Calm in the Storm

Calm in the Storm

Mark 4:35-41 (NKJV) ³⁵On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."
³⁶Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.
³⁷And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
³⁸But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
³⁹Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
⁴⁰But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
⁴¹And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Notice Jesus was in a little boat.

He was not in a big safe boat.

A great windstorm came up.

This was no little amount of danger.

Waves were beating the boat.

It was filling up with water.

Jesus was sleeping without any worry or concern.

His faith kept him from being afraid.

He told the storm to be calm.

It obeyed him.

Then he asked the disciples what was wrong with their faith.

If they had had faith, they would not have had terror.

They would have trusted God.

We are often like the disciples.

Jesus offers us peace, but first we must be willing to trust him.

John 14:27 (NKJV)Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Peace of the world: Society of International law, in London Past 4,000 years only 268 years of peace Past 3 centuries 286 wars on continent of Europe alone. Another source says that during most of this time there were at least 8000 peace treaties made – and broken. Norwegian Academy of “Sciences and historians from England, Egypt, Germany and India: Since 3600BC 292 years of peace. 14,351 wars, large and small 3.64 billion deaths. Value of property destroyed would pay for a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick. Since 650 BC there have been 1656 arms races, only 16 of which have not ended in war. The remainder ended in the economic collapse of the countries involved.

Mark 13:4-13 (NKJV) ⁵And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁶For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many. ⁷But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. ⁸For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. ⁹But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. ¹⁰And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. ¹¹But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. ¹²Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ¹³And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Don’t be overly alarmed at what goes on in the world. What goes on in your heart is more important.

John 14:27 (NKJV)Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus told these words to his disciples when he knew he would leave them.

He knew he would soon be murdered and sacrificed for our sins.

He told them not to worry.

He told them not to be afraid.

This is the kind of peace that Jesus can give you.

He spoke to them again before his crucifiction:

John 16:31-33 (NKJV) ³¹Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?
³²Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
³³These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

The peace Jesus promised was not like the peace of the world.

This was a peace in spite of trials.

This is an inner peace you can have within your heart no matter what is happening.

This is the kind of peace you can have in the middle of a storm on a small boat.

You have the peace of knowing that no matter what, God will take care of you.

If you die, you have heaven waiting for you.

Once I was on a small airplane with some other brethren. We were coming back from a meeting about missions. We were flying to Little Rock from Dallas. A great wind came. The wings on the airplane were being shaken from side to side. The plane seemed to be going straight down towards the earth. Most people were upset. They thought we were sure to crash. I looked over at an older brother in Christ, Glenn Boyd. He was sitting beside me calm and relaxed. There was no fear on his face. He had peace. A few minutes later the plane was able to land and everyone was safe. People started clapping and showing relief. Glen just gave a small smile. He acted as if nothing had even happened. Do you have that kind of peace?

Romans 8:5-6 (NKJV)
⁵For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
⁶For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

If your mind is set on the things of this world, it is set on death.

If your mind is set on the world you will not have peace in the storm.

If you care about this world you will worry about the things of this world.

If you set your mind on the things of the spirit, you will not worry.

Luke 12:22-23 (NKJV)²²Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.
²³Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

Worry does nothing but increase fear. Woman who always worried about a burglar coming into the house so she had trouble sleeping. One night her husband heard a noise and went downstairs. When he got there he did find a burglar. “Good Evening!” he said. “I am so pleased to meet you. Would you please come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you.”

Worry does nothing but hurt the worrier.

Matt 6:27 (NKJV) ²⁷Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Luke 12:29-34 (NKJV) ²⁹And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.
³⁰For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.
³¹But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
³²Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
³³Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We must trust in Jesus and place our hope on God.

If we put God first, He will take care of the rest.

We all need more faith. It will give us calm in any storm that can happen in our life.

The more faith we have the more peace we have.

How much peace do you have?

Do you have the peace that comes from Christ?

Have you trusted Him. Have you obeyed Him?

Are you a true Christian?

Are you a Christian with weak faith?

Do you have peace in your life?

Do whatever you need to to be right with God.

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