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'An Independent Baptist Church' FACING THE STORMS OF LIFE
One of most common questions a pastor is asked “Why is this happening to me?” “Why is this storm in my life right now?”
I wish as a Pastor I could tell you that once you become a Christian that the storms in your life would cease…but I can’t.
Storms are going to come during this life - Financial, Relational, Occupational, Spiritual, Physical, and emotional….
Maybe YOU are going thru one right now….Pastor Steve that’s me!!!
I wish I could promise my children their life would be storm free….but I can’t
But I can tell them where to go for help and guidance for strength to make it through these difficult times…
God’s Word. But…it is not going to do you any good unless you open its pages….
One of my very favorite stories in the Bible is where Jesus calms a real storm for the disciples, but it is really a wonderful thing When Jesus calms a storm in a human life!
Mark 4:35 “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
(I) THE JOURNEY OF THE SHIP
(V35-36) “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
This 8 mile journey is a picture of the Journey of life…
Each one of us is allotted a certain # of years on this earth to live….journey starts at our birth & ends at our death……During that interim period known as our life STORMS are going to come…
Notice v36 “And there were also with him other little ships”
Only one difference…these other ships didn’t have Jesus on board…
Is Jesus on board your ship?
He’d better be as you take this journey of life with the storms ahead!
(II) THE DIRECTION OF THE SHIP
v35 “Let us pass over unto the other side”
When Jesus is on board, we have a sense of direction and purpose in life, don’t we? We know where we’re going…
My friend, does your life have any sense of direction?
When Jesus is the Captain of your ship, you have a sense of direction in life, and there’s a certain Calm & peace & confidence, even when the storms of life hit, and the waves bash your ship and winds rip at your sails….
He doesn’t promise the storms won’t hit your ship, but He does promise that your ship won’t sink…..
(III). THE DESTINATION OF THE SHIP AND ITS SAFE ARRIVAL
Notice v36 Jesus tells them to go to the other side and in Chapter 5:1 they arrive at the other side!
My friend, when Jesus says we’re going to the other side….WE ARE GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE!
Aren’t you glad when you know where you’re going? Isn’t it a bad feeling to be lost and not know where you’re at or where you’re going?
Did you realize there are people in this very room who don’t really know where they’re going in life?
You ask them what their plans are……Go to college, (Then what?) get a job, (Then What?) make all $ I can, buy home, cars, (Then What?) Plan for Retirement I guess, (Then What?)
With Jesus on your ship and in control of the ship you can KNOW where you are going and YOU CAN BE ASSURED you will arrive safely on the other side!
(IV) THE STORM THAT CAME UPON THE SHIP
(A) THE STORM CAME SUDDENLY (B) THE SEVERITY OF THE STORM
(V37) And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Sea of Galilee prone to such storms – located down between hills & mountains in a basin & cool wind would come down from Mts and hit warm area of the Sea of Galilee it could produce a fierce storm suddenly!
Isn’t that like our lives........One minute every thing is fine and one phone call our whole world can be torn apart….
Daddy’s dead….
A knock on the door and a policemen says there’s been an accident
The Boss calls you in to tell you have been terminated…
The doctor looks across the table at you and says words you can’t forget..
The companion you thought you would spend the rest of your life with breaks the news to you ……divorce…
Oh, my friend, we need Jesus in our lives because we never know in what moment we’ll find ourselves in the midst of a storm…
Let’s take time here to look at these storms that all of sudden come to our lives and wreak havoc….
First of all, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STORMS
Some in here today may be in:
*Financial storm - (Economy, Debt, Bills…I now have 3 teenagers….and I even drive a little car that gets 83 mpg!) My wife has a ring on her finger that cost $6.83
*Occupational storm - at your job…
*Relational storm – in context of your home….somebody got priorities out of perspective and you end up in a divorce court or in a juvenile hall with a delinquent son or daughter…
*Spiritual Storm – Things have gotten way out of whack in your walk with the Lord & and you feel absolutely miserable!
*Physical Storm – your health & Wellness
*Emotional Storm – Depression is an all too common visitor to many in this congregation today…..
CAUSES OF STORMS (We explained basics of meteorology earlier, but there are also different causes storms come to our lives…)
(1) SOME STORMS WE CAUSE OURSELVES
Things we do and things we say…..BRING CONSEQUENCS!
(2) SOME STORMS IN OUR LIVES ARE CAUSED BY THE ACTONS OF OTHER PEOPLE…… (and we’re innocent bystanders!)
Not a whole lot you can do to prevent some of these storms…but one thing I’ve learned…..
How we react to the storms others cause to our lives plays big role on the severity of that storm and prolong the duration of that storm….
LESSON – When others cause a storm in your life…STOP AND THINK….AND BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY AND DO….
(3) SOME OF THESE STORMS THE LORD ALLOWS INTO OUR LIVES TO GET US BACK ON TRACK SPIRITUALLY….
Jonah is a good example.
My friend if you are suffering because you have gotten out of God’s will and away from a close walk of obedience to Him, you need to repent and make things right with the Lord Today!
AND OTHER STORMS HE ALLOWS, NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE ANY THING WRONG….BUT HE ALLOWS THE STORM FOR OUR BENEFIT SO WE CAN GROW CLOSER TO HIM…..
This story we’re looking at to day is a good example of that..
These disciples were not in this storm because they had been disobedient….on the contrary….. They were in this storm because they did exactly what the Lord told them to do!
My friend, you may be going thru such a storm right now…and you are wondering WHY? What have I done to deserve this?
Note the severity of this storm….it almost sunk the boat! These are professional fishermen and this was their life and even they were scared! (Storm of suffering?)
Sometimes the storms of life are so severe that the strongest people are afraid they are going under….
(V) JESUS - THE MASTER OF THE STORMS
(V38-39) 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
First of all notice….
(a) THE PRESENCE OF JESUS ON THE BOAT DID NOT KEEP THE STORM FROM COMING
The Bible nowhere promises that once you become a Christian your troubles are over and the storms will cease….. And you will have SMOOTH SAILING & CLOUDLESS SKIES…
I MUST TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE RELIGIOUS TELEVISION TELLS YOU JUST THE OPPOSITE….YOU GET THE IMPRESSION IF YOU JUST HAVE ENOUGH FAITH IN JESUS….EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE COOL & YOU’LL NOT HAVE ANY TROUBLES….
THE TERRIBLE THING ABOUT THAT THINKING IS:
(I) IT IS NOT TRUE & SO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE IT
(II) WHEN THE STORM DO COME…IT UNDERMINES THE FAITH OF MANY..
And that is the GREAT DANGER of the whole PENTECOSTAL/CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT!
Bible does not promise smooth sailing But it does promise a SAFE LANDING…
Serving Christ does not exempt you……SS teacher, preacher…..
These 12 disciples gave up everything & were following Christ
(B) NOTICE THE SLEEPING SAVIOR…(v38)
“Master Don’t you care that we perish?”
Maybe that’s how you are tempted to feel right now? Jesus, Don’t you care?
Why did Jesus wait so long before calming the storm?
Did He know the storm was coming before He lay down? Yes.
Sometimes God waits to deliver us from the storm to show us our utter helplessness and dependence upon Him?
This may sound simple…..but I noticed the disciples waited that long to CRY to Him for help?
I may be naïve friend, but I must ask you…..HAVE YOU CRIED OUT TO GOD TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR STORM?
Notice v39 as soon as they asked him for help “HE AROSE” I like that.
(C) THE FEARFUL DISCIPLES
(v 40, 41) “40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
You would think with all the disciples had seen Jesus do, they would have enough faith to not worry now?
Is that not like us? God has helped and delivered us so many times before, yet we seem to forget…..
Have you noticed that faith is not always something you can store up and accumulate from the last trial you went thru….
My friend, have you noticed that FAITH and WORRY cannot exist together….?
Fear is looking at the storm – faith is looking at the Savior & keeping our eyes on Him during the storm…..
(D) THE SUFFICIENT SAVIOR
(v39) And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
My friend, we don’t have to be afraid when Jesus is on board our ship…..
Psalms 89:9 “Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
(v39) “A great calm” – wow!
Safety is not the absence of the storm; it is the presence of Jesus DURING THE STORMS that will come….
My friend, Jesus can be trusted in the storms of life…….I don’t know any thing else that can…..
Some people in here today, you have been through some horrific storms…. Some of us in here today….I hate to say….we have some terrific storms in front of us…..
Oh if we can only remember to keep our eyes upon our Savior the great Master of every storm and hang on and don’t give up….we will able to look back and say OH GOD YOU DID A GOOD WORK IN MY LIFE…
David looked back on the storm in his life in Psalms 119 and said… 67“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
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