Peace in the Storms of Life
Tony Schachle
Peace in the Storms of Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 11 viewsIs Jesus in your boat? If so, you may face the storms of life, but you will never face them alone. You've got One with you that has power of the storm. The winds and the waves have to obey His voice. Jesus is our source of Peace in the Storms of Life!
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Transcript
SCRIPTURE
SCRIPTURE
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
36 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.
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
38 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?”
39 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.
40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
EXEGESIS
EXEGESIS
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
On the same day, when evening had come...
On the same day as what?
Jesus had spent the whole day teaching the multitudes (parables) on faith:
Sower,
Light,
Seed, and
Mustard Seed.
...He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
It had been a long day.
Jesus was tired and needed some rest from teaching and from the multitudes.
MINISTRY IS WORK
There are some Sundays when I get done with service and preaching and I feel like I’ve run a marathon or been in a boxing match. Ministry is a spiritual exercise just as much as it is physical exercise. It is not just proclaiming the Gospel, it is warring against the demonic forces of hell that are trying to hinder you and stop you. And after a long day of ministry Jesus knew He needed some rest. He needed to recharge His batteries for the next assignment.
The disciples didn’t know it yet, but Jesus knew that there was more ministry needed on the other side.
They are going to encounter the demoniac on the other shore. The man with the legion of demons that lived among the tombs.
MINISTRY IS WORK, AND IT IS ALSO A 24-HR OPERATION
The work of the ministry never stops. There is always something to do. There are always people that need to be reached with the Gospel. There are always more souls to be saved. There are always more lives that need to be transformed. And here Jesus and His disciples go from one mission to another. They go from a day of teaching and proclaiming of the Gospel, to an encounter with an extreme case of demonic possession. And in between, the disciples are going to face a great test of their faith in the form of a storm.
36 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.
Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was.
In other words, they didn’t prepare for this trip across the Sea of Galilee.
It was, “thank you guys for coming, we’ll see you next week.”
And other little boats were also with Him.
Some of those in the multitude were still trying to follow Jesus.
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
And a great windstorm arose...
The Sea of Galilee was known for sudden, violent storms.
Jesus and His disciples were busy doing the work of the ministry. So surely God would keep them from going through a storm, right?
SERVING THE LORD DOESN’T MAKE YOU IMMUNE TO TROUBLE
We think sometimes that the harder we work for the Lord, the less trouble we are going to face. But in fact, the exact opposite is true. The harder you work for the Lord, the more storms are going to come your way. And the stronger the storms are going to become. Sometimes it is God trying to test and strengthen your faith. Sometimes it is the devil trying to kill and destroy your faith. But either way, it is a test of faith.
…and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
This was no small storm.
The waves were beginning to fill the boat and were already threatening to sink it.
HERE WAS THEIR TEST OF FAITH
Jesus had already said, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Jesus didn’t say, “Let’s chance it and see if we can beat the storm. Let’s give it a shot and hopefully we don’t drown.” No, Jesus had already told them they were going to the other side, which means they were going to make it through whatever they had to face.
Some of you today may need to remember what God has already promised you. Some of you may need to remember who is in the boat with you. Don’t let fear overcome your faith. Jesus has said He will never leave you. Jesus has said you are going to make it. Jesus has said no one is going to pluck you out of His hand.
Just remember child of God, you can have peace in the storms of life!
38 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?”
But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.
The trip across the Sea of Galilee in a row boat could take up to 6 hours in calm weather.
Jesus took this opportunity to get some much needed rest after a long day of ministry.
But His disciples didn’t see it that way.
And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
The disciples were a hot mess.
They were probably screaming at each other and running around trying to bail water out of the boat while some were trying to row against the wind and the waves.
Can you just picture Jesus with his little pillow in the stern of the ship, with one of those sleep masks over His eyes, counting sheep? While His disciples have lost their minds, they’re panicking, and thinking they are about to die. And Jesus is just in His own little peaceful world back there in the back of the boat.
Their question comes across as a rebuke of Jesus:
Do you not care about what we’re facing right now?
Do you not care what might happen to us?
Do you not care to help us right now when we need You?
Not being awake to help them struggle with the boat.
We can be like the disciples. We believe He is God and has unlimited power, but when He doesn’t perform according to our expectations, we doubt He is equal to the task.
WE CAN FIND PEACE IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS
Jesus had a lot that He could have been worried about. He could have been worried about the well-being of the multitudes He had just left. He could have been worried about the the drop in ministry funds from last month’s financial statement. He could have been worried about the weather. He could have been worried about facing the demoniac on the other side of the sea. He could have been worried if He had picked the right disciples. He could have been worried about having to face the crucifixion one day.
But Jesus found peace in the middle of chaos. And the same goes for us. When we remember we’ve got Jesus in the boat with us. When we remember His promises. When we remember we will win the race of faith if we’ll hold on to the end. We can find peace in the middle of chaos.
We can have peace in the storms of life!
39 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.
Then He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!”
Notice that Jesus didn’t just speak to the wind, He rebuked it.
The word “rebuke” here is the same word that it used when Jesus rebuked demonic spirits and cast them out.
THIS WAS JUST AS MUCH OF A SPIRITUAL BATTLE AS IT WAS A WEATHER CRISIS
Some people don’t believe the devil has the power to send storms into your life. God is always in control, but God allows Satan to come against us. God has all power, He is omnipotent, but He allows Satan to have some power. Satan is like a dog on a chain. God is always in control of the chain. God determines how far Satan can go and how much Satan can do. But there are going to be times we are going to have to encounter him.
Satan sent a storm to Job’s house. God allowed it. And Job’s 10 children were killed. Paul and his companions faced a great storm in the book of Acts and they suffered much loss, but no one lost their lives.
Satan can send the storms, but Jesus is still in control! When you know that and truly believe that, you can have peace in the storms of life!
And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Jesus spoke two words. It is three words in English, but it was only two words in Greek: “siopao [see-o-pah-o] phimoo [fee-moo-o]”
Both words have similar meanings. They mean to silence or to make quiet. To muzzle or to restrain from making noise.
I don’t know about you, but when things are out of control, and chaos is going on all around me, and I find myself in the storms of life, I just want a little peace and quiet.
JESUS CAN BRING A GREAT CALM IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS
I love the 23rd Psalm. And it says that our Great Shepherd will “lead us beside still waters.” Not chaotic waters. Not troubled waters. Not dangerous waters. Not deadly waters. Still waters. Calm waters. Quiet waters. Refreshing waters.
The devil is the author of chaos and confusion. But God is the author of order and peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Jesus said:
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
We can have peace in the storms of life when we keep our faith in Him!
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful?”
Fear is the kryptonite of faith.
Fear with cripple you.
Fear will torment you.
Fear is not from God.
“How is it that you have no faith?”
Jesus rebuked the wind and waves and then He rebuked His disciples.
He rebuked them for their lack of faith.
Did they forget who it was in the boat with them?
Did they not trust Jesus at His Word that they were going to the other side?
If they would have had faith, they could have rebuked the wind and waves themselves.
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him whey they couldn’t cast an evil spirit out of a young boy, Jesus said:
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
You will only have power over the storms that you have peace in!
DON’T LET FEAR OVERCOME YOUR FAITH
Jesus has already won the victory over sin, death, and the devil. And He has granted us His authority over all the power of the enemy through His name. And when we call on the name of Jesus, mountains can move. When we call on the name of Jesus, storms can be silenced. When we call on the name of Jesus, the impossible can become possible. When we call on the name of Jesus, we can have peace in the storms of life.
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
And they feared exceedingly...
This was a healthy fear of God, not an unhealthy fear of circumstances.
The Bible says that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
The fear of God is giving God the honor and respect that He deserves.
The fear of God is recognizing His glory and unimaginable power.
The disciples realized the man in the boat with them was more than just a man. They were in the presence of Yahweh.
…and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Who can this be but the Son of God!
Who has ultimate power over creation? None but Jesus!
Who can tell the wind to be quiet and stop the waves? None but Jesus!
Who can deliver us from the power of the enemy? None but Jesus!
Who can lead us beside still waters? None but Jesus!
Who can restore our soul? None but Jesus!
Who can bring us peace in the storms of life? None but Jesus!