Calmness in the Storm

Introduction

Introduce series

We talk often about the sovereignty of God

That God is over all things

We seldom here about the providence of God

John Piper recently released a book titled just that, Providence.

in his book, he states the providence describes the “purposeful action” of God’s sovereignty

that God is not simply sovereign, wise and loving but has a purpose to all he does

all of that summed up is His providence

My definition - sovereignty means that he is over all things, providence means that he is not only over all things, he interacts with all things, directs all things for his purpose

Over the next three weeks we are going to look at three miracles;

calming the storm,

casting out of demons,

rising from the grave

all to demonstrate that the providence of God is over the natural world, the spiritual world and over life and death

Today - Calmness in the Storm

God’s providence in nature does not mean the removal of the storms of life, but guarantees that he is not only with us, but that he is in control.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8

As he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves—but Jesus kept sleeping. 25 So the disciples came and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”

26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!”

Retell the story in my own words

Jesus had been at Simon Peter’s house, healing people in that community and casting out demons

He could see a large crowd gathering around him, people that were volunteering to follow him - he had just told people that his followers had nothing, not even a place to live

that they were to leave all behind, hold on to nothing else in this world and follow him

Seeing this large crowd, he tells his disciples that they are going to cross the sea in their fishing boats

while they were at sea a storm dropped in on them out of no where

waves of the sea were crashing in over the side of the fishing boats, experienced fishermen were panicking and convinced that they were going to die

Jesus rebukes the storm and the disciples

He rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith,

He rebukes the storm and it instantly stops

there is no more wind - it is hard to imagine that with the wind that we have out here

the waves stop - not one more as if they are getting in one last word, it says that the was a great calm, the sea became like glass

The disciples, who had witnessed healings and demons being cast out, were amazed

not just the things that they had seen and heard of other people kind of doing, but now, he is controlling nature!

who could possibly do this other than God

Storms Come

Description of the Sea of Galilee

the sea of Galilee sits over 600 feet below sea level

mountain are all around, on the eastern side is a mountain range that goes to 2000 feet above sea level

The mountains are a little different then here, you cannot see a storm coming for miles and miles, for hours

they suddenly appear, and they are right on top of you

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8

As he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves—but Jesus kept sleeping.

Knowing that everything operates by God’s purposeful power, his providence, raises questions to us

why would he allow…

natural disasters earth quakes, tsunamis, tornadoes hurricanes

other disasters like car wrecks and plane crashes

If he is loving, kind and in control, if he is God, how could any of these bad things happen

our go to, Sunday School answer is sin

that everything was perfect before sin and none of these things would be happening if it were not for sin

be careful, this begins to go down a road that, because of sin, God is no longer in control of things

these questions assume a couple of things

that we understand God’s purpose fully

that we would know all the things he does and why he would do them

that our brains would be able to rationalize all things that God does

that God operates with our understanding of justice

the people in that storm did not deserve it

we judge people based on our standard of what they deserve and not God’s

Our way of thinking says that this storm should have never happened

these are the good guys, doing something good

they were following Jesus

what we seem to miss most of all is that Jesus was in the storm also… JESUS HAD TO COME THROUGH THE STORM

surely not, the father would not never let his son go through something difficult would he

he was spiritually attacked and tempted after his baptism for forty days and nights

he mourned the loss of a friend in the death of Lazarus

he paid the price for your sins and mine on the cross at calvary

why would we ever think that Jesus did not have to go through the storms of life

why would we ever think that it would be any different for us

Hebrews tells us that we have a high priest that has been tempted in every way, gone through the things of life that we have suffered through only to do it without sin

why would we think that we are any different

We must understand that it is not IF a storm will come

but that the one who is in control of the storm is also the one who is with us in it and guiding us through it

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 23

Even when I go through the darkest valley,

I fear no danger,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

They were in this storm with God in the flesh, yet they did not recognize him

may we live in the storms of life knowing that God is in control and with us

Trepidations Come

These men thought they were about to die

have you been there, I mean honest fear of death

me on the rip cord at WOF

you better be convinced if you are about to wake up God

we can sing songs like, “I am no longer a slave to fear,” but when most of us are scared

it is not fear of the storm, but that like Jesus was in the boat, that God is sleeping and not in control

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8

Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves—but Jesus kept sleeping. 25 So the disciples came and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”

Our fears should reveal things to us

the fear of the disciples revealed their lack of faith

do not miss this… it was not a lack of faith that God would not allow them to die

as if you will never die because you are following Jesus

it is a lack of faith in the control of God

our faith tells us that in a storm, or trial of life, we are not to be afraid as if God is not in control

but to be joyful in the storms

knowing that God will grow our faith through them

that all things, good things and bad things will work together to mold us and make us into the image of Jesus

that God will see us through, either in this life or ushering us into his presence

whatever it might be most glorifying to him

fear reveals our true desire to be in control

we do not want to go through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, even if that is where God is

we would like to skip over that part of the journey

understand that means that we are not going with God!

understand it is those parts of the journey that God uses to make us more like his son

it reveals a love of self more than an obedience to the Lord

this is why the disciples were rebuked

this is why over and over the disciples and the followers of Jesus were rebuked for their lack of faith

this is why we must repent and ask God to grow our faith while we are in the trials

Trepidations, fear come… what do we do with them in the middle of the storm matters

do we turn them over to God and ask for him to take them and grow our faith

or do we allow the fear and trepidations to control us

Restraint Comes

Restraint is an interesting word

sometimes we look at it as if it is a bad word, we are being constrained

it means to control

we might think of somebody that is retrained as somebody that controls their mouth or temper

There are a couple of ways that God restrains in this passage

first the storm itself

he said be still and it was still!

that word calm = peaceful, flat water

walk through the imagery of waves and then a glassy sea

the wind stopped

we understand wind out here, but it would be something to see one of our windy days and then have somebody stand up say, “STOP”

this is unimaginable to us

the second is the grace shown to the disciples

I say that God is restrained in the sense that he does not simply condemn them right there,

as in God restrains himself, he is patient

that is the justice that they deserved, as do we every time that we sin

unbelief is a sin

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

he is patient… he is restrained by himself and his loving nature

his wrath is restrained, not an out of control, flying off the handle kind of temper that we see, or do

but one where he held his wrath from us and poured it our on his son

because of what Jesus did on the cross, we no longer have to face the wrath of God

those who do not know Jesus, have not repented of their sins and are obedient to him will face the wrath of God for their sins

but for those who have submitted to the Lord Jesus, the wrath of God for their sin has already been poured out on Christ

he has taken the punishment we deserved even though he lived a sinless life

but because of his life being sinless, he was able to be that sacrifice for us

because he was sinless the grave was not able to hold him