Whenever The Lord Says Peace ... There Will Be Peace

Whenever the Lord says Peace ... there will be Peace

Mark 4:35-41

Reverend Kelvin Lebron Parks

Preached at Living Stone Christian Center, Standish, Maine on 25 July 2004

Ø Prayer

Ø Thanks

o Pastor Jason Jones

o Wife and April

o Congregation

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41 (STAND)

[v. 35] And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

[v.36] And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.

[v.37] And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

[v.38] And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

[v.39] And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

[v.40] And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?

[v.41] And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, what manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

... you may be seated

I would like to use as a Subject:

Whenever the Lord says Peace ... there will be peace

Turn to your neighbor and say Neighbor: Whenever the Lord says Peace ... there will be peace (repeat)

Introduction

I am sure some of you have heard the story about George who was in the mountains on day taking pictures of all the beautiful scenery. Then all of a sudden he got to close to the edge and started falling down the side of the mountain. On the way down ... he managed to get a hold of a tree branch and he started yelling for help, but no one came because George was alone. Then all of a sudden he heard a voice that said "George?" George said, "Is that you Lord?" "Yes George it’s me."

"Do you trust me?" George replied. "Oh yes Lord you know I do with all my heart." "Do you have faith in me?" "Oh yes Lord I would do whatever you say." "Then George let go of the branch." George said "You want me to do what?" "I said let go of the branch." There was dead silence ... then George yelled out, "Help, is there anyone else up there?"

You know may of us are just like George ... we say that we will trust God when times get hard but when it comes right down to it we really don’t. May of us lack faith, but what we fail to realize is that if there is no faith then there is no hope, and if there is no hope then there is nothing for us to hold on too.

Let us consider our text once again.

Mark 4:35-41

You know, when I read a passage like this, I can’t help but ask the question. “Why does God allow storms in our life?” I mean, think about it for a minute. If He is all-powerful, [which He is] couldn’t God make our life smooth sailing if He wanted to? Wouldn’t it be nice if He cut out all the storms and simply made the seas that we sail on as smooth as glass? It seems like life would be much better if we didn’t have to go through rough times.

As a preacher, I have seen people that I thought were so strong, who has so much going for them but when tragedy hits ... somehow they seem to fall apart. Now I’m not talking about any old body. I’m talking about people that grew up in the church. Down south, we call them church folk ... people that know the word of the Lord. People who have heard and read for themselves over and over again what Jesus said "... I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"(John 11:25)

They have heard and read the passage over and over "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

They read over and over again in Psalm 121 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." (121:1-2)

But when tragedy strikes ... these passages seem to fall off their minds like water running off a ducks back.

Let’s look at our text ...