Proper7
24 June 2012
Mark 4:35-41
Creatures in awe of Jesus’ authority over the creation
INTRODUCTION
A. Following
a day full of teaching activity...
1. Jesus and
His disciples got in a boat to sail across the Sea of Galilee –
2. A
windstorm arose, beating waves into the boat –
3. Jesus was
sleeping, but was wakened by His disciples fearing their lives –
4. Jesus
rebuked the wind and calmed the seas –
5. He then
reproached His disciples for their fear and lack of faith
6. Filled
with great fear, His disciples expressed their awe of Jesus to one another. –
B. The
account of Jesus calming the storm is well-known...
1. Popular
in many children's Bible classes
2. The setting
for the song “Jesus Savior Pilot Me”
I. WE ARE
NOT EXEMPT FROM STORMS
A. WE FACE
STORMS BECAUSE WE ARE HUMANS...
1. Being
Jesus' disciples did not protect them from
storms.
2. We live
in a world where there are many storms, both literal and figurative.
3. Christians
experience literal tornados, hurricanes, just like everyone else.
4. Christians
likewise face storms such as sickness, accidents, disappointments, death.
5. Paul
certainly experience the perils of storms and shipwrecks - 2Co 11:25-26 --
Three times I was beaten with rods; jonce I was stoned; three times I kwas
shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in
perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, min
perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; Jesus does not promise
exemption from the normal storms of life.
B. WE FACE
STORMS BECAUSE WE ARE CHRISTIANS...
1. Jesus
warned that we will experience tribulation as His disciples - John 16:33 - I
have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you
will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world
2. Paul did,
and warned his fellow disciples - 2Corinthians 11:24-25; Five times I received
from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods,
once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in
the open sea, Acts 14:22; strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to
remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the
kingdom of God," they said.
2Timothy 3:12 -In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
3. Peter
wrote that we should not be surprised - 1Peter 4:12 - Dear friends, do not be
surprised at the painful trial you
are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.-- Jesus does
not promise exemption from the storms of religious persecution
Transition: So if we find ourselves in the midst of storms,
whether literal or figurative, whether it’s because we are simply humans or
because we are Christians, do not think it strange. Instead take heart knowing that…
II. JESUS
HELPS US DEAL WITH STORMS
A. THROUGH
FAITH...
1. During
storms, we are often afraid ("we are perishing!") -
2. Jesus
teaches that fear is indicative of a lack of faith –
3. To
overcome fear in storms, we need to grow in faith!
a. Faith
that God will protect us if it be His will - cf. Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge
and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
b. Faith
that God will deliver us to His heavenly city even if we die - Psalm 46:4-5,
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where
the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her
at break of day. Nations are in uproar,
kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.--Jesus reveals the role of
faith in the midst of storms.
B. THROUGH
HIS WORD...
1. Jesus'
words prepare us to withstand the storms of life - Matthew 7:24-27. Therefore everyone who hears these words of
mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the
rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against
that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But
everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is
like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams
rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great
crash.
2. How to
pray in order to be heard by God - Matthew 6:5-8 And when you pray, do not be
like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on
the street corners to be seen by men.
I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you
pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling
like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do
not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
3. To lay up
treasure in heaven instead of on earth - Matthew 6:19-20 Do not store up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves
break in and steal.
But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal.
4. To seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness - Matthew 6:31-34 So do not
worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we
wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father
knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of
its own. -- Jesus shares the secrets to standing strong against the storms of
life.
C. THROUGH
PRAYER...
1. Jesus is
key to receiving mercy and grace to help in time of need - Hebrews 4:14-16;
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is
unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted
in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin. Let us then approach the
throne of grace with confidence, so that
we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
2. In
anxious times, God offers peace to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
through prayer. -- Jesus stands ready to calm our hearts and minds when facing
storms.
D. THROUGH
HIS SACRIFICE...
1. The
greatest "storm" all of us will face will be the Day of Judgment -
2Peter 3:7, By the same word the
present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of
judgment and destruction of
ungodly men.
2. A day
in which we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ - 2Corinthians
5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one
may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether
good or bad.
3. But
Christ shed His blood to spare us on that Day - Romans 5:6-10 You see, at just
the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very
rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might
possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While
we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much
more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's
enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more,
having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
4. By
obeying the gospel, we can have our names added to the Lamb's book of life and
escape condemnation for our sins - cf. Mark 16:15-16; He said to them, Go into
all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is
baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. --
Jesus stands ready to save us and protect us from the "perfect storm"
to come.
CONCLUSION
A. Everyone
will face one or more storms in his or her life...
1. Whether
literally or metaphorically
2. Whether
atheist or believer
B. How shall
we react when the time(s) come...
1. Shall we
cry out like the disciples who were weak in faith ("we are perishing!")?
2. Or shall
we weather the storms with confident faith and calm repose?
C. And how
shall we stand on when the final storm comes...
1. The
"perfect storm", that is, the Day of Judgment?
2. Shall we
hear Jesus say, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world"?
Matthew 25:34
3. Or will
we hear Him say, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire
prepared for the devil and his
angels"? - Matthew 25:41
When Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke to the sea,
"Peace, be still", the wind ceased and there was a great calm. The disciples, with fear and amazement, said:
"Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" The wind
and the sea obeyed Jesus. Shall we not
obey Him who now has all authority in heaven and on earth? - Matthew 28:18-20
Artwork by Ed Riojas, © Higher Things and woodcut © WELS
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