Where is your faith?

Service Notes:

Veteran’s Day video / presentation

Introduction

Never expected to be preaching a message on Climate Control

Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.

Disciples had been taught the lesson now it was time for a pop-quiz

Luke 8:22–26 (KJV 1900)

22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

Major Premise:

Jesus calls his disciples into a storm.

Luke 8:22–23 (KJV 1900)

22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

Why are there storms?

Google: Thunderstorms form when warm, moist air rises into cold air. The warm air becomes cooler, which causes moisture, called water vapor, to form small water droplets - a process called condensation. ... If this happens with large amounts of air and moisture, a thunderstorm can form.

So much more is happening then warm air meeting the cold. We have creation meeting the Creator!

Luke 8:24 (KJV 1900)

24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Jesus rebuked the wind as we would a child.

Jesus called for a change in action and told the wind act as it is intended to act.

The first time He comes it will be to redeem His people.  The second time He comes it will be to redeem His planet.

Romans 8:22 (KJV 1900)

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

“The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.” - Philips

The Lord never promised we will never see a storm in life (as a matter of fact, He has told us to expect trouble)

John 16:33 (KJV 1900)

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Sea of Galilee

The sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake in the world. This sea is 682 feet below sea level, situated in a bowl-shaped valley. This sea is 14 km in width. The lake is supplied by the snow melt that comes from Mount Hermon at 9,200 feet above sea level.

As a result, it is a perfectly situated lake to experience strong wind. From the west come ocean winds over the hills of Galilee, from the north come the cold winds off the Lebanese mountains and from the east comes the desert winds. Tempests on the lake basically happen every day. So when the Lord chose a place to demonstrate His power over wind and wave, He picked the best place.

Ever felt like a “perfectly situated lake to experience strong wind.”

Jesus knows what it is like to be in a storm. He has been there.

To be weary of serving God is sinful, but to be wearied and worn in doing God’s work is no sin at all.

Hebrews 4:15 (KJV 1900)

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. — He has ridden through the storms of life.

We all face trials and we will face them often.

Boat will fill with water while the heart of the disciples filled with fear. Jesus will rebuke the wind then He will rebuked the disciples.

The fact Jesus needed to sleep should excite us as much as what He did when he woke up!

Examples of storms in life

Some storms are man made. Storms that are the consequence of disobedience.

Jonah / Jonah 1:4 “But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.”

Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 4:29–33 (KJV 1900)

29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

The Storm

31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

The lesson learned in the storm

Daniel 4:37 (KJV 1900)

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

In storms we learn the truth about our limitations and the truth of His limitless power.

Jesus cares for his disciples in the mist of the storm

Luke 8:24 (KJV 1900)

24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Why would Jesus ever call us into a storm?

Jesus asked Mark 4:40 “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

Natural response “you have no idea what we have been going through.”

Leads to the big question. When the storm was raging and Jesus was sleeping, which looked more powerful?

Storms in the will of God

God sometimes takes us into storms not to discipline us but to disciple us.

This was not like Jonah, this was a storms while in the boat with Jesus on a mission trip

Most Christian place in the world. “a chik-fi-la in Gatlinburg, TN”

The Lord checked out and seemed to leave them alone in the storm. This is the only incident in the Bible that mentions Jesus sleeping, and what a time to fall asleep!

This was some intentional sleep.

Mark 4:38 (KJV 1900)

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

Question: Does God care? How bad does it have to get before I believe He will care?

Do not doubt God’s care for you in the storm - Master, master, we perish.

The myth is called divine indifference

This is prayer we teach to kids on good days but we should be able to pray it in the storm.

Psalm 4:8 (KJV 1900)

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

What is Jesus able to do?

Apparently more than they ever expected.

Luke 8:25 (KJV 1900)

25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

They probably looked to adjust the sail but Jesus adjusted the wind

We looked for God to address the storm in ways we could address the storm but we forget “what manner of man this is!”

Jesus slept until they recognized they couldn’t handle it without Him.

It is good for man to come to an understanding of his limitations. A supernatural act from God in the form of a storm is a wonderful way for this to happen.

Although the text doesn’t say which apostles were with Christ on the boat, it’s probable that seasoned fishermen (at least four of the twelve) were aboard.

Big thankful the storm is big enough to get your attention and let you feel your helplessness.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV 1900)

13 There hath no temptation (thinking testing, think storm) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Jesus confronts His disciples after the storm

Luke 8:25 (KJV 1900)

25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Storms have a purpose

Do you understand that in this passage the very purpose of this tribulation is what? – That His disciples would come to know who He is.

“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” - Spurgeon

A lesser storm would not have had the same effect.

The Resilient Leader: How Adversity Can Change You and Your Ministry for the Better (Learning from Failure and Crisis)

Civil engineering professor Henry Petroski has said, “Successes teach us very little. A successful design doesn’t tell us how close to failure it might be.” He was discussing the 2007 collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis and a subsequent investigation that found that more than 150,000 bridges were in need of repair in the United States. Failure and adversity can often be our best teachers, revealing potentially fatal blind spots.

Through the storm we learn so much.

(1) Jesus teaches us many precious lessons that without them we would never learn. (2) Jesus exposes to us our emptiness and our weakness. (3) Jesus draws our attention from our self-sufficiency to the fact that God’s Grace is sufficient and will always be sufficient. (4) Jesus weans us from the world and makes us long for Heaven.

So as a result we rejoice when we see storm clouds coming our way!

James 1:2–4 (KJV 1900)

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Where is your faith?

Peace be still is not the end of the story!

After Jesus rebuked the storm He rebuked the disciples

Storms always have a purpose. Don’t stop asking why after the storm ends.

Storm test our faith in Jesus

Luke 8:25 (KJV 1900)

25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Alaini Richardson wedding. The best man forgot the ring. He looked in every pocket.

Storm is over and there fear remains

First they had a fear because they didn’t recognize His ability over the storm.

Now they have a fear because they realized there is so much they still don’t know about Jesus.

The Word of God should have prepared them.

Psalm 89:8–9 (KJV 1900)

8 O Lord God of hosts, Who is a strong Lord like unto thee? Or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Going to God will help us with all fears

Psalm 34:4 (KJV 1900)

4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

Storms teach us more about Jesus

What is the purpose of the Storm? Jesus has already given you the answer in the question. “Where is your faith?”

Don’t let the storm define you! The fact you are with Jesus is of far more importance then the weather report.

One again we ask where is your faith?

Implies the He knows they have faith. It isn’t seen here.

Negatively: Not a matter of feeling. Faith is not something automatically or magically. If it did these men would not had any issues.

Hey Google set Nest Thermostat to Full Faith when Storm comes

Positively: Faith has to be exercised. We have to put into activity.

You are busy setting your sails but you should be setting your heart by applying faith.

1. Refuse to allow myself to be controlled by the situation

Faith is a refusal to panic

We should not rend our garments as people with no hope or intercessor

Jesus didn’t say they didn’t have faith. It just needed to be applied.

Jesus questions there fear based upon His presence!

2. By Faith apply what you know to be true to your particular situation

They had seen Him do the supernatural with nature with the first miracle. Water into wine

Already had evidence that Jesus could handle water.

Is it possible we will drown with Him?Just look at the promises given. “Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. “

What does faith remind us? God loved me so much that he sent his only son to die for me.

3. Having applied the truth to the situation hang on to it

Though fearful the disciples went with their little faith to Jesus.

faith size of mustard seed is powerful because it takes us to Him

even though we need to be rebuked He will bless us

He responds in ways that we could not even imagine. We are looking for help setting out sail and Jesus will change the course of the wind.

Psalm 37:7 (KJV 1900)

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him..

Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow, Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea, What matters beating wind and tossing billow If only we are in the boat with Thee? Hold us quiet through the age-long minute While Thou art silent and the wind is shrill : Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, are in it; Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?” - Amy Carmichael

Closing

Jesus had an important meeting on the other side, Maniac, but he had a meeting in the middle of the lake. He could have told the disciples to wake Him up when it was time to meet. It was important, needed, and one that all of us need from time to time.