Surviving the Storm
INTRODUCTION
Years ago in West Texas I was about to board a small private airplane that belonged to a friend of mine, It was the first time I had flown on an airplane this small and I was a little nervous. My friend took note and talked me through everything he was doing to assure me that he was doing everything possible to be safe. One of the procedures he carried out was a ’pre-flight’ checklist, another was a ’pre-take off checklist’ he showed me a ’pre-landing’ checklist and he even had an ’Emergency checklist!’ He explained that all of these procedures had been written down and refined by many years of use and that they were there to insure our survival of each phase of our flight. I thought how good it would be to have such a document that would help us to survive the storms we will encounter.
The following is a sermon that I developed from not only that experience but from a sermon an evangelist friend of mine named Will Bridges preached.
Texts - (Mk. 4:37; Lk. 8:22) - 1st time Jesus calmed the Storm.
(Mk. 6:45; Matt.14:22) - 2nd time Jesus will calm Storm.
The disciples must have wondered if they had heard correctly what Jesus (The Word) told them to do! After getting into the boat and setting forth they found themselves in a real mess! Doing all they could in the natural (rowing) to escape disaster yet falling further, and further behind.
EVER BEEN THERE?...........YOU KNOW THAT YOU’VE HEARD FROM THE LORD.......Yet the storms rage around you? (THIS IS WHERE THE ENEMY CAN GET YOU INTO THE REALM OF DOUBT, AND FEAR, AND THEN DEFEAT YOU )
AS PILOTS WILL TELL YOU, IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A CHECK LIST FOR BOTH GOOD TIMES AND FOR WHAT TO DO IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.
Pilots have them and use them and they have helped to save many lives that might have been lost if they had not been available and if they had not been used.
All 4 Gospels tell of the Disciples and at least 1 storm they got into listening to Jesus’ instructions.
The following is a Storm Checklist for Christians; to help them through the Storms of Life.
I. TEXT: Matthew 14:22-33
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
(KJV)
II. CALM DOWN
^Look at Disciples reaction to the sighting of Jesus (V26) - "thought it was a spirit" - they reverted to their old ’SEAFARING WAY OF THINKING’ {the sighting of a spirit on the water signaled death approaching}
Jesus had to say in V 27 " be not afraid"...... or in other words "calm down boys it’s me!"
A. WHEN IT’S IN THE LORD’S HANDS - THERE’S NO ROOM FOR FEAR
1.Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. (3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
2. Psalms 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
< Bro. K. Hagin Sr. said "if God’s on my side,Who cares who comes against me">
B. STORMS ONLY BOTHER THOSE IN FLIGHT.
1. Ships in the Harbor weren’t affected by the wind or waves.
2. Three types of people:
a. Those that make things happen
b. Those who watch the people that make things happen.
c. Those who say "What happened ???"
C. CALM YOURSELF ( with the Word)
1. David said he "encouraged himself in the Lord" (ISam. 30:6)
a. Reminded himself of his destiny as King of Israel.
b. Reminded himself of the Victories of past.
2. David talked to himself - You are told to talk to Yourself and THINGS and to God.
a. Psalms 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.(:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
b. Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be
for us, who can be against us?
c. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
D. GET OUT OF FEAR
1. F.E.A.R. - False. Evidence. Appearing. Real
2.W. Bridges quote - "Fear is like the Photomart, it’s where
negatives are developed."
3. Billy Sunday Quote - "F.E.A.R knocked at the Door, FAITH answered and no one was there."
4. FAITH & FEAR alike - Both believe that they will come to pass.
5. FEAR almost made the disciples miss their del.. (V26)
^Jesus said "CALM DOWN BOYS" -"BE ENCOURAGED" - "BE NOT AFRAID"^
^^So 1st we just need to Calm Down to get through the Storm.^^
III. CHECK YOUR INSTRUMENTS
A. VERTIGO AMONG THOSE WHO FLY - brings FEAR
1. Inner Ear - Balance problems
2. Mr. McCallum (instructor @ Rhema, former - SR 14 Test Pilot)
Story of Flying Upside Down and not knowing it. When instruments
revealed it, he related the fear it brought.
B. MUST TRUST YOUR INSTRUMENTS
1. Before Solo flight the Windshield covered to make rely upon Instruments.
2. If have to choose between Yourself or Instruments - CHOOSE INSTRUMENTS.
C. DISCPS. NEEDED TO CHECK THEIR INSTRUMENTS - THE WORD OF GOD
1. v22) - ’[constrained] - [anagkazo] = [ to force, compel in a moral sense as by authoritative command.]
2. Easy to get out of balance when :
a. Family against what God told you to do.
b. Circumstances lined up against what you’re doing
c. Mis-Understanding of What God said, {He did not tell the Disciples to go halfway across an sink and drown. He said "to go before Him to the other side"
If God said it, it will come to pass (give it a chance.!!!)
3. Let Go & Let God!........
Dad Hagin Story of Blimp that Got loose:
In the days when blimps were popular and incident happened that illustrates this concept. The blimp while trying to land and tie up was blown away by a strong updraft after the pilot and crew had disembarked. The guards tried to stop it by grabbing the tie down line and holding on. As the Blimp steadily rose to thousands of feet one by one the men became tired and turned loose, falling to their deaths. Only one survived the ordeal. Later in telling how he held on he said, " I just wrapped the line around and around my body as many times as I could and when I couldn’t hold on any longer........it held on to me!"
a. Many relied on their strength and fell to their deaths.
b. One wrapped the rope around, used it’s strength, let it hold Him,
and survived.
*Application:
Wrap yourself in what God said and let Go!
HIGHLY MOTIVATED PEOPLE HAVE TO LEARN TO LET GO & LET GOD!!
^Jesus had commanded them to go to the other side, it was the Word of God (Jn. 1:1). They let circumstances change their perspective from one of obedience to FEAR and the negatives were developing......
- Didn’t know Jesus was watching over them. (Mk. 6:48)*
- Didn’t realize the protection in the command.{Go to other side}
- Didn’t recognize their deliverance when it showed up. {thought it a spirit}
.........this brings us to the 3rd C Of making it through the storm.^
IV. COMMUNICATE
A.TURN YOUR FEAR AROUND - LISTEN TO YOUR GUIDE
^During this storm communication between The LORD and His Disciples shows us something.^
1. v27 "cried out in fear (Peter was one of the 12 there)
2. V28 "Jesus said "it is I"
3. v29 Peter still doubted (but acted on his faith.)
4. v30 Peter cried out now IN FAITH not FEAR.
5. v31 Jesus said he had ’little faith’
B. MUST LEARN TO TRUST OUR GUIDE - THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. K. COPELAND story of : ’Air Traffic Controller’
Brother Copeland tells the story of how an unseen, unknown to him, person called an Air traffic Controller came on his headset one night and guided him through a series of turns in his own private airplane and [vectored] him around a storm that lay ahead of him.
a. Must be tuned in:
b. Must trust (Ps. 37)
c. Must Obey and Act.
C. TEST THE SPIRITS - PETER DID...v28
1. 1 John 4:1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
ONCE TESTED AND CONFIRMED.........THEN TRUST THEM TO THE END.....LET GO!!!!
TRUSTING THE GUIDE AND LISTENING TO HIM COULD
VECTOR YOU AROUND THE STORM AND SAVE YOU MUCH TROUBLE!!
note* Jn. 16:13 "..............he will show you things to COME."
V. COMPLY TO INSTRUCTIONS
A. LISTEN TO WHAT IS BEING SAID!!
1. Jesus said: (v22) "Go to other side, meet me in Bethsaida."
>>did not say Go ye forth and drown<<
2.. Jesus said. (v29) "COME" to Peter
>>Not SINK<<
3. Remember Jesus admonished us to hear WHAT the Spirit is saying.
a. Content is important. Mk. 4:24) "And he said unto them, Take heed
what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given."
b. Latest plane disaster in S.A. caused by language problems.
4. Remember Jesus admonished us to be careful HOW we hear.
a. Attitude is important. Luke 8:18)"Take heed therefore how ye hear: for
whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
B. MUST ACT ACCORDING TO THE COMMAND OF THE WORD:
1.Phil. 4:9) "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
a. Learned (info gathered)
b. Received (allowed to take root)
c. Do!
2. 2Kg. 5:1) Naaman , Had to learn obedience to receive
3. 1Kg.13:1) Prophet that was not to eat or drink found out the hard way
that the Word is to be obeyed.
4. 1Sam. 15) Saul rejected by God as King, for not strict obedience.
^Airplane pilot doesn’t get to take off ....when he feels LED !
Airplane pilot doesn’t get to fly at altitude he feels GOOD about !!^
Airplane pilot doesn’t just land when he feel MOVED UPON!^
WE MUST COMPLY TO THE INSTRUCTIONS WE ARE GIVEN IF WE WANT TO SURVIVE THE STORM.
Jesus said "come’ to peter and as long as He was in that MODE he was successful- when He stopped ’coming’ and went to "rubbernecking" is when he got into trouble..
So, to survive the storm we must CALM DOWN, then we need to CHECK OUR INSTRUMENTS, then COMMUNICATE, (recognize, talk, ask)
so that we can COMPLY TO INSTRUCTIONS....... then we can complete the last C.
VI. CLIMB
v31) " And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand........
v32) " And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased"
A. THE STORMS WILL COME; and they will come to try us and our foundations. (Lk. 6:48 - house built on the rock) - Jesus said when the storms come, he did not say if they come.
1. Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
2. IPeter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
B. JESUS WILL COME ALSO - This is the ultimate goal of the trial. The appearing of
Jesus.
I Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
C. ATTITUDE WILL DETERMINE ALTITUDE
1. TO CLIMB or not TO CLIMB
a.Pilot’s know that if they can JUST CLIMB high enough they can get above the Storm.
2. Wounded animals instinctively will climb as high as they can go.
SEEMS LIKE THERE IS JUST SOMETHING IN US THAT SAYS IF YOU WILL JUST CLIMB......YOU’LL BE O.K.
3. v28) ’COME’ had to do with [DIRECTION]
4. v32) ’COME’ has to do with altitude.
a. COME] - [embaino] = [to embark] ={to climb into the boat]
- Would you embark onto a boat that was level with the
water?
- Would you get into a boat that was below the level of the water?
WHEN YOU GET ONTO THE BOAT YOU WANT IT ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE WATER!!
- To "come into" the boat both Jesus and Peter had to
’CLIMB’. or Step up higher.
VII. CONCLUSION
A. STORMS (TRIALS) WILL COME
B. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO SURVIVE THE TRIALS TO SUCH A DEGREE , THAT WHEN IT PASSES WE RECEIVE PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY.
- 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
C. REMEMBER THESE 5 C’S WHEN YOU TAKE OFF ON ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT FROM
THE LORD.
1. Calm Down
2. Check Instruments
3. Communicate
4. Comply with instructions
then with your hand in the hand of Jesus..............
5. Climb.
