can take, and he is administering the medicine although it is painful.

All you have to do is trust him with your life.

He created you. He bought you and he has a heart of love.

In your situation right now God is saying Peace be still.

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

The human response

Even right now you may be thinking of your sinful habits. As your conscience has been quickened by the Holy Spirit, you have seen the evil of sin, of its power, its guilt, its woe; and you look upon it with abhorrence. However you feel the more you struggle to escape, the more you realize your helplessness.  You see that your life has been filled with selfishness and sin. You long to be forgiven, to be cleansed, to be set free. Achieving harmony with God, and being like Him seem like an impossible goal to achieve. What can you do to obtain it?  {SC 49.1}

 It is peace that you need--Heaven's forgiveness and peace and love in the soul. 

Money cannot buy it, intellect cannot procure it, wisdom cannot attain to it; you can never hope, by your own efforts, to secure it. But God offers it to you as a gift, "without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1. 

It is yours if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it. The Lord says, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." Ezekiel 36:26.  {SC 49.2}

     You have confessed your sins, and in heart put them away. You have resolved to give yourself to God. Now go to Him, and ask that He will give you the peace that He has promised.

                               

Creation Series day 2 -dialogue

 KerryAnn: Hello Everyone and Welcome to Part 1 of the study of Day 2 of the bible study series called The Story of Creation. I am your host Kerry-Ann Greenland and with me, I have my husband Kerrol Greenland. In an attempt to keep our videos under 5 minutes not all bible texts quoted will be read, so we encourage you to pause the video and read the verses that are not displayed on screen so that you can have the best understanding of the discussions.

If you have not already watched the first 5 videos in the series about creation day 1, it is strongly recommended that you watch those videos before you proceed with this series on Creation Day 2. Some of the definitions, terms, and arguments mentioned in this video may seem confusing unless you are equipped with the foundational information mentioned in the first series of videos.  

Before we open our study of the word today,  let us pray.

Kerrol: Do you want to give a recap of some of the ideas we touched on in the previous videos before we proceed?

Kerry-Ann: O.k.   I can do that. In our last presentation, we discussed briefly what the foundation of the Earth was tied to. We started out by looking at the 1st Day of the creation week. We examined various things, but I think one of the most interesting things we discussed was the presence of darkness that existed even before God opened His mouth to call the 1st day of creation into existence.

We concluded that darkness was created just as surely as light was. We went further to make symbolic references for the creation of light and darkness and the contrast that existed between the two. It was said that light and darkness symbolized the choice between two roads that lay before every creature of God. 

We concluded that day one examines the initial stages God takes to deal with the sin problem; and it emphasized the role Michael (Christ, The Word, The Light) occupied as the mediator between good and evil, light and darkness.

We intend to make symbolic references for Creation day 2 as well. Keep your mind open, as we attempt to show you a deeper dimension than what is often seen about the days of creation.

Our focus scripture for  today will be Gen. 1: 6-8. Let us read it together.

Slide

Kerry-Ann: 

6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

Kerry-Ann: So what is the firmament and where is it located?

Kerrol: O.k. So simply put, the firmament is a circular space that God created. We can read this in Prov 8: 26-27

Slide

Kerry-Ann: 

26 While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth:

Kerrol: Note what is being referenced as the heavens plural in verse 27; is a compass. Meaning a shape that is related to a circle, circular shape. The plural application of firmament here is also fitting to the heaven mentioned in Genesis 1:1. 

Please note in verse 8 of our scripture reading in Genesis, God is the one who names the firmament heaven.

Kerry-Ann: I’m not sure why heaven is referred to as plural in the proverbs verse.

Kerrol: The truth is most people know that there is more than one heaven, but which heaven is being referenced here is not clear unless you understand the reference made in Gen 1:8. 

Without this qualifier, we will also misunderstand Gen 1:1.

Kerry-Ann: O.k.So let’s set the record straight. How many heavens are there?

Kerrol: To answer that question directly. There are 3 heavens.

Kerry-Ann: Do you have a verse for that?

Kerrol: Yes we can read 2 Corinth 12:2 for reference.

Kerry-Ann:

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

Kerrol: Here we have a text blatantly stating that there was a man caught up to the 3rd heaven. From this text we can deduce that there is a minimum of 3 heavens. I will even describe them for you.

The first is the atmospheric heaven, i.e. where the birds fly

The 2nd is the starry/(celestial) heaven, what we call outer space, and 

The 3rd Heaven is the place where God and the angelic host dwell.

Kerry-Ann: Can we briefly look at each of them.

Kerrol: So the atmospheric heaven (heaven 1) is the first compartment of the firmament. There are two compartments to the firmament, hence this is the reason why it (the firmament) is often referred to as heavens (plural). In the first compartment, God allows the birds of heaven to roam. The birds were added to this part of the firmament as God was putting the finishing touches on day 5. We can read this in Gen 1:20, do you want to read that verse?

 

(slide2)

Kerry-Ann 

Gen 1:20   And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl [that] may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Kerrol: Please note, that “the firmament” is comprised of both heaven 1 and 2,  which are visible by man. Consequently, it would be easy for a man to pass comments about the two, simply because he can see them. Such a comment is found in Psalms 19:1.  Read the first  part  of that text.

Kerry-Ann: (slide3)“The heavens declare the glory of God” 

Kerrol: Plural the heavens meaning the firmament…now this can be said another way…Read the second part of that verse.

Kerry-Ann:.  “the firmament showeth forth his handiwork.” 

Kerrol:  In this verse the scripture makes the reference to heavens and then explains that the two are synonymous. Do you see it?

Kerry-Ann: Yes, it is crystal clear.

Kerrol: Please note that the 3rd heaven where God dwells was not created in day 2. Hence I will not go in details in day 2. Also,  It is impossible to pass comments upon that which we have not seen. (Is 64:4, 1 Cor 2:9)  Blessed be the eyes of John the Revelator for he was privileged to see, and as best as he could he tried to capture on paper what he saw.  Beyond that, however, man, in general, has not been allowed to see beyond the firmament. Consequently, I will give more details about the 3rd heaven in a separate video.

Kerry-Ann:  O.K. We have come to the end of part 1 of Day 2.  We invite 

you to jot down your comments and questions below. 

Slide 

If you like this video and would like to complete the series please click on the link to be taken to part 2. 

You can also click on the blog link below if you would like to read through the entire series. 

Slide 

Don’t forget to click the notification button and subscribe so that you can be notified as soon as the other videos are posted. See you in the next video.

Part 2 

KerryAnn: Hello Everyone and Welcome to Part 2 of the bible study of Day 2 of the Story of Creation. I am your host Kerry-Ann Greenland and with me, I have my husband Kerrol Greenland. Although this is intended to be a bible study, not all the bible texts referenced will be read,  or highlighted on screen. At these points we encourage you to pause the video and  read these verses, so you can have a good understanding of the discussion, as we move along.

If this is your first time here, it is strongly recommended that you first watch part one of this series and the series of videos about creation day 1 before you proceed with this video. 

Some of the definitions, terms, and arguments mentioned in this video may seem confusing unless you are equipped with the foundational information mentioned in the first  set of videos. So once again to prevent any possible confusion, it is strongly advised to watch the previous videos before watching this one.  

Before we open the word,  let us first pray.

Kerry-Ann: O.k.   In our last presentation, we discussed briefly the meaning of heaven attached to the word firmament. We also said that there were three heavens namely the atmospheric heaven, where the birds fly (Heaven 1); the starry heaven, what we call outer space (Heaven 2), and then the heaven of heavens where God dwells(Heaven 3). We were about to expand on the definitions of each but time ran out. So we will do that in this video. Kerrol Let’s begin by defining the Atmospheric heaven.

Kerrol: Remember we said that I would not explain it earlier because I was going to talk about it later in our study of day 2.

Kerry-Ann: Yeah, I remember.

Now that we have a better understanding of what was created. We also should have a clearer understanding of what will be destroyed when Jesus comes the 3rd time.

What will be destroyed!

Or

The entire thing that was created along with the Earth!?   Let us see what the scripture has to say about this

Matth 24:35

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

The earth, the sky, the entire galaxy. All the planets ………..remember man has sent space junk out into space, man has also sent equipment to other planets. All of it will be destroyed although there are parts that we have not yet discovered. All of it will be destroyed and God will make a new heaven and a new earth. Rev 21:1

Slide-22 New Jerusalem

What will be re-created!

Rev 21:1-2

Notice how all three heavens are made mention of here in these two verses. The first and second compartment of heaven is destroyed and then recreated; after which time New Jerusalem comes down from the celestial heaven, properly adorned.

Kerry-Ann: So all we have talked about so far is Heaven 1. What do you have to say about heaven 2.

Kerrol: To be fair, we spoke of both heaven 1 and two, since this is what makes up the firmament. 

Heaven 2 is the space where God hung the stars, the moons and other planets. Heaven 2 was completed on day 4 of creation. Gen 1:14-19. In the hereafter, this too will be destroyed.

Kerry-Ann: What do you mean?

Kerrol: Most people when talking about the 3rd coming of Jesus usually think about the burning of the Earth only. 

Kerry-Ann: What do you mean the third coming. You mean the second coming?

Kerrol: Jesus came first as a babe? He will come for the redeemed on his second trip and then on his third trip, after the 1000 years in heaven he will return with new jerusalem for the burning.

Kerry-Ann: Wait a minute, that is a lot. Do you care to amplify?

Kerrol: Right now this is only incidental information to our study of day 2. I will go into greater detail about this in creation day 4 and 7 of our study?

Kerry-Ann: O.k. Continue

Kerrol: The whole firmament, both where the birds fly and where the stars, moons and other planets are, are going to be destroyed when Jesus comes back to the Earth. 

Kerry-Ann: You mean even outer space will burn! But why?

Kerrol: Just think, anything associated with sin will be destroyed. How much space junk has man sent out into space?

Kerry-Ann: You have a point. Do you have a scripture for any of this?

Kerrol: 2 Peter 3:10

Kerry-Ann: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Kerrol: Note that the Earth will be burned also. Meaning both the heaven and the earth will melt with fervent heat.

Kerry-Ann: I greatly anticipate the study of day 4 and 7 so we can really get into space burning. In the meantime though what do you have to say about heaven 3, i.e. where God dwells?

Kerrol: Can we do that in the next video, I think we are out of time.

Kerry-Ann:  O.K. We have come to the end of part 1 of Day 2.  We invite 

you to jot down your comments and questions below. 

(Slide5) 

If you like this video and would like to complete the series please click on the link to be taken to the next in the series. 

You can also click on the blog link below if you would like to read through the entire series. 

(Slide6) 

Don’t forget to click the notification button and subscribe so that you can be notified as soon as the other videos are posted. See you in the next video.

Part 3 

KerryAnn: Hello Everyone and Welcome to Part 3 of the bible study of Day 2 of the Story of Creation. I am your host Kerry-Ann Greenland and with me, I have my husband Kerrol Greenland. In an attempt to keep our videos under 5 minutes, not all the bible texts referenced will be read or highlighted on screen. At these points we encourage you to pause the video and read these verses, so you can have a good understanding of the discussion, as we move along.

If this is your first time here, it is strongly recommended that you first watch part one of this series and the series of videos about creation day 1 before you proceed with this video. 

Some of the definitions, terms, and arguments mentioned in this video may seem confusing unless you are equipped with the foundational information mentioned in the first set of videos. So once again to prevent any possible confusion, it is strongly advised to watch the previous videos before watching this one.  

Before we open the word,  let us first pray.

Kerry-Ann: O.k.   In our last presentation, we discussed briefly what was contained in the firmament. We discussed heaven 1 and heaven 2. In this presentation, we plan to look at Heaven 3. O.k. so what do we have to say about Heaven 3?

Kerrol: Ah yes. I call heaven 3, “the heavens of heavens.” This is the place where God and the angelic host dwell. 

No doubt this is not the heaven that is spoken of in Gen 1:1.  The heaven where God dwells pre-dates the Earth. That heaven existed before there was an object or place to refer to as Earth.

Just think, God had to be somewhere when He was creating this planet and the things associated with it. Although we call this place heaven, this is not to be confused with the firmament that God named “heaven” on Day 2 of creation. I hope this is clear? 

Kerry-Ann: Not really. Do you have any scripture for this?

Kerrol: Heaven 3 is the dwelling place of God and other celestial beings (Rev 12:12). 

(Slide6) 

Kerry-Ann: Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Kerrol:In this verse we see a clear distinction between heaven and earth, between them that live on Earth and those that live in the heaven. 

Since the heaven where God dwells pre-dates the Earth, this means that this dwelling place of God is where punishments and blessings come from.

Kerry-Ann: Can heaven truly be said to be the place where punishment originates?

Kerrol: Yes it is. We read this inGen   8:2. Where did the water that filled the earth during the flood come from?   

Kerry-Ann: The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

Kerrol:Also in the burning up of Sodom and Gomorrah, where do you think the fire came from? Read Gen 19:24?

Kerry-Ann: Gen 19:24   Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

Kerrol: However, as you can imagine, heaven is not just the place where punishment originates; it is also the place where blessings come from. Consider Ex 16:4, Mal 3:10)

Kerry-Ann:

Kerry-Ann:  O.K. We have come to the end of part 1 of Day 2.  We invite 

you to jot down your comments and questions below. 

Slide 

If you like this video and would like to complete the series please click on the link to be taken to the next in the series. 

You can also click on the blog link below if you would like to read through the entire series. 

Slide 

Don’t forget to click the notification button and subscribe so that you can be notified as soon as the other videos are posted. See you in the next video.

Part 4 

KerryAnn: Hello Everyone and Welcome to Part 4 of the study of Day 2 of the bible study series called The Story of Creation. I am your host Kerry-Ann Greenland and with me, I have my husband Kerrol Greenland. In an attempt to keep our videos under 5 minutes not all bible texts quoted will be read, so we encourage you to pause the video and read these verses that are not quoted so that you can have a good understanding of the discussion as we move along.

If you have not already watched the series about creation day 1, it is strongly recommended that you watch those videos before you proceed with this series on Creation Day 2. Some of the definitions, terms, and arguments mentioned in this video may seem confusing unless you are equipped with the foundational information mentioned in our previous videos. So once again to prevent any possible confusion, it is strongly advised to watch our previous videos before proceeding.  

Kerrol: Do you want to give a recap of some of the ideas we touched on in the previous videos?

Kerry-Ann: 

Before I do that let us pray.

O.k.   In our last presentation, we discussed briefly discussed heaven 1,2, and 3. We stated that the firmament tied to this earth is what God named Heaven and this does not in any way refer to the heaven where God dwells.

O.k. I think that about sums it up.  What else can we say about day 2 of creation?

Kerrol: We just finished interpretation, and we did not touch application.

Kerry-Ann: What applications can we make?

Kerrol: The lesson presented on this day was also briefly mentioned on Day 1. God considers this lesson so important that He made it to stand alone on this day. Just in case you missed it on day one God again does it again on day two?

Kerry-Ann: I have no idea what you're talking about.

Kerrol: That is just it

Kerry-Ann: Tell me

Kerrol: The lesson of separation is so deep/important it is repeated on day 2. No doubt God separated the light from the dark on day 1. But He does another separation lesson on day 2. Read Gen 1:6-8 again and tell me if you see it.

Kerry-Ann: 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

Are you talking about the division of the waters?

Kerrol: yes

Kerry-Ann: But what is so significant about the dividing of waters?

Kerrol: Good question! This only becomes important when we start to make application for the symbol of water. If this were to be treated as a prophecy. What would water mean?

Kerry-Ann: I don’t know. Tell me

Kerrol: Water in prophecy means people.

Kerry-Ann: Do you have a verse of scripture for this?

Kerrol: Read Revelation 17:15

Kerry-Ann: Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.

Kerrol:Is it beginning to dawn on you what is happening here?

Kerry-Ann: No! Explain. 

Kerrol: Waters are beings. In some parts of the bible they are called armies. See for example Isa8:7.  However the text I want to to read for me is Ezekiel 14:12 

Kerry-Ann: Ezekiel   14:12   How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Kerrol: If Adam and Eve were not yet made, then which peoples, nations and multitudes (armies)  were being referenced here?

Kerry-Ann: Tell me

Kerrol:Context tells us that the ‘nations’ here mentioned are not human beings. Since human beings were not yet created at the time of Lucifer’s fall.

Kerry-Ann: o.k. So he is separating the heavenly beings from the heavenly beings. But what is the significance?

Kerrol:This not only has the application of the war in heaven when God separated the sinful heavenly beings from the ones that did not sin, but I think it was a more important application of referencing the creation of man. Man was going to be different from all the other the created beings present in heaven. He was going to be separate/distinct/set apart.

We will look in more detail at this in Day 3, but again the lesson on separation is so important God leaves it as the major thing that is pointed to on day 2.

No here comes the question

Why couldn’t God leave them together?

Kerry-Ann: That I can answer. God is a Holy God and he wants the Holy things kept together. 

Kerrol: That is exactly right. I think I can make the case for separation a little clearer by making this analogy. When you get some money and you take out a part of it and put it in a bank or in a special draw from the rest of your money, usually that money that you have put away has a special purpose. Similarly God separated this water, representing a different being, because these beings were going to serve a special purpose.

Kerry-Ann: WOW! What is this purpose? 

Kerrol:As I said before I am going to deal with this more in depth on Day 3. Plus I think we have run out of time.

Kerry-Ann:  O.K. We have come to the end of part 1 of Day 2.  We invite 

you to jot down your comments and questions below. 

Slide 

If you like this video and would like to complete the series please click on the link to be taken to the next in the series. 

You can also click on the blog link below if you would like to read through the entire series. 

Slide 

Don’t forget to click the notification button and subscribe so that you can be notified as soon as the other videos are posted. See you in the next video.