BEFORE THE STORM

01/24/2023

"As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say” (Number 14:28).

Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” The Greek word for “framed” in this text is katartizó, and it means to bring something into its proper condition (whether for the first time or after a lapse). Therefore, it makes no difference whether before the storm, in the storm, or after the storm; when the Word is spoken in faith, you can be assured that it will cause changes.

For the Word to be operative in the earth realm,  it must be spoken!  God put this principle to work when He wanted to bring the earth into its proper condition. Genesis 1:2 tells us that the earth was without form and void and that the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. However, the Spirit moving upon the waters did not change the condition of the earth; it was still without form and void until God spoke. This reveals one thing: the moving of the Spirit will never replace and cannot make up for the absence of the Word. Truth be told; a real move of the Spirit will produce prophecy because the Spirit will only move in anticipation of the Word. And the moving of the spirit will amount to nothing if the Word is not proclaimed.

The Word spoken by God was more powerful than the mess that the earth was in.  In the same vein, the Word on your lips is more powerful than all the challenges that you face.  And if the Word declared could bring the earth from a chaotic mess to its proper condition, you can be assured that the Word will bring anything back to its proper place or condition when spoken. However, you don’t have to wait for the trouble to show up first before you start to prophesy. Child of God, you can dictate the condition of your marriage and finances ever before trouble strikes. 

Many of God’s people understand speaking to the storm while in the midst of the storm, and there is nothing wrong with that, but there is something better. How about speaking to the storm ever before the storm shows up? You can address the storms that threaten your health, finances, marriage, children, ministry, etc. ever before they arise. However, what we end up seeing with most Christians is that they wait for the storm to hit before they start speaking. And when they do this, their words are often times colored with fear. This was the story with the disciples of Jesus in Matthew 8. I don't believe the storm came to Jesus as a surprise because if it did, He too would have been petrified like His disciples. But rather than get petrified, He was fast asleep, knowing, that He already had the victory. He likely had already spoken to the storm before He stepped into the boat; so that whatever happened after He had spoken, was mere shenanigans, and not worthy of His attention. Nevertheless, for the sake of His disciples, He woke up and calmed the storm. Before He calmed the storm, He said to His disciples, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” In other words, had the disciples spoken to the storm before it came, they wouldn’t have had to lose sleep over it.

So why wait till adversity knocks on the door before you pray and prophesy? You don’t need to wait until you are broke or sick before you can prophesy the Word. You can and should prophesy the Word ever before you are faced with a challenge because the Lord has said, "As surely as I live...I will do to you the very things I heard you say” (Number 14:28). Child of God, we have not been called to play defense, so, prophesy before the storm comes.

You are blessed.

Faith Filled Confession:

I declare that I am healed by the stripes of Jesus. I declare wholeness on every side. I declare that as for me, and my household, we shall serve the Lord. I declare that no weapon that is formed or fashioned against me prospers. I declare that I spend my days in prosperity and my years in pleasures, in Jesus name, Amen.

ONE YEAR READING PLAN: Exodus 7-8; Matthew 17