Deliverance in the Storms of Life
Given at Living Water Evangelical Church
December 2008
Main Text: Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 8:23-27
8:23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
8:24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
8:25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
8:26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
8:27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"
Main Point: The Lord is able to deliver, even in the storms of life.
I. Introduction: Tension
We can stress, and we do stress.
James 1:2 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
It's easier said than done, though what is done is most important!
James does give us good reason to be joyful --
James 1:3 - because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Our natural reaction to big problems is to freak out. We get massively stressed.
But let's look over this Matthew 8 passage in detail...
Prior to verse 23, it's worth noting that Jesus just had an extremely hectic day in Capernaum. Crowds were following and pressing in on him, people were asking Him questions, He was teaching them, and He healed many. With all this going on, and knowing that Jesus did have full humanity, it was understandable that He was extremely tired!
(23) Note that Jesus gets into the boat and His disciples follow after Him. Jesus did not push His disciples into disaster's way and abandon them. At least 13 were in the boat, so it had to have been at least fairly sizable.
(24) We see in verse 24 that Jesus was indeed so tired that He was sleeping through a furious storm! The geographic setting is also interesting and important to the passage...
Jesus and His disciples were sailing from Capernaum to Gadarenes, which requires a trip on the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee has an elevation of 600 feet below sea level, so violent storms often occur without much warning (ref: Evans 133). Winds whip down off surrounding hills and mountains to produce extreme problems on the sea for even the best of boats.
Some scholars call this storm a 'microburst' -- an extremely violent storm that comes without due warning.
(25) The disciples have a natural reaction -- fear for their lives. In the parallel passage in Luke 8, the text notes that their boat began filling with water.
(26) Jesus rebukes the disciples. Remember that He started the journey, and that He was also fully Divine. He had just healed so many people, cast out demons, and done miraculous wonders in front of them.
Jesus also rebukes the storm, and it obeys by calming down. This shows Jesus' wondrous power over Creation.
(27) The men then ponder in awe as to the person of Jesus.
If the wind and waves obey Him, why not follow suit in a personal way?
II. Prescription
Paul gives us a prescription --
Philippians 4:6-8
4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.
The LORD knows our needs.
Matthew 6:31-32
6:31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
6:32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
In prayer...
Matthew 6:7-8
6:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
So when we have Tension regarding the storms of life, remember that the LORD knows what we are going through, and that He has power over everything. He is SOVEREIGN.
When we know that, we can have a whole lot less tension and a sense of stillness as we know that He is God. Pray, trust, and know that whatever happens to complicate life can be helped dramatically through trust in God and obedience in acting to honor Him.
Psalm 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
III. Rest
Matthew 11:28-30
11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Bibliography
Evans, Craig A. Luke. New International Biblical Commentary. W. Ward Gasque, Ed. (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1990).
