The Storm Within

Welcome back to another episode of “It’s The Flat Out Truth” podcast I’m your host Bravo Colon. I hope and pray everyone is doing well, and you’ve all had a great week full of blessings, and Shalom (peace). It has been a really interesting week for us here at “It’s The Flat Out Truth”. Let me start off by thanking all of you who support our podcast, as we could never do any of this alone, please help us out by continuing to pass the link along to anyone you feel could benefit from this podcast on whichever platform you are listening to us on. Avery special shout out to one of our listeners who goes by R. M in North Carolina, who wrote to us, “Shalom Aleichem Ach, loved the last message on forgiveness, may the king continue to give you wisdom, HaShem is with you. Yeshua HaMashiach bless you. Shalom”. This is an awesome blessing to know that someone is being touched by this podcast. Thank you RM from North Carolina for being part of the family. You too can contact us @ itstheflatouttruth@gmail.com with suggestions and or comments and we will respond as time allows. Since the last podcast the week has been rather interesting, first off we have taken to Florida to record on our first of many road trips, and many events have arisen to challenge the faith, to destroy the hope, and make it seem like there is no solution in sight. I remember when I would be listening to the radio and all of a sudden you would hear the buzzing alarm followed by “This is a test, this is only a test, if this had been an actual emergency”. Well that’s what it reminded me of this week, and it all started off with a dream, a dream that I had that I could only remember part of it but it was that part that impacted me the most that would seem to play out during the course of the week. The part of the dream that I was able to remember was that I found myself in what seemed like a construction trailer, like the ones they use for an on-site office. And all of a sudden some strong winds began to blow through, the people and objects outside of the office were being blown around violently, but those of us inside were safe, the weird thing was that it seemed like it was in Alaska and after the wind storm the trailer turned into a train and began moving away. I know sounds like a result from eating spicy tacos before bedtime. Hahaha, but really after waking up I was reminded about the time that the disciples and Yeshua were on the lake and a storm was brewing and the boat was being tossed about in the passage of Matthew 8:23-27 which reads 23He boarded the boat, and his talmidim (Disciples) followed. 24 then without warning a furious storm arose on the lake, so that the waves were sweeping over the boat. But Yeshua was sleeping.25 so they roused Him saying, “Sir! Help! Were about to die” 26 He said to them “Why are you afraid? So little trust you have!” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and there was a dead calm. 27Te men were astounded. They asked, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey him?”

This is an amazing passage from the Brit HaDasha (New Covenant) it is a passage we can all relate to. We claim to be walking with Messiah proclaiming salvation; we have dedicated our lives to living according to HIS word, and sharing with others the Good News, that they too can walk with Messiah Yeshua. Everything seems cool calm and collected, and the dark clouds begin rolling in, the winds start picking up, and the rain comes down slapping you in the face and you begin to look for something to hold on to as you move to seek shelter from the storm. Many times we forget who is in charge and we attempt to find a solution on our own, by our own strength. Just as the disciples were afraid, we begin to fear and lose sight of who really is in charge. When we come to Messiah from wherever HE has brought us out of, we are ready to face the oncoming trials and tribulations, but when they hit, many crumble and cry out, Help Me! I’m going to die!” or, “I can’t take this!” does this sound familiar? It does to me, I have found myself in the past saying these very things. Yet I would proclaim I knew Messiah, but when the time came, when it came down to the nitty gritty, where was my faith. I had to take a long hard look at this and read the word concerning this. Matthew 8:23-27 clarified a lot. I saw that the disciples were no different than me, they became afraid, they lost sight of who they were walking with, and they cried out when they saw no solution in sight to the situation that surrounded them. And when they woke the master, what were His words, “Why are you afraid? So little trust you have”. At that point I was able to see that the faith I claimed to have in HIM was not very much at all, which is why I became afraid in the first place, which is also why they became afraid. What is Faith? According to Hebrews 11:1 Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. In the Webster dictionary it defines faith as a noun, 1a) allegiance to duty or a person. 1b(1) fidelity to ones promises 1b(2) sincerity of intentions 2a(1) belief and trust in and loyalty to G-D 2a(2) Belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion 2b(1) firm belief in something for which there is no proof. This one matches Hebrews 11:1 the most but 2a(1) belief and trust in loyalty to G-D also stands out. Faith can be said is, firmly believing in something for which there is no proof while trusting in, and being loyal to G-D. So then when we doubt due to fear are we being loyal to G-D? Can we say that we walk with G-D and still fear for our Lives, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for You are with me your Rod and Staff comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) What can we say then, if we doubt are we being loyal to G-D? If we doubt, we become like the waves of the sea being tossed around to and fro. When we stand in faith we become like the lighthouse, standing firm as the violent waves come crashing against it as it remains standing unaffected and intact. Fear is something, that takes hold of everyone at one time or another, no matter what point in our lives, it happens. Fear is that one thing that arises from an insecurity that lies deep within, whether it is a fear of drowning, dying, or even speaking publicly which are the more common types of fear.

What does the Bible say fear or being afraid means, Fearful / Afraid G1169 δειλός deilos Thayer Definition: 1) timid Being timid is being afraid, and being afraid is a hindrance, to the blessing that awaits us on the other side of the storm. This is what happened to the disciples, this is why Yeshua said what He said. Timidity is not being shy, it’s the act of not being able to confront a situation because of the uncertainty of the results. That’s why they said, “Sir! Help us were going to DIE!” They couldn’t see the outcome because they failed to focus on the one they walked with, the one that was among them, the one who slept calmly and securely. The storm will keep raging to attempt to distract you and keep you from focusing on what is at stake and what really matters. But we must brave the storm at all cost, because your very own soul is at stake, and the end result depends on your faith, on your trust in the one you walk with the one inside of you. Sometimes that storm comes in the form of a family argument, or someone close to you, antagonizing you to become angry and forget where your foundation stands, that’s when you slip and fall. Yes we all have a chance to T’shuva, but remember the parable of the return of the unclean spirits in Matthew 12:43 “Now when an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places looking for rest and doesn’t find it. Mat 12:44 Then it says, ‘I’ll go back home where I came from.’ And when it comes, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order. Mat 12:45 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there. And that man’s last condition becomes worse than the first. So also will it be for this evil generation.” So then we can see that according to this parable Yeshua clearly states that this person’s end is worse than when he first started. Remember HE is a righteous judge executing righteous and impartial judgment. We need to keep in mind the words spoken by Messiah as He was speaking to the Talmidim about the Signs of the End of the Age in towards the end of the passage in Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. That would only mean that those who do not endure to the end or fail to finish the race will not be saved. That is a scary thought. God is not man, that HE should lie. Let’s look at it this way, what employer gives an undeserving employee a raise or promotion? From what I understand, none, then why is it if G-D asks us to do something, and we disobey H-M, why should HE find it in H-S mercy to reward us with good gifts after we have been judged. He already has shown mercy by giving us ample time to Repent and return before we die. The storm in our lives are there to remind us that HE is displaying mercy and grace by reminding us that HE is calling us to repent, HE is trying to get our attention. But there are some storms that are brought on by our sins, yes there are transgressions that if left un-confessed, and un-dealt with, will eat away at our conscience until we bring them to the feet of Messiah and lay them down before H-M. Getting back to Matthew 8:24-27 Suddenly a great storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves. But Yeshua kept on sleeping. Mat 8:25 So they came and woke Him up, saying, “Master, save us! We’re perishing!” Mat 8:26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became totally calm. Mat 8:27 The men were amazed, saying, “What kind of person is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!” After they had waked Messiah from H-S sleep HE had got up, I could imagine H-M getting upset not because they woke H-m up but because of their lack of trust and loyalty, in other words their lack of faith and their fear. When He rebuked the winds and the sea, they were so astonished because they have never seen anything like this before. Could you just imagine, you’re in a boat, it’s dark, a storm blows in, the boat is rocking side to side getting hammered by the waves, you think to yourself, this is it, and Messiah is fast asleep and not fazed by what is happening, and here you are a disciple but fail to trust in the one who called you, and after you wake H-M up he hits you with a truth and rebukes the winds and the sea and in that very moment everything just comes to a standstill. What is going through your mind at this time? Did you just witness what just happened, or is it a figment of your imagination? I would’ve been astonished just as they were when they asked among themselves “What kind of person is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!” right then they realized that they weren’t in the presence of just any Rabbi or man. We on the other hand have a great advantage over them, we have the complete word of G-D, we can reference at any given time, and as many times as we wish to, especially when the storm comes rolling in. As a child I remember being in Puerto Rico I would be able to see the storm cloud carrying rain coming from afar that I would be able to run to shelter before it actually hit. With that advantage, we can actually prepare for the storms that appear in our lives. Have you ever had a storm roll up unexpectedly, and found yourself unprepared? If you hear the weather report and it calls for rain or snow depending where you may be living, do you leave your home without an umbrella or your coat hat gloves and scarf? I would think not. I hope not. The Bible warns us to get ready for the coming storm. It says this storm will be unlike any other storm. It is giving you a chance to get ready, but there are many that disregard the warning, just like they did in the days of Noach (Noah) when, Elohim commanded him to build the ark. Gen 6:17 Now I am about to bring the flood—water upon the land—to destroy all flesh in which is the spirit of life from under the sky. Everything that is on the land will perish. Just as in Genesis before the world was flooded, we are constantly being warned by our Heavenly Father, of the approaching destruction, but just like Israel in the wilderness, we are so stiff-necked. Do we listen? Are we really paying attention, or are we busy being distracted by our cell phones, our jobs and our relationships, that we fail to see the warning signs? Can it be that the thought process that is taking place is, the less we know the better off we are? Is there an excuse for not knowing or not wanting to know? You have to be honest with yourself, because at the end of time you will stand in front of G-D’s throne and have to give an account for everything you did and didn’t do in your physical body. So then if we are constantly being warned, why aren’t we listening? Why aren’t we seeing the warning signs? After all they are spelled out for the entire world to see in the bible. Will we be able to escape such a judgment? There is no excuse for ignorance; there is no excuse for not knowing.

G-D doesn’t want any of us to perish as we can see in Second Kefa (2Pe) 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some consider slowness. Rather, He is being patient toward you—not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance. When we find ourselves in the storm it is an opportunity to be able to direct our trust, our faith and our loyalty to HaShem and Mashiach (Messiah), knowing full well that He has our best interests in mind, and will not let any harm befall us. Then and only then will we come to know the Shalom that surpasses all human understanding. The same Shalom Yeshua had while resting in the boat. The disciples couldn’t understand how Yeshua was so undisturbed by the storm that HE was able to sleep in the midst of the storm. The storm in our life is there so we can call out to G-D in trust and in faith, that HE and only He can bring the calm, the peace, not the way the world gives peace. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. We’ve been talking a lot about the storm as we read in Matthew 8:24 But what word was used to describe the word storm or furious storm in the Greek. We turn to the Thayer G4578 σεισμός seismos Thayer Definition: 1) a shaking, a commotion 2) a tempest 3) an earthquake I like to compare definitions to be able to see in a broader picture what is being conveyed via the translations so I looked up Storm in the Merriam-Webster; storm noun, ˈStorm 1a: a disturbance of the atmosphere marked by wind and usually by rain, snow, hail, sleet, or thunder and lightning b: a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail c(1): wind having a speed of 64 to 72 miles (103 to 117 kilometers) per hour (2): whole gale d: a serious disturbance of any element of nature Then this wasn’t just any old storm as we read or are lead to believe, this was a very scary storm, it’s no wonder they feared for their lives. Thayer describes it as a tempest. What is a Tempest? A tempest is 1) a violent windstorm, especially one with rain, hail, or snow. 2) A violent commotion, disturbance, or tumult. Kind of like an earthquake. The combination of the Gale force winds with the heavy rain along with five or six foot waves, now mind you this is pure speculation about the storm that I can envision, that they might’ve experienced, but you get the picture. This is why it is very important to research the truth for yourself, so no one can come and sell you a lie. Like we all have been for a very long time. We must be as the Bereans were, seeking the truth diligently via the scriptures. We have to weather the storms in our lives, for one comes after the other, and at times it seems like its non-stop. Sometimes they are relentless, pounding us down, trying to distract us, to get us to lose focus. But we must remain loyal, trusting and have faith in our KING, not wavering like the sea, but steadfast, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that you will come out of this without a scratch. That is the G-D we serve, the one who calms the raging storm, HE is the one who walks upon the sea, and we have nothing to fear ever again, as long as we are walking with the Master, trusting in H-M. I cannot re-iterate this enough, we must be found having trust, faith and loyalty, because without it we cannot please H-M Hebrews 11:6. What Storm or storms do you face or are you facing in your life? I know sometimes it seems hopeless, and gloomy, just remember to keep your eyes on Yeshua and keep your focus on H-M. HE is the Master who calls you out of the storm, He is the one who walks on the water stretching forth H-S hand to you, HE is the one who rebukes the storm and brings the calm in our lives, it is up to us to respond, to trust H-M, in faith that HE will save us from our storm. This is not such an easy task for a lot of people, to completely let go, and release all of your inhibitions, to trust the Master whom you haven’t seen. Though you know HE exists because you believe it. Yeshua told Thomas (Toma) Blessed are those who have not seen yet still believe in John 20:29. Faith, Trust and Loyalty will help us in the storm, and then the sun will come out, the birds will be praising the Most High (Blessed Be HE), and then you will see it really wasn’t all that bad. During the researching process, many storms have arisen, to try and deter the compiling of this podcast, really since the very beginning we have been confronted with many storms and opposition, but through prayer and seeking G-D’s Will we were able to record our very first podcast, and with every week HaShem has given us the topics to elaborate on to Whom all Honor and Praise be. HE is the one who directs our path He is the one who shines the light for us to see, if we ask The Father for anything that accords to H-S will B’Shem Yeshua HaMashiach HE will give it to us. Our goal my brothers and sisters, is to reach the finish line, to run the good race as Paul would state. We must get there by persevering, we cannot quit, remember the old saying, “Quitters never win and Winners never quit” the same can be said here in our walk with Messiah, we want to hear H-M say Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your LORD. To hear those words will be the evidence that we have made it, and then there will no longer be any storms to affect us anymore, Baruch HaShem, Halelu YAH. The Storm no longer seems like a threat to our lives when we look at it from this perspective, just like Goliath didn’t seem like a threat to young David, or the Lions to Daniel. Focus on Yeshua Focus on the Promises of the Father, focus on the prize at the end of the race, and focus on eternity with The ELOHIM of elohims; with The King of kings and The LORD of lords. Do not let your faith waver like the sea which is tossed to and fro and comes crashing down violently. Let us pray for wisdom on how to handle the storm in our lives, so that at the end we may hear those sweet words spoken by our LORD, Well Done. My friends it is a tremendous blessing being able to share with you, I want to thank you on behalf of It’s THE FLAT Out Truth Podcast, for your continued support, we cannot, I repeat we cannot do this alone. I thank G-D for each and every one of you, for all that you do Thank You to RM of South Carolina, To MH of Virginia, To JB of Dumont NJ, and MS of NJ, these are just some of our listeners who have sent in their comments, of our podcast You Too can be mentioned on our podcast just send us an email or a message at itstheflatouttruth@gmail.com and let us know you are listening and what platform you are listening on. If you have been blessed by this podcast please help keep this going please share our link with your friends and family, while we continue seeking out the flat out truth. Thank you once again for joining us may you all walk in the blessings of The MOST HIGH, having all you needs meet according to H-S riches in glory lacking nothing, and run the good race crossing the finish line so that you may be able to receive the crown of victory, in Yeshua HaMashiach our Lord and Savior, until next week May HaShem bless you and keep you may HE make H-S face shine upon you and be gracious to you, May HaShem lift up H-S Face to you and give H-S peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding in the midst of all of life’s storms. Amein and Amein