Encourages believers to trust in Jesus' sovereignty and power during life's storms, remembering His presence and finding refuge in Him.
Good morning, beloved family in Christ. Isn't it a gift to be gathered here today, to share in the joy of our faith, to experience the unity of our purpose, and to bask in the love of our Savior? Isn't it a blessing to be able to turn to His Word, a living testament of His love and power, and find comfort, guidance, and wisdom?
Today, we turn to the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 8, verses 23 through 27. This is a passage that speaks volumes about our Savior's sovereignty, the power He has over the storms of life, and the salvation He offers amidst these storms. Let us read together:
"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!' He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'"
What a powerful depiction of our Lord's authority and power! And yet, how often do we, like the disciples, find ourselves in the midst of life's storms, feeling as if we're about to drown, forgetting who is in our boat?
In the boat with His disciples, Jesus was at peace, even as the storm raged around them. This peace was not born of ignorance or denial of the storm's existence. Rather, it was a peace that came from a deep, unshakeable knowledge of His own authority. He knew the storm was there, but He also knew He had the power to calm it. He was not at the mercy of the storm; the storm was at His mercy.
The authority of Jesus: He is not a passive observer of our struggles, but an active participant with the power to intervene. He is not overwhelmed by the storms we face; He has the power to calm them. He is not distant or detached; He is present with us in the midst of our struggles, offering us His peace. The disciples, however, did not fully understand this. They saw the storm and were afraid. They woke Jesus, crying out for Him to save them. In their fear, they had forgotten who was in the boat with them. They had forgotten the power and authority of their Savior.
Jesus responded to their fear with a question: "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" This was not a rebuke, but a reminder. He was reminding them of His power, His authority, His sovereignty. He was reminding them that He was in control, even when the storm was raging. Then, He stood up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and the storm was calmed. The disciples were amazed, asking, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" They were beginning to understand the sovereignty of their Savior.
Jesus is sovereign: He has authority over the storms of life. He has the power to calm them. He is not overwhelmed by them; He is in control. But there's more to this story. Not only does Jesus have authority over the storms of life, He also has authority over our response to them. When the disciples were afraid, He reminded them of His power. He reminded them that He was in control. He reminded them that they could trust Him.
Jesus is sovereign over our fears: He has the power to calm our fears, to remind us of His presence, to remind us of His power. He has the power to give us peace, even in the midst of the storm. He also has authority over our understanding of Him. When the disciples were amazed at His power, He did not rebuke them. He did not tell them to stop being amazed. Instead, He allowed them to marvel at His power, to wonder at His authority, to be amazed at His sovereignty.
Jesus is sovereign over our understanding of Him: He has the power to reveal Himself to us, to show us His power, to show us His authority, to show us His sovereignty. He has the power to amaze us, to fill us with wonder, to fill us with awe.
Jesus has authority over our salvation: When the disciples cried out for Him to save them, He did not ignore their cry. He did not tell them to save themselves. Instead, He stood up and calmed the storm. He saved them from the storm. He has the power to save us, to rescue us, to deliver us. He has the power to calm the storms of life, to calm our fears, to reveal Himself to us, and to save us. He is our sovereign Savior.
As we continue to reflect on this passage from Matthew, we find ourselves drawn to the image of the storm ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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