“Where Is Your Faith?”
Luke 8.22-25
October 4, 2015 CFBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
A I have a 1989 Cajun Special boat w/ a 40 hp Mariner Motor.
1 I love that boat, but the motor is sketchy.
a Last summer Lake and I were running trotlines on the Kaskaskia, in a slew that looks something out of Lord of the Rings.
aa The motor won’t crank over, we’re 3 miles from camp and an eerie feeling falls on us.
bb More so with Lake, I’ve been stranded before. . . I know the motor is sketchy.
cc Thankfully, a guy with a $140k boat comes by and tows our boat to within our camp (Lemond & Fred Sanford)
b A few summers back, we’re running jugs in Pinckneyville in the darkest of night and the worst storm I’ve ever seen comes up, white caps, winds kick up, lighting is filling the sky and we’re out trying to get our jugs.
aa I thought on that night that I might not make it back home. (Obviously, I did.)
bb There is a unique fear that comes upon you when you think you have the potential to die on the water. You start praying.
B Jesus and His disciples were in Capernaum (on the northwest tip of the Sea of Galilee). SHOW MAP
1 The Sea of Galilee (also known as Lake Gennesaret, Sea of Chinnereth, Sea of Tiberias, Sea of Galilee) is about 13 miles wide, 7 miles long.
a It’s the main source of water for Israel & Jordon.
aa It sits at about 680 feet below sea level, making it the lowest freshwater lake on the entire planet.
bb It receives its water from Jordan River on the northern part of the lake, exits from the south into the Dead Sea, which is 1,300 feet below sea level.
b She’s situated in a bowl-shape of the Jordan Valley, surrounded by steep hills on all sides, which is why storms kick up there out of the blue.
aa Cooler air from higher elevations and the Golan Heights rush into bowl, collides with the warmer air near the lakes surface, and you have a tempest in a tea cup.
bb In 1992, this lake created 10 feet waves that crashed into the city of Tiberias causing serious damage.
2 This is the Sea that men like Peter, James, John & Andrew had a living as fishermen.
a After a long day of ministering, teaching that Jesus told the disciples to get on a boat, we’re headed out.
b Luke 8:22-25 (NASB) 22 Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out. 23 But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger.24 They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.
25 And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"
3 I found a great deal of encouragement in these four verses that I hope I remember when rough times come. . . and I hope you do too.
a Vs. 22, “Now on one of those days . . .”
aa Have you ever had “one of those days?” (Sure)
bb Maybe yesterday was, maybe today is, maybe tomorrow will be . . . but rest assured, you will have one of those days.
b In the text we see how to react when we have “one of those days.”
c Let’s look at three constants that have never changed that can offer us encouragement when we have “one of those days.”
I The Devils is going to do what he does. (Raises storms)
A The Devil knew Jesus was go across the lake because Jesus spoke it into the atmosphere.
1 Scripture tells us that the devil is “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2.2.)
a There is no reason to doubt that this life-threatening storm was not caused by the evil one.
aa When they launched out we’re not told that it looked like bad weather, storm clouds.
bb I promise you Peter, James, John or Andrew would have said something it looked sketchy.
b The Bible says, “. . . a fierce gale of wind descended upon the lake” v.23
2 This was powerful storm that began to swamp the boat . . . waves lapping up over its sides . . .taking on huge amounts of water.
a The storm was putting the lives of the disciples in danger.
b The devil knew what Jesus had planned and he did his very best to stop what Jesus had planned.
B The devil does what the devil does and that is raising up storms (always with God’s approval), but that is what he does.
1 He tries to prevent, stop what God wants to do in your life.
a If he can’t prevent/stop then he’ll try to disrupt it.
b He’s not above swamping our lives with doubt, pain, anguish, brokeness, depression, despair, hurt.
aa How far is he willing to go?
bb He wouldn’t care if you we’re on the bottom of the lake.
2 I’m not saying the devil causes every “one of those days” but I blame him for a lot of them.
a He will do everything in his power to sink your boat, and kill God’s plan for you.
b He doesn’t want your marriage to work, children to grow up (or in Christ), happy, blessed, healthy, operating in the spirit, church to be operating in the outpouring . . .he’s very very good and doing what he does.
c He’s not in red spandex with a plastic pitchfork and horns, he was God’s most powerful and smartest angel and he’s out to destroy you & disrupt God’s plan for your life.
II Jesus is going to do what Jesus does. (Calms storms)
A Jesus knew they we’re going to get about 3 miles from land the bottom was going to drop out of the sky.
1 He said, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake” anyway.
a In my heart, I think Jesus was looking for an opportunity to show “the prince of the power of the air” who the King of kings was.
b If Jesus said “Let us go to the other side” there wasn’t a storm strong enough to stop them from getting to the other side of that lake.
aa When the winds/rain picked up, waves coming over the side of the boat, Jesus wasn’t freaking out ... sleeping.
bb He knew that He called the shots, on a mission, had an appointment to free a man with 2,000 demons in him on the other side of the lake. . . there wasn’t a wave tall enough to stop Him.
2 The disciples, scared to death, woke up Jesus and He rebuked the wind, “Hush, be still” (Mark 4.39) and it stopped.
a Skeptics say that just as quickly as storms start on the lake, they also stop.
b But can’t explain away these words, “and it became calm.”v.24
aa It takes a bit for waters to calm down after a storm, but not this time.
bb He not only stopped the wind, He calmed the effects of the wind had on the water.
B When Jesus gives us a promise, just get in the boat.
1 If He tells you to get in the boat, know that Jesus is getting in the boat with you.
a He has promised to never leave, abandon, forsake us, give us more than we and He can handle together.
b You and me can go anywhere Christ goes with us: if Christ sends His disciples He goes with them.
2 We never have to worry about Jesus doing what He does, He calms the storm.
a When He doesn’t calm the storm, He’ll ride the storm us with us.
b When He is on board, guiding your life . . . He is faithful.
III A Disciple Does What A Disciple Does. (Follow Jesus)
A They got in the boat trusting that Jesus knew what He was doing. (Master says we’re going to the other side, let’s roll!)
1 When Jesus says something to a genuine disciple they do as they’re told.
a In Jesus ministry there different levels of disciples.
aa Some followed to see Him do the stuff, hear Him preach but never embraced Him fully, not fully committed to Him.
bb John 6.66, “. . .many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”
cc When a would be disciple said to Him, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home” (Luke 9.61) Jesus replied, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God” (v.62).
b A real, genuine, authentic disciple will manifest not only repentance, confession, but also the obedience & perseverance to stay with Him.
2 The disciples trusted Jesus when they were in Capernaum, but when the storm struck up . . . they had some doubts.
a Faith wasn’t necessary in Capernaum because everything was tight: Faith wasn’t necessary in the boat when it was smooth sailing.
b When the storm got kicked off, that’s when faith really shows what it is made of and this storm tested their faith.
B We’ve all had “one of those days” and find ourselves in the middle of hurricane and feel like Jesus is asleep.
1 A disciple will take their concerns to Jesus. “Master, Master, we are perishing!” (v.24)
(Jesus been hitting the snooze button for 16 minutes, waiting for the disciples to get desperate.)
a Jesus never leaves us when we are where He has lead us.
b Do not ever doubt in the dark what God has revealed to you in the light.
2 A disciple will get in the boat knowing that storms are sure to come.
a It isn’t always easy being a disciple, but I’d rather being in a little jon boat with Jesus in the middle of a storm than standing on dry ground by myself.
b This is where faith becomes our reality.
aa The devil doesn’t care how many bible verses you know . . . how much bible truth you learn because that’s all academic truth AND he knows academic truth isn’t dangerous.
bb The devil knows active truth is mess up his plans.
cc The devil doesn’t care how much you know about the Bible, he can’t stand it when you begin to act upon it, live it, really believe what we say we believe.
3 A disciple’s faith isn’t proven in Capernaum. . .it’s proven on the lake.
a It’s when your scared to death, think you’re all alone, all is lost, might not make it through, . . .that’s where your faith is tested.
aa Faith that hasn’t been tested can’t be trusted.
bb Your faith will either rise or fall only when there are waves coming in the boat
b Remember that Jesus, the master of the wind, is on board.
aa He’s promises are good, His mercies they fail not.
bb God has never made a promise that is too good to be true!
bb IL. D.L. Moody was told by a woman, “I have found a wonderful promise! Psalm 56.3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.” “Let me give you a better one, “ said Moody and he quoted Isaiah 12.2, “Behold God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.”
c If Jesus is on-board, you trust Him. . . even if your storm results in physical death . . .you will arrive to where He has promised to take you. “Tho He may slay me, yet I will trust in Him.”
Conclusion:
A Review:
The devil does what he does: causes storms.
Jesus is going to do what He does: calms storms.
A disciple is going to do a disciple does: follow Jesus.
B
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Mike Fogerson
