Storms 1
Mark 6:45–52
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified.
But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded. 52 because they had not understood about the loaves.
Instead, their hearts were hardened.
We all know storms
Not just how we act in the storm, but how Jesus acts…
Jesus’s behavior in our storms makes us question whether He cares
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” – Mark 4:38
Why would Jesus intend on just walk by them?
· He saw how painfully difficult things were
· He saw that the wind was against them
Storms don’t concern Him the way they concern us
He doesn’t rush to get us out of the storm, because He has purpose in the storm
Ps 107:25-27
For He commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end.
Some of you are in storms because the Lord wants you to come to your wits end
All of your wisdom is used up
We make plans that exclude the Lord
We say we’ll get to Him & His stuff, after we’ve finished our stuff
Because we insist on having our way – God treats us like Jonah
1:4. The Lord threw a great wind onto the sea, and such a great storm
arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break apart.
God sends a storm to break up your plans & what you’re hiding in
The storm is not meant to take you out –
God uses Storms to Drive Us – make us do something
Storms don’t always happen because we’re doing something wrong
Sometimes, it’s because we’re doing nothing at all
Too often, we are only moved by Pressure Systems
Ps 32:9
Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.
The storm is not meant to take you out –
The Lord intends for the Storm to take you to the Next Level
The only assurance He gives is that you will get to the other side
That’s why Jesus does not react to storms the way we do
He sees us struggling
He sees that things are against us
His intention is to walk on by
He prepares our Faith for storms – at least He tries
We do not discern the Spiritual Climate – Matt 16:3
“They had not understood about the loaves”
They missed the implications of the miracle
“If He will provide, He will protect”
How is our Faith Increased?
Hearing the Word
James 1:2–3
Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
When you learn to operate in Faith
Storms will propel you into your Miracle Zone
All 12 were in the storm
Only ONE was Walking on Water
Storms bring Blessings
Ezek 34:26–27
I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and
I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.
27 And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase.
There is an “After the Storm”
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and He brought them to their desired haven. – Ps 107:30
Altar Call:
Storms make us call on the Lord
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. – Ps 107:28-29