Luke 8:22-25: Lessons To Learn In a Storm

Introduction:

Jesus had just finished all of the teaching that he had done in chapter 8

Luke finishes the chapter by showing us different miracles and events in Jesus’ ministry

Luke shows us that Jesus has power over:

The natural world - the storm v. 22-25

The spiritual world - the demoniac of gadara v. 26-39

Sickness and death - Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the issue of blood v. 40-56

Each of these events shows us that Jesus is God and that he has control over nature, the spiritual world and our very lives

Sadly, we will all go through difficult times in our lives that we could categorize as storms

This is something inevitable that each one of us will go through and we should be aware of that 1 Pedro 4:12

1 Pedro 4:12 KJV 1900

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But the storms have a purpose

Storms and trials have no reason to leave us empty handed

Instead they should try us, strengthen us and enrich us

Here are a few lessons we can learn through the storms of life

1. Storms Test What We Know

Jesus has been teaching the multitudes a lot in the previous chapters

He started out by teaching about himself Lucas 4:18-19

Lucas 4:18–19 KJV 1900

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

He’s taught them the secrets of the kingdom

He’s taught them about loving their enemies

He’s taught them about a life built upon Jesus, the rock

He’s taught them about the power of the word of God and the seed that is planted in the hearts of men

He’s warned them that the should listen and to be careful as to how they listen Lucas 8:9, 18

Lucas 8:9 KJV 1900

9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

Lucas 8:18 KJV 1900

18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

and now Jesus is teaching them to go to the other side Lucas 8:22

Lucas 8:22 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.

Jesus’ teaching must be practiced and obeyed

This was a great opportunity for them to practice all the things that Jesus had taught them

Warren Wiersbe said: “Satan does not care how much Bible truth we learn so long as we do not live it. Truth that is only in the head is purely academic and never will get into the heart until it is practiced by the will. “Doing the will of God from the heart” is what God wants from His children (Eph. 6:6). Satan knows that academic truth is not dangerous, but active truth is.”

Efesios 6:6 KJV 1900

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

The majority of the time God will allow what we have been taught to be tested

There will be a trial or a difficulty that comes to our lives that God allows for us to prove if we really do believe what He has taught us

In this passage we see that the disciples failed the test

The didn’t believe the words of Jesus “Let us go over unto the other side of the lake.”

They didn’t believe that Jesus was in control of the situation “we perish”

They didn’t recognize Him as Lord, only as a “Master”

The biggest problem wasn’t the storm around them but the unbelief inside of them

Their unbelief was much more dangerous than the storm

They had the same problem we face today: We know the Word of God but we don’t believe it we we are faced with the storms of life

The disciples were so focused on their circumstances that they forgot that God was with them

The whole focus of this passage is the lack of faith of the disciples

Faith isn’t believing God in spite of our circumstances but believing God in spite of my feelings and the consequences Hebreos 11:6

Hebreos 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2. Storms Provide a Stage For a Miracle

Jesus knew there was a storm that was coming even before they got on the boat

He wasn’t surprised by the storm

I’m sure that his intention all along was to calm the storm

But, apparently, the disciples didn’t see this as an opportunity to work a miracle, instead they only saw the danger that they were facing

They couldn’t see a miracle, they only saw a catastrophe

I can say from personal experience that it is so difficult to se the possibility of a miracle in the midst of a storm

But God says that we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us Romanos 8:37

Romanos 8:37 KJV 1900

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Many times this miracle is a visible one in a change in our circumstances

Jesus does a miracle that all can see

He heals someone that had a terminal illness, lets someone live that was on death’s door, etc

But many times God doesn’t free us from the storm in the way we would like

The storm, the loss, the pain is constant and we believe that there is no hope

But really, the miracle is something that isn’t visible through a change in our circumstances, but instead is visible through our response and through our future

Many times the miracle that God is working is in us through the work of the Holy Spirit Santiago 1:2-3; 2 Corintios 4:17

Santiago 1:2–3 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.

2 Corintios 4:17 KJV 1900

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

It is what God is producing in us through this storm that is also a miracle

It’s the miracle that God is going to conform me to His image and take me to heaven to be with Him forever and that no matter what trial may come, no one can change those plans

3. Storms Teach Us Who Jesus Is

Luke finishes the story with a question “What manner of man is this?”

The great question that the disciples had and that we should have is “Who is this Jesus?”

Jesus is in complete control at all times

There is nothing that can take Him by surprise

If Jesus is there, there can be peace

Peace before the storm - let’s go to the other side

Peace during the storm - sleeping

Peace after the storm - there was a calma

The answer to the disciples question is found in Salmos 65:5-7, 89:9, 107:23-31

Salmo 65:5–7 KJV 1900

5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; Who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea: 6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; Being girded with power: 7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.

Salmo 89:9 KJV 1900

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

Salmo 107:23–31 KJV 1900

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of the Lord, And his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: Their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Jesus will never leave us Hebreos 13:5

Hebreos 13:5 KJV 1900

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

We can learn that God is for us Romanos 8:31

Romanos 8:31 KJV 1900

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

We can learn to trust Him Salmos 56:3

Salmo 56:3 KJV 1900

3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

We can wait on Him and not fear Isaías 12:2

Isaías 12:2 KJV 1900

2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: For the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.

We can learn that nothing can separate us from the love of God Romanos 8:38-39

Romanos 8:38–39 KJV 1900

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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.