The Perfect Storm

THE PERFECT STORM

Text. Mrk 4: 35-

Intro: What do we acquire thru the perfect storm? What characterizes a perfect storm?

Can we predict’em like a weatherman..

A husband and his wife were sound asleep when suddenly the phone rang.

The husband picked up the phone and said, "Hello? How in the world would I know? What do I look like, a weatherman?" He then slammed the phone down and settled into bed. "Who was that?" asked his wife.

"I don't know. It was some guy who wanted to know if the coast was clear."

A couple of observations:

vs. 36 Leaving the crowd behind

Something /Someone is left behind as we enter storms

PR 10:25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

Soon we find out who the wrong people are – in our storms

Example: Jonah 1: 4, 5 such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea

Notice: It wasn’t what was on the boat – but ____Who?

1:12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.

Vs. 37 A furious squall - A furious windstorm arose

The wind was stronger than their belief

When every fiber in your being is trying to save face in the midst of what you’re encountering, yet it’s hitting so strong – stronger (appears) than your faith

Truths Regarding Storms

Facing a storm is a written invitation for God to show up!!

STORMS COME TO ALL

Mt 5:45 He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous

Remb: The Bible says they were all in this boat,

1PE 5:8 -9 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1 PE 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

STORMS COME UNEXPECTEDLY

Same Story is told in Mat. 8: 24 Without warning, a furious storm came

STORMS COME TO AN END EVENTUALLY

What do we acquire (gain, obtain) thru the perfect storm?

EDUCATION

He slept while they stressed

His peace their panic

We learn a lot in the perfect storms…………

Ourselves

Our God

Our friends – tell who your friends are

What else we acquire:

EXPOSURE

How would we ever know deliverance without a dilemma

If we never had a problem how would we know he could solve’em

2 main things usually are exposed:

Cause of the storm

Condition of our faith

The last thing we acquire is:

ELEVATION

GE 7:17 For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth

What is thought to have engulfed you – elevates you

The perfect storm elevates us..

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERFECT STORM:

Vs. 35 Let us go

A Storm That He Takes You In And Through

Before God takes you TO He takes you THROUGH

There’s a Big difference the storm we go into & “self-generated”

Financial storm- we spend more than we make.. debt is choice!

Martial storm- confront challenges and issues – not eachother

Vs. 35 he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."

His Word IS Sustaining You

Recall: He said let’s go over- this statement contains a promise and prophecy

PS 119:49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

PS 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

PS 119:107 I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.

1 JN 2:24 See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.

Last Characteristic Of A Perfect Storm…

Vs. 36 they took him along, just as he was,

Jesus Is With You

ISA 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Mat 28: And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Rom 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?