Going through the storm
John 6:15-21
No one goes through life without experiencing a storm. We have come upon the storm season with spring upon us now, but the storms that we will be talking about in this sermon are not the storms of nature, but rather the storms of life. These storms threaten our entire state of well being. The storm takes many different forms, and affects our
lives in many different ways, but all storms contain some common elements: they usually come on
rather suddenly, they take us by surprise, they tend to fill our hearts with fear, they test our faith,
and it is to be hoped that they cause us to cry out to our Lord and Savior for help. If so, then the
storms of life become building blocks of faith which actually equip us for the storms which are yet
to come.
Think of some of the storms of life which have invaded the life of yourself or of someone
you know.
• the storm of illness - sudden or prolonged;
• the storm of death - the death of a loved one,- a child, a partner; especially one not
expected to die ;
• the storm of rejection- divorce, separation, abandonment;
• the storm of unjust criticism;
• the storm of emotional trauma - hatred, anger, resentment, bitterness;
• the storm of physical loss - loss of home, loss of job, loss of money, loss of security;
• the storm of accident, or some event which may change the course of our life in an instant
of time.
One thing I have discovered: Being a Christian, a follower of Jesus, does not exempt us
from the trials of life
This was no small storm that they were in, the sea of Galilee is is 600 feet below sea level. It is surrounded by hills, especially on the north, and down the east side, with mountains behind them. Deep rifts are cut through the hills down which the winds may naturally flow.) As the air at water level is heated it rises swiftly, and cold air from the mountains and hills flows down through these cuts to turn it into a strong storm . They had been rowing against this wind for several hours and still were far from shore.
Jesus sent them into the storm
This is hard for us to understand, isn’t God suppose to be the one who watches out for us. A preacher once gave an invitation and he made this statement. “Come to Jesus if your life just isn’t working out for you and He will take away your troubles and make you happy.” Sounds good, but its not the truth. Jesus did not die on the cross to take away our trouble and He did not die on the cross to make us happy. He died on the cross to make us saved.
So why would Jesus send them into the storm.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
a. Jesus sent them into the storm to protect them from temptation:
Look with me at John 6:15 “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to
come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by
Himself alone.”
1) The desire of the crowds to make him the king of Israel was not a temptation to Jesus.
For Jesus knew what other did not yet understand. He knew that he was the Messiah, the King,
but He knew that his kingdom was not that for which the Jews were looking. They were seeking a
political leader of pomp and power, to lead them against Rome. He knew that they were far more
concerned about the tyranny of Rome than they were concerned about the tyranny of sin. Jesus
spoke continuously about his kingdom - the kingdom of heaven or the Kingdom of God. But as
he later said to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My
servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not
from here."
2) But he knew that this desire of the crowds could be a huge temptation to his disciples.
Here was the height of success! They saw the huge crowds following their master; they
saw his miracles of healing and multiplication of food; and now the people want to crown their
master as King? They were not yet mature enough to distinguish popularity from success.
And so Jesus sent them away in the boat, while he dispersed the crowds, and went up into
the mountain to pray.
Sometimes the storm has been sent to re-direct us to get us on the right path or simply to protect us. My boy Caleb was talking to me this last week about how it was raining when we were on vacation and he had prayed that the rain would stop so that we could go to the beach but God didn’t answer his prayer. I told him that maybe God was protecting him there could have been a shark in the ocean close to the beach that day so maybe God sent the rain to protect him.
This was not the first storm the disciples had been in on the lake one other time Jesus was asleep in the boat during a storm while the disciples were afraid and Jesus calmed the storm this time Jesus is not in the boat so he is teaching them a deeper trust in Him.
Jesus sees and knows all about our storms and struggles
Mar 6:48 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
Where was Jesus when this storm hit? He was in the mountains praying, Jesus is always making intercession for use. When we are going through the storms of this life we need to be reminded that Jesus is praying for us.
Nothing could happen to the disciples unless Jesus allowed it to happen, He is in complete control of our lives.
1Pe 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:
During the storm the disciples did not give up, they tried the best they could with what they had. John says that they had rowed the boat for about three to four miles, Matthew says the ship was battered by the waves Mark says that Jesus saw the disciples straining at the oars.
We should be careful not to over spiritualize the storm in our life, but we should rather deal with it in a level headed fashion, trouble comes to everyones live the bible says it rains on the just and the unjust.
Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Even though Jesus wasn’t in the boat this time with the disciples he was in the mountain praying for them and could see their struggles. God sees our struggles and is praying for us.
Jesus Comes to Us in the Storm
On December 29, 1972 Eastern Airlines Flight 401 bound from New York to Miami crashed into the Florida Everglades because of a twelve dollar light bulb. As the plane approached Miami the indicator light for the deployment of landing gear failed to come on. The plane circled over the Everglades while the crew tried to figure out the problem. Either the landing gear was not working and they had a major problem on their hands or it was a simple case of a faulty light bulb. When one of the crew members tried to remove the bulb, he found it was stuck and would not come out. Soon all inside the cockpit were so focused on the light bulb that they failed to look up and see they were losing altitude. The plane eventually slammed into the swamp killing almost everyone on board. It is a tragic example of how we can get caught up in the small things and lose sight of where we are going.
Going through the Storm
Part 2
Matthew 14:22
I like storms……I like it when it gets dark and there is lightning and thunder, but I’ve never been on a boat in the middle of a sea during a big storm like the disciples on this boat.
The disciples were in the will of God. Jesus sent them into this storm
Matthew 7:24-25 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
We all go through storms in this life, the scripture about the wise and the foolish man, they both built their house one on the rock and one on the sand but the storm hit both houses.
Jesus said it rains on the just and the unjust
Jesus Reveals Himself To us in The Storm
Matthew 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
The fourth watch was between 3:00 A.M. and 6:00 A.M which is believed to be the darkest part of the night. This text reveals to us that it is during the darkest hour of our storm that Jesus draws nigh. We should find it encouraging that Jesus in the hour of desperation and frustration is drawing nigh.
This verse also reveals to us one of the purposes of storms. Storms are allowed by God to show us what is in us. Listen to the text, Jesus is moving toward the disciples but they suffer from a case of misidentification. Fears, runs rapid in the disciples. They mistake Jesus for a Ghost, their fears and phobias surface like the rising of the tide.
A. He will give you confidence
(trust, faith)
Matthew 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
B. He Will give you Courage
(The ability to face danger, fear)
Mark 6:50-51 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. [51] And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
God told Joshua in the old testament to be strong and very courageous, He told Joshua three times in Chapter one to be strong and courageous. How? Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
We can be strong and courageous because the Lord is with us
Joshua 1:6-7 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. [7] Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
When things were at their worst point for the disciples, when they were overwhelmed by the wind and the waves Jesus shows up. The disciples had been rowing for a long time, and yet they were unable to get trough the storm, they were still 3 or 4 miles from shore
. Storms reveal our inability and the ability of God.
We try to live large and in charge, yet when the storm comes we are inadequate
Yet Paul declares when we are weak we are strong.
When Jesus shows up in our storm, we find that we gain strength. We gain strength to do the possible, when Jesus shows up he makes marriages, out of mistakes. When Jesus shows up he restores, and empowers us to reach the unreachable, to cross the un-crossable. Storms let us know that without him, we can do nothing and without him we are doom to fail. Yet, when Jesus shows up, we gain the strength to join in with Paul and say in Christ I can do all things.
C. He will Get us Through
John 6:21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
When Jesus Came walking to His disciples, Peter asked to step out and come to the lord on the water. The same waves that just moments had the disciples fearing their lives, were not supporting Peter as he began to walk on the water to Jesus. But, just as soon as he took his eyes of Jesus and got them back onto the waves he was afraid and began to sink. Jesus reached down and picked him back up out of the water. With Jesus and when we stay focused on the lord we can walk through all the trials, temptations and trouble that this world has to offer and instill of the waves sinking us, they can actually support us.
Matthew 14:28-33 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.”
In the old Testament book of Daniel there is a story of three men who went through the fire of a furnance, but they didn’t get harmed and that is exactly how God can bring you through the storms of this life. Daniel 3:23-26, “ And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. [24] Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. [25] He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. [26] Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
Hebrews 12:2, “ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
