A Saint Asleep In The Storm Series

We know of another time when a man was asleep during a storm, however other than the fact Jesus used Jonah as a type 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale, the son of man shall be 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the earth. But Jesus was absolutely faithful to God while Jonah is a picture of disobedience.

1. Their Fear:

This storm must have been extemely violent for these hardened men of the sea to become so afraid. They would not have been easily alarmed. But God made this storm very terrible, he meant to get their attention, and he always knows just how to do it.

When God sends a storm into your life because of some sin you have committed you can be sure he will not allow you to mark it off as a coincidence. He will get your attention.

2. Their Prayers: “cried every man to his own god.”

All men are by nature religious; this is not to say all men seek God for they do not. Religion is that of man building the tower of Babel, our very nature rebels at having a God to rule over us. Men desire a god they can appease by giving him gifts but let them control their own lives. They want to be self sufficient, the masters of their own fate.

When God moves in power man’s will will either bend or break we are never the same after meeting the God of the Bible. We cannot be.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur said there are no atheists in foxholes, while this is true they cry to their own god but they didn’t all return as Christians either. When men become fearful they cry out to their conception of god.

Many men believe if they can just say, “God forgive me.” It will wipe out all their sins, but Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.” These men’s prayers did nothing to abate the storm; the only prayers that are acceptable to God are prayers of faith.

A man may be in danger and make promises to God, and then when he is delivered he may boast how God saved him and yet die in a lost condition. Did God deliver him because of his prayers? No, God would have delivered him anyway.

Many people trust in their prayers they need to put their trust in the Lord, many Christians have prayed to live and then lost their lives, but the God of their prayers is there to take care of them. During the civil war both sides had good Christian people praying for their side to win.

For lost men to cry unto the Lord, “Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him” Ps 78:36-37

God is not fooled with the prayers of the heathen, they will say anything to escape the danger, but God knows their hearts.

3. They Tried To Help God Answer Their Prayer: “and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them.”

The Arminian says, “We must put legs on our prayers.” We need a wake up call; God doesn’t really need our help, most of the time we are just in the way. These men were willing to work hard to save their lives they cast the load over the side to lighten the ship but nothing seemed to help. They realized it must be something supernatural they were dealing with.