When The Storm Rages

Encouragement In Times Of Crisis  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  24:47
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Introduction

John 6:15–21 NKJV
15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. 16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
Today I am going to do something that I don’t normally do.
I am going to re-preach a message.
Right now we are facing an unprecedented time in our country and in our world.
On January 31, 2020 the secretary of Health and Human Services declared COVID-19 a public health emergency.
On March 1, with the number of people contracting the virus rising, President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency.
On Thursday March 19 Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide stay at home order.
As a result of these actions, graduations, weddings, and long planned vacations have been cancelled.
Jobs have been lost, businesses closed, and livelihoods challenged.
I have heard the illustration that we are all in the same stormy sea, just in different boats.
Around our world this virus has caused a storm to rage.
But for some, the storm was already waging.
There are many things in life that can throw us into a raging storm of doubt, emotion, and fear.
You have a child or grandchild walking away from Christ, and the storm rages.
You face mockery and belittling at work, and the storm rages.
Kids at school think you are weird because you are a Christian, and the storm rages.
A loved one has been called home to be with Christ, and the storm rages.
Jobs are lost, sickness strikes, finances disappear; and the storm rages.
PAUSE
What I want us to know today is something simple, yet profound.
God has a purpose for the storm.
With that thought in mind, I want to share a poem with you.
He sat by the fire of seven-fold heat, / As He watched by the precious ore. / And closer He bent with a searching gaze / As He heated it more and more. / He knew He had ore that could stand the test / And He wanted the finest gold, / To mold as a crown for the King to wear, / Set with gems of price untold. / So He laid our gold in the burning fire, / Though we fain would have said Him, "Nay." / And He watched the dross that we had not seen, / As it melted and passed away. / And the gold grew brighter, and yet more bright / And our eyes were so dim with tears, / As we saw the fire, not the Master's hand, / And questioned with anxious fear. / Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow, / As it mirrored a Form above / That bent o'er the fire, though unseen by us / With a look of infinite love. / Can we think that it pleases His loving heart / To cause a moment of pain? / Ah, no, but He saw through the present cross / The bliss of eternal gain. / So He waited there with a watchful eye, / With a love that is strong and sure, / And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat / Than was needed to make it pure! [1]
The desire of our God is to purify, strengthen, and mature us.
We go through the fire; we endure the raging storm so that we might be vessels of use to our master.
He is not going to make us endure any more than is necessary!
In the passage we will consider this morning, Jesus puts the disciples through a raging storm.
They endure it that they might learn more of Jesus.
That they might trust Him, believe in Him, and find life in Him.
When the Apostle John wrote his gospel account, he structured it around the miracles of Jesus.
This is the 5th miracle that John records.
John’s goal is for us, like the disciples, to believe in Jesus and have life in His name.
This morning we are going to learn about the miracle of Jesus walking on the water.
This miracle demonstrates Jesus’ power and control over nature, really over time, space, and matter which are the building blocks of universe.
From this account we are going to draw three actions that we need to take when the storm rages around us.
When we take these actions we will emerge from the other side of the storm with greater strength, more in love with our Savior, and better able to serve Him.
Action #1…

1. When The Storm Rages, Keep On Rowing vv. 15-18

READ vv. 15-18
To fully grasp this passage, we need to get some information from the parallel accounts.
Matthew gives us three important facts. Matthew 14:22 (S).
Matthew 14:22
Matthew 14:22 NKJV
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
Fact #1.
Jesus told the disciples to go in the boat.
This means that they are in the boat on the stormy sea because that is where God placed them.
Matthew 14:24-25 (S).
Matthew 14:24-25
Matthew 14:24–25 NKJV
But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
The 4th watch would place this at about 3-6am. What does that mean?
Fact #2.
They’ve been on the sea for 9-10 hours!
This sea was about 6-8 miles across. This means that generally it would take 2-3 hours max to cross the sea.
They’ve been sailing for 10 hours.
Matthew 14:32 (S)
Matthew 14:32
Matthew 14:32 NKJV
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Fact #3.
When Jesus got in the boat, the wind ceased.
This would lead them to conclude that had Jesus been with them all along, they never would have faced a storm.
That’s not true, but it is something that many have concluded in their own lives.
Mark gives us two more important details. Mark 6:48 (S).
Mark 6:48
Mark 6:48 NKJV
Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.
Detail #1.
They are still rowing!
10 hours into a 3 hour trip, and they are still rowing against the wind.
Folks, that is faithfulness.
Detail #2.
Jesus would have kept walking had they not cried out to Him.
This is kind of an odd fact, but it is important. We will see why in just a bit.
This passage takes place immediately after the feeding of the 5,000.
V. 15 explains how Jesus leaves when they are determined to make Him king.
The disciples begin journeying to Capernaum. It is already dark and Jesus is not there.
A great wind starts blowing.
Great – μέγας (megas) great; loud. Remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree, magnitude, or effect. Attributive adjective, genitive, singular, masculine.
Great – μέγας (megas)
John says that the sea arose because of the wind.
Arose – διεγείρω (diegeiro) arouse; stir up; wake up. To become stormy. To become affected or characterized by winds and precipitation and often thunder and lightning; conceived of as a person waking up. Verb, imperfect, passive, indicative, third person, singular.
Arose – διεγείρω (diegeiro)
This is a sudden storm.
We know this because, as professional fishermen, they wouldn’t have sailed if it was stormy!
Let me ask you two questions.
Question #1.
Why are the disciples in the boat?
Jesus told them to be!
Now, wouldn’t you think that if they are in the boat being obedient to the Lord, they would experience smooth sailing?
The disciples head out across the sea without Jesus in obedience to Him.
They are following Christ's command when the storm hits.
This is super, super important. Are you ready?
Walking in obedience to Christ does not mean smooth sailing.
Question #2.
Who is in charge of the storm?
Jesus! How do we know that?
When He gets in the boat the wind stops blowing!
This presents us with an important question.
Why does he allow them to endure the storm?
He allows storms because only through storms do we realize our weakness and are forced to rely on His strength!
COVID -19 is a storm. It is a storm that God has allowed.
One of the reasons He has allowed this storm is so that we will rely on Him!
Here is the lesson we learn from the disciples here.
Do not let go of obedience.
Even when the storm rages, keep on rowing. Job 13:15a (S).
Job 13:15a
Job 13:15a NKJV
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
Trust Him to get you through the storm.
Warren Wiersbe writes that,
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: Jesus Loses His Crowd (John 6)

Sometimes we are caught in a storm because we have disobeyed the Lord. Jonah is a good example. But sometimes the storm comes because we have obeyed the Lord. When that happens, we can be sure that our Saviour will pray for us, come to us, and deliver us.

When we are walking in obedience and a storm comes, know that it is a storm designed to bring strength and growth.
In that kind of storm, Jesus is right there with us.
Kent Hughes writes that,
Preaching the Word: John—That You May Believe The Miracle and Its Meaning

Those who decide to follow Christ and give him their allegiance will face contrary winds, no doubt about it. Moses would never have felt rejected by a complaining people if at the burning bush he had decided not to obey Jehovah. Daniel would never have had to face a lion’s den if he had not decided to be faithful to God. Just think of how much persecution Paul would have avoided if he had just stayed in Tarsus. But then these great men would have never known the refreshing winds of the Holy Spirit flowing through their lives. Yes, following Christ will take us into some fierce storms, but the rewards are even greater.

Don’t focus on the storm, focus on the destination.
What is the destination? Jesus.
Jesus is the destination!
The disciples are literally, physically in the middle of the raging storm here.
But they are still rowing.
They are exhausted, wearied, and the wind is against them (Mk.), yet they are still going.
They are still rowing because Jesus told them to get in the boat and cross the sea.
They are going to obey, and they are going to trust, even when they don’t understand.
What about us?
Will we keep rowing, will we still obey even when we don’t understand?
We serve a God we can trust.
Keep on rowing!
That’s action #1. When the storm rages, keep on rowing.
Action #2…

2. When The Storm Rages, Do Not Be Afraid vv. 19-20

READ vv. 19-20
They are 3-4 miles out into the water.
Both Matthew and Mark say they are in the middle of the sea.
They see Jesus walking on the sea and they are afraid!
The other accounts tell us they believe He is a ghost.
He gets closer to the boat and they cry out.
His response?
Jesus knows they are afraid, and so He says “It is I; do not be afraid.”
Imagine the peace that must have come over them.
Don’t forget that John recounts this story to demonstrate Jesus is Lord over nature.
Here we see His mastery over space and matter.
This should inspire us to love and trust Him more!
He is Lord of creation!
That means He is Lord of viruses and disease! He is Lord of sickness and health.
He is Lord of all!
We have nothing to fear!
The storm that is raging around you is under His Sovereign hand!
Remember Matthew 14:32 (S).
Matthew 14:32
Matthew 14:32 NKJV
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Jesus gets into the boat, and the wind ceases!
So what is our lesson here?
Do not fear the raging storm.
Look at James 1:2-4 (S).
James 1:2-4
James 1:2–4 NKJV
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
How can we count the raging storm as joy?
By trusting the master of the storm!
In the midst of our struggles and trials Jesus comes.
We are in the depths of despair, hurting, suffering, trapped by fear and our own weakness; but Jesus arrives and says, “it is I, do not be afraid.”
Those struggles, those trials, those difficult times. Jesus is there! He is at work.
Don't be afraid!
Kent Hughes reminds us that
Preaching the Word: John—That You May Believe The Miracle and Its Meaning

Jesus came to his threatened followers during the darkest part of the night, when the disciples were exhausted, miserable, and tired, wondering if they were going to survive. Only then did the Lord come.

When we are at our weakest, He is strong.
That is what He told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (S).
2 Corinthians 12:9
2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
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.
His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Jesus walks on the sea.
Jesus is master of the storm!
There is a storm raging right now.
It may be due to the Corona Virus. It may be something else.
Jesus is master of that storm!
Don’t be afraid of it! Count it all joy!
Jesus is at work in this storm.
He is working in us to will and do of His good pleasure.
That is His desire.
Warren Wiersbe explains how
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: Jesus Loses His Crowd (John 6)

The disciples had experienced great joy in being part of a thrilling miracle. Now they had to face a storm and learn to trust the Lord more. The feeding of the 5,000 was the lesson, but the storm was the examination after the lesson.

Believe in Him and have life in His name, He is the master of the storm!
Are you living in fear of the raging storm?
The One who has forgiven our sin now works to perfect us, to sanctify us wholly for His use.
There are three actions we need to take.
Action #1. Keep on rowing. Action #2. Do not be afraid.
Action #3…

3. When The Storm Rages, Wait For Jesus v. 21

READ v. 21
The disciples willingly receive Jesus into the boat, and they are immediately at their destination.
Willingly – θέλω (thelō) wish, want. To desire. To feel or have a desire for, to want strongly. Finite verb, imperfect, active, indicative, third person, plural.
Willingly – θέλω thelō
They really want Jesus to get into the boat with them.
It takes the storm to make their desperate need of Jesus real.
We know we need Jesus. But when the storm rages, we know we need Jesus.
Jesus comes to us in our storm.
How?
He comes to us through the Holy Spirit.
He comes to us as we read His Word.
He comes to us through the preaching and teaching of the Word at church.
He comes to us through our fellowship with the saints.
When He comes to us, and we are in the storm, that is when we are most ready to receive Him!
And like the disciples we strongly desire Him to come into our boat and calm the storm.
Let me remind us of Mark 6:48 (S).
Mark 6:48
Mark 6:48 NKJV
Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.
Jesus was going to pass by, until they cried out to Him.
I told you we would come back to this.
This is very important.
Are you willing? Do you desire for Him to come into your boat and get you through the storm?
Then cry out to Him!
Make Him your first refuge not your last resort.
He is right there in the storm.
He is master of the storm.
He is walking on the stormy waters.
Call out to Him!
Our lesson here is this.
Do not think you are forsaken.
No matter how alone we may feel, we must believe God’s Word.
Look at Matthew 28:20b (S).
Matthew 28:20b
Matthew 28:20b NKJV
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
He is with us always!
That includes the middle of the raging storm!
That includes a pandemic!
That includes loss of job. Loss of graduation. Loss of retirement. Loss of health. Loss of a loved one. Even loss of life itself.
Jesus is with us always.
When Jesus is with us, everything is better.
We see that here.
Jesus gets into the boat and immediately everything is better.
Ponder this with me for a moment.
Immediately – εὐθέως (eutheōs) at once; immediately. Without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening. Temporal adverb.
Immediately – εὐθέως (eutheōs)
When we travel through the storm with Jesus, He gets us safely to the other side.
It will not always be immediate.
But.
It will always be certain.
We need to be reminded of something this morning.
On the other side of darkness there is light, on the other side of the storm there is calm, and on the other side of life is eternity with Christ!
On the other side of this pandemic, Jesus will still be here.
In light of that reality; what do we do?
Endure.
Walk with Him.
Keep Him in your boat and you will arrive safely.

Conclusion

All around us the storm is raging. It is raging in our lives.
So what do we do?
When the storm rages, we keep on rowing.
Why?
Because we know that On the other side of the storm is strength, growth, and maturity.
When the storm rages we are not afraid.
Why?
Because we know that Jesus walks on the water.
He calms the storm, He brings peace, comfort and safety.
The storms we face are under the control of His sovereignty.
We can trust Him.
When the storm rages, we wait for Jesus.
Why?
Because He has a purpose for this storm. REPEAT
When He is in my boat I can be confident that I will make it through the storm!
When the storm rages this week, look to Jesus, He is the only thing that can get us through.
“Lord I Need You”
The Master of the storm is coming back! My desire is that He will find each one of us faithfully serving Him as we eagerly anticipate His return.
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