Mark
4:35-41 KJV And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let
us pass over unto the other side. 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. 37 And
there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it
was now full. 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? 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. 40 And he said unto them, Why
are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 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?
It is important to note that among the
people caught in the middle of this unexpected storm were to be found some
experienced, seasoned seamen.
It is also to be noted that the
Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, was also with them!
Storms come! They will come!
Storms come in all sizes and degrees
of intensities.
In the natural world there are some mini storms that we ignore
and others which are a bit of a nuisance then yet others that are
violently destructive.
A Christian’s life is not devoid of storms.
Not because
you serve Jesus should you believe that your life will be storm free!
Storms in
our lives can be labeled as follows: emotional
storms, physical storms, marital storms, financial storms, spiritual storms.
We will find our life’s boat being rocked severely by these storms.
We may be
seasoned sailors close to the Master but yet storms will come.
Jesus said in
this world you will have tribulations!(pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish,
burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.) How does He say we should
deal with them? John 16:33 KJV These things I have spoken unto you,
that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be
of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Paul said that we
will encounter tribulations on our way into the kingdom of God! Acts
14:22 KJV Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
A little boy was
leading his sister up a mountain path. She complained, “This is not a path at
all. It is all rocky and bumpy.” “Sure, it is,” he said. “The bumps are what
you climb on.”
The most astonishing question in this passage is
"Master, carest not thou that we perish?"
Jesus’ response, How is it that ye have no faith? brings us
to an important question: How does faith come? Paul makes this declaration So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God. Romans 10:17 KJV
The
difference between defeat and victory depends on our attention and obedience to
the Word of God!
In Matthew 7, Jesus had just come to
the end of the declaration of His Kingdom Precepts and was now giving His
closing remarks: Matthew 7:24-27 KJV Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was
founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which
built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended,
and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell:
and great was the fall of it.
James makes it clear that without
faith we are just wavering and when we are wavering, we are driven by the storms
of life back and forth.
James
1:5-6 KJV If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to
all men liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him
ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind and tossed.
The reason for the ministry gifts is
given by Paul: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of
the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of
the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the
head, even Christ: 16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which
every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of
every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians
4:11-16 KJV
Here we see that when we pay heed to what we
have been taught we are not likely to be tossed back and forth by every wind
that blows
2 Timothy
3:12-17 KJV Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in
the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom
thou hast learned them; 15
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That
the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
We need to know the Scriptures for
it is profitable to us in bringing us to perfection and to be thoroughly furnished
(fully loaded)
James advises us on the way to handle tribulation James
1:2-4 KJV My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations; 3 Knowing this, that
the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience
have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Peter said not to think it strange but reminds us to
rejoice! 1 Peter 4:12-13 KJV Beloved
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though
some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice,
inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall
be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
We are exhorted to be patient in tribulation Romans 12:12 KJV Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
We are comforted by Christ in our tribulation 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV 3
Blessed be God, even
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all
comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that
we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort
wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Remember: There
hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you
to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a
way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
KJV
Look to the
Way!
A young woman went to her mother and told her about
her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she
was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and
struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three
pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to
boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and
in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil,
without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.
She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.
She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what you
see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.
She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then
asked the daughter to take an egg and break it.
After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled
egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The
daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked,
"What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had
faced the same adversity ... boiling water. Each reacted
differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting.
However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became
weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected
its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside
became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After
they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her
daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?
Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems
strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my
strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes
with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a
financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?
Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a
stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually
changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When
the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like
the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the
situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their
greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle
adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Hear Paul's reasons for glorying!
2 Corinthians
11:23-31 KJV 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a
fool) I am more; in labours
more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths
oft. 24
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I
stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the
deep; 26
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in
perils by the heathen, in
perils in the city, in perils
in the wilderness, in perils in
the sea, in perils among false
brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings
often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside
those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all
the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is
offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the
things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
2 Corinthians
12:7-10 KJV 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the
flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above
measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,
that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient
for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me. 10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I
strong.
