Jesus And The Storms Of Life (Short Version)

Jesus And The Storms Of Life (Short version)

Chuck Sligh

August 25, 2013

TEXT: Matthew 14:22-33 – “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. ”

INTRODUCTION

Some of you this morning are going through a storm in your life.

• Like Tom or Susan, you may have serious physical problems or pain issues.

• Many of our spouses are going through a storm just getting through the next 12 months while their spouses are deployed downrange.

• Others of you may be going through a trial at work.

• Some are no doubt weathering storms in your marriage, or with one of their children—be it behavior related, like a rebellious teen, or medically related, like a child with autism or special needs.

As a pastor, it can become a heavy burden, because I see the suffering and the pain this life brings—and it’s even more difficult when I myself am going through a storm.

People think we have advanced so far in the twenty-first century—and we have. And yet, pain and suffering are still with us.

• Loved ones still choose destructive habits that can destroy and bring bondage.

• There’s still war that takes our loved ones away and puts them in harm’s way.

• And think of all the advances in technology and medicine that have eliminated many terrible diseases, but these have only exposed us to diseases almost unknown in days when people died much younger—heart diseases, cancers, Alzheimer’s, etc.

• Here we are thirteen years in a new century, and yet there is still so much suffering.

Where do you turn when you face a storm? What can you do? The answer today is the same as it was hundreds of years ago—GO TO JESUS!

Today, I want to encourage us all, for we all share the burdens that others are experiencing. That’s one of the blessings of a Christian fellowship. In Romans 12:15 Paul tells us to “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

Today as we weep with those who weep, let’s look at this story in Matthew 14. I want us to think on the subject, “Jesus and the Storms of Life.”

I. FIRST, NOTE FROM OUR TEXT THAT JESUS WILL TAKE YOU INTO THE STORM – Verse 22 – “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.”

Note the word “constrained” in verse 22. Jesus knew what was going to happen, yet He constrained them to get on the boat!

Trials do not catch God by surprise. God doesn’t call an emergency meeting of the trinity to figure out what to do when we go through trials and troubles. In fact, sometimes it is THE LORD who leads us into storms.

Why would Jesus lead us into a storm? (NOTE TO READER: YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE LONGER VERSION OF THIS POINT FOUND AT THE END.)

• We won’t have time to dwell on this for long, but sometimes God allows trials in our lives to chasten and correct us when we are sinning so we’ll go the right way.

• Often trials are to bring us closer to God and make us more God-dependent.

• Sometimes God allows us to go through storms to build His character in our lives.