Victory Over Dangers

Victory Over Dangers Text: Mark 4:35-41

Introduction: The Gospel of Mark has been described as a book of Mighty Works. Mark’s Gospel is a gospel of deeds. Mark presents Jesus as a worker whose life was full of strenuous activity. Mark hastens from one task to another with energy and precision. 42 times Mark uses the "straightway," as he marches us from one miracle to the next. Other gospel writers reveal to us the mind of God, Mark reveals the Arm of God. Mark records 19 miracles and only 4 parables. The writer, John Mark chooses to record the deeds rather than the words of Jesus. Mark is by no means silent about Jesus as a teacher. Jesus is a worker, and even more a teacher. Mark shows that His works prepared people for His words rather than His words preparing people for His works. The teachings grew naturally out of the occasion and the circumstances. Jesus did and then taught. Since He did what He did, He could teach with effectiveness. Both His works and words reveal who he really is.

The assignment given to those early followers of Christ is typical. Jesus was not asking the disciples to do anything they could not do. These men were fishermen, professional sailors who were familiar with the water of Galilee. Jesus commands them to get into the boat and go over to the other side. Realizing the late hour, Jesus needed the disciple to put to sea, because he would lose no time, Let us pass over to the other side; for we shall find, in the next chapter, he has work to do there. Christ went about doing good. No difficulties in his way could hinder him. The book of Mark is going to serve as the foundation for the messages this week. Tonight's message is entitled "Victory over Danger". In spite of the turmoil around us, we as children of God, we can have victory over the dangers of life.

Some of you today need victory because you may be facing what to all appearances are insurmountable difficulties, irresolvable problems, and hopeless circumstances. You’re in that boat out on the open sea, the waves sloshing, the wind howling, the darkness so thick you can’t even see the shore, much less reach it. And on top of it all, God seems unconcerned, indifferent. You feel hopeless, and you’re right. Your situation is hopeless, unless God intervenes.

Some of you, on the other hand, are enjoying relatively smooth sailing. Clear skies, calm seas, gentle breezes. And that’s great. Be thankful for God’s blessings and mercies. But be careful: guard your heart against spiritual complacency. Continue to be diligent in the spiritual disciplines of prayer and bible reading. Keep seeking the Lord, keep striving to serve God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, so that when the storms

do come, you’ll be ready. Allow me to point out some obvious and simple lessons from this story. If we are to experience Victory over danger, first we must realize: Storms will come.

1. Storm Will Come - Even though you may follow God faithfully as much as you know how…Storm will come! The apostle Peter reminds us: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

There are many who do not seem to understand this. The disciples seemed to be shocked that they were in this position. After all, wasn’t Jesus with them? Wouldn’t God protect his Messiah, and therefore protect his followers? How then could this happen? I sometimes meet people who have the same feeling of shock when some storm comes into their lives. Didn’t I do all the right things? Isn’t God supposed to watch out for his own? Doesn’t he protect those he loves? How can this be happening to me? I am sure those are the questions which were marching through the heads of the disciples.

Here is what a storm in your life does not mean. It does not mean that God does not love you. It does not mean that God is angry with you, or that he is paying you back for something. God is not toying with you. Sometimes the storms that happen in our lives are self-made. But many times it is just that storms happen, and trying to analyze what happened or assign blame is a fruitless activity. We live in a fallen world. And as Jesus said, “[God] causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). In other words, good and bad happen to all. The important thing is whether or not we are prepared for them. We can be prepared if we understand Storms will come, but Secondly, we understand that we are not alone, Jesus is with us in the storm.