INTRODUCTION
Last week, we welcomed in the New Year. Later in the day as I was thinking about the service and our church family, I began to be puzzled and stressed for many in our church. A time that is supposed to be exciting, positive, and full of hope for some in our church family is covered by pain, confusion, uncertainty, and question.
How do you welcome in the New Year when you are trying to SURVIVE THE DAY? As I began to pray for many I felt God’s prompting that we pause to talk about the STORMS OF LIFE.
I’ve learned, as I’m sure each of us have, that the old saying is true: You are either 1- Just Out of a Storm, 2- In a Storm or 3- Getting Ready to Enter a Storm. All of us are effected in some way regarding the Storms of Life and for MOST OF LIFE.
So it deserves attention and often.
ILL.: Shipbuilders
I read one time about how shipbuilders back in the days of sailboats would prepare the masts for their ships. They would go to the forest and find an appropriate tree, then they would clear out all the surrounding trees and leave that one standing, leaving it exposed to the wind and storms.
As the tree continued to mature, it would gain strength. The kind of strength it would need to be able to stand up in the storms at sea while holding a large sail.
But that tree would never gain that strength if it was just left among the other trees. It developed strength because of the storms.
I believe that if we build our lives on the solid rock of Jesus and his words, then when the storms come, we will not only survive, we’ll gain strength.
SUM: We know STORMS bring GROWTH but how do we WEATHER the storm. Our text today is taken from the STORM the DISCIPLES WEATHERED in CROSSING THE LAKE. There is much to learn regarding the journey they took.
4 Things We Will See:
1. Storms Are Designed By God
2. God Shows Up At Just The Right Time
3. We Must Wait On God’s Instruction to Get Out Of The Boat
4. Have Faith Knowing YOU WILL LAND.
PASSAGE is taken from mainly MATTHEW 14 BUT ALSO MARK 8.
1. STORMS ARE DESIGNED BY GOD! (Verses 22-24)
22) “Jesus ‘MADE’ the disciples ‘GET INTO’ the boat”
“Made” means “to compel by threat, force, or persuasion” – The disciples did not have much of a choice here. They didn’t have much to say about it.
I’m sure this is not what they had planned for the evening. Think about it! In your wildest dreams, how many of you imagined 10 years ago that you would be where you are today?
The same monotonous job – or job period! Problems with our children, our health, divorce, financial problems, etc. We don’t know when they will hit but that the storms of life WILL HIT!
22) “Jesus made the ‘DISCIPLES’ get into the boat”
The disciples were doing God’s work – nothing wrong at all. They had just been sent out in groups of 2 with power to heal and to save. They had just witnessed and been a part of the feeding of 5k.
If there was someone whom you think would be able to avoid the storms of life, don’t you think it would be those doing the work of the Lord? BUT THEY WENT INTO A STORM! A STORM THAT GOD SENT THEM INTO!
23) “he went up on a mountainside by ‘HIMSELF TO PRAY’
We have a tendency to scream “Where are you God” or “What have I done”? Notice where the Lord is! He’s praying for the disciples and watching them. The Mark 8 account of the story said “he saw the disciples straining against the oars”. He never leaves us.
24) “a considerable distance” Mark account says “the middle of the lake”
The disciples were in “the middle” of the Sea of Galilee – 3½ miles into a 7 mile lake. They were tired, but the boat was “BUFFETED by the wind”. The actual wording is “being TOSSED by the waves. The meaning behind the word “waves” is actually a “swell”. An enormous wave that regardless of what the disciples did, it still just knocked them back.
But still, they continued to row. They didn’t quit. They didn’t stop!
SUM: This storm was DESIGNED BY GOD HIMSELF. He told the disciples “get into the boat and Go on Ahead TO THE OTHER SIDE”. He knew what was going to happen. He knew they would CROSS THE LAKE. It was designed by Him.
Prov. 16:9 “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
2. GOD SHOWS UP WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT! (Verses 25-27)
Not only did He design the storm, but HE KNEW WHEN ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH! God
SHOWS UP AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME!
25) “the FOURTH WATCH”
It was between 3 and 6 in the morning. The disciples had been rowing all night long. As we just saw in Verse 24, they were in the “middle of the lake” – at a point of no return. Have you ever said “woe is me!” “It can’t get any worst”. But God is not a God of confusion.
26) “walking on the lake”
In the midst of their struggling and going nowhere, Jesus was easily able to overcome nature and reach these exhausted disciples. Think about it, He can walk on the water – BUT HE CAN’T HANDLE THE STORM!
They “were TERRIFIED” – They didn’t recognize him. That’s because they weren’t looking for him. The disciples were counting on THEIR OWN STRENGTH. So do we! God can’t handle this storm – “I’ve got to do this and that and this and that”!
27) “it is I! Don’t be afraid”
Jesus didn’t come to terrify his disciples nor does He want you and I to feel alone and scared to death WITH NO HELP IN SIGHT. But the words Jesus used I found interesting.
Do you remember the words in Exodus that the Lord used when Moses asked Him “Who should I say sent me to set you free?” The LORD responded, “tell them ‘I AM’ has sent me to you.”
This is how Jesus was identifying Himself to the disciples. “TAKE COURAGE! I AM! DON’T BE AFRAID!” In the midst of the winds and the waves – this terrible storm – in the middle of the lake – Jesus was assuring them “NOTHING CAN SEPARATE ME FROM YOU!”
SUMM:
1. Jesus was able to WALK ABOVE THE DISCIPLES STORM. Do you believe He is able to WALK ABOVE YOUR STORM? Is He BIG ENOUGH?
2. Just as He was calling out to the disciples, HE IS CALLING OUT TO YOU! Are you listening?
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) 8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
God knew when the timing was right. He knew when the storm had accomplished what it must. He designed the storm. And if he’s able to walk on the water, He’s certainly able to WALK TO YOU! The question is “WILL YOU RECEIVE HIM?”
3. WE MUST WAIT ON GOD! Verses 28-33
Storms Are Designed By God! God Shows Up At The Right Time! But THAT TIMING IS PERFECT. WE MUST WAIT ON HIM!
In comes Peter – the one who likes to be the leader – the speaker. The rest of the disciples are content in the boat. NOT PETER!
2 Parts to This Section:
1. Peter Walks Above The Water – READ VERSES 28-29
28) “Lord, IF IT’S YOU tell me to come!”
That sounds like us doesn’t it. Lord are you there? But WE MUST GIVE PETER CREDIT. He didn’t jump into the water. Notice ONE WORD!
29) “COME”
With the Word and Command of Christ, Peter stepped out of the boat – and he walked on the water! With the COMMAND from Christ, Peter was given the POWER & STRENGTH to WALK ABOVE THE STORM!
And He did! Vs. 29 “Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus”.
You and I also, WHEN WE CALL OUT and WAIT ON JESUS will be given the power to WALK ABOVE THE STORM. The storm WILL NOT END UNTIL GOD SAYS IT’S TIME, but He will give you the power TO WALK ABOVE IT!
But we must NOT GO AHEAD OF HIM making our own decisions. We must wait on His Command! You would think Peter had it made wouldn’t you. Notice it doesn’t stop here!
2. Peter Get’s Distracted – READ VERSES 30-31
30) “he saw the wind”
Peter got distracted seeing the effect of the wind. He saw the waves – the distractions caused by the storm. Peter, even when WALKING ABOVE THE STORM got distracted and “began to sink”. Peter teaches us a lesson of humility!
1 Corinthians 10:12 “if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
If we are not careful – If we do not stay in focus and keep our eyes on Jesus, we too can get distracted. It can happen to anyone. We turn to vices, bad decisions, anger, confusion, judgment and all of a sudden nothing makes any sense.
30) “Lord, save me”
Peter did what we need to do when we get distracted. Recognize our mistakes and GET OUR EYES BACK ON JESUS! Peter, upon recognizing his mistake, his distraction, his lack of faith turned to Jesus.
Jesus reached out and took his hand and “CAUGHT HIM” just as He will catch us!
31) “why did you doubt”
Why did Peter take his eyes off of Jesus? The story doesn’t give us this answer. Why do you and I take our eyes off of Jesus? Do we relax? WHY? If anything, Peter should have been on a high! Maybe that is it. Honestly, I don’t know. There are things in life that we just don’t understand – Times and decisions and weaknesses we can’t explain.
BUT while I don’t know the answer to that question, I do now that God does not want us to BEAT OURSELVES UP BUT TURN BACK TO HIM!
When we falter, REMEMBER He’s reaching out His hand! Just take it!
Whether it’s building a church, raising a family, getting married or having children, going to work or school, sometimes we find ourselves in DEEP WATER and cry out “MASTER SAVE ME!”
31) “Jesus reached out His hand”
Jesus didn’t let Peter drown! He knew his limits. He knew what needed to take place during this storm. He knew HOW TO USE THE STORM FOR THE GROWTH OF PETER AND THE DISCIPLES.
32) “the wind died down”
When Jesus taught Peter what he needed to learn, THEY CLIMBED IN THE BOAT where it was SAFE AND THE WIND DIED DOWN.
THE STORM WAS OVER. They began to “WORSHIP HIM SAYING ‘TRULY YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD.” They noticed and gave credit where credit was due! Do we?
We tend to stop here – at THE END OF THE STORM! BUT THAT’S NOT THE STORY! Jesus didn’t send them into the storm just to teach them. The storms of life prepare us for something to come!
4. THEY LANDED! Verse 34
32) “THEY”
That’s it! THEY! That’s the key word in this verse. It was no longer Jesus – and the disciples, but THEY! You see, WHEN WE ALLOW THE LORD PERMISSION, HE CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING!
Phil 4.13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”
33) “YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD”
The storm had accomplished what God intended. They grew and He was glorified!
And when they “climbed in the boat, the wind died down. Doesn’t it always when we get focused on Him? When we get our eyes off of the wind and the waves and onto Him, can He not CALM THE STORM!
34) “THEY LANDED”
The best words of the STORM! “They LANDED”
SUM: All storms come to and end. We don’t believe it sometimes because we get our eyes off of the master.
SUMMARY
1. ALL STORMS ARE DESIGNED BY GOD.
They come to everyone. They don’t mean you are being punished nor do they mean you have done anything wrong. The disciples, if anything, were on a high from doing God’s work. They happen.
2. GOD SHOWS UP AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME!
He knows when the storms have accomplished what He desired them to accomplish. He knows when you ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE. Until then, continue to ROW.
3. WAIT ON GOD!
Wait on His voice and His command. Until then, KEEP YOUR EYES on Jesus. Don’t allow the surroundings to distract you. Don’t allow the author of confusion to cause you to believe YOUR WAVES ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR GOD.
4. YOU WILL LAND!
Grab His hand. Hold on tight. Look to Him. And TRUST HIM. Know that at just the right time, YOU (WITH HIM) WILL CLIMB IN THE BOAT, the WINDS WILL CEASE, AND YOU WILL LAND!
ILL.: Listen to excerpt from the Words of Life
"We were on shipboard," relates a captain’s wife, "lying on side from storm in a Southern harbor. We were obliged, first to make our way ashore. The waves were rolling heavily. I became frightened at the thought of attempting it, when one came to me, saying, ’Do not be afraid: I will take care of you.’ "He bore a peculiarly shaped dark-lantern, only one single ray of light being emitted from a small circular opening.
’Now,’ said he, ’take my hand; hold fast, do not fear. Do not look about you, or on either side of you, only on the little spot lighted by my lantern, and place your footsteps firmly right there.’
"I heard the rushing of the waters, and was still conscious of fear; but by looking steadily only where the light fell, and planting my footsteps just there, not turning either to the right or the left, clasping firmly the strong hand, the danger was overcome, and the shore reached in safety."
"The next day my kind guide said, ’Would you like to see the way by which you came last night? Then he showed me where our vessel had been lying, and the very narrow plank by which we had reached the shore. He knew that had I turned either to the right or left I should, in all probability, have lost my balance and gone over into those dark waters; but by holding fast and treading just where the light fell all danger would be averted."
SUM: The storms may rage and angry waves threaten to engulf, but if we keep our eye on Jesus we shall outride the storms, and have an abundant blessing at the end of the storm – something special being prepared for.
CROSSING THE LAKE sometimes brings fear, confusion, and utter turmoil. But HAVE FAITH – Know that CROSSING THE LAKE will be God Designed, God Involved, God Instructed, and God’s Victory!
