Faith in the Midst of the Storm
Notes
Transcript
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Faith According to Jesus - we need to hear about faith from the One in Whom we put our faith.
Fear (talk) - courage is not the opposite of fear, it is faith.
The Two Fears - discuss the first fear hear.
In the midst of tough circumstances...
The Lord is teaching a Lesson on Trust.
2. Hold fast to the Lord’s Promises.
3. Remember the Lord’s Past Performance.
Lesson 1:
The Lord is teaching a Lesson on Trust.
Came after the teachings where He gave the “parables of the kingdom.”
Now comes the practical test — an OBJECT LESSON.
Did Jesus know about the storm? — He most certainly did.
8 “Look, I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
10 But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
The Lord is not as interested in our comfort as much as He is in our maturity.
2. Hold fast to the Lord’s Promises.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”
“the other side”...
One truth is this:
The Lord did not promise an easy trip. But He guaranteed our arrival at our destination.
Ralph Emerson —
talk of our life,, and the Lord’s promise...
24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
3. Remember the Lord’s Past Performance.
verse 40:
40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
Miracles Jesus did before.
We may be living in unprecedented dangerous times...
There is no reason to fear!
UNBELIEF CAUSES FEAR:
The disciples doubted His love — The fact is the Lord cares.
Like the disciples, we ask: Lord don’t you care?” (Enumerate examples here.. covid, finances, losing a job, losing a house…)
Jesus may have been asleep in the stern, but He was fully aware.
THE SECOND FEAR:
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
The fear is actually a sense of awe.. They were in awe of what Jesus did..
But..
They may be fearful, because they did not totally know Who Jesus was.
they asked: “Who can this be?”
Later in their lives they learned who Jesus is, and they became Great men of faith.
True Faith Should Come with Truly Knowing Jesus.
Question: Do you know Who Jesus is today?
Follow-up: Who is He to you? Really? In your life?
Savior, Redeemer, Love, Lord, the All-powerful One.
If He’s the all-powerful One — is there reason to fear that He is not able to deliver you? He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all you can ever ask or think!
Another reason not to fear is the way Jesus handled the storm.
With peace.
With authority.
If He’s Savior-Redeemer - is there reason to doubt His intentions in Your life?
If He is Savior-Redeemer - will the Lord make a mistake?
His ways are Higher than our ways!
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
If You know Who Jesus is — that He is Love:
Would you ask Him like the disciples did: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
Can you think of a Bible verse that tells you how much Jesus loves you?
Many verses that talk about the love of God through Christ.. (Behold what manner of love...
Nothing can separate us from His love..
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In the Old Testament and in the epistles
In the Gospels, very few from the lips of Jesus,, and Jesus said them in an implied sense
“Love One Another as I have loved you.”; “Abide in my love.”
Or shown in passing affection to someone: “He loved him” (the rich young ruler)
In John 14, Jesus’ words for His love seem reciprocal: “And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
this is a discovery… and I believe you know why? The Gospels writers did not have to record the verbal expressions of the love of Jesus because He already demonstrated the Highest form of love ever.
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
The cross..
Do you know Jesus? Is He Lord? Now’ I’m asking is He Lord of all of you?
Maybe your fear comes from a lack of surrender — you have not relinquished control of your life over to the Lord...
Altar Call.