Fear or Faith

Matthew 8:23–27 ESV

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Pray

Previous moments of uncertainty

We can live in fear or in faith

Faith chases out fear, or fear chases out faith

Challenges in Life

Matthew 8:24 ESV

24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.

Storms (Challenges)

Sudden

Violent

Devastating

Please Note

Matthew 8:23 ESV

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.

Find ourselves in midst of storm after following Jesus

Matthew 8:18–22 ESV

18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Beware of the mindset that storms only happen when we are out of God’s will

Storm came upon them while obeying

Storms also when we are out of His will (can you say Jonah?)

Responding to Challenges

Fear, Anxiety, Worry

Fear is Destructive

Matthew 6:25–27 ESV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Worry leads to physical ailments

Saps us of strength

Fear is Deceptive

Matthew 6:27 ESV

27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Worry is the response to inaccurate views

Inaccurate view of priorities in life

Inaccurate view of God

Faithfulness, Almighty, Unchanging

Faith, Trust, Confidence

Faith is Dependent

Matthew 8:25–27 ESV

25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Their faith was little

Their fear was great

We perish

Do you not care (Mark 4:38)

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Faith must be tested

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

What to do?

Cry out to God in honesty

Mark 9:24 ESV

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Seek Him in Prayer

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Study His Word

Romans 10:17 basis

Conclusion

Faith Guide the Believer in Life

Faith in One who calms storm

Matthew 8:26–27 ESV

26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Key Point

Jesus speaks to created order, He commands it

Jesus is God

Object of Faith is critical

John 14:27 ESV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

God can speak peace to the situation around you, or He can speak peace to you in the midst of the storm.

Pray