Mark 4_35_41 saftey in the storm

Test: Mark 4:35–41.

Title: Be faithful not fearful

Intro: Wang Ming – Dao

20th Century Chinese protestant pastor – Imprisoned for his faith in 1955 for failure to join the communist state-controlled church along with his wife and 18 church members. After several months in Jail and brain washing and other mistreatments, he signed a document professing to be a “false prophet,” and was released from prison. After suffering from a possible nervous breakdown Wang recanted, convinced that he had betrayed Christ, he repeated over and over, "I am Peter. I am Judas." When his mind returned, he and his wife agreed that he must tell the authorities that his statement had been made under duress and did not represent his true feelings. The pastor was immediately returned to prison and his wife was sentenced, too. Rearrested in 1957 He would spend the next twenty-three years in a Chinese prison.

In 1972 the U.S. reestablished diplomatic relations with China and human rights organizations began to pressure China to release Mr. Wang. In 1979 they tried to release Mr. Wang but he refused to leave until his name was cleared. 1980 China forced Mr. Wang out of prison

Arrested for faithfully proclaiming the word of God.

Jesus had been in the boat at the seashore teaching in parables, saying “the Sower sows the Word.” Last week – responsibility of the Sower- reliability of the seed -receptivity of the soil. Jesus is teaching the disciples, getting them ready for their ministry. They leave the shore line and soon will encounter a great storm.

CPS: Our obedience to the Lord will not keep us from the storms of life but we can find peace in knowing that He is going through the storm with us.

Direction of Jesus vs.35-36

NB) the disciples received direction from Jesus – let us go to the other side. They obeyed and they set out in their boat going to the eastside of the Sea of Galilee

Going to the region of the Gadarenes Mk 5:1.

Who are the Gadarenes? Gentiles – pig farmers - Jews didn’t have much to do with gentiles especially Gentile pig farmers

Why would they go there? – ministry – Jesus often went to the outcasts – those who by human standards wouldn’t be a candidate for “righteousness”

The disciples were being obedient – they were in the center of God’s will! They had Jesus physically with them, going to partake in ministry! (peace and harmony)

Transition: Chapel speaker “to be in the center of God’s will is not the safest place to be but it is the best place to be.”

Difficulty with Jesus vs. 37-38

Paint a picture of the great difficulty they faced at sea.

They were traveling across the Sea of Galilee, they had their directions they were being obedient – they were right where Jesus wanted them to be. Jesus was physically there with Him – He was sound asleep on a pillow.

Weren’t very large boats – 26ft – single mast sail boat – typically had 3 oars on each side – low sides 2 ½ foot above the water - were not very maneuverable – at least 13 people in it

Here comes a storm!

The Sea of Galilee is infamous for sudden squalls

Lake (fresh water) - Its surface is nearly 700 feet below Sea Level, the nearby hills of Galilee reach an altitude of 1,500 feet above sea level. To the east are the mountains of Gilead with peaks of more than 3,300 feet.

In the hills the air is relatively cool and dry but on the other side the temperature is semi-tropical with warm moist air.

This causes a considerable difference in air pressure causing air to move from high pressure to low pressure creating wind.

The greater the pressure difference, the stronger the wind.

These winds are funneled through the hills causing tempests on the Sea

Because of its location, it is subject to sudden and violent storms that are usually of short duration.

Waves have been recorded of 10 feet -

Illustration: Have you ever been in a storm on the Ocean? First time I went Deep Sea fishing – Seas – holding on for dear life – awful afraid

Many of these men were fishermen – they had spent many nights on the Sea of Galilee

Vs. 37 Great Storm (Megas) Loud/great – Paint a picture of loud winds – waves crashing over the boat – Boat filling up with water! Appeared to be sinking THEY HAD NOT BEEN IN A STORM LIKE THIS BEFORE!

Disciples are anxious – they are afraid for their lives.

Vs. 38 Jesus is in the back of the boat asleep on a cushion

They woke Him up and said, don’t you care, we are about to die

asleep shows confidence in God – He knew His ministry wasn’t fulfilled, He came for a purpose and had not gone to the cross.

Faith – He knew the outcome – nothing would happen to Him until the appointed time.

Transition: Belonging to Jesus isn’t going to keep us exempt difficult times.

The Display of Jesus vs. 39-41

He awoke and rebuked the wind and the sea

Rebuked and be still – same words used in Mark 1:25 - conducted exorcism

Could imply a demonic element to the storm – it was a bad storm

Regardless – Jesus does what only God can do

Stopped the great winds and turned the sea from waves possible 10 feet or greater to smooth like a mirror.

He brought peace!

Jesus asked why were you so afraid, how is it you have no faith!

They should have had faith rather than fear

He had taught with authority and acted with authority (healings, casting out demons)

Didn’t they know Who was with them?

At Jesus’ display of power they became terrified and question who is He that even the sea obeys Him?

The Bible tells us!

Ps 107:28–32. 28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

God was in the boat with them!

Application: We can be following Jesus closely, obeying His commands, following His directions just as the disciples were doing and we can still find ourselves in great storms of life.

Following Jesus’ directions doesn’t exempt us from difficulty

When we do find difficulty in life we can also find peace and comfort knowing that as a Child of God Jesus is with us every step of the way.

Even when it doesn’t appear He is present or doesn’t care, He is there to deliver us from trials and tribulations in a way that glorifies Him and His testimony in you.

Things may not end the way we want but we know the outcome of God’s will is always good for us.

Romans 8:28

Original audience persecution – dispersion from homes and cities (Rome) many lost their lives

NB) The display of Jesus as He calmed the sea shows that He is the Sovereign Son of God.

God the Son – God in the flesh

To the original audience – they could find peace and comfort that Jesus was with them and they should have faith rather than fear!

NB) If Jesus doesn’t make it calm around us, He will make it calm in us

What are you going through? (pause)

If you are not going through a storm of life you will!

The only place you will find comfort is in Jesus

The only place you will find peace is in Jesus

How do I do that?

For the Christian 2 ways each involve 1 key factor – Faith

Sit down and talk to the Prince of Peace or you can sit down and let the Prince of Peace talk to you.

1st Plead you case to God in faith – Disciples pled to God, but not in faith – “don’t you care that we are about to perish”

2nd open the Scriptures! Read in faith: God will speak to you!

NB) I don’t have to win – God wins

2 Co 1:3–4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Ask the Prince of Peace – why are we going through these things?

There is always something to be learned – What are you teaching me God?

Most of the time – it is to trust in Him.

When we trust in Him, He will use us to comfort others in Him also.

Jesus was discipling His Disciples – getting them ready for their ministries without His physical presence, they would endure much – they must remember that I taught them to trust Me!

Trust Jesus – you will find peace and comfort in Him regardless of the storms of life.

NB) Those who do not know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior have no hope at all – no comfort is to be found – no peace is available

Because Jesus is the source of peace and comfort

The Only way Wang Ming-Dao could survive 23 years in prison was by the comfort of the Lord.

Conclusion: Christians find great storms in life, even if you are being obedient to Jesus. Even while He gives directions or assignments, callings this does not exempt us from great storms we will have to endure.

Invitation: