Title: Peace! Be Still!
Theme: To show that Jesus wants to still our storms.
Text: Mark 4:35 - 41
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!" (Mar 4:35-41)
Introduction
Vs. 35 - 36 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.
Jesus was tired after a long day of teaching. You can review his parables and teaching in the previous section and chapters. It is almost a list as on the sermon on the mount. Such as the seed of the sower, mustard seed and out life being a light. Jesus needed to get away. He tells His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side. This would be the other side of the sea of galilee.
Jesus was human just like us. He needed rest. He needed rest to clear His head. He needed rest to keep focused. He needed rest to put the priorities in the same place. We are not superman or woman we need rest. We need a sabbath, a day off. A day of worship and refocus.
As they are crossing this sea a “great storm” arises. Matthew tells us it was “a sudden storm”. This was not just a major storm this is a storm that quickly comes. The Bible implies that this was not just a regular storm but as we progress in the story this is a storm of the enemy. An attack.
Vs. 37 a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
This was an unexpected storm. Do you ever have unexpected storms in your life? You wake up that morning a think it is going to be a good day. Then you get the sudden news. The cancer is back, the relationship is strained. Your job is no longer favorable. The death of a loved one. It didn’t start out this way. As a matter of fact, you probably say to yourself, “I just want to go back to bed.”
This storm was sudden, powerful and it was overwhelming. It was coming in the boat. It is testing the faith of the disciples. There is no end in sight.
Where do storms come from?
Jonah’s storm was his own fault. Jonah was running from God and God needed to get his attention. Not all storms are for this reason but they must be recognized.
Life in general has storms. James describes them as “trials and tribulations”. The ups and downs of life. The storm should not be our focus the focus should be on Jesus.
Sometimes the Enemy, Satan, brew them up for us. Examples: Paul at Thessalonica; Job. Most Bible scholars believe this storm in Mark 4 was devil driven, because in v. 39 it says Jesus ‘rebuked’ the storm.
Vs. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
Where is Jesus? Jesus is asleep in the boat. He was tired. So the disciples decide to wake Him. Notice what they say, “"Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?". You can read the sarcasm in the boat.
Hey teacher, you know the one who told us to get into the boat. Hey teacher, you know the one who called us. The one we follow. Don’t you even care. Shouldn’t you be doing something. At least wake us and do as we do. Misery enjoys company. Get up. Help us bail and help us worry. This is no time to sleep and have rest.
Do you ever talk to God this way? Wondering where He is in your storm. Wondering if He even notices.
Jesus answer
Vs 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
He arose – Got up
Rebuked the wind -
But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
Why are you so fearful, afraid.? Why have you let this storm garner your attention and distract you from where you are suppose to be?
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. ( 2 Timothy 1:7)
You are supposed to have faith. A hope in the Lord that God will do what He said He would do.
We are suppose to believe:
Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world
We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
No weapon formed against me shall prosper
With God all things are possible.
David Storms of Life
Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:1-6
Encouraged: to lay hold, fasten, strengthen, fortify, courage, to overpower.
“David was shocked when he saw Ziklag burned. His family was gone, his city was burned, his possessions were stolen, his men were against him and he was away from his country. He was literally all alone. He was discouraged because of the decision he had made to follow Achish into battle against Israel, he was grieving over his losses, and he was distressed because his men wanted to stone him.” From https://www.my3bc.com/15489/david-encouraged-himself-in-the-lord/
I believe that it was with this heart that David wrote Psalms 42
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. O my God, my soul is in despair within me; Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 42:1-11
The Story of The Carrot, The Egg, and The Coffee Bean from http://96bda424cfcc34d9dd1a-0a7f10f87519dba22d2dbc6233a731e5.r41.cf2.rackcdn.com/geetavora/geeta-vora/The_Story_of_The_Carrot_The_Egg_and_The_Coffee_Bean_(without_examples).pdf
A young girl went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that, as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," the young girl replied. The grandmother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The granddaughter then asked, "What does it mean, grandmother?" Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened! The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. "Which are you?" the grandmother asked her granddaughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong but, with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit but, after a death, a breakup, or a financial hardship, does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, do you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level?
Vs. 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"
They had already seen:
The leper healed
The water to wine
The paralyzed walk
The boat full of fish
Now they are amazed because He can speak to nature. We can often believe Jesus for miracles for others but struggle when it comes to ourselves.
God wants to speak peace to you today.
Conclusion
Isaiah 43:2-3 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. (3) For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
When we don’t know how to pray
You may say, Preacher, I don’t know how to pray? I don’t even know how to get started. The storms are swirling around me. First, I speak to you today “Peace, Be Still!” Then I remind you of Romans 8:26
"Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).
