"Raging Storm at Sea and Amazing Ministries Who PREVAIL! - A Word for 2017" By Bonnie Jones, Pineville, NC

The Day of Atonement this year brought a lot of revelation. The Lord shared many things with me that are dear to His heart. Such as, the tears of the weeping widows and how He's answering their prayer. He showed me the anointing of Samuel falling on the Body of Christ and the release of the Elisha anointed ministries.

I also saw God drawing a line in the sand separating sheep and goats. And people who were literally being hung by their own tongue. It was an interesting mix of revelation this year. I'd like to share one revelation I found of great significance especially for the season that is upon us in the Body of Christ.

The Raging Sea

In a trance, I saw a violent raging storm and sea and ships were being tossed to and fro. Holy Spirit reminded me of Mark 4:35-41 after the account of Jesus explaining the parable of the sower and the seed. Afterwards He said to His disciples, "Let us cross over to the other side." And other little boats went with Him. While Jesus was asleep in the stern of the boat a fierce windstorm began to blow and the waves were breaking over the boat causing it to fill with water.

Frightened and alarmed, the disciples awakened Him. They were fearful of their demise. But I think they got the surprise of their lives when He arose and rebuked the fierce wind. Then He spoke to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

"On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side.' Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?

"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?' And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, 'Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!'"

Peace, Be Still!

I've heard this message many times and it's always exciting to me. The Lord rebukes the wind and it obeys Him, then He speaks peace to the sea and immediately it becomes calm. What a deal. And to think we have the same authority! All these things are awesome but somehow I think we miss an important point.

The Lord tells the disciples that they are going to cross over to the other side. But He also gives an invitation for others to join Him and they do. Other little boats set sail alongside His larger boat but we never hear about them again. What happened to them? Did they get swept away in the raging storm? Did they survive the fierce winds and pounding waves?

Although we don't have a scriptural answer to this, here is what I believe the Lord is showing me. All ministries have been given equal opportunity to, "Follow Me." And in faith they began to cross the calm water of the Holy Spirit. However, when things got tough and it began to storm those of little faith turned back to shore. It was easier to return to past failures than go beyond the veil to see what the Holy Spirit had awaiting them. They gave up hope and turned back to their safety zone.

Other ministries continued to weather the storm by following Him. Yet when the winds of adversity intensified and the storm raged on, fear entered into their heart. So they took their eyes off Jesus. Miracles, signs and wonders were once a part of these ministries but then the religious spirit crept in. Others were fearful of losing their congregation and denied the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately their boats filled with water and capsized.

Still there were a few little boats that held on by faith refusing to take their eyes off Jesus. Despite their hardships, they pressed into the Cross, trusting the Lord. They put their face to the wind and weathered everything the sea of restless humanity threw at them. When the religious spirit arose they overcame it by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11). They were not defeated but victorious in Christ. Not only have these ministries witnessed the miracle at sea, now they shall behold the greater works as they reach the other side.

Release and Freedom for the Demon Oppressed

And what could be greater than this miracle at sea? If you read Mark chapter five, the demoniac greets Jesus as soon as He arrived on the other side. And this is where the faithful Body of Christ is going – to the other side. There are a lot of dazed, confused and mislead people out there who need deliverance. Only the Body of Christ has the antidote, and His name is Jesus!

Jesus didn't waste time. He cast a legion (1000 demons) out of the demoniac and at once he had his right mind. Then Jesus clothed him in His righteousness and released him into his own ministry. The demoniac was exceedingly grateful and wanted to follow the Lord. But Jesus sent him on his way to evangelize the ten cities of the Decapolis.

"Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him." (Mark 5:1-6 NKJV)

Get ready to witness faithful ministries emerge on the scene, full of power and might. They have weathered the storms of adversity and have no fear of the enemy. They have chosen to, "Follow Me" and reached the other side. They will speak to the wind and it shall obey them because they are led by the wind of the Holy Spirit. They shall become peacemakers to the restless sea of humanity and complete the work of the great commission.

"And as you go, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:7-8 NKJV). (To Subscribe to the Elijah List go here.)