The Calm In The Storm Faith is a Choice

Intro:

We have all heard the saying seeing is believing right? When I was a kid the Rubix Cube was a big deal. (for those of you who don’t know what that is, google it). The object was to take this 8 sided colored cube and make all of the different sides the same color. It was hard. I could never do it. The best I could do was three sides. But there was this kid on my block named Jason Stamper who could do it; all 8 sides, it was amazing!

Then suddenly there was another kid that could do it, Joe Hargas could suddenly do it! And me, with my little three sided cube, well I was the odd man out. Until the day that it was discovered that all one needed to do was take the cube apart and reassemble it correctly! It was a scandal in our 11 year old world.

There was only one way to handle it. All the neighborhood kids got together in the caldasack to watch Joe and Jason solve the cube. except one of them never showed and the other solved it flawlessly. The culprit shall be left it the annals of Cheyenne Ridge history but the point is made, we saw one guy do it so we believed he could solve the cube - the other guy- not so much!

People are like that though. This word has taught us to often to be cynical and wait for visual proof. We all know the other saying, “I won’t believe it until I see it.” Thomas said this very thing to the disciples who had seen the risen messiah in John 20 starting in verse 24. He is forever known as doubting Thomas.

If seeing is actually believing, then the disciples present an interesting dichotomy; they spent three years in intimate contact with the LORD. They were with Him everyday. They witnessed it all; and yet, they struggled with unbelief. But I am getting ahead of myself. Pick up with me in Mark 6: 45

The New King James Version Chapter 6

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away

This seems to be a fairy cut and dried beginning. Jesus is going to send the multitudes away and he is sending the disciples to Bethsaida ahead of Him . But, as we have learned in other studies God is sovereign and He knows the end from the beginning. the bible says, He is the Alpha and the Onega, the beginning and the end Revelation 1:11. knowing that, we know that Jesus was fully aware of what the disciple would face on the sea and He sent them anyway.

One of our pastors encouraged us in 2020 not t wast the trial. As we have learned in previous studies here, the trial is where the growth happens. As we walk with the LORD through the trial we grow because we are forced to trust in Him and him alone. In the pressing in faith and relationship grow. Turn over to Psalms 121:1:

The New King James Version Psalm 121

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep

Don’t miss this: The Psalmist here asks a question and then answers it in faith. I have a problem, where do I go for help (vv1). To the LORD of course verse 2. Why, verse 2 He made the heavens and the earth. This is such an encouragement! but all to often we forget the promise found in verses 3 and 4. He who keeps you will not slumber. God is with you believer period.

The New King James Version Chapter 6

46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. 47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.

Jesus sends them away and disperses the crowd. Then goes to the mountain to to pray, alone. Jesus I believe was praying for the faith of the disciples. He was interceding on their behalf. Jesus knew the condition of their hearts and therefore the state of their faith. jesus intercedes for us in the same way . 1 Timothy 2:5

The New King James Version Chapter 2

5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

He stands in the gap for all and why? (vv6)

The New King James Version Chapter 2

6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time

Jesus is with us interceding for us before the Father. So, it follows that He would intercede for His disciples in this moment as well.

Jesus sees the disciples in the middle of the sea (vv48) and how are they doing? They are struggling against the wind and the storm (VV 48)

The New King James Version Chapter 6

48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night! He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.

The fourth watch is between 0300 and 0600 so the disciples have been at it all night long; in their own strength. This is not to say that fear does not play a part. We are human after all. We are weak and sinful so of course we are afraid when we are faced with trials, tribulations and storms. But it is in those times that Jesus comes to us with a hand out stretched saying do not be afraid!

He is walking toward the disciples on the sea and they freak out finally crying out. The Greek here depict a roar or a war cry they are desperate. and Jesus says (VV50)

The New King James Version Chapter 6

50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.

When we call on Jesus we submit to His LORDship and authority forsaking our own. This requires a mix of desperation and faith born of that desperation. Verse 51 gives us the solution:

The New King James Version Chapter 6

Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.

Let Jesus be the solution to the storm instead of the last resort when we have exhausted our own resolve.

Please know, as we close out today simply knowing Jesus, being familiar with His words, or calling yourself a christian does not mean you have a relationship with Him. That relationship takes faith and faith is a choice. Hebrews 11:1 says

The New King James Version Chapter 11

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The disciples were with Jesus everyday and yet....they had hard hearts they chose not to believe vv 52:

The New King James Version Chapter 6

52 For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

Pray for yourselves today fr a fresh outpouring of the spirit and a fresh faith.

Altar Call.