To know that God loves us is one thing.
But if you read John 17, the high Priestly prayer, you will
learn that through the words of the son of God.
The Father loves us in the same way, he loves the Sun.
Consider that I think we hear that and we read that, but if we
really allow that to impact us, we would be undone.
And so, to be here today, I hope you were singing with the
confidence that God Almighty who created you, who fashioned you?
Though he may be one among close to 8.
Billion are loved are loved so deeply.
He wants to walk with you. He wants to talk with you.
He Delights in your fellowship so much so that he prayed to the
father that you you might be with him for all of eternity
that you might behold his glory. People wonder, what are we going
to do in heaven? I said, I don't think you're
going to be wanting to do anything else because all you're
going to do is stand in all of his glory day after day night
after night and 1000 years, will go by and there will be yet
another dimension of his glory that you didn't see a thousand
years ago. Another Paradigm of his Beauty
will come and it will sustain you for another 10,000 years and
from there another 10,000 years and it will be an unending
experience of God's love Holiness, Justice Purity,
stunning your soul. Captivating.
You forever and ever meet me in. Mark chapter 4 please.
Mark chapter 4. and if you will, would you meet me in verse 35,
the very familiar passage but we're going to ask God to give
us fresh eyes and fresh ears and Mark 4:35 God's word reads on
that day. When evening had come, he said
to them. Let us go across to the other
side and leaving the crowd. They took him with them in the
boat just as he was and other Boats were with him and a great
wind storm arose and the waves were breaking.
Into the boat so that the boat was already filling.
But, he was in the stern asleep on the cushion and they woke him
and said to him teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?
and he awoke, and he rebuked the wind and said to the Sea, peace
be still And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
He said to them. Why are you so afraid?
Have you still no faith? And they were filled with great
fear and said to one another who then is this that even the wind
and the Sea obey him. Oh Lord.
We do pray again. Lord.
It is our prayer that you would help us by the gift of the Holy
Spirit to really understand what you're saying here.
Protect the delivery of this word for men's fleshly
interpretation. Or mrs.
Judgment protect our hearts from hearing the wrong thing.
And Lord May there be just a pure transaction of the truth.
But oh God, we need your power. We need the power of the Holy
Spirit. Laurie confess to you that man's
eloquence will not suffice. It will not be the cleverness of
this message. Lord.
It must be your truth empowered by your Holy Spirit.
And we ask Lord that this word, this afternoon would make a
difference in Our Lives. May it caused us to react the
way the disciples did When they said who then is this Lord
manifest the Son of God to our hearts in a way that we have
never learned before that. We've never perceived before,
make him come alive in us. We trust that you will do so in
Jesus name, amen. The categories of the miracles
of Jesus in the gospels are vast, they include many things,
including the restoration of the broken bodies of people.
The rescue from Evil and demonic domination.
And even the effortless Reviving of the Dead among many other
unique Supernatural instances. The disciples were eyewitnesses
of many of Christ displays of great power and might.
But here as we just read there being prepared by the master
himself, to behold something that would shock them in the
innermost parts of their being. Up to this point, they have
already considered that there is an authority that this Jesus of
Nazareth has that is unmatched. They have already calculated and
concluded that Devils submit to his word that disease must
shrivel up and die by the touch of his hand.
But now, they are being introduced to another realm
where Christ will exercise his authority in a way that they
have never seen before, and the miracle that we are about to
explore. Will show just that?
You would think, after all that they have seen after all that
they have registered though is early in the ministry of Jesus,
that it would be difficult to match the authority of Christ.
You would think that the shock value has been lost.
But what you just read with me, will prove otherwise because
what the Lord is about to do before these 12 men who have
chosen to follow this hotly debated, Rabbi from Nazareth is
show his ascendancy over unpredictable and Unstoppable
nature. What Christ is going to do is
open the realization that he is not just Lord over sickness.
He is not just Lord over seducing Spirits.
He is the Lord over creation. over whether winds and waves
rain and sun clouds and clear skies, even such things bow when
he speaks This is what they are going to see and the event by
which the Lord will showcase, that Supremacy will be in the
event of them sailing at Sea and being visited by an unforeseen
storm. And the text before us today.
By the wisdom of the spirit has been graciously and neatly
divided for us to explore. What you?
And I have here in this, episode are three scenes.
The first scene deals with the stage before the storm.
Then we transition, secondly, to the experience during the storm.
And then we will conclude in the third part with the moments
After the Storm. And so come with me now, as we
examine the stage before the storm Riri and verse 35 on that
day. Well, what day, what you?
And I have been studying from the midpoint of Mark chapter 3
up to now all occurred in one day.
Consider that consider how jam-packed that day was You had
Jesus delivering people from demons.
You had the slander of the Pharisees accusing him from
coming with the power of Satan. You had his friends and family
trying to bring him out of the ministry because they thought
that he lost his mind. You have Jesus teaching Parables
to the masses and explaining it privately to his own disciples.
All of that happened from morning until evening.
And on that day, we read that Jesus wants to head into another
chapter of ministry. He has decided to now sail
across the lake to arrive at a strategic Point as you.
And I will discover a Mark chapter 5.
And he is also going to take advantage of that Voyage.
As he rests his weary head on a pillow and the stern of this
boat. Oh, the humanity of Jesus.
The god of Israel who neither Slumbers nor sleeps is taking a
nap. He's taking a nap.
He is resting. But what's important to see
here, before this ship steers across the Sea of Galilee is
that Jesus was the one who initiated this trip on that day.
When evening had come, he said to them.
Let us go across to the other side.
The trip was organized by the Savior and it was expected of
his disciples to fulfill his wishes.
Let us go, no protest, no objection, just total sweet pure
submission. Now, why is that an important
thing to highlight? Right?
From the beginning, it's important for us to hold to
that, because we are going to see that the 12 will soon
encounter a life-threatening situation.
They will now come to the point where these expert fisherman are
going to lose control and actually realize and think to
themselves. This is it, we're Going to
become fish food. We've been fishing for a fish.
Now, the fish will have us. and you're saying well, yeah, that's
what the story reads, but let me remind you that that experience
was all due to obedience The storm that they will encounter
is the opposite reason for the storm that Jonah experienced.
When Jonah was fleeing from the will of God, God ordained a
storm to come to awaken his conscience and bring him back
into the path of obedience. There is a suffering believer
that you and I can invite into our lives as a result of our
sin. Peter talks about that in First
Peter for. He tells us not to suffer for
murder, not to suffer. Her with murmuring, not to
invite unnecessary suffering into our lives.
But then after that, he tells us that there is a suffering that
comes for being a Christian. And in the context, Peter is
speaking about persecution, but we know that suffering expands
Beyond just hostility from unbelievers, that there are
ordained, trials and tests and turbulent moments.
And that is precisely what we see here.
In this illustration, these disciples are obeying, the Lord,
and they're going to experience through their Love Of Christ.
A great test of faith. And the story is already showing
us that you and I abiding by God's instructions.
Does not promise us. A turbulent free Journey.
Not at all. As some would propose if you
can, confidently say this afternoon that your steps.
Are ordained by the word of God that you orchestrate your life
around what the Bible says you love Jesus that you love his
word that what he will tell you to do, you will do by the grace
of God. Then here's what I want to tell
you. If you do experience suffering,
if you do encounter pain, if you are Dragged In helplessly into
some loss or danger, then you have no reason to fear or doubt.
You have no reason to fear or doubt you have no reason to be
concerned because the one who sent you with his word is also
with you. As you obey, it always always.
And oftentimes, when I do experience something that I
can't seem to explain what I tried to do by the grace of God
as just look back and ask myself, how did I get here?
How did I get here? That I lose sight of the master
that I let go of his hand. No, no to my best of my ability
to do not perfectly. I know that I am.
I'm trying to abide by his words and Shirley.
What is before me is not a meaningless, futile, difficulty,
aah. The master must have sent me
here. The master must have brought me
here. The master must have known when
I would walk in his ways that this would come at this point.
So, I will take heart and not fear, not worry, not be
concerned, the disciples love Jesus.
Let us go across to the other side and we see a precious
phrase here in verse 36 and leaving the crowd.
They took him with them in the boat.
This is it just as he was. An interesting phrase for the
Holy Spirit to inscribe in holy writ, just as he was.
Why would that be said, I believe for two reasons.
Number one, it reveals that the disciples were Swift to obey
Jesus wishes. When he appeared to him and the
instant that he made his will known, they did not hesitate to
protectively, take the Lord from the crowds, and lead him into
the ship. And make way to Desired place.
Just as he was no delayed preparation, no sense of pausing
to give some kind of forecast or prediction of what can happen
that evening. No they simply said if this is
what the master said then we will go what an inspiring
example before us that these disciples here, show that Christ
Christ and his commands are worthy of Joyful submission.
Regardless of the interruption or the unfavorable time, we do a
lot of things in life, even though we don't feel like it.
I can tell you. I'm not a prophet.
You're going to wake up tomorrow morning, you're probably not
going to feel like it as you get ready to go to work, but we do
it and we do many things based out of conviction
responsibility, but if there is anyone, who is worthy of this
instant moment changed this turn of events at any time that you
desire, it's cry. Christ, it's Jesus, it's the
Lord and consider, it was not just Jesus here, who worked all
day. His disciples worked with him.
They supervise, they helped, they organized.
They were there from morning till evening and despite the
fatigue of their own bones. Jesus wants to go, then let us
go. Jesus said we're going and we're
going he is worthy of that quality of devotion and if the
disciples are willing to do this, after a long day of
serving, surely you can wake up for a 1 p.m. service on Sunday
afternoon Just as he was. Let's go.
We're going. But it reveals something else.
It reveals. Also the trust that they had in
Jesus evening time is not favorable to travel by land or
by sea. It's dark.
It's hard to perceive. It's hard to calculate heart
disease. It's hard to just register
what's happening before you and around you.
And yet the Lord said it, we will do it.
The Lord said and we will do it will take him at his word trust
and Obey. There's no other way.
There's no impression here in these texts of second thoughts.
There's no advice given by these fishermen, you know, Rabbi
you're a carpenter. I don't think you understand how
these Waters work. You want to go?
We will go now compare this attitude to a few verses later
in verse 38 of the same chapter, but he was in the stern asleep
on the cushion and they woke him and said to him teacher, do you
not care? That we are perishing?
What a contrast What happened to silent obedience?
Swift submission. What happened to the
unquestionable confidence at the shore?
And now the flimsy Faith at Sea. You're going to know why in a
few moments. But let me tell you this from
here, it's very easy to trust Jesus at the beginning of a
thing. It's very easy to express
loyalty and Fidelity when you're at the starting line.
True Faith. True.
Faith is revealed over time. True faith in the person of
Christ. Will be understood to you and to
others and to the Lord himself when the waters get choppy.
The perception and the person and the purposes of Christ can
easily Bend and even break. That's what this story shows.
True faith will prove itself when following Christ gets
uncomfortable. And when you see that this was
not something you foresaw. When you first said, yes to what
he desired from you. I will expand on that in a
moment here. But did you take into account
how Mark ended verse? 36, did you notice?
This detail, is there any detail by accident?
Holy Scripture? No, not at all, especially with
this, it says here and other Boats were with him.
Why would Marc include that? Like everything centers around
this boat, where Jesus is in and where he is sleeping.
But marked by the spirit goes out of the way to let us know.
There are other boats though. There are other boats here in
the scene so here's what happens.
Some in the crowd understood that Jesus was leaving and that
he was heading towards somewhere else and he couldn't get enough
of his power. They couldn't get enough of his
words, they couldn't get enough of the ability that he had to
restore and renew and revive and though their motives were
questionable some most they wanted to be there wherever he
was and so some realized they had the luxury of having their
own boats. He's headed the other way.
Let's get on and follow him. So they get on the ships and as
it makes way they follow along. Have you ever perceived that in
Sunday school? Have you ever seen that in the
picture Bible? Where you have this one boat
with the storm all by itself? Well, the Bible has a different
picture. There are other boats there so
consider this. Now, I meditating on this and
thinking, okay, that can tell us that people were so desperate to
be with Jesus. Sure.
But consider the context. Other Boats were with him.
That means that if the boats were going in the same direction
as the disciples were going and if they are traveling on the
same, see that they were traveling on.
Then they experience the same storm.
That Jesus and the disciples encountered.
They to know a great wind storm, they too, perhaps had their
boats filling with water. They too perhaps cried out in
one way or another though that is silent to us here in the
Scripture. It is assumed that as these
boats came with Jesus, they also encountered the severity of the
storm. and I couldn't help, but think how if they experience the
storm, then they also Witness that miraculous hush.
With the wind was reduced to a whistle.
And the pounding of the whipping waves.
Suddenly. Became tame.
In a moment. I don't know if these people
Were Believers if there's anybody I would like to find
some span of Eternity is those who are on that boat or on those
boats. They experience the same storm.
They also experience the same Miracle, but I'm under the
persuasion that the difference between these boats and the boat
that Jesus was on, is that they were not direct Witnesses of the
source of the silencing. The disciples saw Jesus, wake up
from that nap stand. So, confidently, while the waves
were crashing on the boat and making even him soaking wet,
peace be still. but what what registered for those who are on
those other boats, as there are rocking back and forth and all
for a sudden, just In some strange way, everything was was
just paused. You know, what came to mind when
considering this? How the masses throughout the
years, how the masses throughout the years generation after
generation have been, recipients of the goodness of the kindness
of the supervision of almighty God though.
They are unaware of the source. So many people this afternoon
are enjoying so much of God without giving him the credit.
You remember the words of Paul when he preached to a pagan
audience there with Barnabas and Acts chapter 14?
you can turn there with me in verse 17 in Acts, 14, 17, he
gave this many sermonette and he concluded with this universal
truth. We can begin in verse 16 in past
Generations. He allowed all the nations to
walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself
without witness for he did good by giving you reigns from heaven
and fruitful Seasons. Satisfying your hearts with food
and gladness What Paul is essentially conveying to this
audiences. That the common Grace, that
these idolaters were enjoying an experience day-to-day came from
a specific Source. It wasn't Zeus, it wasn't
Hermes, it wasn't evolution. God, the true and living God.
And he is Illuminating to their understanding, that all the
memories, all the favorable Seasons, all the joy, you knew
with your family, the friends that you've made over the years.
The weather that you are blessed by the homes that you live in.
That all came from God, testifying of his goodness to
you declaring to you, I'm the one who is doing this and you're
giving the credit and all the wrong places.
All the wrong places. And here's the most humbling
part about it, though. They failed, though, they failed
then and do Generations, pass and generations.
Future will fail to acknowledge God.
God still does it? He still does it, he's still
exercises, his good and his grace and his love.
Hoping hoping that they would catch on what we are,
experiencing is beyond us. There is a Transcendent provider
here and Paul calls it a witness.
Yes, the burger that you're going to eat at 4:00 today is a
witness of the goodness of God. The car that brought you here
and we'll take you back to your warm apartment is a witness of
the goodness of God. A witness, every single thing
comes back to him and just like Jesus on the boat, he didn't
just rescue his own. He didn't just take the boat and
teleport it to shore when he calmed the Sea and the winds,
there are others who benefited from it though.
They didn't realize immediately where it came from.
That's the goodness of God. That's the kindness of Our Lord.
So, we look at this stage before the storm, but come with me.
Now, as we look at the experience during the storm, In
verse 37 of Mark, chapter 4 and a great wind storm arose and the
waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was
already filling you want to talk about panic.
Water was getting in, not just hitting the sides.
So you had these guys, their sandals are all wet.
Their robes are getting drenched.
They're going to sink if intervention doesn't come.
And so let's sympathize with these men to an extent Luke's
version tells us that they were in danger.
And so this is an exaggeration. This isn't just squeals of
discomfort because their hair is getting messy.
This is serious, they're in Jeopardy.
They can lose their lives. And so we have to acknowledge
that these threats were genuine, they were sincere and they were
severe. And for the fact that these men,
some of them were fishermen to be so panicky.
Testifies of the magnitude of the storm.
They've never seen anything like it.
Perhaps they've had no expertise to help them navigate.
These kind of waters. This is beyond them.
They're losing control here, and they've concluded that they are
going to perish. I don't know if you've ever
been. And some kind of a car accident
or you just saw an accident coming, your brake stop, working
your sliding on ice and in those brief few moments you knew okay
this could be it. That's exactly the kind of
adrenaline that they are going through for an extended period
of time. And when they realize that they
can do anything that their history on the Waters of
Galilee, could not help them, they run to Jesus and to their
surprise, they find a slumbering slave savior, they find a
sleeping teacher. I don't know what was more,
starting the storm or that and as they approach, their beloved
teacher. They wake him up.
And they interpret his sleeping. As something that perhaps you
and I might not interpret on this side of the story.
We look at the sleeping Savior and we see Christ demonstrating
the extent of his Humanity, he was really human.
He worked hard and his body needed rest or perhaps.
You see this glorious immovable, trust in the will of the father.
Jesus moved every Pace every step, according to Divine
appointment. And could it be that he is just
sleeping soundly? Because he knows he knows.
Was that he has across the Diane on this, isn't it?
Do you know how they interpret it?
They didn't see a proof text for the humanity of Jesus Christ.
They weren't warmed in the Hearth when they realize that
the Son of God trusted in the father, they interpreted the
sleeping Jesus as indifference. And they cried out.
Do you not care? That we are perishing.
Here's where the disciples were, right.
They ran to the right person in their distress.
To interpret them crying out. To Jesus as an expression of
weak. Faith is not a right
understanding of faith. The fact that they did seek out
Christ is actually the mark of great faith.
Great faith. Regardless of the turmoil in
their hearts regardless of the fear, that's consuming them.
In fact, you get that impression when you read Mark and compare
it to Luke and compare it to Matthew Matthew, Luke and Mark,
give us different titles that the disciples Express, the Jesus
Master, Lord teacher. Why?
Because you can just tell this is how much they were panicking
Master. Lord teach they just who said
everything in the book. Wake up.
And so we can honor the fact that they came to the Lord, but
this is where they crossed the line instead of they're coming
before the Lord being pure supplication.
It became condemnation. Instead of asking, they were
accusing. Instead of seeking, they were
assaulting, assaulting the very character and the nature of
their master and their lord, and our savior.
And that is where they went wrong.
Because the conclusion of their circumstance, In This Moment was
not, let us go to the one who can save us because he loves us.
That would be praiseworthy. That would be right.
That would be a positive example, but they didn't say,
let us go to the one who can save us because he loves us,
they said he doesn't love us because he hasn't saved us.
Big difference. And Christ here.
Was an approach because they believed in his character, he
was approached because they assaulted his character.
Now, that's a lesson that you will get if you read Marx
version, but when you go to Luke's version, you might not
come easily to that conclusion. Can I show it to you?
Go to Luke 824 quickly, The same account written by The
Physician. And notice how Luke depicts the
situation. Luke 8:24 reads and they went
and woke him saying master master.
We are perishing. After he woke and rebuked the
wind and the Raging Waves, and they ceased.
And there was a calm, he said to them.
Where is your faith? Where is your faith now?
Hold on. When you read Luke's version,
there is no criticism. On the part of the disciples,
there is simply a request. They're simply making something
known to him more precisely master master.
We are perishing. That sounds like childlike.
Dependence. That sounds like a plan.
Plea for God to intervene because you feel the danger
around you. That's something that if you go
from cover to cover the scriptures and courage, yes, cry
out to him, make note to him your troubles, bring before him
your worries and casts all your anxieties on him.
So why is it that even if you look at Luke's Vantage Point,
Jesus still looks back at them and scolds them for their lack
of faith is not what they are doing the expression of faith.
Do we not see the Lord, honoring different people throughout his
ministry who have come desperately like this, for some
kind of touch from above and the Lord honoring it by providing
it, and even sometimes praising their faith for it.
So what do we have here? We don't have Jesus here
criticizing the fact that they cried out to him, perhaps the
lesson here is deeper than the right or wrong, way to pray.
Perhaps it's not even about prayer at all.
For the Lord to say where is your faith should cause us to
understand that there was an expectation that he had for them
and on them before they even sailed.
There was something that the Lord.
Trusted that they would trust in and they failed to trust in it.
Saying, what are you talking about?
Do you remember what Jesus said before they got on the ship?
Go to verse 22 of luque. It's the same in mark.
One day he got into the boat with his disciples and he said
to them, let us go across to the other side of the lake.
So they set out. Do you know what it means?
When Jesus says let us go to the other side of the lake.
Means you're going on other side of the lake.
Now, it makes sense. Where is your faith?
I told you we were going to the other side.
I told you we were going to the other side, Jesus and say, Let
Us Go perish in the middle of the sea.
Let us go to the other side of the lake.
I make sense why he took a nap now?
Yes, he was weary, but he knew that he was going to the other
side and he trusted what the disciples failed to perceive and
listen to carefully. Isn't that the reason for most
of our troubles and fears in life?
We hear it. We read it.
But do we really believe it? That's the difference.
And it will be tested not in Bible trivia.
Not when you have a chance to share something, and you can
quote it by heart. but when the storms come, Where is your
faith? Where is it?
You heard me say it.
We're going to the other side. so, regardless of the water
that's at your feet, regardless of the weight of the ship, I
told you we're going to the other side.
Could not help but think about another man of God who had his
own storms. Not figuratively speaking but
literally speaking and figuratively.
Speaking the Apostle Paul I mean, the Holy Spirit reserves
for us in the last two chapters of the book of Acts the storm
that he faced. But what a contrast with his
attitude in comparison to the original 12.
I mean, not only that. This is this was all in one
evening that man, according to acts 20:7, endured a storm that
lasted two weeks at sea. They were so disoriented because
of the Blackness of the sky, there is no sunlight, there is
no help from above Naturally Speaking.
The people on that ship were so filled with anxiety.
They couldn't eat for those two weeks.
Oh and we think the Apostle Paul, right going through a
storm and how people apply this as well.
Jesus can with one word, calm, everything.
That's true, that didn't happen for Paul though.
They hit some rocks, the ship just becomes nothing and now
he's abandoned on the island called Malta for a few months.
That's it. That's a different story line
than what we see here but the resolve Of that, man.
The unshakable faith. I mean he went into this ship as
a prison. He end up becoming the captain
giving instructions to the rest of the people there.
Hey, I told you not to go this way.
All these guys are just sheepishly listening.
They don't be afraid and he gives thanks, we're told there
in Acts 27. He gives.
Thanks he breaks bread gives. Thanks thanks.
Can you imagine that? Do you want to know the secret?
I'll tell you why I believe and I give you a verse for it, how
Paul could be so unshakable in his own storm.
Whereas you see these disciples falling apart with something,
that does not even come close to the magnitude of what he
endured. Speaking of Paul, here's the
answer acts 23, something happened, many many months,
before Paul even got into that ship and headed towards Rome.
Something happened. And I believe when he received
it, he Locked it with chains of Faith around his heart.
There he is. In the prison in Jerusalem.
Awaiting trial and many other trials and in Acts 23.
Are you there? Look at verse 11.
What happens here? Acts 23:11, the following night,
the Lord stood by him and said, take courage for, as you have
testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem.
So you must testify also in Rome In other words, Paul.
You're going to go to Rome. The same way you testified about
me here in Jerusalem. You are going to stand in Rome
and preach my gospel. We're going to the other side,
he took that word, he was reminded of that word in the
ship and that's how he could endure the storm, he believed
the word. What Christ said he took to
heart and his faith was on him despite what was around him?
He said it then, it must happen even when the very vehicle that
was taking him to Rome came apart.
I mean I get it. Okay, you're going through the
storm, he said he's going to pull me through, but what
happens when the boat is not even there?
And now you're in Malta. And you have a scar from a snake
bite that was dangling on your hand.
You just threw it into the fire and just kept on going.
I want that faith. I want that kind of faith and
it's only going to come one way. When I really believe this.
I had a conversation with somebody not too long ago, it's
kind of long ago and they express some distress about a
situation. You know, fear can be
contagious. There are evangelist for fear.
And I was on that phone call. And this person was fearful and
I can, I can tell that they wanted me to join on that fear
campaign. And I'm only just stopped his.
Do you believe the Bible? Now, that's not how I usually do
counseling. But in, I can't tell you the
context for why it was so hard in that moment.
Do you believe the God of this Bible or we just preaching
stories to people here? I believe the God of this Bible,
I believe he's real. I believe that he will hold me.
Accountable for what I say. I believe that these promises
are true. I believe they're not just to be
studied for some historical benefit.
I believe that it applies now Makes all the difference to
believe the word instead of knowing it.
Paul was told he was going to testify in Rome so he believed
it. Jesus said to his own.
Where is your faith? Where is your faith?
It was the word of Christ that anchored him.
He didn't have a peace be still. He just had a word, and he knew
the direction that he was headed towards regardless of what was
before him. There's a wonderful scripture
and Psalm 112 verse 7, that speaks about the benefits of
those who fear the lord. And here's one of my favorite
benefits of fearing. God, Psalm 112 verse 7.
He is not afraid of bad news. He is not afraid of bad news,
his heart is firm trusting in the Lord.
That's the faith that we can arrive to that when that phone
call comes and it's bad news. It's not good, it's not in your
favor, it's a challenge. And it seeks their to devour
your faith, the fear of God can Shield that and keep you
Untouchable concerning fear. This isn't pretend here, this is
real, this is real Which transitions us perfectly.
To the next and final point. We looked at the stage before
the storm. We looked at the experience
during the storm, but now let's examine the moments After the
Storm. We read here in Mark 4 40 Jesus.
He said to them. Why are you so afraid?
Have you still no faith? Here's the part that moved me in
verse 41 and they were filled with great fear, huh?
They were filled with great. Well Lord, you just told them.
Why are you afraid? You try to deliver them from
that fear, and the result of you tell them, why are you afraid?
Where is your faith? Is that they have now a greater
fear And they were filled with great fear.
Isn't that interesting? Can I tell you something?
This isn't them trying to cope with a traumatic event.
This isn't PTSD. This isn't that.
I'm trying to sit down a process.
All that just happened. There was an Unholy fear that is
now replaced with a fear that God wanted them to have.
Can I tell you how you can be saved from oppressive?
My numbing. Stress inducing fear.
Fear. Fear, what are you talking
about? Fear God?
Fear God. in that moment when those words came out, Of the Son
of God, they realize that there is something bigger going on
here than this storm. There is something in their
boat. That was more powerful, more
fierce Then the very water is that try to swallow them alive?
Who then is this man? And now, that adrenaline has
been replaced with a reverent. worship filled all of the
Messiah. They understood that demons and
disease were subject to his authority.
Now, they realize even the wind's and the waves Bow Down.
And you see here, the problem with the disciples is not merely
that they did not believe the words of Jesus at the shore.
It goes beyond that. It was that they failed to
understand that before us, is someone more powerful than the
very thing that's trying to overpower us.
Here's the essence of their issue.
They had a small view of a big God, the bigness of their view
of God. Was not large enough.
And that is essentially what it means to fear.
God comprehend, just how awesome he is and that alone will help
you. Realize, there is nothing else
to fear in this life because this God is with me and he's on
my side. Small view of God.
I sure you something again, I'm not a prophet.
Small view of God. You have a great future filled
with fear ahead of you. Big view of God fear will have
much trouble, even visiting your heart.
They had a limited view of the person who is taking a nap in
the stern. Here's the thing.
I want to tell you the greatest investment that you can make,
for the uncertainties of Tomorrow, is to grow and be
certain of who your God is today.
I don't know what's ahead for you or for me.
All I know is that the greatest investment that I can make to
prepare myself for what's ahead is to know my God, as much as I
can. Now, Much of our approach to God
as reactionary. When the thing comes, then we
try to seek to understand things, but here's the problem,
you become so overwhelming. What's happening?
That you don't even have the capacity to really understand
who God is and many cases. Be pre-emptive and prepare your
heart now. Build your faith.
Now, strengthen yourself now, help yourself by viewing.
God for the totality of who he is in the word of God and you
will be prepared for the uncertainties of tomorrow.
I wonder what went through their mind when they saw this man who
was sleeping all for a sudden. Now, commanding nature to submit
These guys had some knowledge of the tour, they had some
knowledge of the of the Old Testament.
What we would refer to. I wonder what came crashing to
their mind that caused them to look at one another's who then
is this man. Turn with me to Psalm 107.
And you will wonder how this fear is much more than the
obvious that the the nature around them became silent know.
There was implications regarding the identity of Jesus Christ
that makes their fear totally relatable.
Psalm 107 verse 28. And verse 29.
Then they cry to the Lord, in their trouble.
And he delivered them from their distress.
He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were
hushed, Who's the one who heard the cries of the distress of his
people who is the one, who delivered them from their
trouble? Who is the one who caused the
storm to be still, who is the one who hush the sea.
According to the psalmist, it's Yahweh.
God Almighty, the Covenant name of God revealed to the nation of
Israel is the one who receives the credit.
For the Deliverance of the distress of his people in the
context of being out at Sea. And isn't it interesting that
when we come to Mark, we see Jesus Christ.
With some sailors. Who perfectly parallel, this
very description of the goodness of God.
That when they cry out in distress, he hears them.
And he doesn't shoo them away. He doesn't say I'm sleeping.
Wake me up later. He gets up with total strength,
and with his own word, he brings everything into subjection to
his authority. The sea was calm, the winds were
still Who then is this man? Who then is this man?
Meet me in proverbs 30. Here's agur.
With his sayings. And in the beginning of her,
this proverb, he expresses his frustration for his limited
knowledge of God, the depth of his knowledge of God, the
intimacy that he has with God. And he goes on to explain his
plight by giving us rhetorical questions of the greatness of
God. And he says here, in verse 3, I
have not learned wisdom. Nor have I knowledge of the Holy
One. You want to make an interesting
study? Go to the Hebrew of that word.
I don't have time to get into it of the Holy One and then hear
the questions that he expects us to know who has ascended to
heaven and come down. Who has gathered the wind in his
fist? Who has wrapped up the waters?
In a garment, who has established all the ends of the
Earth? What is his name?
What is his name and the Jewish audience?
Who would have read this freshly?
And even centuries, later would say I know his name, his name is
Yahweh, And I wonder what they would say after where we were
told, what is his name and what is his son's name?
What is his son's name? Son's name.
Surely, you know. Surely, you know.
But here's the thing that's so interesting.
Out of all the things that the Holy Spirit could have described
concerning the greatness of God out of just the endless
possibilities of his power. He selects things that we see in
the master who has ascended to heaven and come down now.
Look at this, who has gathered the wind in his fists, who has
wrapped up the waters in a garment, what does that implying
control T. Transcendent ability.
He's able to take the win and his fist and tell it what to do
is able to bring it down to that.
He's able to gather the waters in His Garment and out of all
the things that the Holy Spirit could have put here.
And and alger's turmoil about trying to understand who this
God is. We have the Son of God who does
just that, he tells the wind what to do.
He tells the see what to do. With the Garment of his word, so
to speak. With the word of his power.
Who then is this man? No wonder they feared greatly.
Because they realize Yahweh is in our boat.
God is in our boat. Not just one who hasn't
extremely beautiful connection to God.
But God himself condescended. God himself, who Stills?
The Seas was just taking a nap in the star.
They feared greatly. Do you know how this glorious
Revelation came to these disciples?
I'll tell you how through a storm If it had not been for the
storm, I wonder if they would have arrived to such a
conclusion. At least this early on.
You see what opened their perception to the depths of the
person of Jesus Christ. Was the very thing necessary to
try to display and prove the very power that references him
to that very identity. Let me make it very plain and
simple. There are some things that God
will reveal to you about himself.
That can only come through the store.
Orm. So, don't shun it.
Don't shrink from it, don't squeal.
If he has sent you with his word, if you were walking in his
word and here you are now looking around saying, how did I
get in here? Hold tight.
Because the Lord desires to reveal something about himself
to you. Paul says that I may know him
and the power of his resurrection and we stop there
and say Yes Lord I want to know the power of your Resurrection.
Bring it on, I want the Miracles.
I want the healings, I want the quick answers to prayer.
I want to know the power of your Resurrection.
Paul didn't end there. And the fellowship of his
sufferings. There is a fellowship with
Christ that comes particularly and reserved, merely and
uniquely in sufferings. Is that not what job concluded
at the end of that amazing book. When the Lord comes in, that
tornado-like manifestation and addresses him.
By revealing to him, his omniscience and omnipresence on
omnipotence, through all his suffering.
And this is what job says. I've heard you by the hearing of
the ear. but now my eyes have seen you I Now understand that.
You are bigger than all of this and you have been with me all
along. Job had a deeper sense of who
God was and Job chapter 42, but he had to go through chapter 2
and 3 all the way up to that point.
To see it. To see it.
And so, I encourage you. Your suffering is not in vain.
if you want to know him and grow in your knowledge of him, then
be prepared to be brought through some circumstances.
That require a facet of God that you have not known yet to be
made known through that circumstance.
May God help us to place our faith in him to trust him at all
times. And may He fill us with a great
fear concerning who he is. So that we may be rescued from
all other trivial fears, he will do.
So let's pray. We're breaking bread today, as
you are aware. And we heard briefly how God
became a man. He slept.
And that body was prepared to be a sacrifice.
So that you and I would know an inward rest that nothing in this
world could ever purchase for us.
We are here to remember that your sins are forgiven. that
every record of wrong, even the accusations that you've made
against a good and perfect, God, Have been cancelled.
And we have this promise the same way, the disciples had a
word, we have a promise that we can take to the Grave.
He who began a good work in you. He will bring it to completion.
and that by one sacrifice, he has perfected for all time those
who are being sanctified We have come to remember the promises of
God concerning our salvation and we can trust in the words of our
savior. And so, just reflect on those
promises. And be prepared to come before
this table. For those who are not
Christians, please reserve yourself from participating.
This is solely for those who have confessed that Christ is
Lord and have been born again of the spirit.
You are welcome to come to this table.
After you have given your life to Christ, This is a promise
reserved for those who have pledged their allegiance to
Jesus. This is not a promise for those
who have not believed on him. Therefore, this participation
would be futile for you, but for those who are in Christ, we've
come to rehearse the promise of God, concerning our souls and
the destination of our eternity. And so we come yes with
sobriety, but we come with excitement.
That his body, and his blood has been made, perfect and
sufficient for our salvation. Lord, we thank you for this
time. Help us examine ourselves, help
us Worship You In This Moment and may you receive glory for
our recognition and remembering what you've done two thousand
years ago. We give you all the praise and
honor in this place in Jesus name.
Amen. Let's stand and sing and we'll
invite you to the table to partake.