Sermon - Mark 4:35-41 - Why Are You So Afraid?

Summary

In this sermon, the preacher explores Jesus' question 'Why are you so afraid?' from Mark chapter 4, focusing on a story where Jesus calms a storm while His disciples are terrified. The message emphasizes that believers are never alone in life's storms, as God's presence is with them. It encourages embracing God's presence and purpose during trials, highlighting that storms can strengthen faith and shape believers into more mature followers of Christ. The preacher's personal anecdotes and scriptural references illustrate the transformative power of trusting in God's sovereignty even in the midst of life's challenges.

Takeaways

• 📖 The sermon focuses on Mark Chapter 4, where Jesus asks a simple yet profound question: 'Why are you so afraid?'
• 🤔 Jesus frequently asks questions in the Gospels, often responding to questions with questions, prompting deeper thought and reflection.
• 🛶 The story in Mark 4 involves Jesus and his disciples in a boat during a sudden storm, illustrating a real-life trial faced by the disciples.
• 😴 Despite the storm, Jesus is initially found sleeping, showing a sense of calm and trust in the midst of chaos.
• 🌪 Jesus calms the storm with a command, demonstrating his authority over nature and the elements.
• 🙏 The disciples' fear is questioned by Jesus, highlighting the importance of faith even in the face of danger.
• 🔍 The sermon explores the reality of trials and storms in the lives of believers, emphasizing that they are not outside of God's will.
• 💪 The presence of God in the midst of life's storms is a source of comfort and strength, as He is always with us even in the most challenging times.
• 🛤️ Life's storms are part of God's plan to grow and mature believers, teaching reliance on Him rather than our own abilities.
• 🕊️ The fear of the Lord, which comes from recognizing His power and authority, is a positive and transformative aspect of the Christian faith.
• 🌈 The sermon concludes with an encouragement to trust in Jesus' presence and purpose during life's trials, transforming fear into faith.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the sermon in the provided transcript?

The main theme of the sermon is about facing life's storms with faith, emphasizing that Jesus is present with us even in the midst of trials and difficulties.

Why does the preacher mention the ESV English Standard Version Bible?

The preacher mentions the ESV Bible to inform the congregation about the specific version available for them to use or take home if they do not have a Bible.

How many questions did Jesus ask throughout the Gospels according to the preacher?

Jesus asked over a hundred different questions throughout the Gospels.

What is the context for Mark chapter 4 as described in the sermon?

The context for Mark chapter 4 is that Jesus has been teaching from a boat, and then decides to take his disciples across the sea, leading to a storm that serves as a backdrop for his teachings.

What personal experience does the preacher share to illustrate being in a storm?

The preacher shares a personal experience of being caught in a sudden storm while canoeing in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota.

What does the preacher say about the Sea of Galilee and its weather?

The preacher mentions that the Sea of Galilee is prone to sudden and intense storms due to its geographical location, being surrounded by mountains and situated 680 feet below sea level.

Why does the preacher mention his experience working in New Mexico?

The preacher mentions his experience in New Mexico to draw a parallel between the sudden and severe weather changes in the mountains there and the sudden storms on the Sea of Galilee.

What does the preacher suggest is the common reaction of people when they are in the midst of a storm?

The preacher suggests that people often try to hide their storms, appearing to have everything together on the outside while struggling internally.

What are the two key points the preacher wants the congregation to remember when facing storms?

The two key points are: 1) You are in the storm with God's presence, and 2) You are in the storm for His purposes.

How does the preacher interpret James 1:2-4 in the context of facing trials or storms?

The preacher interprets James 1:2-4 as an encouragement to consider it pure joy when facing trials because these trials produce perseverance and ultimately contribute to spiritual maturity.

What transformation does the preacher notice in the disciples' perception of Jesus after the storm?

The preacher notes that the disciples' perception of Jesus transforms from seeing him as just a 'teacher' to recognizing him as 'Lord', reflecting a deeper reverence and understanding of his divine power and authority.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Starting the Sermon with a Bible Study

The speaker begins by expressing gratitude for the congregation's attendance and encourages them to follow along in Mark chapter four using Bibles provided if necessary. The sermon focuses on Jesus' frequent use of questions in the Gospels, setting the stage for an exploration of the question 'Why are you so afraid?' in the context of life's trials and storms. The setting for the biblical narrative is established, with Jesus teaching from a boat, which will become a significant element in the story.

05:02

🌪️ Personal Experience with Fear During a Storm

The speaker recounts a personal experience of being caught in a sudden and dangerous storm while canoeing in the Boundary Waters with a friend named Randy. Despite Randy's experience, the storm caused panic, illustrating the overwhelming nature of fear in the face of life-threatening situations. The story serves as a metaphor for the biblical narrative where Jesus and his disciples face a storm, highlighting the disciples' fear and Jesus' calm response.

10:02

🛶 The Calm in the Storm with Jesus

The narrative shifts back to the biblical account where Jesus, despite the storm, sleeps in the boat, showing his trust and peace. The disciples, fearing for their lives, awaken Jesus, who then rebukes the wind and calms the waves. This act demonstrates Jesus' authority over nature and the disciples' lack of faith. The speaker uses this story to emphasize the presence of God in the midst of life's storms and the importance of faith.

15:05

🏞️ Reflecting on Life's Unexpected Storms

The speaker discusses the unexpected nature of life's storms, drawing from personal anecdotes and the unpredictability of weather patterns, such as those experienced in New Mexico and the Sea of Galilee. The message is that despite the sudden and intense challenges that can arise, there is a deeper spiritual significance to these trials, and they are not outside of God's plan.

20:05

🤔 The Paradox of God's Presence in the Storm

The speaker addresses the misconception that following Jesus guarantees a life free of trials and storms. Instead, they explain that Christianity is a battleground between light and darkness, and believers should expect opposition. The presence of Jesus in the boat signifies that while God does not promise a storm-free life, He does promise to be with us through the storms, ensuring that they will not sink us.

25:07

🔨 The Purpose Behind the Storms of Life

The speaker emphasizes that believers are in the storm for a reason, as part of God's will. They argue that Jesus intentionally took his disciples through the storm for a greater purpose, to heal a man possessed by demons. The storms we face are not outside of God's plan but are often a part of it, shaping us and strengthening our faith, teaching us to rely on God rather than ourselves.

30:07

🛑 From Panic to Faith: The Disciples' Transformation

The speaker discusses the transformation in the disciples' perception of Jesus from a teacher to the Lord, as they witness his power over the storm. They highlight the importance of faith and the realization that Jesus is with us in the midst of the storm. The disciples' initial panic turns into awe and reverence, illustrating the growth of their faith and understanding of Jesus' divine nature.

💪 Embracing the Presence and Purpose of Jesus in Trials

In conclusion, the speaker encourages the congregation to recognize that they are not alone in their trials and to trust in Jesus' presence and purpose. They remind us that our hope is in Jesus, not in the circumstances, and that He has not given us a spirit of fear but one of power, love, and a sound mind. The message is to find comfort and strength in Jesus during life's storms, as He is with us, for us, and working all things for our good.

Keywords

💡Worship

Worship in the context of the video refers to the act of showing reverence and adoration for a deity, typically through rituals and prayers. It is central to the theme of the video, as the speaker is addressing a congregation and guiding them through a religious service. The term is used when the speaker invites the audience to participate in worship by following along with a Bible reading.

💡Bible

The Bible is a sacred text in Christianity, consisting of the Old and New Testaments. In the video, it is the source of the scripture that the speaker is discussing. The speaker encourages the audience to have a Bible to follow along and even offers Bibles to those who do not have one, emphasizing the importance of scripture in understanding and participating in the worship service.

💡Gospels

The Gospels are a group of four New Testament narratives (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that describe the life, teachings, and works of Jesus Christ. The speaker mentions the Gospels when discussing the pattern of Jesus asking questions throughout these texts. The Gospels are foundational to the message of the video, as they provide the scriptural basis for the sermon.

💡Disciples

Disciples in the video refer to the followers of Jesus, who were his close associates and learners during his ministry. The term is used in the context of the story from Mark chapter four, where the disciples are with Jesus in a boat during a storm. Their reactions and interactions with Jesus in the story serve to illustrate the themes of faith and fear.

💡Storm

In the video, a storm is both a literal weather event and a metaphor for trials and difficulties in life. The speaker uses the story of Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41) to explore the theme of fear and faith in the face of life's challenges. The storm in the narrative serves as a powerful symbol of the struggles that believers may encounter.

💡Presence of God

The presence of God in the video refers to the belief that God is actively involved in the world and in the lives of believers. The speaker emphasizes that even in the midst of storms, God's presence is with the believers, providing comfort and strength. This concept is central to the message of hope and assurance that the speaker conveys.

💡Faith

Faith in the video is the trust and confidence believers have in God, particularly in challenging circumstances. The speaker discusses how the disciples' faith was tested during the storm and how Jesus' actions reinforced their faith. Faith is portrayed as a crucial element in overcoming life's trials.

💡Fear

Fear in the context of the video is the emotional response to perceived threats or danger, which can be debilitating. The speaker uses the disciples' reaction to the storm as an example of fear and contrasts it with the peace that comes from faith in God. The term is integral to the video's exploration of the human experience in the face of adversity.

💡Purpose

Purpose in the video is the idea that God has a plan and intention for the events in our lives, even the difficult ones. The speaker suggests that the disciples were in the storm because it was part of God's will for them, which included Jesus healing a man on the other side of the sea. This concept is key to understanding the video's message about finding meaning in life's challenges.

💡Jesus

Jesus is the central figure in the video, both as a historical religious figure and as a symbol of divine intervention and guidance. The speaker discusses Jesus' actions and words from the Gospel of Mark to illustrate the themes of faith, fear, and God's presence. Jesus' ability to calm the storm is used to demonstrate his power and the reassurance he offers to believers.

Highlights

The sermon focuses on Jesus' question 'Why are you so afraid?' in the context of life's trials and difficulties.

Invitation to follow along in Mark chapter four for the sermon's biblical reference.

The availability of Bibles for those in need during the service.

Discussion on Jesus' frequent use of questions in the Gospels to engage and teach his followers.

The sermon's relevance to those facing life's storms and seeking understanding.

Narrative of Jesus teaching from a boat, setting the scene for the story in Mark chapter four.

Description of a personal experience with a storm during a canoeing trip, relating to the scripture's message.

Jesus' calm response to the disciples' fear during a storm, highlighting his power and control.

The disciples' fear and their questioning of Jesus' concern for their well-being.

Jesus' rebuke of the storm, demonstrating his authority over nature and circumstances.

The disciples' realization of Jesus' divine nature after he calms the storm.

The Sea of Galilee's unpredictable weather patterns, providing a backdrop for the story.

A personal anecdote about a sudden storm in New Mexico, illustrating the unexpected nature of life's challenges.

The idea that being in God's will can sometimes be frightening, contrary to the misconception that it's always peaceful.

James 1:2-4's teaching on considering trials as opportunities for spiritual growth and maturity.

The transformation from viewing Jesus as merely a teacher to recognizing him as Lord, as shown in the disciples' progression.

The sermon's conclusion emphasizing that in times of trial, believers are not alone and have God's presence with them.

Transcripts

thank you again for just take a time out

of your week to come and worship with us

today if you have a Bible you welcome to

grab that out and follow along we're

gonna be in mark chapter four today

there are a few kind of an underneath

the seats if you don't have one they've

kind of probably been moved but inside

of the Welcome Center out in the lobby

if you're leaving and you need a Bible

and you don't have one feel free to grab

one of those Bibles there's a there

light blue ESV English standard version

Bibles you're welcome to grab one of

those and take with you or if you know

somebody who doesn't have a Bible just

take one for them you're welcome to take

on their gift Bibles we like to give

them away I have more in my office if

you don't find anything there let me

know I'll go dig one out for you because

I love given away Bibles so just make

sure you got something iPad iPhone

whatever you got you can use you

versions a good version of the Bible if

you need an app and we're gonna be

digging in as I said into mark chapter

four today

now one thing as I read through the

Gospels you know Gospels Matthew Mark

Luke and John one of the interesting

things that I see as I read through

there's you find Jesus asking questions

over and over and over and over and over

again in fact he asks over a hundred

different different questions throughout

the Gospels and looked at one last week

and we're gonna look at one this week

and we're gonna be following some of

these questions on through all the way

into Easter and he just continually has

questions and in fact you would see

frequently in the Gospels this pattern

where where even if you ask Jesus a

question instead of giving he with the

direct answer you were probably

expecting he asks you a question in

return so he uses these questions

frequently and in our question for today

is it's a very simple one you see it up

on the screen there it's why are you so

afraid and this sermon today is for

those of us who might be struggling a

little bit maybe in the middle of one of

life's trials right but maybe you're in

the middle of some sort of difficulty

there's some sort of storm going on in

your life and we're going to see Jesus

ask this question why are you so afraid

let me give you a little context for

mark chapter 4 so you can understand

where we're coming from and in that

story we're gonna see that Jesus has

been teaching and he's actually teaching

in a boat if you know that the

background of this story and this boats

probably being pulled up on shore and

he's standing in the boat and there's

been people crowding around he's been

standing there talking and teaching and

preaching and finally he says to his

disciples hey guys it's time to go right

let's let's leave this crowd let's go to

the other side of the sea and so we will

see in the story of this boat that was

his pulpit it's going to transition into

being a sermon illustration of his so to

speak and so with that in mind let's

dive into mark chapter 4 we're gonna

read verses 35 through 41 after I kind

of dig through those a little bit and

then we'll break them down verse by

verse and so here's what Mark's Gospel

says to us verse 35 says that day when

the evening came Jesus said to the

disciples let's go over to the other

side leaving the crowd behind

they took him along just as he was in

the boat and there were other boats also

with him verse 37 and here's where kind

of starts get interesting it says a

furious squall right a tremendous storm

came up and the waves began breaking

over the boat and so the boat was nearly

swamped now I don't know about you but

I've been in that boat before okay

this was a number of years ago I was on

a trip out in the Boundary Waters BW CA

up north we all know we're Minnesotans

we know what the PWC is and I was on

this canoeing trip with some of my good

friends and well a few of my good

friends and a few guys I had never met

before but they became my good friends

throughout that week and we were just

about to leave we had spent an entire

week we decided we were gonna pick one

site and stay at that site and then

venture out from that site and so we

hustled out to get to the site we wanted

it was Memorial Day week so there's a

lot of people who go out

it's a good time to get there because

there's no bugs the waters ice-cold

everything as cold as it can be I mean

it kind of goes clunk as you paddle

through it still that time of year

because there's almost ice in the water

but so we got out there and we stayed

for the week on an island in the middle

of a lake which was perfect because

you'd have to worry about bears or

anything else

we had the whole island to ourselves it

was fantastic and so we spent this

wonderful week there and then did

voyages from there and fished from there

and all kinds of great stuff and then

when time came to come home we we were

on a big lake because they're gonna

flake to have an island in the middle of

it we got off that Lake just fine we

made it to the second lake and when we

got to the second Lake out of nowhere

we were about halfway across his lake a

tremendous squall kind of like this came

up

now all the big guy that's pretty

obvious so I'm in the front of the canoe

now the other guy I'm with his name's

Randy and Randy is a friend of mine and

and Randy's a much more accomplished to

newer than I am he's been to Boundary

Waters probably 40 times so very

accomplished so I'm in the front and of

course this is the heaviest weather I

have ever experienced in a canoe and and

I'm worried I got my life preserver on

all of our worldly possessions we have

with us are in the canoe with us and I'm

paddling right and then and then I'm

worried because I got the waves are

getting like I can I'm looking at the

wave right it's next to me and then I

could feel them slap in the boat and

pretty soon I can see water starting to

come up underneath me that through the

vote but in the boat right and and it it

begins to worry me a little bit but the

part that really made me begin to worry

was you know I could mostly ignore this

and just paddle as long as I didn't

realize what was happening but the

problem was Randy is keeping me really

well informed with what's happening

there's water waves coming over the side

of her boat beginning to fill our canoe

so I can hear the panic in this guy's

voice who's been to Boundary Waters like

40 times I can hear the strain and

Randy's voice that I am pulling as hard

as a man my size can pull to get us

through this lake praise lord obviously

we made it we survived we got out to the

other side and had a long portage by the

time we got to the next Lake it was like

there had never been any wind but I have

been in this boat that Jesus is in today

in this story where the waves are

crashing over and the disciples are

freaked out so so look at verse 38 here

it says Jesus was asleep in the stern up

sleeping on a cushion which I don't know

about you it's kind of a funny part of

the story to me thinking that like

there's big waves and crash and he's

just up taking a catnap at the front of

the boat but it says 38 the disciples

told him or woke him up and said hey

teacher don't you care if we drowned

I can imagine Jesus waking up he doesn't

even bother like the wife you know the

sleepy dust out of his eyes or anything

he just gets up and says he rebuked the

wind and he said to the waves quiet be

still and the wind immediately died down

it was completely calm and then he said

to his disciples and here's that

question say it with me he said why are

you so afraid guys out of the boat you

see me do some great things right why

are you freaking out then he says to him

he says do you still have no faith and

this is about the disciples of 41 they

were terrified and they asked each other

who is this right even that the winds

and the waves they obey Him

now I did some research this week and I

looked into it and the sea of galilee is

a very interesting place and i'm not a

meteorologist which is a good thing

because their accuracy rates are kind of

low lately but the sea of galilee if you

don't know it's about 680 feet below sea

level and it's kind of surrounded on all

sides by these mountains and and what

happens there with the weather is that

very quickly these storms can pretty

much come out of nowhere and they really

really can hammer the sea of galilee

this this is a fairly common occurrence

in that area now I've never been to

Jerusalem or the Sea of Galilee or

Israel or anywhere in the Middle East

for that matter maybe someday I'll go

but but I have experienced somewhat

similar weather patterns I worked in New

Mexico at Philmont somehow a high

adventure scout base for three years in

the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico and if

you've worked in the mountains where you

lived in the mountains you know what I'm

talking about it can be sunny and

beautiful and then all of a sudden from

the other side of the mountain boom

here came a storm that you really had no

idea was on its way and one of those

magical surprise Mountain storms

happened to me in 1996 I was a foreman

of a work crew who we were building

backpacking trails in northern New

Mexico where the Scout Ranch is located

and we're out the woods and we're

building these trails and we were at the

worksite and all of a sudden just

literally out of nowhere the wind

started moving these big pine trees were

under you know ponderosa pines and

Douglas firs that are humongous trees

and and all of a sudden the wind just

comes up out of nowhere the sky gets

dark very very quickly crack bang boom

lightning all of a sudden hail hail just

like we didn't even get rained before we

got hail it was one of those kinds of

storms right where the leading edge was

hail and and just so all of a sudden

we're standing out in the middle of the

woods holding giant you know rock bars

which are iron tools and axes and plows

keys and Maddux's and all those things

my clouds and you know big metal tools

and our hands and the lightning takes

off and hail starts falling and it's

pandemonium I I have 14 young men in my

charge and that I got to make sure

they're safe and we had nowhere to go it

was it was actually pretty dire and I

was very thankful one of the

requirements the job site was at all

times you had to wear hard hats those

hard plastic helmets and literally that

was the only protection we had with us

because on our work sites were out in

the woods there's nowhere to hide so

there's no caves we could go to there's

lightning cracking everywhere around us

so you don't really want to shelter

under a pine tree not a good choice and

so what we did is we found

a huge thicket of bushes and crawled in

underneath these bushes so that the hail

that was following because this this was

like golf ball-sized hail the hail that

was falling would at least kind of slow

a little bit as it went through the

bushes as it hit us so after I don't

know ten minutes of hail we kind of

crawl out on our bellies from underneath

to assess things and we're you know a

little black and blue and bruised and

freezing cold and wet and miserable but

nothing broken and nobody permanently

damaged thankfully and nothing worse for

the wear

so all right great wonderful just chalk

it up as a one of those interesting life

experiences and that happens well what

we didn't know was on the other side of

the ridge and if we can put that picture

up you'll see it here in a second right

on the other side of the ridge so you

can see the black Ridge I was on the

left side of that Ridge this apparently

went over our heads and we couldn't see

it cuz we were being hailed on this

tornado went over our heads and

destroyed the town of Cimarron New

Mexico white did out there was hardly a

building left standing and we didn't

know this for five days until they were

supposed to bring us food and nobody

brought us food and we were running out

of food and finally we were getting to

the point we were going to hike in to

find our food and then one of our

vehicles came out and said oh hey I

guess nobody's come out to tell you

because we were not in contact with the

rest of the world that Cimarron was

destroyed by our tornado and we've been

in town fixing that rather than bringing

you food and so I understood why they

were late and that's very understandable

but you know it was one of those life

experiences you go whoo that was that

was close the storm was bad but it could

have been worse right and what's

interesting is when you go through these

types of things is that when you go

through these storms of life sometimes

life can be going really good right

that's what it was for us we're working

life was great and then out of nowhere

boom

the storm happens I mean you could be

having the best month of your career in

sales right everything is going well

you're selling more widgets than you've

ever sold before you're ready to get

that that that big check at the end of

the month and then you find out your

company's starting to lay people off

despite you having the best month of the

year or maybe it's that one of that

you've been going through life right and

things are going really well your

marriage is just hitting on all

cylinders and everything has been

awesome and everything's been great and

you've just you're you're in love like

you were kids again right you're

celebrating 20 years 30 years 40 years

50 years everything is going great then

you go to the doctor and you get that

news and suddenly everything that was

going so so well is gone in an instant

or maybe you've got kids and your kids

have been doing so good Oh they've been

perfect their behaviors been fantastic

their grades has been incredible right

you think finally they're on the right

track and then you find out the truth

they've been making some bad decisions

they just been hiding it from you when

you think everything's going well then

all of a sudden life pulls the rug out

from underneath you you find yourself in

the middle of that storm

in fact what's interesting to me at

least I find this is that as church

people we are kind of good at hiding

storms aren't we

someone was pretty good at hiding the

storms of our lives I mean some of you

right now just looking at you everything

looks good today you put on a good

clothes you showed up on time you drank

the coffee like you drink every week you

had the cookie like you have the cookie

every week you said hello to the same

people like you say every week

everything's perfect right looks good on

the outside but maybe today you're in

the middle of a storm storm that not

anybody else knows about

in fact I've even seen it at the point

where where people are jealous right

people go man I wish I had her life and

she's going ha if you only know

guys gone ah I wish I had your life

buddy you got the house you got the car

and the other guys going yeah you don't

know I'm four payments behind I'm about

to lose it all some of us go through

storms very privately some of us right

now today might be in the middle of one

of those storms we think everybody has

it together the truth of the matter is

all of us can relate to this all of us

have felt that pressure all of us have

had those times were unexpectedly the

storm struck now I want to ask you today

as gently as I can

I pray that you'll be honest would you

say right now you are maybe just someone

you know is in the middle of one of

those kinds of storms so many of us

often when our lives are in the middle

of the storm we we didn't see it coming

right we never ever would have chosen

this what I want to do today is from the

story here as Jesus asks this piercing

question is I want to show you

specifically two things two things for

you to remember if you are in that storm

or for the future when you are in that

storm two things to remember and embrace

in the middle of the storms of life the

first one is if you're taking notes it's

this it's that you are in the storm with

God's presence you are in the storm with

the very presence of our good God look

at verse 37 and 38 it shows us this says

as I read a furious squall came up and

the waves broke over the boat so that it

was nearly swamped but then we see in

verse 38 when was Jesus

sleeping up on a cushion see Jesus was

in the boat the whole time here's what

happens so often though I believe I

believe a lot of us think okay wait a

minute right if I'm with Jesus there

shouldn't be a storm right isn't that

how it should be I mean I gave my life

to Christ therefore it should be smooth

sailing for the rest of my life isn't

that how it works

it's not how it works it's just not true

in fact Jesus himself said in this world

you will have trouble but take heart he

says I have overcome this world jesus

never promised us if we come to him that

life would be easy he never promised us

that our lives might be storm free in

fact the reality is the very opposite of

that when you move from darkness into

light suddenly you step into the middle

of the spiritual battle you see

Christianity is not a playground but

it's a battleground between forces of

darkness and forces of light and when

you step onto the side of light suddenly

darkness is against you and you will

face opposition and you will face

temptation and there will be spiritual

battle there will be spiritual warfare

and to think just because I'm with Jesus

nothing should and all go wrong with me

is a distortion of what is truly the way

life happens and it's a distortion of

the Gospel message because in fact God

never ever promises you that just

because Jesus is on the boat that the

storms will never rock you what he does

promise you though he promises you the

storms will not sink you

here that he never promised as the

storms won't come but he promises the

storms will not sink you because God is

for you God is with you and there is

nothing that can take you out of the

presence of God

you see Jesus was in the stern the whole

time he was on the boat and that is a

total GameChanger

every now and then you when you're going

through the middle of that storm in life

and these things are just you know

they're getting bad maybe you've had

this experience and people are looking

at you're going how are you even making

it through this right you ever been

there where people are like how are you

even surviving this how come your

world's not falling apart how come

you're not falling apart right how come

everything's going wrong and yet you

still have your hold on what gives why

is it in the middle of the storm

you're not song

and what you're going to be able to tell

them is I'm not in this alone right I'm

not in this alone just like in the boat

Jesus was with them all of the time

you see his presence is with me and he

is in my house and he is in my life and

because he is with me I can sense his

strength I can sense his presence I can

sense his power I can sense his comfort

because Jesus is with me he is in my

boat never let the presence of a storm

cause you to doubt the presence of God

let me say that again never let the

presence of a storm in your life cause

you to doubt the presence of God I like

to personalize scripture things like

psalm 46:1 take it and say God is my

refuge he is my strength he is my

ever-present help in my times of trouble

he is with me in my storms for how about

Hebrews 13:5 never will my God forsake

me never will my God leave me how about

Psalm 23 we know that one wall right

even though I walk through the valley of

the shadow of death you see I'm not

staying there I'm not staying in the

valley of the shadow of that's but I'm

walking through and when I'm walking

through I will fear no evil why because

God is with me

see God never promised that the storms

wouldn't rakia he promised that the

storms wouldn't sink you see he is in my

house

he's on my boat I'm not alone when I'm

in the middle of the storm and I pray

today that if you are struggling you

would hear that and find comfort no

matter what it is you might be going

through but you are in the storm with

his presence

the second thing if you're taking notes

as you are in the storm for his purposes

you were in the storm with his presence

and you are in the storm for his purpose

I'm going to take a drink sorry

I think about this Jesus said this said

guys let's take the boat to the other

side right so whose idea was it it was

Jesus's that they get in the boat and

they go to the other side why was he

taking them to the other side you might

ask well Jesus was God in flesh and he

knew that on the other side of the Sea

of Galilee that there was a guy over

there who had been hurting himself and

who had been threatening an entire town

he was possessed by demons and this guy

needed jesus help and healing and so

jesus was taking his disciples to the

other side he's going to speak healing

into this guy's life and Jesus being God

in flesh undoubtedly would have had some

idea that there's a pretty good chance

this storm might be coming right and

jesus knew by taking in his disciples on

the boat and taking them through the

storm probably what was gonna be

happening so all of this was Jesus's

idea he knew they were going to be going

into the storm and from that line of

logic we can say that they were not in

the storm because they were out of God's

will but instead they were in the storm

because they were in God's well they

were actually in the storm because they

were right where God wanted them to be

sounds kind of strange doesn't it but I

can tell you from firsthand experience

being in God's will for our lives it can

be very very frightening I've

experienced us so many times myself and

as a growing in faith and I suspect if

you talk to other maturing Christians

that they will have stories that mirror

my experiences I've found that when my

life is in the middle of a storm I

desperately want to fix it right I want

to fix it myself I want to solve it

myself I want to make the problem go

away all by myself only

I can't do it I don't have the skills I

don't have the knowledge I don't have

the resources to stop the storm and in

my experience the harder and harder and

harder I try to stop that storm all it

does is it tires mean it just wears me

out it frustrates me and I don't see any

improvement on that situation and it's

only only when I come before God and I

see God as my solution do I finally

begin to see a light at the end of my

tunnel James the brother of Jesus in

James 1:2 through forces this consider

it pure joy my brothers and sisters

whenever you face trials of many kinds

now wait a minute what that sounds a

little ridiculous doesn't it James you

telling me rejoice in the middle of the

storm that's exactly what James is

saying yes why well in verse 3 he says

because you know that the testing of

your faith produces perseverance

Danny says let perseverance finish its

work so that you may be mature and

complete and not lacking anything

in the middle of the storm it is so

difficult to have perspective but God

can use those storms to grow us to

mature us those trials of life they

actually strengthen and deepen our faith

they help us to become more mature

believers sure we would all love to have

a life that was perfect and easier where

there were no problems no trials and no

storms right sign me up

but that's not how life works the storms

we experience shape us they strengthen

us and most importantly they make us

more usable by God

and even more important than that

perhaps they teach us not to rely upon

ourselves because you see my faith is in

the one who's in the boat and that

changes everything I went through the

storm and now I'm different because

Jesus was on my boat in our passage

though if you're following along the

disciples have not yet gotten to this

point and so they're panicking right

Jesus Jesus we're about to try and wake

up Jesus do something right these are

guys so uh more professional fishermen

been on these waters all their lives

left freaking out

Jesus wake up save us do something right

but I love verse 39 Jesus gets up it

almost it seems nonchalantly rebukes the

wind I don't know exactly how that looks

like Jesus gets woman goes bad wind bad

when right time out for you to your

bedroom I don't know I don't know what

it looked like but he rebukes the wind

he calms the waves he says quiet be

still to the waves and the winds they

die down and it's completely calm

then Jesus looks at his disciples he

looks at him and he says guys why are

you guys so afraid as if to say don't

you remember me

I'm that guy that was opening the blinds

eyes the other day I was healing those

deaf ears you saw right I have the

author of life and I have with you

verse 4 he says why are you so afraid do

you still have no faith this is at this

point they were terrified they asked

each other who who is this you know even

the wind's and the waves they obey Him

notice what they called him in verse 28

verse 38 disciples say teacher is the

word that they actually use teacher

teacher don't you care if we drowned at

this point in their journey with Jesus

he was still just their teacher now what

do they call him later of course they

call him Lord

here's what happened the fear of the

storm started to grow into the holy fear

of the Lord they all of a sudden went

from teacher teacher can you do

something about this to wall did you see

what he did and that holy reverential

all fear filled them the fear of the

Lord that's a good thing so a lot of you

right now maybe you're in the middle of

a storm and if you're a follower of

Jesus and you're in the middle of a

storm my question to you is this very

question why are you so afraid have you

forgotten that you are in the presence

of Jesus in the midst of that storm and

that he is for you he is with you

working all things to bring about the

good of those who love him and are

called according to his purpose you're

in the storm with his presence you're in

the storm for his purpose why are you

afraid

as you get to know Jesus as he matures

you and as you grow through some storms

in life as you endure some storms with

them suddenly here's what happens in the

middle of your storms you begin to

realize I'm not in this alone I no

longer need to be afraid it doesn't mean

it won't be hard it doesn't mean it

won't be tough but it does mean you'll

never walk the road alone your hope is

not in the boat your hope is in the one

who is in the boat with you you see my

soul is anchored to the Lord because he

is on my boat because he is in my house

because he is in my life because he

dwells in me because he is for me and he

is with me he has not given me a spirit

of fear but rather one of power and of

love and of a sound mind

so if you are going through struggles

trials temptations suffering pain

fear me today he is with you

that is the best possible news you could

ever hear in times of trial we are not

in this alone

so God