Hidden Blessings in the Storm
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Matthew 14:22-33
Matthew 14:22-33
HIDDEN BLESSINGS IN THE STORMS OF LIFE
HIDDEN BLESSINGS IN THE STORMS OF LIFE
Original Sermon by Pastor Alan Carr
Intro: In this passage of Scripture, we find the disciples of our Lord trapped in the grip of a fierce storm. They find themselves in that storm because they have been commanded by the Lord to cross the Sea of Galilee, v. 22. These men are in the will of the Lord, and yet, we see them struggling against the storm. Try as they might, however, it appears that they are unable to make any headway. The wind is in their faces, v. 24. These 12 men are stuck in a storm and are unable to get out.
Have you ever found yourself in that place? Have you ever found yourself stuck in one of life’s storms, and no matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, it seems that you cannot make any headway? Well, we all have times like that! It may seem to you like the storm will never end and that there is no possible good that can come from what you are facing. Thankfully, however, there is some good news for us from the word of God. While the storms of life are never pleasant, they do produce certain benefits in our lives that we would do well to make a note of. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.: Heb 12:11.
The Hidden Blessings In The Storms Of Life.
I. V. 25 STORMS ARE GOD’S MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
I. V. 25 STORMS ARE GOD’S MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
(Ill. The very thing the disciples feared. The sea was the very thing the Lord used as the vehicle to reveal Himself unto them. He will do the same in your life and mine. Notice how Jesus came to them that night.)
A. He Comes In The Face Of Darkness - The Bible says that Jesus came to them in “the fourth watch.” Sometime between 3 AM and 6 AM, during the darkest hours of the night, Jesus came walking on water!
(Ill. You may be walking in darkness this evening and wondering where Jesus is. You may be facing some of the darkest days of your life right now. Let me remind you that our God is ever with you, Heb. 13:5! Let me remind you that even in the darkest hours of life God is still God and He is still in control of your life. 1 Kings 8:12, “Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.”; Psalm 139:11-12, “If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Even the darkest hours of life cannot hide you from the face of God. He is there even when you cannot see Him.)
B. He Comes In The Face Of Disaster - The disciples were in a fight for their lives. Mark 6:48 says that they were “toiling in rowing.” That is, they were struggling against the storm. I get the impression that these men were afraid for their lives. When they thought all hope was gone and that they were doomed, Jesus came walking on the waves!
(Ill. There are times when we all feel like we have lost the battle with our storm, but may I remind you that just as surely as the Lord is in control of your blessings, He is also in charge of your storms? When things look the bleakest, look around, Jesus is about to show up! Remember, He may not keep you from going into the storm, but He will keep you in the midst of the storm! Think of the 3 Hebrews, Daniel, and Noah. God did not prevent any of these from going into the storm, but He saved them all in the midst of their storm. What He did for them, He will do for you!)
C. He Comes On The Face Of The Deep - The very thing the disciples feared, the raging sea, was the very thing God used as His vehicle to come to them. What a testimony this was! He was not telling them that the storm was not fierce, He was telling them that He was greater than the storm!
(Ill. The Apostle Paul - 2 Cor. 12:1-10. God used Paul’s storm, a thorn in the flesh, to show up in and on Paul’s life.)
II. V. 25-31 STORMS ARE GOD’S MEANS OF TESTING
II. V. 25-31 STORMS ARE GOD’S MEANS OF TESTING
A. V. 25-27 They Reveal The Savior - When Jesus did come walking on water, the disciples did not recognize Him. They thought He was a ghost. They cried out in fear. But, thank God, Jesus came with a message of peace and power. He came to them with a word of peace, “be of good cheer.” He came to them with a word of power, “It is I.” He came to them with a word of potential, “be not afraid.”
(Ill. The storms of life have the potential to reveal the Savior to us in a way we may have never considered before. When He comes to us, walking on our storm, He gives us the same message of hope that He gave to the disciples that stormy night.
1. A Message Of Peace - Note: They were still in the storm when He told them to cheer up. By His power, the Son of God can give us peace in the midst of our storms. That is the peace He refers to in Phil. 4:6-7.
2. A Message Of Power - When Jesus showed up, He came declaring His identity. “It is I,” is an emphatic personal pronoun. It is the same statement Jesus used when He said, “I am the door”; “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”; “I am the bread of life”; “I am the good shepherd.” Do you get the picture? Jesus is telling His Disciples to “cheer up; God is here!” If we can ever grasp the truth that Jesus is the great I AM. That He has all power in Heaven and in earth, Matt. 28:18, then we can enjoy peace in the midst of trials.
3. A Message Of Potential - Jesus also issue a command to His disciples: “be not afraid.” This statement literally reads, “You stop fearing and don’t you ever fear again.” You see, if we can ever get hold of the fact that Jesus is in control of every area of our lives, that He is God, and that He possesses all power, then we can come to that place where we can trust Him fully through all the storms of life.
(Ill. The storms of life are a blessing because they reveal the Savior in a brand new way.)
B. V. 28-29 They Refine The Saint - When Peter heard that it was the Lord, Peter wanted to join Jesus in walking on water. Jesus simply told Peter to come. Peter obeyed, and he too walked on water. Jesus used the storm as a means of helping Peter grow in the faith.
(Ill. When the storms of life are howling all about us, if we can get hold of the truth that Jesus is the Master of the Storm, then we too can rise above our circumstances and walk on the waves with the Lord. I realize that Peter’s walk didn’t last long. In just a moment he took his eyes off the Lord, and he began to sink. However, Peter had a story that none of the other disciples had! Peter was the only one who could say, “I walked on my storm!” The storms of life will focus our faith if we allow them to.
C. V. 30-31 They Remind The Saint - Peter wanted to walk on water like Jesus. He put the Lord to the test and stepped onto the waves. However, he soon took his eyes off the Lord, and when he did, he found himself in trouble. He remembered Who was in control and he called on the Lord and found the help he needed.
(Ill. The storms of life also serve to remind us of Who is in control. Like Peter, there are times when we get our eyes off the Lord during our storms. When we do, we are doomed to fail. We need to remember Who is in charge of this whole thing. You see, if we successfully navigate the stormy waters of life, we deserve no credit for our abilities or our success. If we are successful, it is because there is One Who is greater than we are holding our hand! Our success in the storms of life hinges upon our being willing to acknowledge Jesus as the Master of the storm.)
III. V. 32-33 STORMS ARE GOD’S MEANS OF TESTIMONY
III. V. 32-33 STORMS ARE GOD’S MEANS OF TESTIMONY
A. They Testify Of His Power - Jesus calmed the storm! He didn’t say a thing; He just got into the boat with the disciples, and the sea was calm.
(Ill. One day, he’ll do the same in your life! The storm will rage until it has accomplished His purpose and then He will cause the winds to cease for you. All He is trying to get us to see is that He is in control of the storms of life. It isn’t me, and it isn’t you. Jesus is the Master of the Sea, and He is the Master of the Storm as well.)
B. They Testify Of His Person - When Jesus stilled the storm, the disciples knew that they were in the presence of God. They confessed Him, and they bowed before Him in worship. His power in the storms and over the storms of life testify of His person. They tell us that He is God and that He is in control of all the affairs of life. When the storms come, they are designed to bring us to the place the disciples found themselves in at the end: on our knees in worship before Him.
(Ill. Here is a secret to making the storm much more bearable for you: Don’t wait until the storm is over to bow before Him. Bow now, while the waves are still threatening your boat. Bow now, while the winds are still contrary to you. Don’t wait until blue skies are seen to humble yourself before the Lord. Nothing reveals your faith in the Lord more than you being willing to accept His will and love Him, even when things look the worse for you. Bow before Him, it honors the Lord!)
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
What is your storm?
Have you heeded the command- Be not afraid?
Are you learning the lesson that He wants you to learn?
Have you taken a moment and worshipped Him in the middle of your storm?