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Transcript

The Storm Within · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O
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  Speaker 1: ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the
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  Speaker 1: winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.
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  Speaker 1: Matthew 6.26 Peace, be still. In the same way that
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  Speaker 1: Jesus spoke these words over the waves and the storm,
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  Speaker 1: I too speak these words over the storms in my life.
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  Speaker 1: Peace be still. When others come to me to bring
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  Speaker 1: up the magnitude of the storm I may be facing,
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  Speaker 1: I will, in all boldness, remind them of the magnitude
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  Speaker 1: of my God. For there is nothing that I can't conquer,
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  Speaker 1: because Jesus who lives inside of me has already conquered
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  Speaker 1: this world and every trouble in it. No matter the
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  Speaker 1: demonic attack around me, I will not be moved when
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  Speaker 1: I am standing face to face with Satan and his traps.
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  Speaker 1: Because of Jesus and his sacrifice, I now possess more
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  Speaker 1: power than the darkest of enemies. Thank you, Jesus. Thank
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  Speaker 1: you that I am set free and that I also
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  Speaker 1: have the power to point people to you and your
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  Speaker 1: absolute freedom. In Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for praying
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  Speaker 1: with me today. Continue listening for an incredible Bible story.
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  Speaker 1: Brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.
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  Speaker 2: The Storm Within In our last story, Jesus told parables
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  Speaker 2: on the kingdom of heaven. He told earthly stories with
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  Speaker 2: heavenly implications. His disciples were greatly impacted by the seemingly
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  Speaker 2: backwards kingdom of God. Now we see Jesus showing his
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  Speaker 2: might and power. The same voice that spoke the universe
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  Speaker 2: into existence will calm storms and defeat over a thousand demons.
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  Speaker 1: With just a word.
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  Speaker 2: Inspired by the Gospels.
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  Speaker 3: We're so glad you joined us on the Bible in
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  Speaker 3: a Year podcast today. The Bible in a Year podcast
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  Speaker 3: is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come
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  Speaker 3: to you each week through the support of listeners just
• 2:31
  Speaker 3: like you. Your support today is so important that we
• 2:34
  Speaker 3: want to thank you for your gift by giving you
• 2:36
  Speaker 3: a copy of my book called The Jesus Book. It
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  Speaker 3: is a powerful guide that shows how every book of
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  Speaker 3: the Bible points to Jesus and how his living word,
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  Speaker 3: the truth of God's word, will transform your life. So
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  Speaker 3: to get a copy of the Jesus book, simply go
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  Speaker 3: to jackgraham.org slash Jesus. That's jackgraham.org slash Jesus. And thank
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  Speaker 3: you for your support. In our last episode, we heard
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  Speaker 3: Jesus teaching about the things of heaven, God's mercy, and
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  Speaker 3: the incorruptible value of the kingdom of God. The disciples
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  Speaker 3: marveled at their master's words of wisdom and insight. desiring
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  Speaker 3: more for understanding of the things of God. Today we'll
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  Speaker 3: see as Jesus once more, with only his words, rebukes
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  Speaker 3: the seas and waves, bringing calm and safety into a
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  Speaker 3: place of fear and despair. We'll see the same power
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  Speaker 3: over the waves demonstrated against the evil spirits that held
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  Speaker 3: a man captive as Jesus calls out demons who shudder
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  Speaker 3: at the sound of his voice. So let's listen now
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  Speaker 3: to the reading of God's word.
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  Speaker 2: Dark clouds rolled in from the middle of the Sea
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  Speaker 2: of Galilee. Jesus looked upon the waters towards the other side.
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  Speaker 2: The mountains could be vaguely seen about five miles across
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  Speaker 2: the sea. They were dark and ominous. There were rumors
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  Speaker 2: of a violent demoniac dwelling in the caves on the
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  Speaker 2: other side. Let us go to the other side, Jesus
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  Speaker 2: said confidently. So the twelve disciples and Jesus boarded Peter's
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  Speaker 2: fishing boat. The skies grew darker as the clouds became thick.
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  Speaker 2: The gentle breeze of the sea became more and more violent. Peter, James,
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  Speaker 2: and John knew what was coming. They were fishermen and
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  Speaker 2: knew all the signs of a tempest. Jesus, being weary
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  Speaker 2: from a day of serving and preaching, went below to sleep.
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  Speaker 2: The winds tore against the sails. There was a sharp
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  Speaker 2: whistle coming from the north and south of the sea.
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  Speaker 2: The two winds collided against one another in the middle
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  Speaker 2: of the waters. It was as if the disciples were
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  Speaker 2: caught in the middle of a cosmic war. The waves thrashed,
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  Speaker 2: and the rain began to drum against the boat. James
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  Speaker 2: and Andrew leaned both their bodies against the rudder to
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  Speaker 2: keep it in place as Peter and John tied in
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  Speaker 2: the sails. The others desperately emptied the boat of water,
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  Speaker 2: but to no avail. The ship would sink in minutes
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  Speaker 2: if the wind and rain did not cease. Jesus was
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  Speaker 2: still sleeping soundly at the bottom of the boat. Simon
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  Speaker 2: looked down at Jesus, astonished that someone so powerful could
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  Speaker 2: sleep through such a nightmare. Master!
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  Speaker 3: He yelled.
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  Speaker 2: The boat was jolted by a wave, and Simon was
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  Speaker 2: sent tumbling into the side of the boat. He crawled
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  Speaker 2: to the small space where Jesus was sleeping and shook
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  Speaker 2: him awake. Master, do you not care that we are perishing?
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  Speaker 2: Jesus looked, stood up, and walked towards the front of
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  Speaker 2: the boat. The wind howled like a mighty titan. The
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  Speaker 2: disciples were tossed all around the boat from the waves,
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  Speaker 2: but Jesus' feet were sturdy as he marched. The wind
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  Speaker 2: whipped at his back and the rain fell down like gravel.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus looked at the storm like an adversary. The waves
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  Speaker 2: were relentless and smashed against the bow to rock Jesus overboard.
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  Speaker 2: God's hero stood firm. He stretched out his hand and said,
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  Speaker 2: Hush now, be still. He spoke to the wind in
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  Speaker 2: waves like disobedient children. Like a lion finally tamed, the
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  Speaker 2: wind in waves subsided and calmed. The sun peered in
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  Speaker 2: through the dark clouds and the sea became still as glass.
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  Speaker 2: The scattered rays of light fell on Jesus' face. He
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  Speaker 2: closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. Jesus turned back
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  Speaker 2: to his disciples and said, Where is your faith? The
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  Speaker 2: disciples could not answer him. They were dumbfounded by what
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  Speaker 2: they had just witnessed. They had seen Jesus heal the
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  Speaker 2: sick and turn water into wine, but they just saw
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  Speaker 2: him command the untamable wind and unbeatable waves. With a word,
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  Speaker 2: he made the rain cease. They thought they knew who
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  Speaker 2: Jesus was, but they had not even begun to scratch
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  Speaker 2: the surface. Peter released the sails and James took hold
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  Speaker 2: of the rudder. They sailed gracefully to the country of Gerasenes,
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  Speaker 2: which is opposite of Galilee. The boat came closer and
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  Speaker 2: the men could hear a deep, painful cry echo from
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  Speaker 2: the mountains above the shore. Its sound was blood-curdling, the
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  Speaker 2: sound of screaming mixed with broken chains rattling against stone.
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  Speaker 2: They pushed the boat onto shore and Jesus stepped off
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  Speaker 2: to see a man running towards him. He was naked
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  Speaker 2: and screaming. Blood dripped down his mangled chest and broken
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  Speaker 2: chains were still attached to his wrists and feet. He
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  Speaker 2: was like a rabid beast seeking prey. And the disciples
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  Speaker 2: began to run back to the boat. But Jesus stepped forward.
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  Speaker 2: As the beastly man leapt towards Jesus, he fell short
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  Speaker 2: with his face to the rocky sand. He yelled with
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  Speaker 2: intense pain, Sand and blood covered his naked body. His
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  Speaker 2: pupils were wide with rage and sadness. Tears fell down
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  Speaker 2: the man's face, and he scowled at Jesus.' Why do
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  Speaker 2: you come to me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?'
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  Speaker 2: His voice was deep and piercing, but behind the voice
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  Speaker 2: was a man in great pain. He was possessed by
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  Speaker 2: a demon, so it was no longer him who spoke.
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  Speaker 2: He had a storm raging within him.' What is your name?'
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  Speaker 2: Jesus asked calmly. I am Legion, the demon replied, for
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  Speaker 2: I am many. The demon's attempt to intimidate Jesus failed.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus stepped forward and the demon retreated backwards in fear.
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  Speaker 2: Do not cast me out into the nothingness, Legion begged.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus nodded and gestured to a herd of pigs grazing
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  Speaker 2: on the side of the mountain. The man's body jolted
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  Speaker 2: backwards and all of the sudden painful cries could be
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  Speaker 2: heard from the pigs above the mountain. They ran in circles,
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  Speaker 2: eventually tossing themselves off the side of the mountain into
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  Speaker 2: the sea. When the pig herders saw this, they ran
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  Speaker 2: back into the city and gathered people to come and see.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus knelt down to the man's still body. He was
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  Speaker 2: breathing but unconscious. Jesus gestured for one of the disciples
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  Speaker 2: to bring water, and the man was restored to consciousness.
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  Speaker 2: They clothed him and fed him. When the pig herders
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  Speaker 2: came back with members from the city, they saw the
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  Speaker 2: man at Jesus' feet. speaking his right mind. Jesus smiled
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  Speaker 2: and waved towards the group. They approached him with pitchforks
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  Speaker 2: and swords. Please, they said politely, we see you have
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  Speaker 2: done a kind thing, but do not come back here.
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  Speaker 2: We want no more dealings with demons. They did not
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  Speaker 2: understand who Jesus was. All they knew was that he
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  Speaker 2: had authority over demons. The unknown frightened them. The healed
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  Speaker 2: man begged Jesus to take him in. He wanted to
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  Speaker 2: join Jesus and follow him. Jesus smiled and gave the
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  Speaker 2: man a big hug. No, Jesus said warmly, you must
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  Speaker 2: stay here and tell everyone what has happened. Your testimony
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  Speaker 2: will change lives. As Jesus said these things, he waved
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  Speaker 2: the group and took off back to Galilee. The disciples
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  Speaker 2: were silent as they looked at Jesus. He stared at
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  Speaker 2: the horizon and the sun began its descent beyond the waters.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus had calmed a great and mighty storm before their
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  Speaker 2: very eyes. However, he was also able to calm the
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  Speaker 2: storm within. They marveled and thanked God that he had
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  Speaker 2: finally sent their promised hero.
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  Speaker 3: We begin today on the Sea of Galilee in a
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  Speaker 3: fishing boat where Jesus and his men have set sail
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  Speaker 3: for another shore. On the other side of this lake
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  Speaker 3: lie an opportunity for the Lord's power to be demonstrated
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  Speaker 3: in yet another astounding, amazing way. The disciples didn't know it,
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  Speaker 3: but Jesus knew exactly what he would do. Of course,
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  Speaker 3: they wouldn't have to wait for the next shore to
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  Speaker 3: see their master's power. Galilee was known for sudden squalls
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  Speaker 3: that would rise suddenly out of nowhere, and they could
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  Speaker 3: be deadly to unsuspecting fishermen caught in a storm. Not
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  Speaker 3: long after Jesus went to the back of the boat
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  Speaker 3: to rest, one of those storms arose. The clouds darkened,
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  Speaker 3: the skies and the wind whipped the boat to and
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  Speaker 3: fro like a rag doll. The disciples, many of them
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  Speaker 3: seasoned sailors, were terrified. They'd seen these storms before and
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  Speaker 3: how vicious they could be. Now they were caught in
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  Speaker 3: the middle of a raging sea and they panicked. It is,
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  Speaker 3: in fact, a picture of the storms of life, the
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  Speaker 3: realities of life. Disaster and danger often come unannounced, seemingly
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  Speaker 3: out of nowhere. And no matter how seasoned we are
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  Speaker 3: as followers of Jesus, even then fear can grip us
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  Speaker 3: and leave us paralyzed in those moments, just as it
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  Speaker 3: did the disciples. Jesus was sleeping. How could this be true,
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  Speaker 3: they wondered. They woke him and asked if he didn't
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  Speaker 3: care that they were about to die. Mark 4 39
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  Speaker 3: gives us his response and what happened next. And he
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  Speaker 3: awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Peace,
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  Speaker 3: be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a
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  Speaker 3: great calm. It is often easy for us to ask
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  Speaker 3: the same question the disciples ask. Lord, do you care?
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  Speaker 3: Do you care what's happening to me? Do you care
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  Speaker 3: what's happening around me? And our Lord still has the
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  Speaker 3: same power to speak into the storms of our lives, saying, Peace,
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  Speaker 3: be still. In fact, we are promised in God's Word
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  Speaker 3: a peace that passes all understanding, an inexplainable, inexplicable peace
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  Speaker 3: that comes only from God. For the disciples, this peace
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  Speaker 3: meant that the waves and the winds, the storm, actually
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  Speaker 3: stopped and they were delivered. This, of course, is not
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  Speaker 3: always the case in our lives. Sometimes the storms we
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  Speaker 3: face can continue to rage, but God's voice, His loving
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  Speaker 3: peace bestill, can calm the storms within us and give
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  Speaker 3: us confidence that he is with us and that he cares.
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  Speaker 3: With the seas under control, Jesus turned to his men
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  Speaker 3: and asked, Why are you afraid? Do you still not
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  Speaker 3: trust me? The disciples marveled at Jesus. They were beginning
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  Speaker 3: to see that there was no limit to his power.
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  Speaker 3: It excited and terrified them at the same time. They
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  Speaker 3: continued to sail to the other side to a place
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  Speaker 3: called Gerasenes. This was enemy territory, both literally and spiritually.
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  Speaker 3: It was Gentile land, but it was also a place
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  Speaker 3: where a man lived among the tombs like an animal.
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  Speaker 3: He was filled with demons who tortured him daily and
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  Speaker 3: made his life a living hell. This man truly was
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  Speaker 3: a tragic and terrible sight. The depth of his demonization
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  Speaker 3: separated him from God. This was all caused somehow by
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  Speaker 3: his sin. He was far from God, far from other men,
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  Speaker 3: cut off. He was not in his right mind. He
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  Speaker 3: was completely alone and tortured by the enemy. But when
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  Speaker 3: he saw Jesus, the demons within him cowered in fear.
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  Speaker 3: Though many people could not recognize Jesus for who he
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  Speaker 3: was and is, Satan's army had no such confusion. The
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  Speaker 3: demons spoke to Jesus, asking why he had come. Even
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  Speaker 3: in their fallen state, these fallen angels, demons, could not
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  Speaker 3: help but call Jesus who he really was and is
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  Speaker 3: the Son of the Most High God. Jesus responded and
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  Speaker 3: asked the demon's name, to which he responded, Legion, to
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  Speaker 3: indicate there were many evil spirits in this man. Jesus,
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  Speaker 3: once again with just his words, called the demons out
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  Speaker 3: of the man, sending them into a herd of pigs
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  Speaker 3: that immediately hurled themselves off a cliff. This man was
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  Speaker 3: freed from his torture, but the pig herders weren't too
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  Speaker 3: thrilled at what they had lost. They begged Jesus to
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  Speaker 3: leave because they did not know who he truly was.
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  Speaker 3: The man, now delivered, clothed in his right mind, wanted
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  Speaker 3: to go with Jesus. But Jesus told him to stay
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  Speaker 3: and tell others what the Lord had done for him.
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  Speaker 3: And so the message of God's power to heal the
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  Speaker 3: most demonized and wicked heart spread throughout the Gentile region
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  Speaker 3: as well. Today's reading shows us, as it showed the
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  Speaker 3: disciples then, that Jesus has power to calm the storms
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  Speaker 3: of life, be they storms around us or storms within us.
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  Speaker 3: And as we are transformed by His Word, that we
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  Speaker 3: are called to share the good news of Jesus of
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  Speaker 3: what He has done for us. Let's always be ready
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  Speaker 3: to tell people just how good our God is and
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  Speaker 3: what He can do for all who will put their
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  Speaker 3: faith and trust in Him. Thank you for listening to
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  Speaker 3: today's Bible in a Year podcast. And before we go,
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  Speaker 3: I wanted to let you know that the Bible in
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  Speaker 3: a Year podcast is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries.org. and
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  Speaker 3: can only come to you each week through the support
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  Speaker 3: of listeners like you. Your support today is so important
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  Speaker 3: that we want to thank you for your gift by
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  Speaker 3: giving you a copy of my book called The Jesus Book.
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  Speaker 3: This book is a powerful guide that shows how every
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  Speaker 3: book in the Bible points to Christ and how you
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  Speaker 3: can better read and understand the Bible and how God's
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  Speaker 3: Word transforms our lives. So to get your copy of
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  Speaker 3: The Jesus Book, Simply go to jackgram.org slash Jesus. That's
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  Speaker 3: jackgram.org slash Jesus. And thank you for your support.