Riding out the Storms of Life
Matthew 8:23-27
May 6, 2001
Introduction
A group of golfers were approaching the fourth hole on the golf course one afternoon. Suddenly the sky turned ominous, and it began to rain amid claps of thunder. They rushed to shelter in a gazebo near a metal fence. As the storm grew in intensity, a bolt of lightning hit the long fence and lit it up like a neon sign. It was a while before any of them could speak. Then one player turned to his opponents and said, "You know that five I had on the first hole-it really was a seven."
Storms have a way of making us focus on what really matters in life. We tend to set everything straight and put our lives back on the right path. This morning I want us to look at another story of a storm and discover how we can ride out the storms of life.
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!" 26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matthew 8:23-27
Body
I. There is a cost in following
A. The disciples followed Jesus
1. The simple fact that the disciples followed Jesus reveals their commitment, faith and love
2. Following Jesus is a privilege and an honor
a.) The disciples gave up everything to follow Him
b.) The disciples gave Jesus the control of their lives
B. What is the bottom line?
1. You have to give up to go up in life – John Maxwell
2. Following Jesus requires you to make certain sacrifices
a.) You must give up your will
b.) You must give up your “rights”
c.) You must make a complete commitment – This is an all or nothing deal. Christ wants to be the Lord of your entire life
3. Tough questions
Are you willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads you?
Are you willing to pay the price to follow Jesus?
II. There is a caution in fear
Years ago a military officer and his wife were aboard a ship that was caught in a raging ocean storm. Seeing the frantic look in her eyes, the man tried unsuccessfully to allay her fears. Suddenly she grasped his sleeve and cried, "How can you be so calm?" He stepped back a few feet and drew his sword. Pointing it at her heart, he said, "Are you afraid of this?" Without hesitation she answered, "Of course not!" "Why not?" he inquired. "Because it’s in your hand, and you love me too much to hurt me." To this he replied, "I know the One who holds the winds and the waters in the hollow of His hand, and He will surely care for us!"
A. You will face storms in life
1. The disciples faced their storm and responded in fear
a.) There were plenty of good reasons to be afraid that day. Fear shortcuts faith
b.) There are good reasons for your fear
You fear that you are too far gone to recover
You fear that no one really cares about the trials you face and the pain you endure
You fear that there is no reason for living
2. The storms of life
a.) The storms of life are real – Crises arise in life, tragedies take place and difficulties abound
b.) The storms of life are common – These happen on a daily basis and they happen to every person.
c.) The storms of life are powerful – They hit us fast and furious with no respect for any person.
d.) The storms of life are swift – Often they come upon us with little or no warning and they devastate us
Q – How do you deal with them?
B. We learn some valuable lessons
1. You are not in control of your life
2. You need help to make it through life because you do not have the power to do it on your own
3. You need to ask for help to receive it
a.) Swallow your pride and admit the fact that you can not make it on your own
b.) Believe that Christ can and will help you through the storms that you face
4. Once you ask don’t stop until you are answered
a.) The disciples did not passively ask for Jesus to help them
Quiet voice – I need help?
b.) The disciples went to Jesus with a desperate spirit
Loud voice – I NEED HELP!!!!!!
c.) Psalm 61:2 – From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
III. There is a call to faith
I had always thought of hurricanes as something mankind could do without. But recently I learned that they are necessary to maintain a balance in nature. These tropical storms, with winds up to 150 miles an hour and accompanied by torrential rains, glaring lightning, and rumbling thunder, can be devastating. Yet scientists tell us they are tremendously valuable. They dissipate a large percentage of the oppressive heat which builds up at the equator, and they are indirectly responsible for much of the rainfall in North and South America. Meteorologists therefore no longer use cloud-seeding techniques to prevent them from being formed. They are convinced that hurricanes actually do more good than harm.
A. Christ is your traveling companion on the road of life
1. The disciples woke Jesus to help them
a.) The disciples misunderstood both the storm and the fact that Jesus was with them
b.) Jesus knew that the storm was raging but did not rush to solve the problem – The question is why?
2. This was a lesson in trust
a.) Jesus was with them in the storm and He would carry them through
b.) If there were no trials, there would be no need to trust
B. Christ can carry you through any storm
1. Christ comes when He is called
2. The reality is simply this …
a.) Christ can calm any storm that you face in life
b.) Christ can give you the strength to go through any storm of life
c.) Sometimes Christ calms the storm and sometimes He calms His child
Conclusion – Life Lessons
1. Following Jesus takes us through some storms
a.) Life isn’t easy and nowhere in the Bible does it say that life will be fair
b.) You have a traveling companion who will lead you out of the storms you face
2. Fearing the storm cuts your faith
a.) If you trust you cannot worry and if you worry you cannot trust
b.) Simple facts about the storms of life
The storm that you face is never stronger than your savior
The storm you face is never beyond the control of Christ
The storm you face is never out of His hand
3. Faith will carry you through
a.) Christ is waiting for your call to come and help you
b.) Christ will either calm your storm or carry you through
Are you facing a storm today? Are you being pounded by life’s rough waters? There is help and there is hope.
