Opening illustration: Watch the video on ‘Through the Storm.’
So many times life doesn’t go the way we have planned. All we see are the storms and try our level best to escape. But do we wonder whether there is a reason for it …
Let us turn to Mark 4 and catch up with the story when the disciples went through the storm.
Introduction: Apparently in the midst of the storm God is ~
• Working
• Healing
• Cleansing us
• He is also teaching us how to face up and sustain the storms of life.
• What is most important is that as He is working in us during that time very profoundly and there is something interesting we must see and understand that happens after the storm passes by.
• The way we react to the storm talks about us and shows the nakedness of our heart toward God.
• Nahum 1: 3b
1. How to face the storm?
(a) Fearlessly (v. 40a)
There is a natural apprehension under danger; but there was unbelief in their fear. It is worthy of notice how considerately the Lord defers this rebuke till He had first removed the danger, in the midst of which they would not have been in a state to listen to anything. Since Jesus was with them in person, whose power to keep and preserve them, they had no room to question, when they reflected on the miracles they had so lately seen performed by him: Here Jesus was exhorting his disciples to be without fear when facing storms of life. He desired them to be all weather proof. That is what he desires of us too. Are we weather proof? Better to say, ‘All weather proof.’ God desires us to be ‘all weather proof.’ He is training and tuning us to be strong enough to sustain all kinds of difficulty. He is strengthening us to endure all kinds of hardships so that we are acclimatized for any kind of adversity. At times the level of difficulty may even go up but He is there in it. He desires us to be fearless in facing up to the storms of life.
Illustration: Homes in the mid-west are different from the homes on the west coast or down south. It is mandatory for all homes in the mid-west to have basements to recoup and take shelter during tornadoes. Whereas on the west-coast and down south it is not mandatory as there is hardly any expectations of fierce storms in those areas. We live in cyclone state and have to learn to live and sustain here. Life as a Christian is very similar …
(b) Faith in Christ (v. 40b)
Where was their faith? They had enough to get into the boat with Jesus and follow Him. Yes, getting into a fishermen’s boat was their safety zone. They had done that hundreds of times. They had also ridden out a few bad storms in their lifetime.
Next to none, or none in present exercise. In Matthew (Matthew 8: 26) it is, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Faith they had, for they applied to Christ for relief: but little, for they were afraid, though Christ was in the ship. Faith dispels fear, but only in proportion to its strength. That is, in exercise: faith they had, but it was very small, and scarcely to be called faith: they did indeed apply to him to save them, which showed some faith in him, but then they feared it was too late, and that they were past all hope, and were just perishing. Not yet had they come to feel that Jesus was really Lord of nature. They had accepted his Messiah-ship, but all the conclusions from it they had not yet drawn. How like us in our troubles they were! Jesus was trying to tell them as He is with them, why can’t they just put their faith and trust in him. Apparently it is a blind faith in God! How many of us would do that? Placing our entire lives in the hands of Christ or do we want to still hold some part of it back? Many OT stalwarts and NT saints did it, why can’t we? Is it pride, arrogance, distrust or no valid proof to put our faith in Christ? The reality is that God has put His life on the line for us and has taken immense risks for us, what about us putting our faith in Christ blindly?
Remember it says in Lamentations 3 ‘His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness endures forever.’
So, who / what do you have faith in today? Everything is perishable but not Christ …
2. How to endure the storm?
(a) Christ in your boat (v. 36a)
Christ, God omnipotent, was in the boat. He is the master of the wind and the waves. Wherever Jesus is the power of God is there. Wherever Jesus is, the storm becomes calm. Suddenly the surface of the lake became as smooth as a piece of glass.
What a joy and comfort to know that Jesus is with us in the boat, even though seemingly asleep! - And that He has all power in heaven and on earth! Jesus is in the war areas of the world; He is in the White House and on the Hill. He will respond to our nation’s call, as soon as we seriously make it - even before! "Before they call I will answer," says the Lord through Isaiah, "and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65: 24) "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." (Psalm 46)
I guess we are all afraid of something, sometimes. What do you fear most? We are not likely to be in danger in a storm at sea; in fact, most physical dangers have been removed from our ordinary daily lives, thanks to science and technology. But as I look around I see that almost everybody has that little devil of fear somewhere in his chest. There is fear of the future - of old age, sickness, want. There is fear of other people, what they might do to us; fear that someone might get ahead of us, or take something that we should have; fear of not being acknowledged or properly appreciated, or given our due. Then there is fear of ourselves, our own weakness and inadequacy; fear that we might not make the grade or measure up to what people expect of us, or what we expect of ourselves. All these fears are instantly put to rest if Jesus is standing in the boat. "Peace! Be still!" he says, and there is an immediate calm.
So, in reality who is in your boat?
(b) Following Christ (v. 36b)
Once we do so, we are agreeing to submitting or surrendering ourselves to Jesus, to pattern our lives after Him and to place our relationship with Him above our own will and desires. Following Jesus is a life-changing commitment to be taken seriously. What does all of that mean? Following Jesus is making a very personal, individual decision. It is a choice every human is offered and must choose through faith. The only way is through surrendering our all (no matter our nationality, gender or bloodline) to the one who surrendered himself for us. Have you ever truly loved someone so much that you would be willing to do anything for them? Many of us have said we would. Jesus not only said it, but proved it. He paid the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus gave His life for us. In return, He only asks that we follow Jesus.
Has your life been a mess? Have you felt like you are walking in perpetual darkness with no hope? Are you willing to submit your destructive ways to Him and follow Him? If your answer is yes to these questions, you have the opportunity to surrender it all to Him. He can lead you into a better; hope filled, and blessed life. Once you have made the decision to follow Jesus, you can become one of His disciples. The word disciple actually means to learn or follow. There is no one who is not able, unworthy or that fallen, that he cannot make a decision to follow Christ.
Following Jesus doesn’t mean we are without trials. In fact, a great many followers of Jesus have suffered tremendous persecutions. God can demonstrate His might, mercy, and sovereign grace through our worst times. And He says that trials make us stronger. But as His follower, we now have Jesus to help us, guide us, and comfort us through our trials - large and small. Following Jesus brings comfort and reward beyond our comprehension.
So, who are you following today?
3. What happens after the storm?
(a) Witness a Miracle (vs. 39, 41)
This storm was different from anything they had ever encountered before. They had never experienced anything like it. Humanly speaking the situation became increasingly grave. No wonder that they feared if this One could command the wind and the waves at will as well as demons and drive out all diseases and speak such mysteries in parables. They were growing in their apprehension and comprehension of Jesus Christ. They had much yet to learn. There is much yet for us today to learn or seek to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. This incident opened the eyes and minds of the disciples to the majesty of Jesus. Jesus “rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm” (Luke 8: 24). Matthew says, “It became perfectly calm,” or literally “a great calm occurred.” After such a storm a lake does not calm down that quickly and stay that way. The disciples knew that it normally takes a while for the waves to settle down. Here, eyewitnesses said the lake calmed immediately.
Jesus asked, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8: 25). His faith was in His Father (Psalm 89: 8-9). The amazed disciples were saying to one another, “Who then is this that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” (v. 25). Our faith has to be tested before it can be trusted. God allowed a violent storm to test the disciples. Jesus entrusted His safety to the Father. The disciples trusted in their own competence as professional fishermen. “Their unbelief was more dangerous than the storm.” It takes God to change the weather.
We have to exercise our faith in order to witness a miracle in and from our lives. Apparently this is the first step in even exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Do you desire to witness a miracle in your life? Exercise your faith to the edge. Do not reject the storm in your life for it is to test & build your faith in Christ. ‘Peace be Still’ and know that He is God. God desires to do that miracle in your life, but what are you doing to see it being fulfilled in your life. By just saying, ‘I have faith in God, won’t work.’ You have to go through the test in order to prove your faith in Christ. Every OT & NT saint did, so must we …
(b) Safe landing (v. 5: 1)
Mark 5: 1 says that they all reached safely on the other side with Jesus. They were on firm and solid ground and safe. They had faced and endured the most critical storm of their lives. They had never ever seen any one like this. It was the storm of their life and they had a safe landing ~ unbelievable!
Ever experienced and felt like this … that’s what happens when our faith is firmly established on Christ and we follow Him fearlessly no matter what!
Have you been wondering what will happen to you and your family while going through this storm in your life? Ever wondered, whether you’ll survive the storm or sustain it. As believers we are not survivors, we are already saved by Christ, we are only enduring it. Our cares, anxieties, apprehensions and problems belong to Christ. It is time to take all our cares to Him and leave it before His throne of grace and mercy. He is faithful and will never leave us or forsake us. What a wonderful promise and an awesome God we worship.
Application: Have you experienced God’s miracle in your life and have had numerous safe landings? If you haven’t, this is God’s opportunity for you to invite Jesus in your boat and follow Him no matter what! He will help you to face the storms of life fearlessly by having complete faith in Him. These storms in our lives are not to cause worry, anxiety, concern or distress but to test and shape our faith and groom us to walk fearlessly not matter what the result, knowing that our foundations are firmly grounded in Christ. You will never regret to be His child and follower.
