SURVIVING THE STORMS OF LIFE
OPENING QUOTE:
“The disciples were left to face the storm… alone. The greatest storm that night was not in the sky; it was in the disciples’ hearts. The greatest fear was not from seeing the storm-driven waves; it came from seeing the back of their leader as he left them to face the night with only questions as companions. It was this fury that the disciples were facing that night.
Surely Jesus will help us, they thought. They’d seen him still storms like this before. On this same sea, they had awakened him during a storm, and he had commanded the skies to be silent. They’d seen him quiet the wind and soothe the waves. Surely he will come off the mountain. But he doesn’t. Their arms begin to ache from rowing. Still no sign of Jesus. Three hours. Four hours. The winds rage. The boat bounces. Still no Jesus. Midnight comes. Their eyes search for God – in vain…
Maybe you’re riding a storm, searching the coastline for a light, a glimmer of hope. You know that Jesus knows what you are going through. You know that he’s aware of your storm. But as hard as you look to find him, you can’t see him… The question of storms is, “Where is God, and why would he do this?” (Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, pg. 108-111).
What storm are you going through in your life right now?
• Is it a storm of addiction – trying to break free from a bondage you have had for years?
• Is it a storm of sickness – praying believing God for healing?
• Is it a storm of financial pressures – trying to get out of debt?
• Is it a storm of relationship challenges – trying to restore a broken relationship?
• Is it a storm of doubt and hopelessness? How can we hope to survive the storm?
DISCUSS STORMS: Storms, valleys and darkness in the Scriptures symbolically represent the difficult and troublesome times in our lives.
INTRO TO TOPIC: Driving to church one day to preach on “What to do in the day of trouble” we were in a car accident. Everyone goes through storms!
THE BIG IDEA: Jesus said that storms will come in our lives, but they don’t have to overcome us. Sometimes he calms the storms, but other times he calms His child.
1. SOMETIMES HE CALMS THE STORMS:
a. Just because you’re in a storm doesn’t mean you’ve sinned:
This story takes place right after an amazing miracle of provision – feeding the 5,000.
“Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.” (Mark 6:45).
• The disciples were obeying Jesus and found themselves in a storm.
• Job was a man who experienced many trials, and his friends concluded that there must have been some sin in his life.
• PERSONAL TESTIMONY: False teaching I received = no storms for Christians!
b. Just because you’re in a storm doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t care.
“And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.” (Mark 6:46-48).
• Even though Jesus seemed absent in the storm, He was watching them.
• In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus finally came to them.
• God is never early, but he’s never late. He will come when the time is right.
• When Lazarus was sick, Jesus didn’t come until after He had died, four days later.
c. When you’re in the storm, you will encounter Jesus in a new way.
“And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out. for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.” (Mark 6:49-50).
• Jesus doesn’t always come in the way we would like Him to.
• When Jesus comes, He says, “Be of good cheer; it is I; do not be afraid.”
• “Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.” (John 6:21).
• They had to choose to receive Him into the boat before they got to their destiny.
• In Matthew’s account of this story: “Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matt. 14:33).
d. When you’re in a storm, cry out to Jesus for help:
In their first storm, Mark tells us: “They awoke Jesus and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38).
• “I will lift up my eyes to the hills-- From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:1-4).
• “23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, 24 They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. 25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. 26 They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts 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 out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. 29 He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. 30 Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.” (Psalm 107:23-30).
2. SOMETIMES HE CALMS HIS CHILD:
“7 We had several days of rough sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed down to the leeward side of Crete, past the cape of Salmone. 8 We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea…18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. 19 The following day they even threw out the ship’s equipment and anything else they could lay their hands on. 20 The terrible storm raged unabated for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. 21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, "Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Fair Havens. You would have avoided all this injury and loss.” (Acts 27:7-8;18-21).
• This storm was different than the ones the disciples faced:
o They had several days of rough sailing. The terrible storm raged many days.
o They had to throw out the ship’s cargo and equipment and lost a lot of stuff.
o Finally, the ship itself was destroyed. “All hope was gone.”
22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ’Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.” (Acts 27:22-26).
• Jesus never calmed this storm for Paul, but the Lord gave him peace in the storm.
3. GOD WILL COMFORT US SO WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS:
“God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God’s comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:4-7, NLT).
• When you go through storms, God will comfort you so you can comfort others.
• God will take your mess, and turn it into your message.
• When Job went through his trials and suffering, he encountered God in the storm:
o “Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind.” (Job 38:1).
CLOSING SONG: Sometimes He Calms the Storm by Scott Krippayne.
• TESTIMONY: Tell the background to this song and why I used to dislike it.
All who sail the sea of faith, Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark, And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water, Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing, That our Lord is in control
Sometimes He calms the storm, With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea, But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close, And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm, And other times He calms His child
PRAYER: For everyone going through a storm that needs to experience God’s peace.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
