Caught In The Storm

Sermon: Caught In A Storm

Jennifer Mears 3/27/2007

Texts: John 6: 14 - 21. Mark 5:45 - 52; Matthew 14:22 - 33

No one will ever go through life without experiencing a storm!

No one gets through life without experiencing the storm!

You’ve noticed that, haven’t you?

In fact, during most of our lives, we will endure more than one storm!

Each storm will threaten our entire being…and the state of our soul

Soul= our mind + our will + our emotions

The storm

• takes many different forms

• affects our lives in many different ways

• all storms contain some common elements

o they usually come on “all of a sudden”

o they take us by surprise

o they can bring on and may fill our hearts with fear

o they test our faith

o God wants us to trust Him through it

o God wants us to let Him have control of it

o God hopes that the storm will cause us to cry out to Jesus for help

• If we conduct ourselves properly….

o The storm will become a building block of faith

o Storms will actually equip us for the storms that are still ahead.

o Storms will equip us and strengthen us for everyday life

o Storms will cause us to grow in Spirit and in Truth (call them “growing pains” , if you will)

Think of some of the storms of life which have invaded the life of yourself or of someone

you know…

• the storm of illness - sudden or prolonged;

• the storm of death - the death of a loved one,- a child, a partner; especially one not

expected to die ;

• the storm of rejection- divorce, separation, abandonment;

• the storm of unjust criticism;

• the storm of emotional trauma - hatred, anger, resentment, bitterness;

• the storm of physical loss - loss of home, loss of job, loss of money, loss of security;

• the storm of accident, or some event which may change the course of our life in an instant

of time.

One thing that I have discovered through time and experience

• Being a Christian, a follower of Jesus, does not exempt us from the trials of life…

• Jesus Himself told us in that we WOULD go through trials and tribulation…

Dictionary

Library > Words > Dictionary

trib•u•la•tion (trĭb’yə-lâ’shən)

noun

1. Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering: Their tribulation has finally passed. See synonyms at trial.

2. An experience that tests one’s endurance, patience, or faith. See synonyms at burden1.

[Middle English tribulacioun, from Old French tribulacion, from Latin trîbulâtiô, trîbulâtiôn-, from trîbulâtus, past participle of trîbulâre, to oppress, from Latin trîbulum, threshing-sledge.]

TRIALS AND TRIBULATION…

o What about you?

o Have you experienced some storms in your life?

o Is there any storm threatening you at the present time?

Well, don’t feel too bad because the disciples of Jesus were not exempt from either.

1. It was Jesus who sent them into the storm.

Mark 6:45-52

45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Now this may be hard for us humans to be able to fully understand. We ask, “Well now, isn’t Jesus The One who is supposed to protect

us from the storms of life? I mean, after all, doesn’t Jesus say and assure us in Matthew 10:31 that “not one sparrow falls

to the ground apart from your Father’s will. The very hairs of your head are all numbered”? And

did we not we grow up singing a song in church that says, “God sees the little sparrow fall; it meets His tender view; if God so

loves the little things, I’m sure he loves me too.” And, if so, why doesn’t God just make the storm stop?”