BREAKERS, BILLOWS, FLOODS AND FLAMES

[SW234] 06/03/2016 message notes by

Reverend/Evangelist Susan J. Wynn ©2016

“Breakers, Billows, Floods and Flames”

Here’s another word that the Lord gave me to give my mother, when I was in Maine. Billows, waves, floods and flames come to us all. Why does God allow them?

Texts: Psalm 42:7, Isaiah 43:1-2

Mom was stricken with all four — billows, waves, floods, and flames! We lived in Florida, and Mom was (and is) in Maine. Four years ago, she fell down a hill and was caught upside down in a bush for 12 hours before she was discovered and rescued by my brother, who lives just a few miles from her. The Lord gave her strength to recover, and she was able to return to her condo.

In early February, she fell onto her stomach beside her bed and had no strength to get up. She was nearly dead when my brother went to check on her 18 hours later. She began to recover, then had a couple of hospitalizations because of her heart, finally went to assisted living, and then had two strokes within minutes of each other.

Talk about breakers, billows, floods, and flames!

I flew to Maine and spent two weeks with Mom. He gave me wonderful words — first, that I was her fish, caught for Jesus! On my third full day in Maine, I went before the Lord in the early morning and He took me to Psalm 42:7. Then He said, “Tell Jane these are MY breakers and billows.” I said to Mom, “The good thing about the breakers billows is that they are His. He has you, He will bring you out.” She and I rejoiced together! It was lovely! And indeed, next week she will be discharged from rehab and will return to her home at an assisted living facility.

Why did the breakers, billows come about in my mother’s life? The Lord showed me that she was soundly saved and fully His. And He is glorified because she recovered twice from the brink of death. And her attitude toward her caregivers has been sweet and submissive, a great witness of Christ in her!

Breakers, billows, flames and floods! Jeff and I have seen a few! Jeff had a “widowmaker” heart attack in May 2011. Had he disobeyed the Lord? He was saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit, serving the Lord with everything that was in him. His heart disease was genetic.

The damage to his heart was massive. Toxic cardiac enzymes from his damaged heart muscle flooded his body. His heart shuddered constantly, unable to carry blood to the rest of his body.

I could have cried, “Lord, why did you let this happen?” It never occurred to me. God is good, everything He does is good, so there had to be a purpose I could not see.

So the next morning, the Lord gave me the word that the Lord would give life to Jeff’s heart muscle by the Spirit who indwells Jeff (Romans 8:11). Later, He told me that Jeff would go through floods and not be overcome, and flames and not be burned. There would be no residual damage.

Sure enough, the Lord showed Himself to be faithful and true to His Word. On the third day (the Lord loves to restore on the third day!), Jeff’s heart was completely healed when I obeyed the Lord’s prompting, grabbed my guitar and music, and worshiped with Jeff in his hospital room.

Many saw and marveled at what the Lord had done — doctors, nurses, and even now, everyone who hears this testimony. There is no residual damage. Billows and waves, flames and floods! They will come, and God the Father and God the Son will be glorified!

Let’s get biblical. In Jonah 2:3, Jonah prayed to the Lord from the belly of the fish, “For You had cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and waves passed over me.”

“All YOUR breakers!” They were the Lord’s waves. Jonah disobeyed the Lord’s command to go and warn Nineveh of coming judgment, and ran in the opposite direction. Jonah was on a ship at sea in a storm. He knew the storm came about because of his disobedience.

So Jonah confessed and repented, and offered himself to be thrown into the sea so the others would be spared. But even then the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

What was the Lord’s purpose in the three days and three nights? Jonah had already confessed his disobedience. Couldn’t the Lord have rescued him sooner?

Those three days and three nights were a prophetic act. Just as Jonah had saved a ship full of men and then was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, so would Jesus Christ offered Himself to be hung on a cross to save a world full of men if they believe on Him, and then be in the belly of the earth three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40). Hallelujah!

The sons of Korah wrote Psalm 42 while they were in exile in Babylon. The Lord CHOSE Nebuchadnezzar as His servant (Jeremiah 25:9) to correct wayward Judah.

The sons of Korah sang that the Lord’s breakers and waves had rolled over them (Psalm 42:7). But they were the Lord’s breakers! They hoped in God (Psalm 42:11), and hope does not disappoint. At the end of seventy years, just as the Lord promised in Jeremiah 25:11, the exiles were eventually returned to the Land.

What was God’s greater purpose in their exile? To show His faithfulness to His Word. He warned His people through His prophets, to turn from their sin or they would be exiled from the Promised Land. And He was faithful to carry out the exile. But He was also faithful to restore them in due time.

Do you see that with every billow and wave, the Lord had a greater purpose that could not be seen at first?

When the Jesus was with the disciples on the Sea of Galilee and a terrible storm arose (see Matthew 8:23-27), Jesus was with them. But they panicked. He rebuked the storm — “Peace, be still!” And the waters became calm.

What was the purpose of the storm? To test their faith, and so they would see that even the winds and sea must obey Jesus Christ.

Later, He tested them again, and this time He was not with them. Did they again panic? Were they filled with fear? Yes. But Jesus came to them, walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33). When He got into the boat, the sea became calm. Once again, He rebuked them for doubting. Their response this time was to worship Him and declare Him to be God the Son.

Do you see that with every storm, Jesus Christ was testing and building their faith? He promised that there would be floods and wind (Matthew 7:24ff). But if your house is built on Jesus Christ, you will not fail, because your faith is founded on Him.

I have recently met with breakers and billows, floods and flames. But do I fear? No! Satan tries his best to make me expect the worst, but I trust in the Lord. In answer to prayer, Jesus Christ has removed great pain from my abdomen. Afterwards, I went for an already scheduled surgical consult, and the surgeon did not believe surgery was necessary. Praise the Lord! He is faithful to deliver!

Peter, who endured much for the sake of Christ, told believers not look at trials as some strange thing (1Peter 4:12). The Lord allows these things so you can see your heart and your faith. He will show you what He wants you to see. And if repentance is needed and your heart belongs to Him, you will repent. But know that in the midst of it all, the greater purpose is to show that He is faithful and true, and God the Father and God the Son will be glorified.

Are you overwhelmed with breakers, billows, flames and floods? Have you questioned God’s goodness in the midst of your trial? Are you in a storm or exiled from the Lord because you have disobeyed Him like Jonah and the people of Judah? Then repent now.

He will deliver you in due time. When it happens, you will see His purpose in allowing it. Trust Him. He will receive honor and praise when He delivers you!