Overcome the Storms

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I. Introduction

Text: Mark 4:35-41

A.  I have a very large willow tree at my house with 5 large tree trunks that come out from the ground.  The leaves of the tree drape over the tree limbs and down to the ground ; they drape so far that people walking on the sidewalk have to walk through the leaves or go around onto the street.

A couple of years ago we had a huge storm; wind and rain, and some hail.  I heard a big cracking sound and looked out the back door to see that the storm and broken one of these large tree trunks causing it to fall on the neighbor’s fence.

But Maggie and I weren’t afraid of the storm even though the tree broke in the wind because we were in the house; we just weren’t bothered about the storm!

II. There are many storms we face in life. 

The disciples with Jesus were in the midst of a huge storm in the see of Galilee.

A.  Scientist often try to predict storms and they have some limited success.  But no matter their ability to predict the storm, they cannot control the storms.

B.  The disciples put all their attention on the storm; they bailed water, they rowed, they worked with the sails – but no matter what they did, they simply could not overcome the storm and they thought they were going to die in the storm.

C.  The bible said that Jesus was asleep in the boat.  The disciples felt that because he didn’t wake up to help them he was lacking in compassion.  

(“Lord, don’t you care that we perish?”)

When we are faced with trouble, do we sometimes say to the Lord, “Lord if you loved me you wouldn’t let this happen to me?”

III. Why did Jesus sleep?

A.  Jesus said (in verse 35) “Let’s go to the other side.”

B.  He was not concerned that a storm or any other thing could keep the word from being fulfilled. 

C.  His life was completely submitted to the will of the Father.  The things that the Father told him to do, he did.  And because his life, his will, was aligned with the will of the Father he was at peace in the storm.

D.  God will fulfill His purpose

Psalms 57:1-3

IV. The little ships

A.  Mark 4:36 describes the scene.  Jesus and his disciples went into a bigger ship, and there were other LITTLE ships with them.

B.  There are many who live with the Lord from far away.  The see the things that the Lord does, they come to church on Sunday, they might even mentally agree with the teachings from the Word of God; but they are on the fringe of faith.

C.  There are storms all around each and every one of us, storms that threaten to drown us, to overwhelm us, to destroy us.

Psalms 32:5-7 "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. [6]  For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. [7] Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah."  

D.  When the storm comes, are you in the ship with Jesus?

V. Faith – True faith means being fully committed to relationship with the Lord.

A.  Fear of problems; fear of the future; fear of the unknown; fear for your children; fear for you health; fear for your finances CANNOT exist when right relationship with God.

1.    Those who are in right relationship with God are submitted to the will of God;

2.    Those who are in right relationship with God are submitted to the word of God.

3.    The bible says that mature love casts out fear.

B.  What happened to the disciples?  When the storm came, they put their faith in their own human ability and they believed the trial more than they believed what the Lord had said when he told them, “Let’s go to the other side”.

C.  Mark 4:39-41

VI. Summary:

When the storms come, we should already be in the boat with Jesus; not in the little ships looking at him from far away.

When the storms come, if we have a right relationship with the Lord – a LOVE relationship, we will have confidence in his word to us.

When the storms come, we will speak his words of truth and put our confidence in Him:

“No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper”

“ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

“I am more than a conqueror through Christ, who loved me”

“God has a plan for my life, a purpose, which will be fulfilled in Him”

“If God be for us, who can be against us”

What does your heart tell you today about how close you are to the Lord?  Are you in a LOVE relationship with Christ?


Conclusion

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