Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
Sermon Series - Drawing Close to Jesus
Sermon #2 - A Devil of A Storm
-See part one - "Steps to drawing close to Jesus - obedience, separation and invitation"
Proposition: The Devil will do all He can to stop, stagnate and to have us abandon our walk with Jesus -
1. Satan will create a storm
2. Satan will create a spirit of terror, confusion leading to doubt/dispair
3. However, Jesus will bring peace and revelation if we allow Him
INTRO:
There is an old story about a conversation between the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his side kick, Dr. John Watson. Apparently, they were on a camping trip and Holmes decided to wake up his friend in the middle of the night so they could have a serious discussion. Waking Watson, Sherlock asked him to look up at the sky and tell him what he saw -
Well, said Watson, I see a million stars or more
What does that tell you Dr. Watson, asked Sherlock?
Dr. Watson pondered for a moment and attempted to answer in the way he thought Sherlock would appreciate -
Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of stars, galaxies and potentially billions of planets like earth.
Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo
Time wise, the stars tell me that it is about 3:15 in the morning
Theologically, it tells me that Our Lord is all powerful and that you and I dear Holmes are small and somewhat insignificant.
Meteorologically, it tells me that we are going to have fair skies the rest of the day.
Why, Sherlock what does the stars tell you?
Well, dear Watson, looking up at the stars - They first and foremost tell me that someone has stolen our tent.
It is easy to look at something and miss the most obvious of things. And what is true of the open sky when someone has taken your tent can also happen to us when we look at scripture. It is easy to miss the most obvious of things in reading and meditating on a scriptural passage.
A couple of weeks ago, we began looking at Mark 4:35-41 where our evangelist is sharing with us ways to use to grow spiritually in the LORD. We examined verses 35 and 36 and discovered three ways that will lead us to growing deeper in the LORD.
1. We must choose to live a life of obedience to the LORD's commands and leadings
2. Separate ourselves to Jesus - we must come out of the crowd and follow Jesus - we must live a sanctified life
3. We must invite Jesus into our boat - we must allow Jesus in our lives, hearts and minds.
There is a tendency to read such a passage and think that after we implement those things in our lives, then things will suddenly go right in our lives. And while that is true (things will go better in our lives) there is something else that is also true. The Bible tells us that we will come under spiritual attack as well.
Remember Isaac Newton's third law? Remember it is - " For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" is true not only in physics but can be true in spirituality. For when a person decides to grow closer to the LORD, one must naturally expect that the Devil will do his best to stop that growth and action in our lives.
For you and I have a supernatural enemy the Bible calls Satan or the Devil. Mark shows us, that is Evil Being will do everything to stop us from following Jesus and from believing in Jesus. Our spiritual battles are not over once we have allowed Jesus into our boat. In fact, the closer we get to the LORD the more fierce the Devil will attack us and attempt to defeat us. For at times as we see in this passage, the Devil will bring up a Hellish storm in our lives to defeat us and to get us to doubt our Savior's love and concern. He will muster up all the forces of evil to defeat us, cause us to despair and hopefully cause us to disengage. For once we have disengaged, then we slowly stagnate and die spiritually.
How does Satan, that old liar operate? What does he do and what can he do to bring us down spiritually? Let's look at Mark 4:35 - 41 again and we will notice a couple of things that the Devil will throw against us to deceive and destroy us. And after noticing them we will see what we can do to stay victorious. For Jesus provides for us a way to defeat the Devil not just once or twice, but as He did, Jesus makes a way for us to have victory over the Devil and his schemes.
I. First of all, Mark tells us that the Devil can and will create a storm in our lives
"And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling" - verse 37
Mark wants us to be aware that this is no simple storm. This was not one of the normal storms that happened on the Sea of Galilee at this time of the year. This weather event has a diabolical purpose and has been created for a reason. The prince of the air, the Evil One is the one who is stirring up the winds and the waves to defeat and conquer Jesus and His followers. This storm is supernatural.
The Bible tells us that Satan has been given certain powers over our the Earth. For example, in Job chapter one, the devil was able to pull fire down from heaven along with stirring up what had to be a tornado of some kind. It was all done to destroy Job's faith and witness in God. The Apostle Paul speaks in Ephesians 6 of Satan's power around the earth in the form of principalities and rulers.
Here in Mark's passage the devil takes control of the wind and the waves for the purpose of destroying Jesus and his disciples. He attempts to create a situation that will defeat the Son of God and the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. He wants nothing more than to destroy God and God's Kingdom.
And while you and I live in a very technological and scientific age that does not want acknowledge that the elements can be the hands of a supernatural being, we must understand that science does will never have all the answers. The sciences and the Scientific Method are wonderful tools that can help us with knowledge and wisdom, but they are not God. They are not infallible. God's Word is Truth and what the Bible says is Truth, plain and simple. If the Bible says that supernatural beings can at times affect our planet then we must understand that there will be those storms that arise in our lives that have a supernatural underlining. There will be time in our lives that we will face things that will originate from Evil itself.
While it is possible to look at this story and explain away all the ways the storm could have arisen, due to current weather conditions and times of the year, it would not explain why it happened when and where it happened. Mark provides for us these answers. Mark tells us that
a. Jesus wanted to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee - about a seven mile boat journey during the cool of the evening
b. Jesus was exhausted so he laid down to sleep in the boat
c. Satan believed this was a perfect time to attack Jesus and his followers, so he did
The Devil decided that he would cause a storm to come up into the lives of Jesus most ardent disciples along with those who had that day just decided to follow Jesus. He thought a storm could undercut all that Jesus had taught and preached that day. He believed that he could use physically and emotional fear to destroy spiritual faith and trust.
We must understand that whenever the cause of Christ is being promoted, we must be ready for a storm. The devil will rarely attack a person who is not reading their Bible or praying or trying to do what is right. He will not waste either his time or his legion of demons on such a person. The devil simply does not concern himself with cold, dead Christianity or lukewarm Christianity. He has already won in both cases.
However, once a church or a person begins to open the Word and really study it, the Devil will begin to create some storms. Once a church begins to understand the importance of prayer the Devil will do all he can to create some storms. For when we read, when we pray and when we worship the LORD we grow in strength and power spiritually. The closer we get to the LORD the greater a threat and enemy we become to Satan. Jesus tells us that the gates of hell will not prevail, but there has to be soldiers wearing the armor of God in the battle (see Ephesians chapter six).
Satan is a liar, deceiver and a murderer. And there is nothing he will not attempt to do to stop the cause of the Kingdom of God. He will create whatever kind of storm that is needed to stop people from reading, from studying, from praying and from coming to worship the LORD. For he knows that he can not stop a Spirit-filled and Spirit-filled Christian or local Body of Christ.
We so often come to church and fail to understand this principle fact. We fail to understand that the devil hates for us to read God's word. He hates for us to sing God's praises. He hates for us to spend time in prayer. He hates everything and anything that will uplift the name of Jesus.
And so, way before we even get here to church he is doing his best to create little storms in our lives and families. Storms that will keep us from opening our Bibles and being saturated with the Word of God. Storms that will keep us from coming out to pray and growing closer to our LORD. Unasked prayer requests are unanswered prayers and so the Devil does everything to keep us from praying for ourselves, our families and our church. The Devil will do anything that will keep us from being consistent and steadfast. He will deceive us into thinking that if we have fellowship with one another that is all that we need to do. That if we eat and share time with one another that is all that is necessary.
We do need fellowship - but it must be Koinonia fellowship. Koinonia is explained in Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. We are to eat with one another and share time with one another.
But it has to be more than just eating and talking - it is eating and talking centered around the Bible, around prayer and the sharing of the Lord's Supper. It is sharing sacred space with one another and with the LORD.
The Devil will even try to deceive us that everything has to be spontaneous . That for things to be really spiritual, there can be no planning. We have to always get thing immediately and we always are looking for spiritual goose bump moments.
Satan distracts us so we will be spiritually unprepared for his storms. He wants us to get side tracked, He wants us to go Sunday after Sunday thinking only about ourselves and never developing a plan to grow deeper in the LORD. Never meditating, fasting, praying or reading God's Word.
At the very least, he wants us to stay immature and childish in our spiritual walk with the LORD.
II. Secondly, the Devil will attempt to create an atmosphere of terror, turmoil and confusion
"and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling" - verse 37
"Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" - verse 38
The Devil knew Jesus was too much for him. He knew he could not destroy the Son of God. If Satan could have, he would already have been done long ago. Instead, the devil wanted to destroy those in the boat. And if he could not physically destroy them he would do his best to bring terror and turmoil into their lives, thereby destroying their faith and trust in the LORD.
The devil loves to create mischief. He loves to create waves that will upset our lives and create fear and confusion. Ever since he used the form of a serpent and spoke to Eve in the Garden, he has attempted to confuse humans about God's care and love for them.
Remember, up to the storm, everything was going fine. Jesus ministry was being accepted, people were following and people were learning what it meant to be a part of God's Holy Kingdom. Then that devil of a storm came and it was a devil of a storm. It was a storm full of thunder and lightning. It was a storm created by Satan that would no doubt had water spouts, hail and surging waves. It was a storm with a mission. Satan wanted Jesus' disciples to be overwhelmed with fear, terror and turmoil. He wanted them to become confused, not knowing where to turn or what to do. He wanted them to fear for their very lives. He wanted them to become depressed and full of doubt. He wanted them to be overwhelmed with fear.
Keep in mind, all the people in those boats were either seasoned fishermen or seasoned sailors. They knew these waters and they knew how to navigate them both during the day and the night. This were not inexperienced, they had endured a great many storms but never a storm like this one.
This one caused terror and dread. This one was from Satan himself and he was loving it.
For the Devil loves when the church or when individual are overwhelmed with fear and confusion. The Devil loves to scare the church to make it think that it can't win any of life's battles. The Devil loses to cause the church to fear anyone and everyone.
Think about it, when you are really afraid, you can imagine all kinds of strange things. Fear can make you irrational, it raises your blood pressure and it can even cause loss of vision clarity. Fear can stop you in your tracks and cause you to think and do all kinds of strange things.
The disciples and the others in the boats thought that they were going to die. They began to believe that this would be their last night on earth. They just knew that if a few hours their bodies would be washing up on shore.
Still worse, they began to believe that Jesus no longer cared about them. They thought Jesus had abandoned them. They thought that Jesus was going to allow all of them to perish. They thought Jesus was leading them to a watery grave.
Notice for example, how they woke Jesus up. It is out of a spirit of fear and torment. Their words are laced with anger and accusations. They don't understand why Jesus is not up helping them. Why is Jesus not taking his place dumping out the water in their boats or at least giving them some encouragement.
In the midst of this devil of a storm they forgot who Jesus was and what he could do.
If we are not careful we can and have at times done the same. We have made the same mistakes that these disciples were making by not trusting and believing in the power and presence of Jesus.
But thankfully, we see in verses 39 - 42 where we see:
III. Jesus steps forward and brings peace and revelation
Physically, Mark has told us that Jesus was worn out. It had been a long day and the gentleness of the waves had lulled him to sleep. It was night, the air was cool and it was just the right time to get a few minutes of sleep.
Jesus was so tired that he did not even wake up with all the lightning, thunder and the water getting in the boat. He did not even wake up with all the yelling and confusion. He was wore out.
He did not wake up, I think, because Jesus had learn to live a certain way . Jesus knew His Heavenly Father would take care of him no matter where he was or what storm he was having to endure. His confidence in His Heavenly Father allowed him to sleep while all Hell was breaking loose around Him.
And it is right here that Jesus takes a moment to teach his followers some quick lessons
Jesus wanted them to remember:
+OBEDIENCE IS A MUST - DO WHAT I SAY AND GO WHERE I SEND
+GETTING AWAY FROM THE CROWD IS A MUST - LISTEN ONLY TO ME
+INVITING ME INTO YOUR BOAT IS A MUST - I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU
+But then you have to trust and have faith that as long as I (JESUS) am in the boat nothing is going to happen that I can't handle. No storm is big enough or evil enough as long as you stay in the boat with me.
They did not realize it that night, but the man that had been sleeping in the boat was more than a rabbi and much more than a healer. Jesus was and is , the very Son of God, Himself. It took them a while to realize this fact and it wasn't until the resurrection and Pentecost that it finally sunk in the true identity of the one they called Jesus Christ.
In a way, this whole passage is rather comical if you pause to think about it. Here we have some fishermen and some savvy sailors wanting the help of a stone mason/carpenter. Why in the world would you ask a man who was skilled with a hammer and chisel to suddenly be the one to take over in the midst of a storm on the water. Rationally, Jesus would have been one of the last people to take over the sails or fight the waves.
Notice, they did not call him Prophet, Miracle Worker or Son of God - but teacher.
You see, when the Devil gets us all confused and full of fear we even forget who Jesus is.
Thankfully, God loves us so much that He steps in and reminds us quickly of His love, power and His grace.
Jesus wakes up and teaches them another vital lesson in their spiritual formation journey. Jesus is more powerful than storms, lightning or fear itself. Jesus is able to look at the sea and tell it to be quiet. He is able to take the world out of the hands of the Devil and remind it that He is its Creator and LORD.
Romans 8: 18-24 tells about creation groaning due to man's sin. Creation groans because it has to suffer at the hands of sinful man and the onslaughts of the Evil One. I can only imagine how pleased the wind and the water was in hearing the voice of Jesus, its Lord and Creator. How immediately they both responded to Jesus' voice and became still. All the elements were in the clutches and control of Satan for a moment or two, but here was one greater than Satan, that freed the wind and waves and allowed them to become calm. Jesus came and brought peace to both man and creation. If we allow Him, Jesus always brings peace and calm.
Jesus did not just rebuke the wind and the waves, instead, He really rebuked the one who was misusing them. Jesus freed them from evil, so that they could partner with him in getting him and his boats to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
Psalms 41:10 reminds us = Be still and know that I am God.
Oh, how difficult it is to be still when the waves and wind are all around us. How difficult it is to be still when our hearts are filled with turmoil and confusion.
We tend to grab all kinds of buckets of life around us and do our best to get the water out of our boat. We tend to yell at one another for help and yet we know at times that there is no human help that can really do the job. We tend to cry out to God in anger, blaming him for our problems and doubting whether or not He even loves us.
We find ourselves in a storm full of fear, confusion and turmoil and we more often than not doubt God and turn on one another.
It is at those time we need to go to Jesus. Only Jesus can bring the calm and peace we need.
In looking back over this story, I am not sure that Jesus was actually asleep. I mean how could he be asleep? With all that lightning and the clapping of thunder and the confusion going on all around him. With all that water coming into the boat. With all that yelling and thrashing around. I mean let's be honest - wouldn't someone have at least stepped on Jesus at least a couple of times and wouldn't the water have caused him to wake up?
I think it is more likely that Jesus was simply waiting to see if his disciples would ask for help or else take care of the storm themselves. And when he was asked, He immediately took care of things.
When the storms come and they will - the only true answer is Jesus.
There is a story I heard that I think can help us understand all of this as we close.
There was a young mother who was going through a great many storms in her life. She was at her wit's end and wanted to simply quit - quit being a mother, quit getting beat up by life and actually wanted to just quit living period. And so she went to see her own mom. She wanted to know what to do.
Praise the LORD for good moms because this older mom knew what to say. She listened to her daughter and without saying a word got up and motioned for her to come into the kitchen. Once there she got out three different pots and put them on the stove, filled them with water and turned the heat on high.
The she went and put into each pot a different ingredient:
1. In one - she put a bag of a carrots
2. In another one - she put in some eggs
3. And in the third one - she put in some coffee beans.
Then she sat down and started talking to her daughter again. In about 20 minutes she took the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She did the same with the eggs and using a dipper she poured the coffee in another bowl.
Then she asked her daughter what she saw - Carrots, eggs and coffee.
Feel each one she said -
The daughter felt the carrots, broke the shell off the eggs and sipped the coffee.
Confused she asked her mom what she was trying to say.
Her mom explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water. But each had reacted differently:
The carrots once were strong, hard and unrelenting, but the boiling water had softened them and now they were weak.
The eggs had been fragile. Only a thin layer of shell protected them. But the boiling water had hardened them. Even the innermost part of the egg now was hard.
But notice what happened with the coffee. The coffee changed the water. Now the water was full of the fragrance of the coffee beans. Instead of it being defeated by the water, it transformed the water. It made it a drink to be enjoyed and shared.
Then she looked at her daughter and asked - Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean.
Will you allow the storms of life make you weak and lose your flavor?
Will you allow the storms of life to make you hard?
Or will you allow the LORD to help you live as a coffee bean - to be a change agent. To be one in which God can use to bring a pleasant smell aroma to all those around you.
We will all face storms - the Devil will see to it.
But if we allow Jesus - we will not only weather the storm we will experience anew just who He is and what He can do.
