God is With Us in the Storms

God With Us series:

In the Storms

Matthew 14:22-33

Theme: Jesus is there to carry us through the storms.

Welcome to the Christmas season with us here at Mountain View Baptist Church. It is wonderful to see each of you and also our first time guests. Please be sure to connect with us as you leave today.

During this wonderful time of the year in “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:22–23). Our Christmas series this year is God With Us.

This means God came to this earth in form of man through a virgin birth. This means He was not born a sinner. God came to this earth as a man and never one time sinned. Just think on that for a minute! God Himself came to this earth and walked among men. He was with His disciples in human form as He taught them who He is and how He came to die for the sins of mankind.

He was with them in various seasons in the lives of His people in which He teaches us He is with us spiritually during the seasons of life with us. Today we will see one season all of us go through. It is the storms of life.

It doesn’t matter if you are a Christian or not a Christian, you will go through storms in your life. It may be a difficulty that nobody understands, a grief or loss, a financial set back, or a major disappointment. Being a Christian does not remove storms but we have the presence of God with us during our storm. The knowledge of God with us in the storm gives us courage and hope to face whatever comes our way in that storm.

The account of our passage is on the Sea of Galilee. This beautiful freshwater lake is the second lowest lake in the world. Because of its location, it is subject to unexpected turbulent storms. Meteorologists have become very good at warning of upcoming storms but in the first century there were no meteorologists to tell them. The storms would come unexpectedly.

It would be nice to have a spiritual meteorologist to warn us of a special storm in our life but there is nobody who can warn us. The Bible teaches us to be ready and prepared for storms in life, but not the exact time a storm will come.

This account is not just about a physical storm but about life and how to handle the storms that come into our lives.

God gives us in this passage principles on how to handle life’s storms.

Principle 1: Storms are guaranteed

In verse 22, Jesus constrained means He urged them to go into the ship. He knew the storm was coming so He wanted to teach His disciples some very powerful lessons about Himself. Normally if meteorologists knew a storm was coming, they would warn people to not travel or find shelter. However, there are some things we cannot understand until God brings a storm into our life. Unexpected storms teach some unexpected blessings.

“God sometimes calms the storm, but sometimes He lets the storms rage and calms His child.” (unknown)

This storm was on a grand scale like the disciples had never seen before. These expert fishermen were frightened for their lives as the storm beat on the boat. The water was filling the boat and the waves were tossing the boat around.

God is telling us storms will come in our lives and they are not always a storm of correction but often a storm for us to know God better. There are storms God brings into our lives to show us how big God is. A storm will help us to better know the God of the storm.

“For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:11)

A person who does not know Christ, the storm will be much more difficult. Without Christ, life will be miserable when you face storms in your life. You can receive Jesus as your Savior. The Bible teaches us we are sinners and separated from God because of our sin. He came to die on the cross to make a payment for our sin. He was buried and arose from the dead in His own power. It is more than just knowing that fact, but it is receiving Jesus as our personal Savior. John 1:12 “But as many as received Him…”.

When we receive Christ, He will carry us through the storms. Some of you today are in a storm and God gives a wonderful verse to encourage you. “Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” (Isaiah 26:4)

While the storms are guaranteed in our lives, God teaches us in those storms His power and His strength in the storm. The storm is God’s molding of our spiritual life which will shape us into His image through trust.

Principle 2: God prepares us for the storms

In verse 23, Jesus went into the mountain to pray alone. This special time of prayer with God in the mountain took on special meaning. He seemed to have spent significant time in prayer.

Jesus prays for us during the storms in life. You might have a big storm in your life: job related, financial, health, or parental difficulties. He is our intercessor to God the Father

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” (Hebrews 7:24–26)

God draws believers to come to Him so we can be strengthened by His power to go through the difficulties and struggles life brings. He even summons us to come to Him.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

As we draw near to Him in the biggest of storms, He will show us His power. We can focus on Him and find the burden is light. We can see God’s power working for us. Christian, as you spend time with God daily, He is preparing you for the next storm in your life.

One man said, “you may have just come out of a storm or about to enter a storm, but God is always with us.”

Preparation is a very important part of life. No runner can run a marathon without adequate preparation. No musician can play music without adequate preparation. No Christian can go through a storm well without great preparation. We prepare when we spend time with God in prayer and when we respond to God when He convicts.

Just the fact that God gives us records of life’s storms and principles on how to go through the storms, God is preparing us for our personal storms. This is not to scare us, on the contrary, but to show us His power in the storm.

Jesus will soon know about a storm to come in His personal life. He would soon face the cross and this storm was not like any other storm any ever faced. Yet, He was victorious. He died, was buried; yet, He arose again. There is victory over our storms just like He had victory over His storm.

Principle 3: Jesus comes to us in the storm

In the passage Jesus comes unexpectedly, in fact: they did not recognize His presence at first. It is most interesting when the storms come, we don’t see Him in the middle of the confusion and difficulty.

There are two great lessons they were to learn here. First, we should look for Jesus in our storm. God may come to us in a time of total weakness, He may come to us through a letter or an email or a note of encouragement. God may line up in your storm a circumstance to let you know He is there.

These men were so focused on the storm, they could not see the Savior in the storm. When He came to them, they did not recognize Him. You can allow the storms to overtake your life and miss seeing Jesus when He comes to you. While the storms are not easy nor desirable, Jesus will come to us to guide us through the storm.

The second lesson, in v. 27, is to let Jesus cheer you in the storm. The storms and circumstances can be quite difficult. It is very natural to have great fear in our lives. Our flesh does not like being uncomfortable and we want to get out of the situation as quickly as possible. In the storm Jesus comes to give us encouragement and good cheer.

“Storms are not meant to break us but bend us towards the Lord.” (unknown)

While the storms are disturbing and difficult, having Jesus come to us in the storm is thrilling. Obviously, we have to be looking for Him.

Are you in a storm today? These great lessons in life can only be learned through a storm. Maybe God is coming to you in the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. We need to look for Him.

Peter had to learn this lesson when He asked Jesus to let him come out of the water. He had enough faith to step out of the boat during a major storm in his life and trust God. However, his faith turned into fear and he started to fall into the water. Yet, Jesus was there to help him. Notice in verse 31, Jesus put out His hand.

Today Jesus is putting out His hand for you. If you don’t know Him today, His hands are nail scarred for you. Jesus went to the cross for you and died for you shedding His blood for you. He is reaching forth His hand, will you accept Him today?

God is showing us He has power in the storm and He is there taking you through the storm with His presence. You are not alone. During this Christmas season, while some in the world want to take Christ out of Christmas, let’s leave Him in the middle of our Christmas. He is with us and that is His name. For many this time of year, seems like a storm. It may be an empty chair at the dinner table or failed expectations in life. God wants you to know He is with you if you know Him today.

Reach out to Him today and recognize His presence in your life if you are a believer. Be sensitive to His presence and seek His strength in the storm.

If you have never accepted Christ, will you turn to Him today and let this be your best Christmas yet. Will you accept Him today?