The story is told about a test given to a Harvard Divinity Class in the Doctoral program. As you well know, Harvard is one of the most prestigious places of learning, so this group was viewed as the cream of the crop. It was a very clever test I might add that I believe speaks to this text as well as the issue of faith and action. The class was entitled, Christianity, Christians and Faith. The professor created this 15 week class and presented great lecturers and prominent lecturers to stand before this body and deposited principles, precepts, and practices on Christianity, faith, trust, and the word of God (Being a Moral Christian).
He then created a 4 hour test at the end of those 15 weeks on Being a Moral Christian, predicated upon all the lessons and lectures they had heard. He placed a 15 minute break at the 2 hour mark, so they were aware of the break. The test was difficult, challenging, and thorough.
When the 2 hour mark came they were all glad, the professor instructed them that they had 20 minutes for break and told them that refreshments and snacks were prepared for them right out side the class in the courtyard, but it was only a 20 minute break. The test would resume promptly at the end of the 20 minute break. What they were unaware of was that the break was a part of the test.
The professor had a young man in the court yard that was dirty and ragged, rumbling through the garbage as if he was looking for food. He also had a man that was placed at a distant but close enough to be seen lying in the bushes with soft moans and grunting. These students on their break saw that young man looking in the garbage and they heard the moans from the bushes, yet they drank their beverages, ate their snacks, and ignored the both of them. And at the 20 minute mark, they hurried back to the class room to finish taking the test on Being a Moral Christian.
As they all sat down in their seat and picked up their pencils to began, the professor said that the test is over, everyone is dismissed and that all would receive the same grade of F because all of them failed!
The class was shocked and confused, some said but it’s not over! We still have questions to answer, there are 2 hours left. Also, you have not even looked at our papers, so how can we all have the same grade?
The Professor said, I had you to hear great lectures and lecturers on this subject, you had engaging discussions on this subject, you wrote papers on the subject on Being A Moral Christian. Look out the window, that young disheveled and tattered gentleman looking through the garbage and that man that was over in the bushes are staff members here at Harvard and they were a part of my test.
You passed them by, you ignored them, and you made no effort at all to be of any assistance. You have been in class all these weeks learning and listening, but when the opportunity presented itself to be and to do; you demonstrated that you have more learning to do.
Here is that lesson for these disciples, but I believe it’s equally lessons for us as his God’s children. We spend times in the classrooms of our place of worship, hearing, discussing, and affirming, we come to the sanctuary and a word is deposited in us about the faith, trust, doing and not just being, and then we walk out into the arena life, only to need a greater lesson. That is exactly what happened in this story of Mark.
Mark outlines this for us with precise and yet practical details:
4:1 Jesus is busy teaching and a multitude gathers around him.
4:2-20 The story about the word of God having root and growing, and what keeps it from growing in you.
4:21-25 The story of the lamp (symbol of your faith and belief), do not hide it. It should be obvious.
4:30-35 The story of the Mustard seed faith.
This entire day had been focusing on putting your faith to work, putting your faith into operative mode so that that faith builds you up and helps you get stronger. They had spent time with Jesus being built up and developed.
Romans 10:17 does say, that faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God.
We know according to Romans 5:3, trials, testing, tribulations produces perseverance, and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
And notice what it says in verse 35, which I think is essential: The same day: (when even had come, Jesus says let’s go to the other side)
The same day after hearing these wonderful principles!
The same day after being exposed to deep truths!
The same day after being filled with living lessons and applications on faith!
The same day after watching and observing their master pour into them passionate and personal nuggets of faith!
They experienced a storm on the Sea of Galilee!
The storms of life literally becomes the real test of our faith!
The storms of life really becomes the place where we are challenged to practice our faith! The real test of our faith is not in the place of worship, it’s in the place of living each day. The real test of our faith is not what we say we believe its how we behave in the face of the storms.
The bible says that a storm arose on the Sea of Galilee;
Matthew tells the same story and he uses the word in Matthew 8:24, a “tempest” in the sea:
Violent earthquake, a vibration that shakes sideways, a movement that agitates and trembles.
What a word, not just a little rumbling on the sea, but a violent shaking that caused the entire sea to be agitated.
1. Sometimes we find our selves being shaken from side to side, experiencing the internal violence of fear and the external violence of frustration.
2. Sometimes we have those life moments of spiritual tempest. Shaken, Agitated, Unstable, the winds of indecision blowing on the fabric of our faith, blowing through the cells of our mental faith. Sometimes we fill as if the winds of worries and uncertainty will win. The tempests of life will do that.
But life and circumstances are testing your faith!!!!!!! So here is what I would just suggest to you and leave at the entrance of your heart!
I. Storms can be used to Develop your Faith vs. Destroying Your Future.
The severity of the storms will make you think this is destruction; it may be the intent from the source and spirit of the storm. But you decide this is going to be a developing experience not a destruction.
A. As a matter of fact, decide this is going to be a construction experiencing.
> In the storm I am going to build a stronger prayer life.
> I am going to build a stronger foundation on His word.
> I am going to build a deeper faith in His word!
> I am going to build a more determined spirit that my attitude will glorify God.
> I am going to allow the storm to draw me closer to Him and not drive me farther away from Him.
> I am going to come out of this with a grateful heart and a deeper appreciation of who God is and who I am in God. And if the storm leaves you at ground zero, decide that I am going to place something there more glorious.
You have to have this attitude that I know I can make it, I know that I can stand. No matter what comes my way, my life is in your hands. (With Jesus I can take it, with Him I know I can stand, no matter what comes my way, my life is in His hands)!
So when your tests and trial they seem to get you down, and all your friends and love ones are nowhere to be found, Remember there’s a friend in Jesus who will wipe your tears away, and if your heart is broken , just lift your hands and say…
B. A faith that is not tested may be a faith that can not be trusted.
1. That was David’s context of faith; the God that he served delivered him from the paws and grips of a lion and a bear.
2. Your faith has to be tested to be reliable!
3. Caleb argued that in the latter years of his life, when Caleb went to get the mountain, they suggested to Caleb that he may not be up to the test. Caleb’s said, I am just as strong these days I was some 4O years ago. What Caleb was actually saying that God was just real and able now as he was 40 year ago.
II. Storms will reveal the Dominion of your Deliver!
The storm on the sea Galilee revealed the disciples helplessness which drove them to seek Him.
Their deficits, their weakness, their lack of faith were revealed to them. It exposed them to their limitations.
At the same time it opens to them a deliver that was unlimited.
They saw Him as a great teacher!
They had never heard a man speak like Him before!
But the storm provided an opportunity for Him to introduce himself in ways they had not thought up.
They went below to awake Him, because the storm did not disturb him! He was sleep in the storm!
The storm disturbed them, but He was at peace! He was just as much god asleep as he was awake!
> He was more disturbed by the storm that was in them than the storm they were in!
1. Our tears gets His attention
2. Our fear gets His attention
3. Our darkness gets His attention
4. Our troubles get His attention
5. Our trials gets His attention
They asked Him, Master don’t you care we are about to perish!
The Storms will cause you to forget what He said; He said that they were going to the other side!
He walks up to the deck and says peace be still!!
And every thing was calm!
1. They said: What matter of man is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!
They discovered something about Him in the Storm they did not know before the storm!
They discovered that!
The wind obeys His voice!
The rain obeys His voice!
The lightening obeys His voice!
The sea obeys His voice!
He is the great I am!!!
He is the great Deliver!
He is the great Conqueror!
He is the Supreme Savior!
He can do any thing! He can speak to every dilemma in your life!
He cane get into every storm!
Just stay close to Him!
Just stay near Him!!
Just keep in contact with Him!
It does not mean that the storm will not rise, but He is with you to calm the storms!
