God Grows our Faith by Displaying His Power

Authenticating the Message

Psalm 89:6–9 NKJV

For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him. O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.

one Writer has said,

I asked the Lord that I might grow

In faith and love and every grace,

Might more of His salvation know,

And seek more earnestly His face.

’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,

And trust has answered prayer;

But it has been in such a way

As almost drove me to despair.

Hughes, R. K. (1989). Mark: Jesus, servant and savior (Vol. 1, pp. 113–114). Westchester, IL: Crossway Books.

We seen last time we talked about he sower who went and scattered seed.

Kingdom of God is like

And the kingdom of God if you were to read on is like a mustard seed, though starts small, becomes great.

Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior Learning Through the Storm (vv. 37, 38a)

The fact is, we would be spiritual pygmies, insufferably self-centered, proud, and empty people, without adversity. This is why Ruth Graham can pray for herself:

Dear God, let me soar in the face of the wind: up, up, like the lark—so posed and so sure, through cold or the storm with wings to endure. Let the silver rain wash all the dust from my wings. Let me soar as He soars; let me sing, as He sings; let it lift me.… Let it buffet and drive me, but, God, let it lift.

Lord, let me ride the storm to you!

The storm was a “step up” for the disciples, though they did not know it. Perhaps you have such a storm in your life right now. Why not ask God to help you make the most of it?

We don’t know how and we don’t always see but we know God is faithful to do what He has set out to do. He will grow His kingdom.

This we see this week as Christ authenticates His message once again by putting His glory on display. This He did to grow His disciples faith and manifest His power before their eyes. Something they would not have seen unless they were in the midst of a raging sea.

We are all about see the the power of God but often times would refrain from the trials God brings us through in order to do so.

Who here would say God bring on the hardships. There is nothing in my life I seek to keep bring me through the fiery trial of Job.

I pray this morning that you would gain a different set of eyes for the storms before us and the God who reigns above them and over them.

God knows all things right? He is in control right? There is nothing that comes across our paths that He is not personally involved in. that He is all powerful right? These are the attributes that would begin to describe our God as Sovereign. Which He is. a term we at times may run from but a term that we as the church so desperately need to trust in.

God Uses Storms to grow us.

In the new testament time and time again the bible instructs us to rejoice in trials. Praise God in the storm.

A principle that most of us don’t like nor can we see the profit that can come from them. This is mainly due to our lack of instructions from out pulpits and lack of desire in the pews to read the word of God. It is not filled with stories of

one Writer has said,

I asked the Lord that I might grow

In faith and love and every grace,

Might more of His salvation know,

And seek more earnestly His face.

’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,

And trust has answered prayer;

But it has been in such a way

As almost drove me to despair.

Hughes, R. K. (1989). Mark: Jesus, servant and savior (Vol. 1, pp. 113–114). Westchester, IL: Crossway Books.

Lets just say you find out you have cancer.

God could have stopped it but He didn’t.

God didn’t say dang another cancer roach slipped through the cracks and got one of my children. Now i got to figure out how I’m going to fix this. I hope they don’t die from it.

This is so crucial that you begin to understand this otherwise you will be a christian that is not rooted in the truth of God but tossed to and fro in the confusion of the storm.

He could heal it but He may not.

HE could deliver but He may not.

He could heal but He may not.

Nevertheless blessed be the name of the LORD.

Is your devotion to God whether or not He delivers you in the storms of life. Whether He heals you in this life.

You may pray for healing and He very well heal you for good and call you home.

What did paul say of the thorn in his flesh? He asked 3 times that it may be removed from him but nevertheless God didnt remove it.

Rather He said my strength is sufficient for you. It is weakness that the strength of God is made perfect in our lives.

Count it all Joy brethren when you fall into diverse temptations.

Which brings to the interaction between the disciples and Jesus who was asleep.

1 question: Jesus Do you not care that we are perishing?

A great windstorm arose. They were in little boats.

Nope not at all. jk

The waves beat into the boat

The boat was filling up with water.

nope not at all, i was sleeping quite well actually. Nothing like getting rocked to sleep by the ocean waves.

Wouldn’t this be great. Jesus was so dependent upon the father He didn’t need to fear the storms that awaited the future because he was rested in the hands of the almighty. He wasn’t faking it. He was passed out. But He knew God would wake him when necessary.

To many of us cannot sleep cannot get through the day because of the fear of the unknown. The “ifs” in life. apparently insurance policies couldn’t take care of that one.

You can rest at night and through your day when you are dependent upon the father. I don’t have to worry if evil men overtake me. Why? Because its not over till God says its over.

It was in this moment when life appeared was over and all hope was lost, they cried unto God don’t you care that we are perishing?

All reason had gone out the window. They had forgotten all the works that Jesus and performed already.

It appeared that Jesus didn’t care nor did He know the situation.

God do you not even see me right now where i am at? Do you not know my situation? Do you not hear my cries?

All are a cry of mortal being who had forfeited the glasses of truth (the word of God) and looks at the storms with blurred vision. Looking solely with the eyes of men.

OF course he cares or you would have donzo along time ago.

He knit you together in your mothers womb.

He knows the numbers of hairs on your head.

He says come to my throne of grace, that you may receive mercy in your time of need.

THEN WHY I AM STILL IN THE STORM IF YOU CARE?

BECAUSE it hasn’t finished the task i sent it to accomplish in your life yet. Its growing you but what i have in mind for my children is not mere rocks but precious stones that must develop through pressure and be purified through fire.

This wont be easy:

Satan wants you to dishonor God and God wants you to trust Him. satan wants the storm to rage that your heart may fail you, and God lets the storm rage that your heart may trust Him.

Oh Lord let it be so if it drives me closer to you.

Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior Learning Through the Storm (vv. 37, 38a)

The fact is, we would be spiritual pygmies, insufferably self-centered, proud, and empty people, without adversity. This is why Ruth Graham can pray for herself:

Dear God, let me soar in the face of the wind: up, up, like the lark—so posed and so sure, through cold or the storm with wings to endure. Let the silver rain wash all the dust from my wings. Let me soar as He soars; let me sing, as He sings; let it lift me.… Let it buffet and drive me, but, God, let it lift.

Lord, let me ride the storm to you!

The storm was a “step up” for the disciples, though they did not know it. Perhaps you have such a storm in your life right now. Why not ask God to help you make the most of it?

When this becomes your set of eyes for the storms in your life you not only endure the storm, but you praise Him for it.

What?

you begin to count it all joy brethren when you fall into diverse temptations.

You rejoice in hardship knowing God is refining you. You begin to appreciate trials and thank God for them.

You begin to rejoice always. Again i say rejoice. You can see the good out of the darkest of corners.

We are people that naturally desire the easy road the smooth sailing and often miss out on the greatest blessings of the storms, because we become bitter and reason within our minds. We begin to play God and decide what is best for us.

Story of the the woman with Lice.

Im going to praise Jesus for the Lice.

Corrie Tenboone

hid jews during the holocaust and got put in a concentration camp for it.

The lice enabled her to host bible studies because the gaurds didnt want it.

V.39 We see what Jesus did.

He arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace Be Still.”

You know what happened?

The storm calmed. Immediately. The account given in all four gospels all would agree that it was an immediate calming of the storm.

God has the power to calm the storm. But in His timing. Trust and Beleive in Him.

Jesus diagnosis of their response was this.

Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?

Their response was not one of faith but rather of fear.

Do you not know whose hands our lives are rested in.

He is not worthy of doubt but rather trust.

A lesson we would all do good to learn.

The storm of Job loss, relationship loss, maybe ministry struggles, financial strickeness.

One we would do good to learn through this time in our ministry.

Do we have no faith that our bills will be paid?

do we have no faith that our efforts are paying off because things are not looking like we want them to?

Do we have no faith that Jesus can work the impossible.

Its time to start we start walking by faith and not by sight.

In our churches, in our homes, in our work places.

We are in a ministry where the storm is raging the boat is filling up with water. This may be your life.

We serve the God who created water and has the power to calm it…In His timing.

Your life may appear as though you are going to capsize.

Jesus can steady the boat and calm the sea.

Don’t you think before Jesus said, “lets go over to the other side,” that He knew what was going to happen.

Yes He did. It didn’t hinder His sleep. Slept like a baby.

He uses the storms of Faith to grow our faith and manifest His power.

The disciples would have never knew Jesus to be the God of wind and sea had they not seen Him calm the waters.

Could you imagine had they missed out on that. I’m sure your saying well yeah if that happened to me I would be praising God as well.

If i could see God calm the sea like that it would strengthen my faith.

Listen He is and He is going to.

Sometimes its just hard for you to see the sea of your situations.

Instead of running…Trust.

We need that continual reminder of how weak we are and how great He is. His Glory unveiled. Even when we think it would be better to go a different route.

Do you believe that God knows all things? That He is Just? That your life is in the palm of His hand and He knows best? Then start trusting Him. And Praise Him for the road you would have never chosen.

We had a phenomenal service this week at the jail.

This was an all ladies class.

This black lady in the front row on the right. You could tell she was a very influential woman and had effected the woman around her…In a good way. She was like a ring leader.

Cried during service…was weeping.

Got up afterwards and in front of everybody asked for forgiveness from one of her sisters that was incarcerated with her.

Afterwards nobody wanted to leave. They were fellowshipping like they were not even in jail. We had broken up in small groups and this lady came into my group.

she began to tell me of how she knows that she is saved and has been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.

That God had been faithful in her life for 10 years. Provided and met her needs.

Then one day out of nowhere she got the urge to shoplift. And kept doing it till she got busted.

When i found out i was going to jail she said i went to the church.

The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. She said, “I told God I’m not going to jail…He said oh yes you are.” I said I’m not going…He said oh yes you are.

He said I’m sending you there to be a witness for me.

She said I’m done using these hands to do evil.

A son or grandson that is 15 and just got arrested and found with a weapon. wants prayer for er family.

I reaped a blessing from her storm and the work that God was using her for inside the jail.

Ladies were coming up afterwards and telling me that they grew up in church, led worship and did mission projects but then a boy came and introduced them into drugs. Now their lives are a mess, but God was showing up in their lives.

You know what was so amazing about all this. Gods power to prevail even in a place where people are bound by chains.

I reaped a blessing from her storm. The work that God was using her for.

When we got their you are suppose to sign off when you do a meeting so you know the last cell block that had come through.

I reaped a blessing from her storm. The work that God was using her for.

Block C i forgot to sign

Block D was on lockdown

Block E was on lockdown

Block F (are you sure) its ladies only.

Afterwards when i was talking to the that black lady she said, These ladies asked me this morning we have church tonight don’t we? She said oh i don’t know about that but it sure would be nice.

What are the storms you are going through that God is using to grow your faith, manifest His power,. and display His power unto the world.

Maybe its time you start praising him in the storms. Thanking Him for His faithfulness through them all and trusting Him.

When we see the storm calmed we don’t need to ask who is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him but rather we will praise the God of heaven and Earth who calms the sea for we know who it is that reigns.