I looked back into my archives and saw where I preached from this same verse in 2013.
We do not like to talk about our fears because they make us look weak, but everyone live with fear.
However, it is not just the weak that live in fear, some great men live in fear.
Illus: God said of Job’s greatness that he was a perfect and upright man. But did you know Job lived in fear.
For example, he said in Job 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
This verse has to be taken in context and is explained by Job 1:4-5, where we find that Job continually made sacrifices for his family, because he was afraid they might have "sinned or cursed God in their hearts," and judgment might fall.
This was "the thing" which Job greatly feared.
And when Job got news of their death this is when he said, For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me
Our life is controlled by FEAR or by FAITH. That is, if you live a life…
(1) Faith in God certain things are going to come about in your life. AS YOUR FAITH SO SHALL IT BE UNTO YOU!
(2) Fear certain things are going to come about in your life. AS YOUR FEAR SO SHALL IT BE UNTO YOU.
Illus: (Dr. Odell Belger) Let me tell you a true story. I somewhat reluctant to tell you because it is almost unbelieveable. But this story is so unusual, before I tell you this story I want you to know that I am well aware that I am standing in the presence of God almighty as I tell this true story.
I was visiting a patient at the Veteran hospital years ago. When I got there I pulled my car into this large parking lot. It so happen that I found a place to park my car by the entrance of this parking lot. The entrance was a large entrance.
After I visited this parishioner I was walking toward the parking lot to get in my car. I noticed a car in the parking lot that was moving in the lane in the direction of my car. When I first noticed this car the car was about 50 yards from my car.
As I was walking toward my car all of a sudden I had a FEAR that this car was going to run into my car. When I thought that I kept my eyes on that moving car that was moving very slowly. But from the time I saw it I began to think all the time he is going to run into my car. Guess what? Out of hundreds of cars he ran into my car. I ran over to my car and the man was apologizing for running into my car. I told him, don’t worry about it, it wasn’t his fault.
He probably thought I was crazy for saying it wasn’t his fault. But I felt it was my fault because I had this fearful belief he was going to run into my car and that is exactly what he did.
Now you can think I am crazy but I have always felt that God was teaching me something, OUR FEARS CAN CAUSE US SOME PROBLEMS.
Listen, our FEAR and our FAITH creates situations in our life.
Job feared for his children and he said the very thing he feared would happened…DID HAPPENED!!!
Illus: There are people everytime they have a severe pain in their body out of fear of death they run to see a doctor who many times physically is in worst shape then they are.
Illus: People like this reminds me of that television program called “Sanford and Son”. Everytime this old man had a big problem he would grab his chest and say, “Elizabeth, I am coming, I believe this is he big one”.
People have phobias all kinds . Some have a:
• Fear of spiders
• Fear of people or society (being in crowds)
• Fear of thunder or lightening
• Fear of failure
• Fear of being alone
• Fear of confined spaces
• Fear of dogs
• Fear of speaking in public etc.
If any of the above apply to you, then you have a Phobia!
The fact that you have a phobia doesn’t mean you’re crazy!!! It may cause you to act crazy but it does not mean you are crazy.
If having a phobia means a person is crazy that would mean everyone is crazy because probably every person is afraid of something.
In dealing with fear this is what the Psalmist said in Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
Illus: Remember in 1999, Hurricane Floyd appeared on the radar screen as it approached the shores of Florida. Governor Jeb Bush described it as a “Monster of a storm,” that was coming in their direction, and they really did not know how to deal with it.
The things that made this such a dreadful storm was:
• That it had strong winds of 155 miles an hour.
• And it was over three hundred miles wide.
Florida was blessed, because it came up to the coastline and made a turn.
Then it was approaching South Carolina. The citizens were told to “Watch out” because the storm was heading in their direction. The largest evacuation in the state of South Carolina was carried out.
It caused such a traffic problem that it took some folks 12 to 13 hours to travel only a hundred miles.
Before it reached the shores, God graciously allowed the storm to turn, and not come inland.
It is good that we live in an age when we have the technology that allows us to see storms coming, and to be prepared for them before they reach us.
But in this life, we not only face:
• PHYSICAL STORMS,
• We also face SPIRITUAL STORMS.
It is not the national weather bureau that warns us of the danger of these spiritual storms - it is the WORD OF GOD!
The Bible tells us Jesus’ disciples encountered a:
• PHYSICAL STORM
• And a SPIRITUAL STORM
at the same time.
Illus: They were on a boat when a dreadful storm came and those experienced fishermen thought that they were all going to a watery grave that evening.
But the Lord appeared before those FEARFUL DISCIPLES.
As the disciples faced this deadly storm, notice TWO things that the Lord dealt with.
I. HE DEALT WITH THEIR FEAR.
Look at their fear in verses 47-50. We read, “And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, BE OF GOOD CHEER: IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID.”
WHY WOULD HE TELL THEM NOT TO BE AFRAID?
It was obvious that the ship was about to sink, why shouldn’t they be afraid?
WHY DID HE TELL THEM NOT BE AFRAID?
A. BECAUSE HE IS GREATER THAN ANY STORM.
That is, the Lord never once looked at the storm and said, “I think I can whip this storm, or I hope I can whip this storm!”
He knew that all He had do was say to that storm, was, “Peace be still,” and that storm would become calm.”
The reason He told them “BE OF GOOD CHEER: IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID”, was because He knew He was greater than the storm.
The only problem was, the disciples didn’t know that. THEY SHOULD HAVE, BUT THEY DIDN’T!
We all face the storms of life and humanly speaking we do not see a way out.
When we allow our STORMS to become GREATER than the God we serve, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
The Bible tells us that the disciples were doing everything they knew to do to save themselves, but all their efforts were inadequate.
In verse 48, we read, “And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.”
There is a song that goes like this, “Our God is an awesome God!” THAT HE IS!
Isaiah describes His “awesomeness”.
In Isaiah 40:12, we read, “Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?”
God is so big and powerful that the Bible tells us:
• He can hold the ocean, rivers and creeks in the hollow of his hand. We have a problem of carrying five gallon bucket of water.
• Measure the heaven with the span of His hand.
• And weighs the mountains and the hills.
OUR GOD IS INDEED AN AWESOME GOD!
• I can assure you that as we face the storms of life, there are times we are OUT OF CONTROL.
• But I can also assure you, there never is, nor has there ever been, a time when He was OUT OF CONTROL!
HE DEALT WITH THEIR FEARS and told them not to be afraid, because He is GREATER than the storm they faced.
But He also told them not to be afraid-
B. BECAUSE HE HAS A PLAN FOR THE STORM
Look at verse 45. We read, “And straightway he CONSTRAINED his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.”
Notice, it was not the disciples idea to get on that ship, the Word of God tells, “HE CONSTRAINED HIS DISCIPLES TO GET INTO THE SHIP…”
Some of the difficulties in life we face we personally bring them on ourselves. The only reason the disciples were in a storm was because Jesus made them get into the boat and sent them on their way.
The storm was not their fault; but there they were, right in the middle of a hurricane.
Sometimes things happen in your life in which you have no control It may not be your fault that you are in the mess you are in, but it will be your faith that gets you out.
The Lord CONSTRAINED them to get into that ship.
But the Lord knows exactly what He is doing! He knew that storm would be coming!
At no time did the Lord look up and say, “Oh no! A storm is coming, and I sent them into the midst of it!”
Illus: The Lord is not like these weathermen who say, “There is a 50% chance of showers tomorrow.” They can’t lose.
• If it rains they say, “I told you there was a 50% chance it might rain.”
• If it does not rain they can say, “I told you there was a 50% chance it might not rain.”
And if they say it is a 30% chance of rain and it does not rain and you tell them it did not rain, they will say, “Well, I told you it was only a 30% chance of rain.”
The Lord knew that there was a 100% chance that the storm was coming, and He knew how big the storm would be.
He constrained them to get on the ship and when the storm came He dealt with their FEARS by telling them not to be afraid.
When we are living in a life of FEAR we are not living a life of FAITH!
Every storm we face we can be sure the Lord has a purpose in its coming.
Often, when we face the storms of life, we wonder if we are in the will of God.
But those disciples were in the will of God in the midst of that storm, as much as they were in carrying out the great commission.
God allows storms to come our way to help us realize that God is God of THE MOUNTAINS, but He is also GOD OF THE VALLEYS!
In Romans 8:28, we read “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
He DEALT WITH THEIR FEARS and told them not to be afraid…
• BECAUSE THE LORD IS BIGGER THAN THE STORMS WE FACE
• BECAUSE THE LORD HAS A PURPOSE IN THE STORMS WE FACE
But He told them not to be afraid for another reason-
C. BECAUSE STORMS COME AND STORMS GO.
Look at verse 51. We read, “And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.”
Illus: We all should have the same attitude toward storms that we have toward grandchildren. The reason we call them grandchildren is because, “It is grand to see them come, and it is grand to see them go!”
One of the grand things about the Christian life, is that, “We face severe storms every now and then, but those storms that come into our lives also disappear!”
The Lord decided the lesson that needed to be taught had been taught, and the Bible says, “And he went up unto them into the ship; and the WIND CEASED…”
NEVER FORGET! The storm that you are in today, or the one you may face tomorrow, did not come to stay.
One day, God is going to tell the storm in your life, “Storm, cease as of now!” The storm is going to settle down, and you are going to discover a quietness you have never experienced before.
The Lord Jesus DEALT WITH THEIR FEARS by telling them not to be afraid. He was there to help them. Also-
II. HE DEALT WITH THEIR FAITH.
Sometimes old TV shows are still the best shows you and your family can watch together. They not only were more pure and innocent than the current ones on TV today but they also had the ability to share some great stories and moral truths. Shows like "The Nelsons", the "Andy Griffin's Show", “Rifleman” and the "Dick Van Dyke Show" are some great examples. Each one would take the time to tell a story that would help the audience:
• Understand the value of telling the truth,
• Of being a person of integrity
• Of learning how to live in peace and harmony.
Mark does the same thing when he tells us this story there are little things that Mark adds to his story that helps us understand some deeper truths. There are some little insights that he gives us that enable us to understand better who Jesus is and how we can follow Jesus better.
Many times, we think only children are afraid of the dark, but sometimes the roughest looking, and the toughest men in the county, can be so afraid that his knees begin to shake.
Illus: During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, "Sir, I am not a brave man -- the truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn't so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands."
I want to remind you that these were experienced fisherman. But when the Lord came to the disciples, walking upon the water, they thought He was a spirit, and they almost went berserk!
What a comfort it must have been, when they recognized His voice. Because then they knew that help had arrived.
When Jesus got there, He quickly identified Himself unto the disciples. He said, "It is I."
This is an Emphatic Personal Pronoun A statement of identification.
Illus: It is like Jesus saying, “Hey fellows, why are you afraid. I am greater than the storm you are facing, THE GREAT I AM IS HERE!”
He was reminding those men who He is.
Illus: We used to sing the chorus with these words,
“Got any rivers you think are uncrossable.
Got any mountains you can’t tunnel though.
God specializes in things thought impossible
And He will do what no other can do.”
How fortunate we are to serve such a wonderful God.
And as we face the midst of the storm, he says:
• Matt. 28:20b “...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
• Heb. 13:5b “...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Illus: When the Lord says that He will not forsake us, the term literally means that He won't run out on us when the chips are down. You can trust Him - He is present to help.
All we need to do is place our faith in the God who loves and cares for us.
• HE DEALT WITH THEIR FEARS, and
• HE DEALT WITH THEIR FAITH.
Conclusion:
When the storms of life are raging, always remember that Jesus is there for you.
So often, we are like the man who had to cross a river of ice. He was afraid it was thin ice and it might cave in. He began to crawl on his stomach, inch by inch, and almost got to the other side, when a man came by him riding a sled.
He then realized that all his fears were in vain. It will be the same for us.
One day we will see the Lord Jesus in all His greatness, and we will realize that all our worries had been in vain.
I want to leave you with this verse of Scripture. The psalmist said in Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
The best place to be in the midst of a hurricane is in the eye. The trouble is that we cannot stay in the eye. So God would have us know that with Him – even in the midst of the storm - there is a stillness and quietness that is unbelievable. God wants us to find that quietness!
I. HE DEALT WITH THEIR FEARS
II. HE DEALT WITH THEIR FAITH
