Sermon Tone Analysis

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| §  Today we’re going to begin a new series of messages §  “Miracles” … During next few weeks … miracle stories §  Should be a great encouragement – as we see God’s Power at work in a variety of situations §  This morning we’re going to begin by looking at the story about how Jesus Calmed a Storm §  Three accounts of this story in the Bible §  Matt.

8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25 §  We’re going to use the Mark account §  This is a great story … Great life lessons §  Read Story … Scripture – Mark 4:35-41 |

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| !! *GOD*

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| !! Dealing With Life’s Storms …

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| !! *Realize Storms Will Come*

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| Mark 4:35-37 (NIV) \\ 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."

\\ 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.

There were also other boats with him.

\\ 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

§  This had been a long day for Jesus and His followers §  He had been teaching all day and was tired §  He and disciples got in boat … left crowds and headed to other side of the Sea of Galilee … Lake Gennerseret  (8x13 miles) §  Sudden storm approached … The lake …700 ft.

below sea level … surrounded by mountains §  Stop there ….

Compare to our lives §  Think about this … a few minutes before everything was fine §  Now there is a crisis … a storm that’s blown in §  In our lives … storms blow in §  Sometimes they build over a period of time … You can see the clouds and you know their coming §  Other times they come unexpectedly … but they come §  No one is exempt and No area of life is exempt §  Relational … Financial … Physical … Emotional … Spiritual§  The point is Storms will come … Maybe you’ve been there §  Maybe you are there ….

You will be!

§  Storms come from Bad Decisions                                     The Enemy    (Job)                                                                      A Broken World John 16:33 (NIV) \\ "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart!

I have overcome the world."

§  We need to be aware that Storms will come |

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| Dealing With Life’s Storms … |

| !! *Understand That God is not Surprised By Your Storm*

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| Mark 4:35(NIV) \\ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."

§  In this situation … Jesus is the one who said … “let’s go to the other side” … He’s God … He knew what was in store §  He was preparing the disciples for a great life lesson and they didn’t know it §  The Storm they were about to face would change their lives … they would grow in their knowledge of Jesus … He would show himself in a way he hadn’t before §  You and I need to understand that God isn’t surprised by whatever we’re going through … He allowed it §  Why?

James 1:2-4 (NIV) \\ 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

§  Our trials ultimately help us to become mature and complete §  If we handle them God’s way … we come out of them a more mature and complete believer … we grow deeper in our relationship with God§  Remember … God is not surprised by your storms |

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| Dealing With Life’s Storms …- Realize Storms Will Come- Understand God is not surprised by your storms |

| Enlist God’s Help Early |

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| Mark 4:37-38 (NIV) \\ 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

Matthew 8:25 (NIV) \\ The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us!

We're going to drown!" §  Think with me for a moment ….

These guys are experienced fishermen§  They know how these storms can get out of hand§  But they waited until it was almost too late to wake Jesus up!§

They were in a panic … we’re going to drown§  My question is this ….§

Why did they wait?§

Perhaps pride … we’re fishermen … He’s not §  Perhaps they tried to handle the situation under their own strength … We’ve got this under control!§

Or maybe they just didn’t have the faith they should have … that Jesus could handle it§  We do the same thing when storms come don’t we?§

We try to handle them ourselves ….

We think we are self sufficient§  We don’t exercise the faith God wants us to§  We wait until we’re about to go under and then we cry out to God! ….. Why wait?

He’s there … available for helpHebrews 13:5b (NIV) \\ "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Matthew 6:33 (NIV) Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

§  Enlist God’s Help Early |

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| Dealing With Life’s Storms … |

| Trust God To Help … Have Faith |

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| Mark 4:38-40 (NIV) \\ 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" \\ 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet!

Be still!"

Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

\\ 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid?

Do you still have no faith?"

§  The disciples are scared to death … and they wake Jesus §  Jesus calms the storm … and then he issues a mild reprimand 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid?

Do you still have no faith?"

§  He was a little upset with these guys §  He wasn’t upset because they woke him up §  He was upset because of their fear … it demonstrated a lack of faith §  All the teaching he had done ….

All these guys had seen §  And they’re filled with fear §  We can be a lot like these guys … When we face storms .. we allow the fear of the situation to override our faith §  When we face storms .. we need to trust God … Trust His power … His promises … his Provision §  When we allow circumstances and situations to override our faith … God isn’t happy    (He rebuked the disciples) Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) \\ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

§  Trust God to Help … Have Faith |

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| Dealing With Life’s Storms … |

| Learn From Your Situation |

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|   Mark 4:41 (NIV) \\ 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this?

Even the wind and the waves obey him!"  §  Can you imagine what was going through these guys minds §  Jesus stands up … speaks to the wind and the waves and they obey!

§  They had just learned something incredible about Jesus §  I’ll guarantee you … they never forgot about this  §  It caused them to ask new questions … to think about Jesus in ways they hadn’t before §  I’m sure their faith was strengthened at that moment §  We need to learn from the storms that come into our lives §  Watch closely how God Works … and file the information in your data bank §  Grow from your experiences … allow God working in your life to increase your faith §  Learn from your experience  |

| YOU |

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| §  I don’t know where you are this morning §  If you’re going through a storm … don’t try to handle it on your own §  Ask God for help … right now … Trust Him |

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