This week we are continuing our sermon series being tandem with God.
As we discussed last week being in tandem,
is like being in partnership, cooperating with God.
It doesn’t mean it that we are equal with God, but that we work with God.
And today we are looking at what it means to be in tandem with God, when the storms hit.
How do you respond to storms in your life?
We are blessed with exceptional roads between Launceston and Burnie.
And so most of the time when a heavy storm hits I continue driving, being determined to get to my destination.
However occasionally when a very heavy storm hits I tend to stop, and wait for that heaviness to pass.
What about when storms hit your life.
When you either see a storm coming or out of the blue a storm hits you.
Hits you as a parent.
Hits you as an employee or former employee.
Hits your health.
Hits your relationships.
Hits your children.
How do you react when you see coming towards you or when they hit you.
Most of us will know that storms are part of life.
If we are alive storms will affect us.
Some people attempt to avoid storms.
However something that often happens is when we attempt to avoid the storm
we actually focus on the storm rather than other good things in our life.
We dedicate a lot of effort to avoiding the storm that not only do we miss out on seeing and experiencing some of the good things around us as they are meant to be,
but we in fact get hit with another unexpected storm.
Storms are part of life.
And as disciples of Jesus Christ we will experience storms.
And today’s Gospel Reading gives us an insight into one of the circumstances when storms will hit.
Open your bibles to verses 22 to 24 of Matthew 14 and let’s hear again what caused the disciples to experience a storm.
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Now today’s Gospel reading follows the reading we heard last week, the feeding of the 5000.
This was set in Jewish territory.
Territory familiar to Jesus and the disciples
However Jesus instruction to the disciples means they are to go into Gentile territory.
A territory with different customs, values and different ways of doing things.
And as they went to the other side,
As they went into new territory
they encountered a weather storm.
A strong wind.
Going to the other side meant they encountered a storm.
And this is exactly what Jesus told them to do.
Jesus told them to them to go to the other side.
And as they did they encountered a storm.
And Jesus tells us too to go the other side.
Remember as disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to ‘Go and make disciples”
And going to the other side,
entering new territory
often means that we will encounter a storm.
We are dealing with people and situations which are different.
We are dealing with people in a different way.
We are often going outside our comfort zone.
And when we go outside our comfort zone, we often encounter a storm.
Working in tandem with God involves ‘going to the other side’
Working in tandem with God involves experiencing something different,
Even though this is something we are meant to be doing.
I remember some years ago in High School I was needed to see the principal for something positive.
As I waited, I had butterflies in my stomach, my palms were sweaty.
Simply, because I had only ever seen the principal on stage, during assembly and this situation was unfamiliar.
As disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to go to the other side
Into the unfamiliar and we may encounter a storm.
Because we experiencing situations or people who are unfamiliar to us.
This may be a new geographic area.
But it may also be dealing with a different generation or people who have different values and experiences that are still consistent with Christianity.
And this may be uncomfortable for us but simply because it is uncomfortable does not mean we are to avoid the situations.
Part of our calling as disciples of Jesus is to walk through the storms that Jesus’ calling leads us to.
But storms are confronting aren’t they?
However when storms hit remember that we are not alone in the storm.
Jesus offers us comfort and protection.
As Jesus’ disciples he is constantly with us.
Listen again to Jesus as he approached the boat during the storm and the disciples thought he was a ghost.
From verse 27
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid."
This is the most important phrase in today’s reading.
The it is I….in the greek actually says ‘I am’
Jesus is saying ‘I am’.
Now you may recall the story of the Burning Bush when God revealed himself as God to Moses.
Moses had been trying to do everything to avoid being selected by God as the one to lead God’s people out of Egypt,
And when he asked who can I say has sent me, listen to what God says in Exodus chapter 3 verse14
14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. b This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.”
When God says “I am” he is revealing that He is God.
And when Jesus says “I am” he is revealing that He is God.
Think about what that means.
As the disciples encounter a storm Jesus is saying He is God. God is with them.
Now sometimes people have a romantic view of the disciples that they were 100% sure that Jesus was God, however as we read the scriptures we see that this is not the case but as they journeyed with Jesus he revealed to them and others that He is God.
And when you are about to encounter a storm or in the middle of a storm God is with you.
And the comfort and shelter that Jesus gives us is not dependant on how strong our faith is.
Listen to verse 28
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Peter only began sinking when he took his eyes off Jesus and focussed on the storm.
And this is when we will sink to.
Jesus will always help us and rescue us from the storms we face as disciples.
Jesus saves and protects us from the storms in one of two ways.
Probably my most popular prayer whenever I sense a storm coming is.
God please don’t let it happen.
May this or that problem not happen.
Occasionally this occurs.
But often God chooses to answer my prayers differently.
Often the storms occur,
however God not only protects us from the severe negative effects of the storm,
but the storms help us grow and help us see life from a different perspective.
Now think about your own situation.
What situations is God placing in your life to be his disciple that may result in you experiencing a storm?
Begin by relying on him to help you through it.
Start with prayer.
Ask God to help you, to protect you, to give you strength to live through the storm.
Ask God to show you his ways.
And listen to His perspective on life.
Listen to what he says.
Open up his scriptures.
And rather than be concerned about the storm.
Keep your eyes on Jesus to help you through the storm.
Remember Jesus will help you be one of His disciples.
And being in tandem with God means relying on God, means relying on Jesus.
We rely on God for our heavenly home.
We rely on God for faith.
We rely on God for help through life, particularly the stormy parts of life.
And when we do we will reach the same point as the disciples had experienced the storm with Jesus.
Listen to verse 32 onwards.
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Being in tandem means we worship God because He is God.
That is what we are doing today.
We worship God not because there are no storms, but because God is with us as we experience the storms.
Because Jesus is always with us.
Because Jesus will rescue us now and will rescue us from sin.
Let us pray
Amen
