THE STORM!

THE STORM!

Matt 8:23-27 KJV

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Jesus had just finished what we call “The Sermon on the Mount.” Now he had come down from the mountain toward the shore where he healed many. In verse 18 He gives commandment to get into a boat and depart for the other side. In the midst of obedience a storm arose that threatened their very lives. Below are some thoughts that you might find interesting and helpful as you weather your own storms.

1. Storms come in spite of – and sometimes because of our obedience!

The disciples had gotten into the boat BEFORE the storm in obedience to Christ’s command. There was no storm at the beginning of the trip.

2. Jesus led the way!

Verse 23 tells us that Jesus entered into the ship followed by His disciples. God does not always lead by smooth ways!

3. Jesus slept through the storm!

He is not concerned or anxious and is able to rest. This speaks rebuke to our anxiety.

4. Storms challenge our most expert abilities!

I am reminded that many of the disciples were seasoned fishermen and familiar with the sudden storms that occurred on that lake. This storm caused them to waken the master and say: “Lord, save us: we perish.”

5. Jesus addressed the MEN before He addressed the STORM!

Ø     Jesus spoke regarding their FEAR. Jesus continually works with us to remove fear – not storms!

Ø     Jesus addressed their lack of FAITH. We could spend considerable time simply asking questions like “Would God allow His Son to drown in the storm along with all the disciples?” No, this would contradict His purpose for his Son and for all of the disciples.

Ø     Faith in the purpose of God and the power of God would have eliminated their fear.

6. When Jesus speaks to a storm the result is a great calm!

If I ever find myself in a storm I want Jesus asleep on a pillow! When He awakes to my cries I will not care what rebuke He has for me. I will not care if his condemnation blisters me. I will care only that He speaks to the storm.

7. When storms are stilled Jesus’ true nature is revealed!

Matt 8:27

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Dear Jesus, storms may rise today in spite of or even as a result of my obedience to you! Help me to keep my eyes on you. Calm our storms today. AMEN

DON’T FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD!

DON’T FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD!

Gal 2:20-21 KJV

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The Greek word translated “frustrate” means “to disesteem, neutralize, violate, disannul, and bring to naught or to reject.”  These are strong words but it points out Paul’s thinking regarding the struggle between grace and works. In verse 20 he declared himself dead along with Christ at His crucifixion and yet alive and animated at and by His resurrection. He was alive – but not of himself.

Paul’s life now has a new life force. It is faith of and in the Son of God. All the blessings purchased on Calvary’s cross he was now enjoying free simply by receiving them as a gift. He would not frustrate, set aside or reject this grace by trying to keep a volume of laws and rules.

The confusion in the mind of the “worker for salvation” is that he knows he is unworthy of Christ’s gifts. He feels his sin and carries guilt constantly. He never feels clean enough. This is not a bad thing if it is applied properly. But the “worker for salvation” buckles down and tries harder and harder to win God’s approval. He never succeeds by this method.

God’s approval of us is gained through the working of His Son. He approves of His Son and all that the Son takes unto himself. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Our righteousness is His righteousness and not our own. In Romans chapter 7 Paul describes clearly the turmoil of spirit when a man decides to live sinless by his own efforts.

Rom 7:19-24 KJV

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Phil 2:13 KJV

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Father, let me abandon my struggle today and surrender to your working in me that I might do your good pleasure. AMEN

ONLY A VAPOR!

ONLY A VAPOR!

James 4:14 KJV

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

It seems like only yesterday I was a shirtless barefoot boy, playing with an old alarm clock in the black dirt in front of a rented house in Cincinnati. One could smell the meat packing house not too far away and the noise of the city was a curious mixture of honking horns, and the rumble of machinery. I would play all day and then turn the bathwater into muck. Momma would dry my kid-blond hair with a towel and then off to bed.

A moment later I was a teen in a football uniform and then a cap and gown. Suddenly I’m a young man working in the parts cage at the Coca-Cola company with an uneasy restlessness that later defined itself as a call from God upon my life.

Like a blur I’m kneeling in the tabernacle at the Ohio youth camp after hearing Dr. David Cavin. Now I’m standing in line registering for classes at Baptist Bible College. Standing near the back of the Bible Baptist Church I spy a lovely young lady playing the piano. She is the love of my life.

Nearly forty years of ministry swirls about in a cyclone of places and faces. What remains are ambition, disappointment and satisfaction in a strange blend. Now it is sunset and the colors are magnificent.

I’d like to quote another old preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who said:

   We crossed and recrossed a river several times by the ferry-boat with no purpose in the world but mere amusement and curiosity, to watch the simple machinery by which the same current is made to drift the boat in opposite directions from side to side. To other passengers it was a business, to us a sport.

   Our hearers use our ministry in much the same manner when they come to it out of the idlest curiosity and listen to us as a means of spending a pleasant hour. That which should ferry them across to a better state of soul, they use as a mere pleasure-boat to sail up and down in, making no progress after years of hearing. It may be sport to them, but it is death to us, because we know it will before long be death to them.

n     Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Quotable Spurgeon, (Wheaton: Harold Shaw Publishers, Inc, 1990)

Dear Lord, teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. AMEN