Mega Storms Of Life

Mega Storms of Life

Mark 4:35-41

Good morning.

According to ranker.com, the 1991 Perfect Storm was named by a weatherman named Bob Case, who saw three separate storms on track to converge off the coast of Nova Scotia.

The weather systems combined to create a single massive nor'easter that inspired the 2000 film The Perfect Storm starring George Clooney.

The storm claimed 13 lives in the process, including those of the six crew members aboard a boat called the Andrea Gail.

The vessel was at sea in search of swordfish when the storm hit and the crew never made it home.

No one knows exactly what happened to the Andrea Gail, because the ship never even sent a distress signal.

The Coast Guard led a massive search covering 186,000 square miles over the course of 10 days.

The only hint regarding the crew's fate was a small amount of wreckage found; including an emergency beacon, an empty life raft, fuel drums, and a propane tank.

After 10 days, the search was called off and the storm ultimately caused nearly $500 million in damage.

Again, Bob Case Dubbed It 'The Perfect Storm'

"Perfect" may not seem like an appropriate word to describe a storm that took the lives of 13 people; but, it was "Perfect" because it was perfectly terrible - it couldn't have been worse.

Please open your Bibles to Mark 4 as we continue that study

Last week, we studied three different parables about the unstoppable Kingdom of God.

Jesus told a parable about common house-hold item, a lamp.

As we live in this dark world, our lives and words should expose the darkness; but, that is not where it ends. We need to lead people out of their darkness and point them to new life in Christ

Then Jesus told the parable of the growing seed.

Even though it is a mystery how the Lord grows His kingdom; we are blessed to be in a partnership with the Lord to grow it.

What is our part? First, we receive the free gift of salvation, and then we surrender to the Leading of His Holy Spirit.

And finally we immerse ourselves in the Word of God so we can be ready to share with others.

The last parable was the parable of the mustard seed.

In that parable, the encouragement was that the Lord can take very small things and grow them because of who He is.

The warning from was the mustard plant in this parable seems to have grown to an abnormally large tree. Unnatural growth.

As Warren Wiersbe said, “Some of the growth will give opportunity for Satan to get in and go to work!

The Kingdom of God is unstoppable and this magnificent Jesus has granted us the privilege of being a part of His Kingdom!

Now this morning, we will learn about a Mega storm that happens right after Jesus finished teaching those parables.

I. The Lord determined the timing of this event.

Read Mark 4:35-36

Jesus had just finished teaching three parables about the unstoppable Kingdom of God and trying to teach His followers the importance of knowing the Word of God.

Memorizing the Word of God is very important; but, trusting the Word of God is more important during the storms of life.

The Lord basically takes His followers from the classroom of learning into a practical life application situation.

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.

Psalm 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand. NKJV

While all this was happening, these followers may have thought this situation was happenstance; however, the Lord had a plan, even leading up to this storm.

2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. NKJV

Peter was telling his readers to remember the Lord is outside of human time and space. In the Lord’s economy a thousand years is just like 24 hours to us.

Adam Clarke said, All time is as nothing before him, because in the presence as in the nature of God all is eternity; therefore nothing is long, nothing short, before him; no lapse of ages impairs his purposes.” (Clarke)

We need to understand, it is the Lord who created time; therefore, Jesus is not in a hurry and He can never be late.

Wiersbe, “Since a thousand years are as one day to the Lord, we cannot accuse Him of delayed fulfillment of His promises. In God’s sight, the whole universe is only a few days old!