Sermon Tone Analysis

Storms in your life are God’s means of bringing Him closer to you!

Intro: In this passage of Scripture, we find the disciples of our Lord trapped in the grip of a fierce storm.

They find themselves in that storm, because they have been commanded by the Lord to cross the Sea of Galilee, v. 22.

These men are in the will of the Lord and yet, we see them struggling against the storm.

Try as they might, however, it appears that they are unable to make any headway.

The wind is in their faces, v. 24.

These 12 men are stuck in a storm and are unable to get out.

Have you ever found yourself in that place?

Have you ever found yourself stuck in one of life's storms, and no matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, it seems that you cannot make any headway?

Well, we all have times like that!

It may seem to you like the storm will never end and that there is no possible good that can come from what you are facing.

Thankfully, however, there is some good news for us tonight from the word of God.

While the storms of life are never pleasant, they do produce certain benefits in our lives that we would do well to make note of this evening.

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.: .

I would like for us to join the disciples this evening in their storm.

As we do, I want to show you that the storms of life contain some hidden blessings for the children of God.

I do not know what kind of storm you are facing this evening, but I do know that the Lord has a purpose in allowing that storm to rage in your life.

Perhaps that purpose will become clear this evening as I preach for a while on The Hidden Blessings In The Storms Of Life.

I. V. 25 STORMS ARE GOD'S MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

(Ill.

The very thing the disciples feared.

The sea, was the very thing the Lord used as the vehicle to reveal Himself unto them.

He will do the same in your life and mine.

Notice how Jesus came to them that night.)

A. He Comes In The Face Of Darkness - The Bible says that Jesus came to them in "the fourth watch".

Sometime between 3 AM and 6 AM, during the darkest hours of the night, Jesus came walking on the water!

(Ill.

You may be walking in darkness this evening and wondering where Jesus is.

You may be facing some of the darkest days of your life right now.

Let me remind you that our God is ever with you, !

Let me remind you that even in the darkest hours of life God is still God and He is still in control of your life.

, "Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.";

, "If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee."

Even the darkest hours of life cannot hide you from the face of God.

He is there even when you cannot see Him.)

B. He Comes In The Face Of Disaster - The disciples were in a fight for their lives.

says that they were "toiling in rowing".

That is, they were struggling against the storm.

I get the impression that these men were afraid for their lives.

When they thought all hope was gone and that they were doomed, Jesus came walking on the waves!

(Ill.

There are times when we all feel like we have lost the battle with our storm, but may I remind you that just as surely as the Lord is in control of your blessings, He is also in charge of your storms?

When things look the bleakest, just look around, Jesus is about to show up!

Remember, He may not keep you from going into the storm, but He will keep you in the midst of the storm!

Think of the 3 Hebrews, Daniel, and Noah.

God did not prevent any of these from going into the storm, but He saved them all in the midst of their storm.

What He did for them, He will do for you!)

C.

He Comes On The Face Of The Deep - The very thing the disciples feared, the raging sea, was the very thing God used as His vehicle to come to them.

What a testimony this was!

He was not telling them that the storm was not fierce, He was telling them that He was greater than the storm!

(Ill.

That is still His word to you this evening!

Regardless of what you are facing in life, remember that Jesus is greater than that storm you may be facing.

If you will be patient and wait for Him, He will show up right on time.

You will see that the storm was used by the Lord to make Himself clear to you.

The very thing you fear will be the vehicle He uses to show up in your life!)

(Ill.

The Apostle Paul - .

God used Paul's storm, a thorn in the flesh, to show up in and on Paul's life.)

(Ill.

What I am trying to tell you is this: "Do not fear the storms of Life!

They have been designed by the Lord as a means of bringing Him closer to you.

He planned them and they are for your good - ")

II.

V. 25-31 STORMS ARE GOD'S MEANS OF TESTING

A. V. 25-27 They Reveal The Savior - When Jesus did come walking on the water, the disciples did not recognize Him.

They thought He was a ghost.

They cried out in fear.

But, thank God, Jesus came with a message of peace and of power.

He came to them with a word of peace, "be of good cheer."

He came to them with a word of power, "It is I".

He came to them with a word of potential, "be not afraid."

(Ill.

The storms of life have the potential to reveal the Savior to us in a way we may have never considered before.

When He comes to us, walking on our storm, He gives us the same message of hope that He gave to the disciples that stormy night.

1.

A Message Of Peace - Note: They were still in the storm when He told them to cheer up.

By His power, the Son of God can give us peace in the midst of our storms.

That is the peace He refers to in .

Be anxious for nothing but in everyting by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God which surpasses ALL understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

2. A Message Of Power - When Jesus showed up, He came declaring His identity.

"It is I", is an emphatic personal pronoun.

It is the same statement Jesus used when He said, "I am the door"; "I am the way, the truth and the life.";

"I am the bread of life"; "I am the good shepherd".

Do you get the picture?

Jesus is telling His Disciples to "cheer up, God is here!"

If we can ever grasp the truth that Jesus is the great I AM.

That He has all power in Heaven and in earth, , then we can enjoy peace in the midst of trials.

3. A Message Of Potential - Jesus also issue a command to His disciples: "be not afraid."

This statement literally reads, "You stop fearing and don't you ever fear again."

You see, if we can ever get hold of the fact that Jesus is in control of every area of our lives, that He is God, and that He possesses all power, then we can come to that place where we can trust Him fully through all the storms of life.

(Ill.

The storms of life are a blessing because they reveal the Savior in a brand new way.)

B. V. 28-29 They Refine The Saint - When Peter heard that it was the Lord, Peter wanted to join Jesus in walking on the water.

Jesus simply told Peter to come.

Peter obeyed and he too walked on the water.

Jesus used the storm as a means of helping Peter grow in the faith.

(Ill.

When the storms of life are howling all about us, if we can get hold of the truth that Jesus is the Master of the Storm, then we too can rise above our circumstances and walk on the waves with the Lord.