In The Storm, Mathew 14:22-33
Introduction
In a storm one dark night some sailors were thrown by the sea upon a rock, to which they clung for their lives. Their first feeling was one of joyful gratitude. They were on a rock. Their second emotion was a sickening fear, for the tide might rise, and the storm and waves sweep over the rock and carry them away to death in the raging sea. Just then a flash of lightening overtook the darkness, and by its lurid glare they saw that the rock was covered with samphire, a plant which always grows above the level of the tide. Then were they greatly glad, for they were assuredly safe. So is it in our wildest storms, if we cast upon the rock Christ Jesus. If God loves us we shall live, for the love involves the life – life here, life everlasting.
Transition
This morning we will seek to answer but one question, “Are we alone in the storm?” When the violent waters of this life rage; when the seas roar and billow; are we alone? Are we like so many sailors lost in the raging seas of this life, or is there a rock to cling to when the troubles come our way?
I am reminded of the Marine Corps recruiting poster of old which has on it only the face of an angry drill instructor staring into the face of a much taller yet very intimidated recruit and the words, “We never promised you a rose garden!”
Exposition
We live in a fallen world. We see the affects of the curse, which sin brought upon the world, all around us. We are all filled with the natural sense that the world is not the way it is supposed to be. That is because it is not…
When sin entered into the world through the choices of Adam and Eve, it was as if a terrible virus was allowed to corrupt everything on the earth. Sin brought God’s judgment on the earth and humanity has been reaping the consequences of the choice to sin ever since.
But before you blame Adam and Eve for our unsavory inheritance, consider the words of David in Psalms 14:1-3, “… They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.” (NKJV)
This world is not all that it should be. When we listen carefully to what we hear all around us in this life, we can still hear the echo of the hissing of the snake in the garden… “Take and eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… surely will you not die…” Genesis 3:4
Adam and Eve chose poorly. Rather than believe the truth that God had spoken to them; the truth of God’s word, they believed a lie and man has believed that lie ever since. Adam and Eve chose poorly and their sinful nature has been our inheritance. We have chosen poorly. Humanity still reaps the consequences.
The wonderful thing about the state that we find ourselves in, however, is that we are not left alone in the storms of this life. Sin brought about the winds which caused the storms but God’s grace is available even in the storms.
Adam and Eve had a choice to make; believe God’s word or the world’s lie. In this regard, little has changed. At the end of the day, we are still left the same choice to make; God’s word in this hand or the world’s lie in this hand.
Illustration
Last week Christina and I were in Florida visiting her father who has been ill. Besides the pollen wreaking havoc on our sinuses, and the Florida humidity reminding us of yet another reason we are so happy not to live there any longer, there was something that I saw which I must say, I am glad to have seen.
As we drove along Highway 54 near Zephyrhills, Florida I saw a sign advertising a local church. The sign had an overdone depiction of the stereotype of a grandma. She had blue curled hair, too much makeup, and a very loudly colored housedress. Next to the picture of the grandma was the words “Not Your Grandma’s Church!”
My wife Christina remarked, “Well, they’ve sure gone and offended Grandma!” Besides being merely offensive, however, I think the sign is indicative of so much more. The sign causes me to first ask myself the question, “If it is not my Grandma’s Church then why not? What is wrong with Grandma’s Church?”
Perhaps they are merely saying that this is a church for young people because we have things that many young people like. We have a good nursery program, we have contemporary music, and we have a young Pastor whom you can relate to. Perhaps that is all they meant with the sign but I am inclined to think that this sign speaks to a deeper and much more disturbing trend in our culture and indeed even within the Church itself.
It is not merely Grandma’s worship style which churches like this have rejected; it is Grandma’s truth which has been rejected. Grandma is rigid and believes that there is only one way to get to Heaven. We don’t teach that here, they say, only God can be the judge of that!
Grandma’s truth is absolute and confining. We don’t teach that here, they say, we don’t want to limit anyone’s creativity. Each person should live and do whatever pleases them! Folks, in the name of new methods they have introduced new means. In the name of church growth, they have abandoned the very foundations of the Church itself; namely, the word of truth.
In the name of making the Gospel more palatable – making it tastier – they have created a lie-filled-pill which threatens to poison you and me.
Truth no knows expiration date. Truth is not like a gallon of milk which one must replace when it grows old and out of fashion. Truth is by definition unchanging because truth is by definition that which proceeds from the mind of God Himself.
Truth is always true because it is true, not because it is comfortable. When I came to Christ as a teenager it was after a long journey of looking for truth. I had looked in the world around me for truth and it was not to be found. I had looked in the knowledge of the people in my life and truth was not to be found.
The modern worldview, the one which is not fond of Grandma or her Church or her truth, had told me in no uncertain terms that truth is relative and changing. I had taken their lie-filled-pill just inside my mouth and as it rested on the tip of my tongue it was as though I threatened to consume it, when in fact, it was it which threatened to consume me.
I, probably like many of you, came to Christ not so much looking for religion or even God as such, but in search of truth. And that is exactly what I found! John 1:17 says, concerning Jesus, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (NKJV)
This is the truth that we must learn. We must not swallow the lie-filled-pill that the modern worldview would have to consume us. We must learn the truth that truth is unchanging because God is unchanging and truth is that which proceeds from the very mind of God. Truth is not dependant on popularity, modern trends, opinions of man, or any other such trite and fleeting thing. Truth is radically unchanging because God is radically unchanging.
Exposition
In today’s Scripture reading, Mathew chapter 14, we see the disciples being tossed about on the sea. Then they see Jesus walking on the water. Peter, in his usual impetuous fashion, walks out to see Jesus and eventually he and Jesus return to the boat and then Jesus causes the storm to cease.
While there is much to talk about in this passage, what I’ll draw your attention to this morning is that this is the first place in the book of Mathew where the disciples call Jesus the Son of God. Matthew 14:33 says, “Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.” (NKJV)
The disciples had been with Jesus all along and not known who He was. They knew that He was unique. They even knew that a relationship with Him was extremely valuable. They had left behind their lives and families to follow Him.
It was not until he calmed the storm, however, that they began to understand who He really was – is. Jesus is with us when the seas are quiet and things in our lives are going well just as much as He is with is when the storms of this life rage.
The trouble is that it is not until the storms rage; it is not until we really need Him that we begin to see who He really is. The reason this is a problem is that it seems that when the storms do come that we have the hardest time trusting Him.
I am convinced that the problem is, at least in part, that you and I have been fed the lie that God’s blessing equals prosperity in all areas of our life. To be sure, there is evidence in the Bible that God blessed those who are faithful to Him. But it is equally as sure that God sends both the sunshine in our lives and the rain.
The sunshine reminds us of the beauty of God’s love for us and the rainfall makes it matter. When things are good it is easy to praise God but the test of faithfulness is what we do in the rain. God is always faithful because He is always the same.
God’s goodness is not contingent upon my happiness. God is good because that is who is and unlike you and me, He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (NKJV) God is always at work taking the unpleasant things of this life and turning them into our good.
God is always using the rough things in this life to transform us into the image of Christ. We must learn to see God for who He really is if we are to ever see ourselves for who we really are. We are not alone in the storm.
There is an ancient Chinese proverb which says, “A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man made perfect without trials.” Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (NKJV)
Our lives have purpose, even in the storm! God is good, even in the storm! God is the same in the sunshine and in the rain, God is still the same. He was good when things were good and He is good when things are not good.
God’s goodness is an expression of His character; because that is who He is.
Conclusion
God is unchanging. His mercy is available in the good times and in the bad. Truth is not contingent upon circumstance. We must praise Him in good times but it is the difficult times in which the deepest nature of our faith is built.
We must learn of the goodness of God’s character so that when the storms of this life rage we will allow God to be our strength even in our weakness. Proverbs 3:3 says, “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.” (NKJV)
Today, if you are going through a storm in your own life I long to encourage you with the words of the Psalmist from Psalms 27:13-14, where David wrote, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (NKJV)
Let us reaffirm our commitment to waiting on the Lord in times of trouble because of what we have already known to be true; “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” (Lamentations 3:22 KJV)
Earlier I told you that we would seek to answer just one question, “Are we alone in the storm?” The answer is that we are not alone because God never changes! His mercies are always with us and His compassion never fails!
We are not alone in the storm. Amen.
