Jesus in the Midst of Our Storm
John 6:16-21 (Genesis. 6-9) Monte Brown
September 14, 1997 Sunday Morning
Noah and his family were in the midst of a storm and the Lord was in control of the Ark.
We must learn from Noah’s experience that God is in control on the midst of the storm.
In the New Testament we find another storm that the Lord was in control of. It is found in John 6: 16-21.
“And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.
And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.” John 6:16-21
I don’t know why scholars in some commentaries want to discredit the word of God.
They say that when you’re on the Sea of Galilee, at a certain point it looks like people are walking on the sea, when they’re really walking on the shore.
They quote the Bible when it says that immediately they were that the shore, which indicates that they were in shallow water.
These scholars really are ignorant, because how does a ship sink in shallow water, and how can experienced fishermen drown in shallow water that’s close to shore?
Just remember that the Bible can shed a whole lot of light on a commentary.
Believe the Book, before you believe men.
I do know this about everyone here today,
you’re either in a storm
or you just got out of a storm
or your heading into a storm.
Our Lord will not fail you. You can trust in him.
Jesus is in the Midst of Our Storm.
Three Thing We Want to Look at Today
1. In our storm he considers us.
God saw the disciples in the storm he saw that they were trying there best to get out of the storm.
The things that happen to us, is by divine providence.
His success in our storm depends on weather we believe he is there.
What’s going on your storm will help you appreciate the next storm that you’re in.
What you’re worrying about just isn’t worth the worrying.
Remember some of the things that seem to be to hard to handle, like the problems your having with your kids, job, or marriage, the Lord knows your going through the problem, and he is in control.
He’s behind the storm in your life.
He will work out the problems with your kids he will work out the problems with your job, he will work out the problems with your marriage.
Remember how you come out of the storm, depends on weather you have given it to the Lord and believe that he is in control.
He determines weather you lose or win.
Just remember he knows all things.
You don’t have to report your storm to him over and over again, because he knows you’re in the storm.
Why did the Lord show up?
Because he knows how far you can go, and the disciples hadn’t gone 30 furlongs yet.
He didn’t stand on the shore and say come on you’re only got one furlong to go.
Hurry up, row hard, your almost there.
No he didn’t, he knew how far they could go.
Remember he is never late.
You may have not yet reached your 30 furlongs.
2. In our storm he comes to us.
When he comes he’s coming to take up your cause.
When he comes, he’ll come walking on the water, a way that humanity cannot respond.
He walks on top of the circumstances, not in them.
He is the creator of all things and is in control of all things.
He created the storm, he created the waves, and he created the wind.
He knows the storm that we’re going through, because he is the creator of all things, and He’ll walk on top of it and not in the midst of it.
He sees us in trouble and knows when we’ve going as far as we can go.
The reason you he hasn’t showed up in your storm yet, might be that you haven’t gone 30 furlongs yet.
The battle of Jericho and Joshua was out walking and praying and he see a man with his sword drawn and asked him are you for us or are you for them?
The man answered nay.
What Joshua learned that night was that Jesus didn’t show up for the battle to take sides but to take control.
When he comes he comes to take over.
He’s coming to take control of your storm. Remember he has never lost a battle.
You may think that you’ve lost, you may think that you’ve haven’t won.
You just haven’t got there yet.
Story: of a gospel singer that did not get award he thought he deserved, hangs around the church auditorium until all have left except the janitor.
Complains to the janitor and says to the janitor, I bet you feel like you should get an award for all the hard work you do.
The janitor replies I’m not home yet.
3. He conquers our storm when he gets into it.
He always conquers.
You have fears he’ll conquer your fears.
You have worries he’ll conquer your worries.
You’ve heard people say “God hasn’t called me to be successful; he’s called me to be faithful.” Well that poor thinking. Because you can’t be faithful without being successful.
THE MASTER OF THE STORM
By James Rowe
Out on the ocean of life we sail,
Battered by many a raging gale,
Yet we are sure that we shall prevail,
No storm can His ship over whelm
Billows may threaten and winds may blow,
Courage and faith we shall always show;
Nothing can harm us as on we go,
For Jesus is at the helm.
Wrecks we are seeing form day to day.
Poor broken vessels, along the way;
No one to pilot their ships have they;
And so they are sinking fast.
Jesus would pilot their vessel, too.
Comfort and give to them courage new;
If they believed him and would be true,
Their trials would soon be past.
True to our Pilot we all shall be,
Whether a stormy or peaceful sea;
Always so helpful and sweet is He,
And blessings us over more.
Soon we shall meet Him upon the strand.
Of the eternal and happy land,
Then we shall praise Him in chorus grand.
With those who have reached the shore.
He is the Master of wind and tide;
Safely the billows His ship will rid;
Into the harbor at last if will glide,
Where we shall be wondrously blest,
And so with our Pilot we sail along,
Safe from the storm and from all things wrong;
Soon we shall enter the harbor of song.
The haven of endless joy and rest.
