Shaken but not Sinking
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
An experienced sailor was once asked, “What is the greatest danger to a ship?”
He was expected to say strong winds, towering waves, or violent storms. Surprisingly, he said that ships are actually designed to handle those things. In fact, wind can help propel a ship forward, and ships are built to navigate rough waters.
“The greatest danger to a ship,” he explained, “is not the water around it, but the water that gets inside it.”
The same is true for believers.
Our greatest danger is not the storms around us, but the storms that get inside us.
When fear replaces faith
When anxiety replaces trust
When doubt replaces confidence in God, the storm has begun to move from the outside to the inside.
As we surrender ourselves to God's Spirit, our faith grows stronger and becomes an anchor in the storms of life. When the winds of adversity begin to blow and the waves of trouble rise against us, faith enables us to look beyond our crises and circumstances.
The storms of life may shake us, but they do not have to sink us.
Shaken, but not sinking.
Thesis/Proposition
Thesis/Proposition
The disciples followed Jesus into the storm, yet the same Savior who led them into it also carried them through it. Therefore, their fear should not have been in the storm, but their faith should have remained in the Saviour.
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.
The Command before the Storm
Observation:
In Mark chapter 4, Jesus had just completed a long day of teaching. Standing by the Sea of Galilee, He transformed a simple fishing boat into a pulpit and the shoreline into a sanctuary. From that floating platform, He taught the crowds the mysteries of the Kingdom of God through parables.
After pouring Himself into ministry and instructing the multitude, Jesus turned to His disciples and said, "Let us go across to the other side." What the disciples did not know was that the same boat that had served as a pulpit for teaching would soon become a classroom for learning. The lesson was no longer for the crowd on the shore, but for the disciples in the ship.
Jesus had taught them about faith with His words; now He would teach them about faith through a storm.
Interpretation:
Let us pass over is an exhortation from Christ. And the destination is to the east side of the Sea of Galilee
The text says it was evening. Daylight was fading, shadows were lengthening, and darkness was approaching. The disciples were entering a transition from light to darkness. Often, the greatest tests of faith come during the transitional seasons of life, when what was once clear becomes uncertain and we must learn to trust God in the dark.
Sometimes God allows us to face situations where our experience is not enough, our training is not enough, and our expertise is not enough. The disciples were confident in their abilities as fishermen until the storm revealed the limits of their abilities. The disciples knew how to navigate by the stars, but this storm taught them to navigate by faith.
Application:
Following Jesus means stepping forward by faith, even when you cannot see the full path ahead.
There comes a point in every believer's life when experience runs out and faith must take over. You cannot navigate every storm with skill alone. Some storms require you to trust the One who walks on water and speaks peace to the sea.
Sermon Body
Sermon Body
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
The Elements of the Storm
Notice how the storm comes. “There arose a great storm of wind.” (This means the atmosphere changed.)
Not only was the day light transitioning to darkness
Water waves beat up the ship and fill the ship with water.
If the waves were not enough, now the wind begins to howl. It seems to come from all four corners of the earth.
That's how storms in life often operate. They rarely arrive alone. One burden is followed by another burden. One trial is followed by another challenge. Before you've recovered from yesterday's struggle, today's wind is already blowing against your faith.
The wind has a way of bringing circumstances into your life that you never planned for, never prepared for, and never expected. Yet even when the wind is against you, God is still for you.
SUN was behind the clouds. The SON was sleep in the hinder part of the ship
Application:
Child of God, don't be surprised when storms arise in your life. Obedience does not provide immunity from adversity. There will be storms of burdens, storms of sickness, storms of loneliness, storms of grief, and storms of battles both within and without.
The disciples were in the center of God's will and still found themselves in the middle of a storm. Sometimes the storm is not a sign that you're out of God's will—it is evidence that you're on the journey He has ordained for you.
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?
The Emotions of the Saints
Notice the emotional change of the disciples
When they first got in the ship they were eager to follow Jesus
Now that a storm has arose, eagerness and obedience turns to anxiety and panic.
Fearful and doubt has now entered their hearts.
When emotions take control, they often override sound judgment and clear thinking. Fear has a way of robbing reality and causing us to forget what we know to be true.
Notice the disciples did not wake Jesus and ask, "Lord, can You help us?" They did not ask, "Lord, will You save us?" Instead, they asked, "Master/Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
Their problem was no longer just the storm around them; it was the fear within them. Their emotions had become so overwhelming that they began to question the very character of Jesus. They doubted His concern before they doubted His power. Fear convinced them that His silence meant He did not care.
Isn't that what happens to us? When the storms of life rage, we can move from asking, "Lord, what are You doing?" to asking, "Lord, do You care?" Yet the cross of Christ forever settles that question. No matter how fierce the storm becomes, we never have to question whether He cares.
Application:
Notice that it was not the crashing waves beating against the ship that woke Jesus.
It was not the howling wind screaming across the sea.
It was not the water filling the boat. What awakened Jesus was the distressed voices of His disciples.
The storm did not move Him, but the cries of His children did. The wind could not get His attention. The waves could not get His attention. But when His disciples called on Him in their desperation, Jesus responded. Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Sometimes we feel as though our prayers are drowned out by the noise of life's storms. The disciples probably felt overwhelmed by the wind, the waves, and the water. Yet the moment they cried out to Jesus, He heard them. This passage reminds us that our Lord is not indifferent to the cries of His people. He may appear silent for a season, but He is never deaf to our prayers.
Fear will make you question what faith should already know.
The Storm was shaking the Ship but it couldn’t sink with Jesus on Board.
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
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?
The Excellence of the Saviour
Now in one corner the storm arose, and in the other corner, the Heavyweight Champion of the World arose. Notice how quickly Jesus transitions from being asleep to now going into action.
Jesus rebukes the wind. Rebuke is a command that demands obedience. It is not just a request but it shows the authority of Jesus over nature. Jesus did not negotiate with the wind.
And Jesus says to the Sea, Peace! Be Still! Now this is worth explaining. There is a difference between rebuke the wind and Jesus telling the Sea, Peace Be Still (which says in the original language...Be silent and be muzzled. In Mark 1:25, these are the same words Jesus said when He healed a man from an unclean spirit.
A Helpful Illustration
Think of a parent breaking up a fight between children.
First, the parent may say:
"Enough!"
That is the rebuke.
Then the parent says:
"Now sit down and be quiet."
That is the command.
The wind and sea fall under the authority of Jesus words, and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Look at the emotions of the disciples now. They are full of fear. Not the storm but here witnessing the Power and Authority of Jesus caused them to fear exceedingly.
Note: The Storm caused them to forget Jesus teaching, the miracle they just witness was a fact that when Jesus was teaching about the Parable of the Sower, here the seeds fall on stony ground.
Point: Before the storm ever arose, Jesus had already spoken the destination. In verse 35, Jesus said, "Let us go over unto the other side." Notice what He did not say. He did not say, "Let us try to get to the other side." He did not say, "Let us see if we can make it to the other side." He simply declared, "Let us go over unto the other side."
The storm came, the wind blew, and the waves crashed against the ship. Everything about the circumstances suggested they were not going to make it. But the disciples had forgotten what Jesus had already said.
The storm could shake the ship, but it could not cancel the word of Christ. Normally storms will blew a ship off course, but Jesus said in verse 35, Let us go over to the other side.
Closing
Closing
When storms of life arise:
Don’t focus on the elements of the storm
Don’t be controlled by your emotions
Just keep your heart and mind focused on the Excellence of Jesus
Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Abraham and Sarah can be a witness. They endured nearly 20 years for their promised child.
Joseph’s faith was shaken when he was a victim by his own brothers, sold into slavery, and falsely accused.
Daniel can be a witness because he refused to bow to the king, and they put Daniel down in the lions den.
Connection to Calvary and the Cross:
I was in a storm one day. Sin had me walking around with my head down. Family and Friends couldn’t be found.
But I found Jesus one Thursday Evening.
The preacher asked me, Ron do you believe that Jesus died for your sins, and that one Sunday Morning He rose from the grave. With tears in my eyes, I said yes I believe he did.
Then I think about what Jesus did for you and I. We all were sinking in a world of sin. But Jesus came as our sacrificial lamb.
