He Is In Your Storm

Introduction

In Mark 4:35, “On the same day” refers to the day on which Jesus gave the “parables of the kingdom.” He had been teaching His disciples the Word and now He would give them a practical test to see how much they had really learned.

Storms are not only a part of the natural and human life; they are part of the spiritual life as well. Life itself can literally be seen as a voyage on a sea with the storms that come up unexpectedly in your life and mine. This life has been known to produce winds of adversity. However, have you noticed, they may begin with a calm breeze, but have the potential of becoming a cyclone.

It’s amazing how many gospel songs inspired writers have written that deals with the sea, the ship, the storm, and the Savior.

I’m Gonna Take A Trip On The Good Olde Gospel Ship

Ship Ahoy

Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me Over Life’s Tempestuous Sea

Keep Me Safe Til The Storm Passes By

Smooth Sailing – Eddie Carswell

Sail On

The Anchor Holds

Praise Him In This Storm Mark Hall/Casting Crowns

In Mark 4, it is as if Jesus tells His followers that there is the Admonition of His Word, followed by the practical Application of His Word, that has to be Appropriated once Assimilated.

In this text, Jesus had very little to say; He spoke 3 times and used 24 words. Again, the lessons in this storm were part of the day’s curriculum. Sometimes, Jesus teaches us lessons we didn’t know we needed.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY

The Lord has custom-made storms and thorns. Storms you can’t row and thorns you can’t remove.

2 Corinthians 12:6-10, “For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I. SAVIOR’S PROMISE AND PRESENCE. 35-36

“Let us cross over to the other side,” “they took Him along in the boat as He was.”

Jesus gave the order of Direction and Destination. The presence of Christ on board does not guarantee a smooth passage. What He promises is not His protection from the storm but His presence in the storm. Every believer realizes from his own experiences that knowing about God’s power and love and trusting in them do not always go together. He did not promise an easy trip, but He did promise a guaranteed arrival at their destination.

II. SAINTS’ PLIGHT. 37

A. ITS SUDDENESS.

Can’t you hear the disciple, “I didn’t have time to prepare.” “Had I only known it was coming.”

NOTE: It happened in FAMILIAR WATERS.

The miracle of the storm does not teach us how to endure adversity patiently because Jesus immediately eliminates the problem. The emphasis of the story is on who Jesus is, not on how He rescues fretful disciples from danger whenever they cry out to Him.

SPECIAL NOTE:

One cannot expect a miraculous intervention that will calm all the storms in life. Storms are a part of life from which no one escapes. There are not “storm-less” seas, and all sailors (saints) must learn to expect the unexpected. Chaos hits our lives, and it can all happen so quickly. One moment all is well; then, in a flash, all is hell. The disciples, who were fishermen, knew that the sudden squalls were a threat on the lake, but that did not make it any easier to cope with when they appeared.

♦ Financial Storm

♦ Business Storm

♦ Marital Storm

♦ Health Storm

♦ Relationship Storm

♦ Rebellion Storm

B. ITS SEVERITY. 37

So strong, the strongest of people are afraid of going under

Matt 5:45, “for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Here’s a storm of suffering

a. Hurricane of heartache

b. Squall of sorrow

God sometimes digs the wells of joy with the spade of sorrow.

1. Storms of Disobedience

Jonah

Dietrich Bonheoffer, “The Cost of Discipleship”

referred to what he called, “deliberate or unconscious disobedience.”

You are disobedient; you are trying to keep some part of your life under your own control. That is what is preventing you from listening to Christ and believing His grace. You cannot hear Christ because you are willfully disobedient. Somewhere in your heart you are refusing to listen to His call. Your difficulty is your sin…only those who obey can believe and only those who believe can obey.

2. Storms of Discipline

For shaping us/growing us

Psalms 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray,

But now I keep Your word.”

Psalms 119:75, “I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,

And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.”

Psalms 119:92, “Unless Your law had been my delight,

I would then have perished in my affliction.”

3. Storms of Demonic Initiation.

In v.39 “rebuked the wind…” – same word He used in Mark 1:25 when He rebuked demons. The storm is pictured like a wild animal that needs to be brought under control. At times the devil whips up storms in our lives in order to hinder and harm the child of God.

III. SAINT’S PANIC. 38

Psalms 107:23-32

“Those who go down to the sea in ships,

Who do business on great waters,

They see the works of the Lord,

And His wonders in the deep.

For He commands and raises the stormy wind,

Which lifts up the waves of the sea.

They mount up to the heavens,

They go down again to the depths;

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,

And are at their wits' end.

Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble,

And He brings them out of their distresses.

He calms the storm,

So that its waves are still.

Then they are glad because they are quiet;

So He guides them to their desired haven.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,

And praise Him in the company of the elders.”

In verse 27, “are at their wits’ end” – all their wisdom is swallowed up.

In Mark 5:38, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

NOTE: It was not the fury of the storm that awoke Jesus, it was the panic (need) of the disciples.

NOTE: Jesus did not answer their question, He met their need. Peter was there; later he would write in 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

IV. SAVIOR’S PURPOSE. 40-41

“How is it that you have no faith?” Have you still no faith?

♦ Peter’s Mother-in-law healed

♦ Leper cleansed

♦ Paralytic healed

♦ Sins forgiven

♦ Withered hand healed

♦ Greatest teaching – Beatitudes

Storms can cause you to lose Perspective. Fear and faith are mutually exclusive. They cannot exist in the same heart. Fear is looking at the storm; faith is looking at the Savior. Safety is not in the absence of the storm; it is the presence of Jesus. A major transition takes place in v.40-41. Their fear moved from the storm to the Savior. Even in His death, He was feared. Matthew 27:54, “So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’”

CONCLUSION

We never perhaps know the weakness of our faith until we are placed in the furnace of trial and anxiety. My heart says, “I am surprised He can use me because I am so weak and of such little faith.” JMH

God’s majesty is so overwhelming that when He displays Himself in even a small part of His glory men cannot stand in His presence. These disciples suddenly realized that God was standing in the very boat with them.

NOTE: Peter walking on the water. (Matt 14:28-33)

Matthew 14:31-33, “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’"