The Great Commission
Part 4 – Jesus Calms the Storm
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org : www.TruthDigest.org
WELCOME
† The Sermon on the Mount.
† He and his Disciples and Apostles begin to travel from Galilee to Capernaum.
† Jesus heals the Centurion’s servant.
† He then has dinner in a Pharisees home where He was anointed by a sinful woman who had repented.
† Jesus then returns to Galilee preaching along the way.
† Jesus Calms the Storm.
SCRIPTURE READING
Mark 4:35 – 41 Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?"
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
I. BY JESUS’ WORD
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.
a. After teaching and healing the people all day
i. This takes place after Jesus taught many parables.
ii. And He healed many people this day.
iii. There were many around, much had been done.
iv. Then Jesus commanded the Apostles.
1. Let us go over to the other side. (sea of Galilee)
b. This is a picture of our life and walk
i. Jesus led the Apostles to more work in His name.
ii. Jesus was doing the work (teaching & healing)
iii. When it was done, Jesus said “it’s time to move”
1. If you belong to the Lord, He will do a work around you.
2. When He is done, He will tell you to move.
c. Obeying the Word (command) of Jesus
i. Jesus commanded the Apostles & they obeyed.
ii. Jesus instructs us to obey all He commands.
1. How do you know what Jesus commands?
a. Read God’s Word
b. Go to Bible Studies
c. Meditate on His Word for understanding
2. What Jesus commands, we must obey as the Apostles
iii. This is part of being “doers of the Word”
1. Be doers, not just hearers…
James 1:21 & 22
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
2. Faith without deeds (works) is dead…
James 2:16 - 18
16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
Claimed Faith blesses no one!
True Faith helps others!
Proper Faith WILL produce proper works.
3. We can have the tools right in front of us, but if we do not use them…
I have a lawn. That lawn grows. I have a lawn mower, and a weed eater.
I can have the faith they will start, run and do the job. But unless I actually GO, and be a DOER, my faith without works, or action is DEAD.
People can have faith in the Lord all day, but there are some things we must DO, or that faith is dead and faith with no action will accomplish NOTHING.
So when Jesus commands, we, who are followers of Christ, Obey. WE DO!
II. THE STORM THEN COMES
37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
a. Jesus was sound asleep / resting peacefully
i. The storm cam AFTER THEY OBEYED HIS WORD.
ii. In life, most of our storms will come AFTER we Obey His Word.
1. When we are doers of the Word – we are attacked
a. By Satan (Jesus after 40 day fast)
b. By friends & family (Job)
c. By coworkers & neighbors
d. Sometimes by ourselves…
b. They cry out in fear
i. The Apostles cry out in fear of death.
They say, “The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don’t you care if we drown (LIT. Die)?"
ii. Where was Jesus at their time of need?
1. Jesus was with them!
2. 38 Jesus was at the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
3. GOD…Don’t you care if I die???
a. Questions to God in times of Storms.
i. Where are you?
ii. Why me?
iii. Why this?
iv. This isn’t fair!
4. How quickly we forget who our King is…
a. Questions to you about who God is…
i. Doesn’t the Word say, “And lo, I am with you always”
Genesis 26:24 - God to Abraham
Do not be afraid, for I am with you
Joshua 3:7 – God to Joshua
I am with you as I was with Moses
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Jeremiah 1:8
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:19
They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
Haggai 1:13
Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: "I am with you," declares the LORD.
Matthew 28:20
…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Is the Lord with you??
He is if He is your Lord!
ii. Doesn’t the Word say, “The narrow path is difficult, and FEW find it.” The storms make it difficult.
iii. Storms are one of a few things…
1. Attack because you are on the narrow path. Such as our scripture today.
2. Or, Correction from God because you were on the narrow path but left it.
3. Or as in Paul’s case, allowed to remind you of your position in the Lord, so you do not become prideful. God’s grace is sufficient.
c. Command, obey, storms, The Lord
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Jesus heard His children, commanded the storm to stop, and it obeyed.
And why wouldn’t it? He is the mighty creator, Lord of Lord’s, and King of King’s!
How quickly we forget…
III. CALL ON JESUS
We forget to call on Jesus in our time of need…
We forget His power and authority…
We forget, most of the times we think we need Him, we really don’t!
The Apostles didn’t need Him in this storm…Jesus tells them so in the next verse.
Why should they have let Jesus sleep?
He was tired from a day of ministering to hundreds, or more!
He had been teaching in parables, answering questions about the Kingdom, preaching and teaching and healing multitudes.
His physical body needed rest.
But why should the Apostles not feared the storm?
a. Jesus commanded
i. Jesus’ Word.
1. Let’s go to the other side of the sea.
a. The Lord SAID IT, so it would be!
b. God’s Word will accomplish
i. What God says, WILL be.
c. Storms & opposition will come, but God’s Word will be done
i. We need to be ready for storms in our lives when we are on the narrow path.
ii. Expect them, and be prepared.
iii. This is why God gave us the Whole armor in Ephesians 6:18 so that we may be able to do battle in His name!
iv. Faith is our shield.
v. The Word of God our sword.
vi. Our breastplate is His Righteousness!
vii. Our helm is Salvation.
viii. On our feet, shoes READY to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
ix. The belt of Truth which holds our sword.
And with this, we will be able to withstand the attacks of the evil one.
For we battle NOT against flesh and blood, but against
Principalities – rulers in Satan’s spiritual kingdom
Against powers – those who follow the rulers of Satan’s kingdom
Against rulers of darkness of THIS world – those who carry out the instructions of the powers
Against spiritual wickedness in high places - demons
This is the order of our enemy.
IV. FEAR IS THE BEGINNING OF UNDERSTANDING
But Jesus IS Lord! Lord of ALL!
40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
a. Why are you fearful?
b. How is it YOU have no faith?
c. They feared Him Exceedingly
41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
CONCLUSION
If you are a follower of Christ, He will lead you.
When He commands, we as follower will obey.
When He commands, what He commands WILL COME TO BE!
† God spoke to me many years ago saying “I will make you a pillar in my Church.”
† God said also, “You will teach my Word to my People.”
† God Said, “This church is a seed in this community.”
When we obey, the storms WILL COME.
But we need not fear.
If we are moving IN the WORD of GOD, what He says WILL BE!
And no weapon formed against us will prosper!
BUT, we must be moving in HIS WORD, not our own and asking God to bless our efforts.
Do not fear the storm, but the one who commands it.
For the fear of the Lord is the beginning to understanding.
Understanding that is He commands even the wind and sea, He can command the storms of your life.
He can do that right now, today!
You have the faith that saves you, and heals you.
Put that faith in action!
Make today the day you chose to become a DOER of God’s Word in your life!
