Storms

 

Mark 6:34-44 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

Mark 6:45-50 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

(see also Matthew 14:22-27)

1.Set the Scene

  • Jesus had just finished feeding the 5,000.
  • The Apostles worked with Jesus the whole day in the desert.
  • When Jesus gets finished he tells his disciples to get into the ship and head out… He would send away the multitudes.
  • About half way across the wind started to blow hard… the waves began to toss the ship. (Professional Sailors)

2. The Storm (vs. 48)

  • Note the storm was unexpected.
  • The disciples were in the will of God (expound)
  • Sometimes you may be in a storm because of someone else’s sin or disobedience (Jonah)
  • Sometimes you may be in a storm just because… it’s LIFE!
  • Nowhere does it say that Jesus sent the storm… There are times that the storms are simply storms…. It’s how you deal with the storm that important…
  • Don’t think yourself so spiritual that every little form of trouble in your life is God testing you… get over the fact you are in the storm and just SERVE GOD.

3. They kept rowing (gotta give ‘em a little credit)

  • vs. 48 – What do your do when the storms of life come… Keep Rowing! Jesus directed the disciples to go to the other side… that’s where they were gonna go!
  • Some are not spiritually grounded enough to know between a storm and breeze.
  • I’m sure some of the disciples were thinking about what happened to them in the last storm… Matthew 8 and Mark 4… (Expound)
  • At least they woke Jesus up! When I’m in trouble I want HELP!

4. Jesus was watching (vs. 48)

  • In both instances Jesus was there… (Matthew 8) He was sleeping in the boat (Mark 6) watching from the mountain. But in both he was available for those who would cry out… vs. 49.
  • Vs 48… would have passed them by…

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

5. Bad thing sometimes happen to good people…

  • Daniel goes to the Lions den…
  • 3 Hebrew Children get thrown in the fiery furnace…
  • The Apostle Paul was shipwrecked, beaten and stoned…
  • The Apostles in the storm…

   Jesus was led as the lamb to the slaughter…

(dramatic)

John 12:27  Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

  • What had Jesus done? What was His storm? Why was He going to suffer?
  • Because He was about to take on my sin and the sin of the world……
  • and He didn’t deserve it…

6.  For one who won’t seek help…Sometimes the storm seems like it will never end…

2 Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

It doesn’t matter why or how you got in the storm.  Remember: the Apostles were in the will of God… What matters is what you do when you are in the storm.

So What Do You Do When The Storms of Life Come?

  1. Don’t stop rowing
  2. Don’t over analyze the problem or just sit there in self pity thinking you deserve the storm …… just look toward the solution….JESUS
  3. Cry Out! Don’t let Jesus just pass by…. Get His attention…. When you pray don’t pray like the heathen do… using big words….. CRY OUT– JESUS! I NEED SOME HELP!!!
Never forget that the shoreline is soon coming….

After Jesus calmed the storm they sailed to the shoreline… the next day the sun came out, the sky was clear, and they could look back at the storm and remember what Jesus brought them through… Jesus may not always bring the storms in your life… but He sure can help you get the victory over them when you ask Him to….

Maybe today you don’t know the saviour of the storm…

I invite you to come and learn of Jesus.