God Specializes in Rough Waters

Introduction and Argument

Life teaches us that storms are inevitable. You are either celebrating because a storm has passed, you maybe struggling because you are in a storm right now, or you are preparing because you know that one is on the horizon. But I come this morning to share some good news: no matter which season you are in, God Specializes in Rough Waters.

When you have a problem, you don’t just look for any doctor - you look for a specialist. If you have a toothache, you don't make an appointment with Dr. Gwen Davis. You go to a dentist.

If you've suffered a gunshot wound, you don't call the dentist. You need a trauma surgeon or an emergency physician.

If you're in the middle of an emotional crisis, you don't call 911 expecting the emergency room to provide long-term counseling. You seek someone who specializes in helping people through those kinds of struggles.

Why?

Because every problem requires the right specialist.

Well, life has a way of bringing us into rough waters—storms too powerful for our human strength, our human wisdom is limited, and our arms are too short to fight with God.

When the storms of life begin to rock your boat, you don't need someone who has merely read about storms. You need the One who commands the wind, controls the waves, and calms the sea.

That's why I've come to tell you today that God specializes in rough waters.

He has never lost a case.

He has never failed a patient.

He has never referred anyone to another specialist.

When everybody else has done all they can do, God steps in and does what only God can do.

Psalm 107 begins with Give Thanks unto the LORD because He is good and He is loving, and His mercy endures for ever.

Verse 1-3 illustrate that we should praise the LORD for he is good. “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.”

Verse 4-9 proclaims how God delivered those in the desert and they had been wandering in the wilderness.

Verse 10-16 illustrates how God delivers those in darkness and they were also rebellious

Verse 17-22 even Fools repent and find salvation.

Verse 23-30 - Todays lesson proclaims how God delivers those in the deep and troubled waters

Things to Notice in this Text:

In the OT, it is unusual that we have stories in scripture using a ship. Most bible stories in the OT dealing with Israelites are on the land

You will also notice that God sent this storm because of His sovereignty. Because of His grace. Sin from the sailors were not the reason

You maybe tempted to compare this story to Jonah but I want you to look at How urgently God response to prayer and He illustrates His faithfulness

Lastly, private praise is not what you do when God answers your prayers. The text reminds us to public praise is mandated for the redeemed.

Thesis: When merchants at sea cry out to God during a divinely-sent storm that leaves them helpless, He delivers them by calming the tempest and guiding them safely home, calling them to public testimony of His faithfulness.

The Specialist Allows the Storm

Psalm 107:23–27 KJV 1900

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of the Lord, And his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: Their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end.

Objective:

We do business or work on the banks or shores of life. We are successful and become comfortable where we are, and if we are dealing with issues in life, we even learn to walk with that limb, deal with the pain, or wear a mask to give an illusion that we are smiling and happy.

We notice others dealing with the same business or issues of life and it seems like they are receiving greater results. The only difference is Position. You are on the bank and they are in deep waters.

"Because grace is unmerited favor, it is often misunderstood by people who have a 'shore mentality.' As long as you're standing safely on the shore, trusting in your own strength and resources, you may never fully appreciate the grace of God. But when God launches you into deep waters and you discover that you cannot save yourself, grace becomes more than a doctrine—it becomes a lifeline."

What does the Lord do, He commands a storm.

Interpretation:

Who are “they” in verse 23? We have to look at Psalm 107:2 “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble”

Redeemed are those who have been rescued or set free from danger. The Lord paid a price for them.

These are people who know the LORD and He rescued them.

Three important points about the sea:

verse 23: great waters - going places where your human ability is limited. The sailors understand that life has uncertainties and dangers.

verse 24: and his wonders in the deep - this represents the unknown, circumstances that overwhelm you, and a place where only God can keep you. Q. Can I see a show of hands of anyone who has been at a point in life that you were so deep that you know it was God that was holding you?

verse 26: to the depths - life can be like a roller coaster. You have high and low moments. The sailors can only depend on the Lord.

He sends the storm to move them from the shore to the depths of the sea. Why? So that they could trust him and not trust the bank or shore. I didn’t see anyone come into church this morning looking under your pew to see if it was broke, some of you walk the same path into church and out of church that you can walk in here blind. You sit in the same pew each Sunday, so what the LORD does is He commanded a storm to come to shift you from the bank to the deep waters. Since you won’t trust me freely, let me remind you that I am still the one with All Power.

To reel to and fro

Helpless and disoriented

To move in circles. To be thrown off balance physically, emotionally, and mentally

At their wits’ end

Sailor skills failed them

Experience had evaporated

Human Wisdom had failed

Application:

Sometimes before God can bring you to your knees, He has to bring you to your wits’ end.

Because you keep telling yourself that I am strong and I am going to get through it. God has to shift you from the shore to the depths of the sea.

The Specialist Answers the Cry

Psalm 107:28–29 GW

28 In their distress they cried out to the Lord.  He led them from their troubles.  29 He made the storm calm down,  and the waves became still. 

Objective:

The redeemed respond by crying out to the LORD

The LORD response to their cry by calming down the storm.

This is the Tension in this Text

Interpretation:

They cried out to the Lord while in distress

He led them or delivered them from troubles

He made the storm calm down, and waves become still

Your circumstances don’t keep the LORD up at night

The LORD does not respond to the Wind, the Water, or the Waves.

Note: This storm didn’t cause the LORD to respond, the LORD didn’t respond until they cried out for Him.

Storm and the Waves;

He didn’t move the storm, He just calmed it down

The waves didn’t stop rowing, He just made them be still

Note: Keep praying and keep rowing.

This is why God is a Specialist

A Specialist is one that handles difficult problems. They possess an unique knowledge or skill.

He created the storm and He calm the storm

He created the waves, and in His special way makes the waves be still

God has never met a problem that He couldn’t solve.

The Specialist Does the Impossible

Psalm 107:30–31 KJV 1900

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Objective:

Now the storm has quieted, and He brings them to safety

Verse 31 is a repeat of v.8, v.15, v.21

Interpretation:

Now the redeem are positioned out in the deep waters, and verse 26 said that their soul (courage) melted.

The LORD silences the storm, and He brings them to a place of safety.

The LORD is a very present help in Time of Trouble

Notice the text says that the LORD created this storm and verse 30 says that He brought them to a safe place.

They are still in deep waters

A few moments ago, their courage had melted, and now they are glad. What happened?

The Wind didn’t change them, the Water didn’t change them, the Wave didn’t change them....So what Changed them...Pause...THE WORD OF GOD CHANGED THEM.

For the same God who commanded the storm also commanded the calm.

The same voice that raised the waves spoke peace to the sea. It wasn't the water that transformed them—it was the Word!

HE SHIFTED THEIR POSITION BUT HIS POWER NEVER CHANGED. GOD’S POWER IS NOT DEPENDENT ON MY POSITION.

Application:

We should be grateful today that we have a Loving Father who shifts us. He shifts us so that He can sift us. Luke 22:31

Luke 22:31–32 ESV

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

The Word of God will convict us in comfortable situations, and He demonstrates His power by repositioning us from the shore to the sea

And you don’t have to fret because God Specializes in Rough Waters because He created the wind and the storm.

You and I should count our blessings. ‎1. When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; name them one by one,

‎Chorus. Count your blessings; Name them one by one. Count your blessings; See what God hath done.

The Specialist Deserves the Praise

Psalm 107:32 ESV

32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Objective:

Now that you have been repositioned and your fear has been transformed into joy.

Do you keep it to yourself?

A Personal Testimony Illustration

Suppose someone rescued you from a burning house. Would you spend the rest of your life keeping that story to yourself? Of course not. Every time you had an opportunity, you would tell others about the person who saved your life.

Interpretation:

Glory be to God for what He has done

One danger about freedom is that we tend to forget the one who set us free. I have discovered that the reason some of you have challenges publically praising God is because you don’t practice privately praising God. I found out that ONE yes from God is the only Approval I need.

Acts 4:20 NLT

20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

We must worship the one who redeemed us and set us free. Worship is our response to God. For He is worthy to be praised.

Application:

Now that the Specialist has calmed our rough waters, we have a testimony. Why? Because the Specialist took us through the test, and whenever God brings you through a test, He gives you a testimony.

Closing:

It was Charles Spurgeon who says there are three truths that those who are redeemed of the Lord must always remember and keep in your heart:

Isaiah 43:2–3 ESV

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. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

Trials will come your way - You will go through the fire and through the water

Trials don’t come to destroy you - You will not become overwhelmed nor consumed

We have assurance from God - God will never leave nor forsake His people.

He specializes in: storms others cannot calm, burdens others cannot carry, hearts others cannot heal, and situations others cannot fix.

That's why the psalmist says they cried unto the Lord. They called the only One qualified to handle their emergency.

And our testimony is required, because it is the evidence. It is the proof. It is the witness that Dr. Jesus still specializes in the impossible!

Folk need to know that He's still opening doors.

He's still making ways.

He's still healing broken hearts.

He's still calming troubled seas.

He's still bringing His children to their desired haven.

And He still does what no other power can do but Holy Ghost power!

Our testimony is not for entertainment—it is evidence!

It is proof that the Specialist is still in business.

It is proof that His power has not diminished.

It is proof that His grace has not run dry.

It is proof that what He did then, He can do now.

And if He brought me through rough waters, He can bring you through rough waters too!

Then verse 32 becomes your call to public praise:

"Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders."

That's why I can't keep quiet. Psalm 107 says, 'Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!' I have the evidence. I have the proof. I have the scars, but I also have the story. The Specialist brought me through the storm, and I've come to tell somebody that He still specializes in rough waters!