Same Storm, Different Day
Matt. 8:22-27
Oct. 30, 2005 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
Introduction:
A In the film The Perfect Storm, a seasoned crew of fishermen aboard the fishing boat the Andrea Gail had gone out fishing for swordfish in beautiful, calm weather in the fall of 1991.
1 However, the Andrea Gail faced one of nature’s most powerful forces-the hurricane.
a The author of the book The Perfect Storm describes the intensity of this phenomenon of nature: "A mature hurricane is by far the most powerful event on earth; the combined nuclear arsenals of the U.S. & former Soviet Union don’t contain enough energy to keep a hurricane going for one day. A typical hurricane encompasses a million cubic miles of atmosphere & could provide all the electrical power needed by the U.S. for three to four years." (Sebastian Inga, The Perfect Storm, pr. 127-129).
b The Sea of Galilee is a microcosm of the ocean, where the disciples of Jesus faced their own perfect storm.
aa The Sea of Galilee is 13 miles long, 8 miles wide, 600+ ft. below sea level, and is known for quick-rising storms, especially in the spring & fall, that can send a small boat to the bottom very quickly.
bb The boat is large enough to carry 12-18 men with a load of fish.
2 The disciples get caught in this storm and are scared (it takes a lot to scare a seasoned fishermen, but this storm did it)!
B But Jesus said* to him, "Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead." 23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!" 26 He said* to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27 The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" Matt 8:22-27 (NASB)
1 Jesus delivered His disciples through the worst storm they’d ever experienced. (ETS)
2 A believer can confidently weather the worst storms that life has to offer. (ESS)
3 I want my listener to remember where your final destination is during the storms of life. (OBJ)
4 What gives you confidence to weather the storms of life? (PQ)
C Let’s look at two questions we must answer correctly in order to weather the storms of life with confidence.
I The first question we must answer correctly in order to weather the storms of life with confidence is...what boat are you on? When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
A The disciples were following Jesus
1 One would expect the disciples’ travel would have been safe, without incident, providentially guaranteed of safety.
a Jesus told the disciples in v. 22, "Follow Me." But Jesus said* to him, "Follow Me...
b These disciples were simply being obedient to Christ’s command.
aa Critical/cynical perception would say that if the 12 hadn’t followed Jesus onto the boat, they never would have faced the storm.
bb Argument is found in Jonah. The disciples acted in obedience & endured the storm; Jonah ran from God & endured the storm.
c The bottom line is that storms happen.
2 Jesus knew the storm was coming & He had them get in the boat anyway.
a It was even within Jesus’ power to squash the storm before they got in the boat...but He didn’t. Why?
b Although Jesus was exhausted from healing/teaching, He was going to hold one more lesson on what storm-facing faith looked like, & He was holding class on that little boat.
aa He wanted His 12 to hear the lesson
bb They wouldn’t have heard the lesson if they hadn’t been on the right boat.
B As believers we must constantly ask ourselves, "Am I where God wants me to be?"
1 Many times we mistakenly travel down a path of action & ask God to bless it.
a This puts all the responsibility for direction on us.
b Instead of following Christ we’re asking Christ to follow us.
2 I want us to be in the boat of Jesus’ choosing.
a Does not guarantee safe, calm waters.
b It does mean I’m exactly where Jesus wants me. Two benefits:
aa God rewards obedience
bb God is going to teach us something in the storm
C (IL) Sometime ago I was moving a desk at the office & Lake wanted to help.
1 He got in between my arms & we were moving it slowly, huffing & puffing.
a Lake looked at me & said, "Daddy, you’re in my way. Stand over there." I smiled & obliged. Lake grunted, snorted...moved nothing.
b How many times have we decided to "help" God move things along & then take over & send Him off to the side.
2 Follow Jesus into the boat He’s in!
TS: As essential as being on the boat is, the second question we must ask is paramount to the first.
II The second question we must answer correctly in order to weather the storms of life with confidence is...whose on the boat with you? And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!"
A The disciples responded to the storm by going to the One whom they knew could calm their fears, Jesus.
1 Jesus responded to the disciples’ faith with five little words, "You men of little faith." He said* to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?"
a Jesus was not upset because the men disturbed Him with their prayers.
aa He was put out because they were disturbing themselves with their fears.
bb The word "little" refers to: 1) the amount (quantity) 2) the quality (poor)
b The disciples had faith, it just wasn’t functioning properly.
2 The fact that Jesus was on their boat was reason enough for them to go down & pull up a sandbag & curl up next to the slumbering Savior.
a Their little faith showed they couldn’t see beyond the surface of things.
aa Jesus, Savior of the world, was down below
bb Jesus didn’t break a sweat because He knew His hour had not yet come (cross, crucifixion, tomb)
cc God the Father was not going to allow God the Son to die in a hurricane!
b Jesus brought the disciples into the storm to teach them this lesson: Those who follow Jesus have no need to fear.
aa They were in the boat He led them to, & if Jesus was in their boat they had no reason to fear.
bb Either faith chases out fear or fear chases out faith...ALWAYS
B We can develop nearsightedness like the disciples by failing to see the full picture.
1 What is life’s biggest storm? (Sin, wages of sin)
a Once my sin has been forgiven, the biggest storm of my life is vanquished.
b I can now approach every storm knowing that my eternal destination is already secured through the blood of Jesus.
aa Life is full of storms: breast cancer, divorce, layoff, loss of a child...ALL VERY REAL
bb First things first, having the right perspective on eternity enables us to have a different perspective on daily changes.
2 When storms come, the same Jesus who died for my sins so I could arrive safe & sound in eternity is the same loving Lord who will traverse with me through the storms/tempests of this life.
a The opposite is also true (without Jesus fear everything!)
b Trusting Jesus with our forevers allows us to trust His guidance through any storm today.
C (IL) Years ago a military officer & his wife were aboard a ship that got caught in a raging ocean storm.
1 The wife was frantic, the salty husband as cool as a cucumber.
a The waves hit the boat, tossed it, & the wife grabbed the husband’s sleeve & cried, "How can you be so calm?"
b He stepped back a few yards & drew his sword. Pointing it to her heart he asked her, "Are you afraid of this?" "Of course not" she answered.
c "Why?" the husband asked.
aa "Because it’s in your hands, & you love me too much to hurt me."
bb He replied, "Sweetheart, I know the One who holds the winds & the waters in the hollow of His hand, & He will surely care for us."
2 If you are a child of God, washed in the blood, Jesus is on board (you’re in this storm with Him!)
a Go get a sandbag & snuggle up with Him
b You’ve trusted Him with your eternity, now trust Him with your storm today.
Conclusion:
A Jesus delivered His disciples through the worst storm they’d ever experienced. (ETS) A believer can confidently weather the worst storms that life has to offer. (ESS)
1 We’ve looked at two questions that we must answer correctly in order to weather the storms of life with confidence.
a What boat are you on?
b Whose on the boat with you?
2 I want my listener to remember where your final destination is during the storms of life. (OBJ)
a What boat? William Barclay said the two most important days in your life are: 1) the day you were born 2) the day you realize what you were born for.
b Whose on the boat with you? If Jesus isn’t on board, you’re on the wrong boat.
B What gives you confidence to weather the storms of life? (PQ)
1 I love Phillip Keller’s details about a "cast-down" sheep & what a shepherd does to get him back on his feet. "When sheep lay on their back, gas begins to collect in their stomach. It hardens the stomach, cuts off the air passage, & they suffocate. Not only that, their legs go numb in that position. They need a shepherd to restore them. When a shepherd restores a cast-down sheep, it doesn’t just happen immediately. It takes time. The shepherd lovingly massages the four legs to get the circulation back. Then he begins to talk in a reassuring tone to the sheep, ‘You’re going to make it.’ Then he gently turns the sheep over & lifts it because it cannot stand on its own, then the shepherd will lovingly have the sheep follow him home." What a picture! When you’re on your back & the emotional pain of guilt, grief, or grudges are overwhelming you, will you remember that the Lord is your Shepherd? He lovingly comes with tender hands & reassuring words, picks us up, & sets us up straight until we can get on our feet again & then says, "Okay, now follow me home."
2 What gives you confidence to weather the storms of life? (PQ)
a Jesus is ready to carry you through the storm, let Him.
b What gives you confidence to weather the storms of life? (PQ)
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Mike Fogerson
