Through the Storms of Life

Introduction

Today is ‘Friend and Family Day’ and TBH, I expected to preach a message about Friends.

I initially considered Proverbs 18:24 “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” and preached a message titled ‘A Friend Like No Other’ (speaking of Jesus of course)

I had thought that I would use yesterday as an example or illustration of ‘showing yourself friendly’ - as I was overwhelmed by the amount of people who had come out to spend the day moving our things over to Hebron.

But ultimately the LORD led me here to this passage. A passage that has nothing to do with friends / friendship - but has everything to do with how we see and interact with God.

So with the Help and Power of the Holy Spirit of God, I present to you this message titled ‘Be Strong and of a Good Courage - through the Storms of Life’

The first thing we notice is ‘The Education’

I. The Education

We see something - it struck me first when I read it: Mark 4:35 “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.”

When I saw the words ‘the same day’ - it prompted me to go back and examine what happened that day.

And what happened that day is that they got an education from Christ. They sat at the feet of Jesus and He taught them in parables.

The first thing that we notice about their education is that it was Comprehensive

It’s Comprehensive

Jesus covered several topics that we know of for sure - and even moreso when you consider Mark 4:33–34 “And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

So Jesus taught much more than these, then explained them to the disciples as well.

The first one is concerning the Sower, Seed & Soil

The Sower, Seed & Soil (v3-20)

This parable we have both the parable itself and the explanation of it given by Christ. So He gives us a ‘peek behind the curtain’.

Within this parable, I want you to catch a few themes that stick out that they should have latched on to:

The Necessity of Sowing

Mark 4:3 “Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:”

You see the Sower is necessary - for without the sower, the rest of the parable is irrelevant.

Church, this truth must instruct you and I as well.

Remember, Christ commanded us to Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

He’s instructed us to take up the ministry of sowing.

So they would have learned the Necessity of Sowing

The Power of the Seed

The seed it extremely powerful!

Mark 4:8 “And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.”

One thing that they should have noticed was that the seed was powerful!

The seed is (as Jesus explained) the Word of God (v14)

Church, let me say - the Word of God is powerful! There’s no limit to what it can do!

(Ill.) Almost 25 years ago, there was a young man who lacked focus, direction and understanding - then the Word of God was sown in my heart and it’s done an amazing work in me!

(Let me just say though, that without the sower, the seed couldn’t release the power that laid inside it!)

They would have learned about the Power of the Word, but they’d also learned of the Dependency of the Soil

The Dependency of the Soil

You see the Soil determines the production.

As long as the seed finds good soil, it will do a wondrous work!

So they would have understood that they needed to make sure they were taking care of their Spiritual garden so that the Word could do the work it needed to do in them!

(Ill.) Remember Peter & Judas spent the same time and heard the same Words - yet they ended it far different places.

They’d learned about the Dependency of the Soil

The Lamp (v21-25)

What are we to notice about the Lamp?

It’s Purpose (v21-23)

The whole purpose for a candle is to give off light. It wasn’t to be hid away somewhere - it had a purpose, and that was to illuminate it’s surroundings!

Church do you know what the job of the Christian is? To illuminate our surroundings! To show the Light of Christ to all we can touch.

They’d have learned about their purpose - but Christ also told them of where the power lied

It’s Power (v24-25)

Jesus instructs them and says: Mark 4:24a “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear…”

In other words, you need to be careful what you take in!

Church, you can only put out what you’re taking in!

Don’t you expect to shine bright for Jesus if you’re not taking in Jesus.

Don’t expect to shine for Jesus if all you’re taking in is the world!

He continues: Mark 4:24 “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.”

He then goes further saying ‘Whatever you’re going to take is what you’re going to get. And if you’re take more, you’ll get more.

Guess what? The more you take, the more you get - THE BRIGHTER YOU SHINE!

Then Jesus moves on to another topic - The Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God (v26-32)

When Jesus speaks to the Kingdom of God, He gives two different aspects of it.

A Harvest for the Faithful

Here we have another parable about a man sowing seed.

Now, there’s other things going on, but bird-eye view is a man sowing seed, then before he knows it, there’s a harvest to enjoy!

So what are they learning? They’re learning that if they will JUST BE FAITHFUL - THEY CAN ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THE HARVEST!

They learned that the Kingdom of God’s foundation is Sowing & Reaping, but it’s also a Haven for the Helpless

A Haven for the Helpless

Much in this parable is focused on the mustard seed and how though it’s small, it grown large - but consider this perspective:

First - again, the seed is sown (v31)

Secondly, it grows great

But most importantly, it’s strong enough to give refuge to the helpless fowls.

So what are they learning?

If they’re faithful, their labour will not be in vain, but it will provide refuge and shelter to the helpless.

(Ill.) Church, I was helpless - in the the fact that I had no direction. But when the seed was sown in me, I was able to find refuge - and the harvest that has risen from that one seed planted in me, has certainly brought forth much more fruit than anyone would hav anticipated!

It’s a Haven for the Helpless.

So these are the things that they learned that day - BUT WHAT WAS IT FOR? IT WAS TO BUILD THEIR CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

It’s to Build Character

God had a purpose for teaching them these things!

Jesus wasn’t speaking to hear how eloquent He could phrase something.

Jesus wasn’t speaking simply to gain a notoriety.

Jesus was teaching them SO THAT THEY WOULD APPLY WHAT THEY’D LEARNED INTO THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES!

Church, let me ask you this: Why do you come to church?

I’ve been to churches where the whole point was to see & be seen. It was nothing more than a community gathering. A ‘club’ whose purpose was to provide a sense of community and companionship. But that’s not what church is for. That’s not what teaching & preaching is for:

We should be seeking to learn something

We should be seeking to grow our Christian Character (and all of us need growth in that regard.)

We should be edifying & exhorting one another in the faith

But all of this is so that we can build our Christian Character - FOR THE PURPOSE OF EFFECTING OUR EVERYDAY LIVES AND DECISIONS!

So we see the Education

We have seen the Education. Next, we’ll look at the Application

II. The Application

Jesus is now taking them from the school house to the streets.

They are going from learning to doing.

Church, the reason we need Educated in the things of God IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPLYING THEM IN OUR LIVES!

There’s ALWAYS an education

(Ill.) Here a while back - I think for the Christmas devotion, the LORD led me to give a devotion that was ‘male centered’. The Title was ‘What is a Man’. The direct application for men was obvious - but what about the woman present?

Maybe the application was encouraging those aspects in their husbands

Maybe it’s to teach and train your children / grandchildren

Maybe it was something else - but the fact is, God’s Word ALWAYS has SOME SORT OF APPLICATION FOR YOUR LIFE!

So Jesus sets them a-sail.

Jesus Gives Direction (v35)

We see at the onset that Jesus tells them ‘This is the way, boys, let’s go!’

So they were in COMPLETE OBEDIENCE unto the Word of the LORD.

(That’s important to understand)

Jesus Gives Direction

They Experience a Disturbance

While they are in the ship - going where Jesus told them to go - they experience a disturbance! And it was a grand one at that!

Question: Do you think the storm surprised Jesus? Absolutely not!

Church, the storms in our lives are no surprise to God!

Church, know this: Sometimes, we experience storms WHEN WE’RE IN THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD!

Some might say ‘Why would God do that?’ The short answer? For our good and His glory! Trials have their purpose. (Ill.) No man has ever went through a greater trial than Jesus, but if not for the Cross of Calvary, you and I’d be lost today!

They Experience a Disturbance - but what’s telling is Their Reaction! Because their Reaction is Disastrous

Their Reaction is Disastrous

If this would have been a test, they failed miserably.

Do you know how they reacted? Just like any Heathen reacts when they go through trials. ‘What are you doing, God? DON’T YOU CARE?!?

HERE IT IS, GOD’S PEOPLE - ACTING LIKE HEATHENS!

But storms will often bring out either the best or worst in God’s people. This time, it brought out the worst.

Their Reaction is Disastrous

Earlier in the day their had their Education. Then they had an opportunity for Application. Lastly, let’s consider the Instruction. What can we learn from this?

III. The Instruction

The Storm was Not their Problem

This point cannot be overstated. The storm was not their problem.

The storm was an external condition - what the storm did was reveal their internal condition.

Church, RARELY is our problems external. They are almost exclusively internal.

Their problem was NOT the Storm, it was a lack of Faith! They didn’t trust Jesus!

Their problem was ‘Their Faith Failed’ We read in Mark 4:40 “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

Their Faith Failed - In Spite of…

The Title of the message is ‘Be Strong and of a Good Courage - through the Storms of Life’ for a reason. You see, strength and courage for the Christian is not measured by muscle tissue and grit. It’s measured by FAITH!

FAITH IS WHAT MAKES THE CHRISTIAN STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!

FAITH IS WHAT SEES US THROUGH

FAITH IS THE SINGLE GREATEST ASPECT OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

FAITH IS WHAT DETERMINES - NOT ONLY WHETHER WE GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL, BUT HOW WE APPROACH EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF LIFE!

And when they were in the midst of that Storm, their faith failed them. BUT IT SHOULDN’T HAVE.

I want to share with you four reasons why their faith shouldn’t have failed, so when storms come into your life (and they will) you’ll know what to look for and how to not only KEEP your faith, but STRENGTHEN IT.

The Parables of Christ

All of the teachings of Christ - they had. They had what we examined and more.

I have over the years learned to show more grace to people… especially lost people. It’s easier for me to show grace to lost people than it is for saved people. And the more the saved person knows about ‘What thus saith the LORD’, the harder it becomes for me.

(Ill.) I used to get so mad at politicians. I’d hear the brazen stupidity that comes forth from their mouths and think ‘how can someone possibly be so dumb? But when I take into consideration the fact that they are probably lost and know not Christ - I understand that the Word of God means far less to them than it does to me.

You see, these men had something that others didn’t - they had knowledge of Jesus and His teachings. Because they did, it’s a reason as to why their faith should have been stronger.

Remember church, Christ taught them to BUILD THEM UP. WHAT GOOD DOES SITTING UNDER THE WORDS OF GOD IF YOU DON’T APPLY THEM TO YOUR LIFE??

They had the Parables of Christ

The Promise of Christ

Jesus said they were going to the other side, didn’t He? But in the midst of the storm, they didn’t believe Him. They didn’t think they were going to the other side, they thought they were going to die.

Church, this is simply a lack of faith in the promise of God!

Church know this: If God has promised something, there is NOTHING THAT CAN PREVENT IT FROM TAKING PLACE! NOTHING!

Warren Wiersbe said: “His commandments are always His enablements and nothing can hinder the working out of His plans. He did not promise an easy trip, but He did promise a guaranteed arrival at their destination.”

They had the promise of Christ, but had no faith in it.

The Peace of Christ

Jesus was not troubled by their predicament. They saw this as a lack of compassion of the part of Christ - but it wasn’t a lack of compassion, it was a resting in His plan.

Jesus knew that when you’re in the perfect Will of God, there is nothing to fear!

The safest place you can ever possibly be is in the perfect Will of God.

Whether that’s preaching to heathenistic group like Steven, or in the midst of a prison cell like Paul & Silas. Psalm 4:8 “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”

Their faith shouldn’t have failed because Jesus was at peace with their situation

The Presence of Christ

Jesus was WITH THEM!

They’d seen the Character of Christ and the power of Christ - and here they were in the Will of Christ and in the Presence of Christ. Was not Jesus right in asking them Mark 4:40 “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

How do you think it made Jesus feel for after all He did, they had no faith in Him? How does it feel when people don’t have confidence in you or your word?

Church, the truth is, we have the Word of Christ, the Promises of God - if we put ourselves in the Perfect Will of God, then the peace of Christ will be OUR peace - and transform our lives in a remarkable way.

Conclusion

Where is your faith today?

First: Let me ask you this: Where is your faith in regards to life after death? Are you going to Heaven? Are you trusting in what Jesus said was the only way there? (John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Secondly, church how are you handling the storms of life? Are you finding peace int eh midst of the storm? If not, why not? Where is your faith?