We read here in our text that
the disciples had entered into a ship and they were sailing
towards Capernaum. And we are told that by reason
of a great wind, they found themselves in the middle of a storm. And this was a great storm. I want to, as we look at this,
I really want to kind of put us for a moment in their place. Like, I really want us to just
picture this, not just read it, not just see it as an account.
I mean, this is an account where this is historical, but as with
all things in the word of God, these things are given for our
spiritual benefit. This is a spiritual picture.
You know, in every miracle that Christ performed on this earth,
it was a picture of salvation. Everything in the Old Testament
typified Christ, it pictured Christ, it pointed to Christ,
the Lamb of God that would come into this world. And so I do
want us to just really kind of get like a good understanding
of where they were and what they were experiencing, what they
were going through, and by God's grace, be able to benefit from
that in the spiritual aspect. So this was a great storm, this
wasn't some Afternoon rain shower, you know,
we get these afternoon rain showers that come through and it's just
calming and you know Peaceful in many ways and this is not
what this was. This was a this was a great storm This was you
know, if you want to kind of like maybe put it in perspective
It was more more like a hurricane type, you know, just like I said
kind of put it in perspective and This was a great storm. And I'm sure that, you know,
they're on this boat, they're on a ship out in the middle of
the sea. And I'm sure that every effort is being made to weather
this storm. Whether it's the sails, ropes,
you know, trying to get water out of the boat so they don't
sink. Whatever it is that they were doing, every effort was
being made to weather this storm. And you can imagine with all
this activity that's going on, all of a sudden they look up
and they see a man walking on the water, approaching the boat.
You know, in Matthew's account, they thought it was a spirit.
And I would have too. I mean, you see someone walking
towards you on the ocean. That's not something you see
every day. And they're in the midst of the storm. And you can
just only imagine what is going through their minds. And they were troubled, they
were afraid. And how often do we, like the
disciples, find ourselves in the storms of life, hopeless,
afraid? You know, when rain comes, you
can find shelter, you can find cover, you can go inside, right?
If it's, you know, we get a lot of rain and the floods, the water
starts to rise, the floods are coming, what do you do? You find
higher ground. You know, if we know that there's
a tornado warning, what do we do? We find shelter. We go and
find a place that's going to be able to withstand the storm. But these men, these disciples
of the Lord are on a boat in the middle of the ocean and for lack of a better sense of
saying it, but they were kind of at the mercy of the storm,
right? I mean, it's wherever the wind took them, that's where
they were going. Wherever the waves pushed them, that's where
they were going. There was no solid ground. There was nothing that they could
do. You're just, you're completely, wherever that wind of the wave
takes you, that's where you're going. That's where you're going. How often are we afraid? How often are we filled with
fear, with doubt, with anxiety? How often are we filled with
unbelief? I mean, that's really where all of our fear and our
anxiety comes from, it's unbelief. And that's the result of sin
right there. You know, when Adam sinned, what
was it that was a consequence of his sin? He realized one,
he was naked, right? And then he had a sense of his
guilt, his shame. And then what did he do? He hid
himself. Why? He was afraid. It's fear. Fear is the result of sin. And
how often are we filled with unbelief? You know, David wrote,
He said in Psalm 13, he said, how long will thou forget me,
O Lord? How long will you forget me? And I thought about, as we
read about this, I'm thankful the Lord used David to write
these words. Does the Lord forget anything?
Is the Lord gonna forget his people? He said, I can't remember
exactly where it's at, but he said, you know, can a mother
forget her nursing child? Yes. Yep. But I'm not gonna forget you.
I'm not gonna forget you. But David said, how long will
thou forget me? How long will you hide thy face from me? How
long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my
heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be
exalted over me? Consider, hear me, O Lord my
God, lighten the eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. He said in
Psalm 77, will the Lord cast off forever? Will he be favorable
no more? Is his mercy clean gone? Can
God's mercy ever be exhausted? No. Does his promise fail forevermore?
Have one of God's promises ever failed? No. But we feel this way sometimes,
don't we? I mean, these are real emotions. These are real thoughts. These
are real pleas. These are real cries. And then
the Lord, he remembers our frame, doesn't he? He knows that we're
dust. Has God forgotten to be gracious? You know, the truth of the matter
is, for me, it does not take much for me to be afraid. It
really does not. I could see one dark cloud on
the horizon, and I'll begin to be afraid. One small one. And I could be on a boat headed
south, and that cloud's going east, and I'm determined it's
going to get me. Determined it's going to get
me. It's gonna change course and it's coming my way. I just
know it. It's the way I am. I could see a few drops of rain. You know, I was thinking this
morning, maybe like last week, it was hardly a cloud in the
sky, but this one dark cloud, and it was still light, this
one dark cloud that was just dropping down rain. And if I saw that, I would think,
well, where's the others? They're coming. It's just a matter
of time. Maybe a faint sound of thunder
off in the distance. I know the storm's coming. One
little thing. One little thing that goes wrong. One little thought. becomes another,
becomes another, becomes another. And then in my mind and in my
heart, it becomes an avalanche. We're told here in the passage
that it was dark. And it seems that when it is
dark, that's when fear really does begin to sink in. When are our kids scared the
most? when it's dark, nighttime, when
they're laying in bed. That's when all the sounds happen,
when they're laying in bed. But it's because it's dark, dark
conceals, dark hides. In the daytime, everything's
revealed. You know, when God says, let
there be light, that's when everything is revealed, isn't it? I mean,
even in the daytime, the storms aren't always that intimidating,
but in the nighttime, There's a little extra intimidation there.
And it was dark. It was dark. In the darkness, the storms have
a greater intimidation. And not only were they in the
dark, not only were they in the middle of this great storm, but
we're told that Jesus was not coming to them. They were by
themselves. They were alone. In Matthew's
account of this, we're told that the Lord actually told them.
He commanded them to go to Capernaum. He said, go to the other side.
And he went to the mountain. But he told them to go to the
other side. And I wonder, you know, in their mind, if this
thought crossed, or I wonder if this thought crossed their
mind as they're in the middle of this storm. I wonder if they
thought, you know, we're, the Lord told us to go to Capernaum.
We're just doing what the Lord told us to do. And now here we
are in the middle of the storm and we're gonna die. And I really,
the reason why I wonder if that's what they were thinking is because
I know that's what I would be thinking at that point in time,
because that's what I think all the time. Why is this happening to me?
I'm doing what I believe the Lord told me to do, or you know.
Why is this happening to me? During our time on this earth
and in the course of our lives, we will find ourselves in many
storms. Some of them will be more violent and threatening
than others, but storms are inevitable, we know that. They are inevitable.
They may be mental, spiritual, or physical. They may be trials,
temptations, persecutions, or afflictions. Some of them may
last for a very short time, a very brief time, maybe minutes, days,
a brief time. Some of them may last for years. They may pass. And we once again
enjoy the pleasures of clear skies and calm seas, or they
may be the means by which we enter into glory. They may be. But the Lord declared that he
chose us in the furnace of affliction. He told us that we will suffer
a little while, a little while. Everything in this world is just
a little while, isn't it? It's just a little while. It's
just brief. And the trials are real. The
suffering's real. The pain's real. The anguish
is real. But it's just a little while.
It's just a little while. And we must, through much tribulation,
enter into the kingdom of God. Look at 1 Peter 1 for a second.
I want us to see this. 1 Peter 1. This is a familiar passage of
scripture, but let's kind of put this in perspective. In verse six, it says, wherein
ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, just a little while,
just for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold
temptations. That the trial of your faith,
being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though
it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor
and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. whom having not
seen, you love, and whom, though now you see him not, yet believing,
you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving
the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. There's
a need for the trial. There's a need for whatever it
is that you're going through, through the storm, there's a
need. It's a trial of your faith. And we shall endure these things.
We shall go through these things, but look at verse three in our
text and consider this as we go through the storms. Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to his abundant mercy has begotten us again into a lively hope by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance. incorruptible and undefiled,
and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept,
were kept, how? By the power of God through faith
unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. And then begins
the text where we just read where it is. So all those things that
we go through in life, all of those storms, all of those storms,
it's just for a season. It's just for a moment, but it's
needed. Why? To try our faith. To try our faith. But one day
that faith is gonna be sight. And that inheritance that's reserved
for us is going to become our reality. Then all these trials
are leading up to the end of that faith, which is the final
salvation of our souls. All of these trials. When Christ
comes to the ship, he says to the disciples, he says, it is
I, be not afraid. And consider how wonderfully
and comfortably the shepherd speaks to the sheep. And the
sheep need that. We need comforting, we're sheep.
We need the comforting words of the shepherd. He knows our
hearts and thoughts. He knew they were afraid and
overcome with fear, and he speaks to their great need. You know,
he, He says, it is I, don't be afraid. He didn't talk about what they
were doing to make sure the boat stayed afloat. It is I, be not
afraid. And that's what comforts us.
What comforts our hearts and our minds when we're in the midst
of the storm? Is it not the words of our Lord? Is it not his words
to us that comfort us? Look at Isaiah chapter 43. Look
at Isaiah chapter 43. And I had a couple of passages
I wanted to look at, but for the sake of time, we'll just
look at a couple of them. Isaiah chapter 43. Now thus saith the Lord that
created the old Jacob and he that formed the old Israel. And this is, the word of God is children's,
is the children's bread. This word is for God's people,
isn't it? These words of comfort, this
is for us. God created us, Jacob. He that formed thee, O Israel,
fear not. Why? For I've redeemed thee.
I've redeemed thee. I've called thee by thy name.
You're mine. We're his. We belong to him,
he purchased us, he redeemed us. The cost of that redemption
was the blood of Christ. He suffered and died on the cross
and endured all the wrath of God, suffered all the punishment
of God for his people, we're his. He's our shepherd and he
holds us in the palm of his hand and he says, no man's gonna pluck
you out. And when you pass through the
waters, I will be with thee. He's with us at all times. When
we pass through the waters of this world, He's with us. And through the rivers, they
shall not overflow thee. The waves will not overflow us. The wind will not overcome us. And when you walk through the
fire, thou shalt not be burned. Neither shall the flame kindle
upon thee. Why? I am. I am. That's why. I am. It is I. That's what he said. It is I.
Be not afraid. I am. the Lord thy God, the Holy
One of Israel, thy Savior. I gave Egypt for thy ransom,
Ethiopia and Saba for thee, since I was precious in my sight."
We're precious in his sight. He loves us with an everlasting
love. I mean, our love is pitiful in
comparison, but what would you not do for your children? And
those whom the Lord has given a heart, okay? I mean, we've
seen that before. The love of this world is not
love at all, especially from an unregenerated heart. But when
the Lord saves a person and gives them a new heart, what would
you not do for your children? He tells us to love our brethren,
right? I mean, what would you not do for your brethren, truly?
Truly. Since I was precious and been
honorable, I have loved thee, and therefore I will give men
for thee and people for thy life. Fear not, for I am with thee.
I will bring thy seed from the east and gather thee from the
west. He loves us, he loves us. All right, consider who it is
that speaks these words. I can find comfort and peace
not simply because of what is said, though important, I do
not want to discredit that. but it's not because simply of
what is said, but because of who says, be not afraid. Who is it that said, be not afraid? Promises are empty, meaningless,
and hopeless if he who makes them does not have the power
to fulfill them. I can promise you something all
day long. I can make promises all day long.
I don't have the power to fulfill those promises. And those are empty promises,
aren't they? They're really not promises. They're really not. He has the power to fulfill it.
He has the power to keep it. And he will not fail. He shall
not fail. He said, remember the things
of old, for I am God, and there is none else. I am God, and there
is none like me. I declare the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times, the things that are not yet done, saying,
my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. Rean Isaiah,
the Lord of hosts, has sworn, saying, surely, as I have thought,
so shall it come to pass. He thinks it, and it comes to
pass. He says it, and it's done. He wills it, and it's performed. Job endured a great storm on
this earth. And one day at the hand of God,
Satan took all that he had. He lost his animals. Pretty much
all of his servants were killed. And the only ones that actually
lived were the ones that came to tell him that he lost everything.
Those were the only ones that lived. He lost his sons and his
daughters. And after all this, Satan smote
him with boils from the sole of his foot into his head. And
before the Lord allowed Satan to do what he did to Job, the
Lord said unto Satan, Has thou considered my servant Job? Have
you considered him, that there's none like him in all the earth,
a perfect man, an upright man, one that feareth God and askeweth
evil? And Satan answered the Lord and
said, Doth Job fear God for naught? Has thou not made a hedge about
him and about his house and about all that he has on every side? A hedge is a fence that's used
for protection. Now Satan knew who Job was. Satan
knew everything that Job had. Satan knew a lot about Job. He
knew Job. But Satan also knew the Lord
had hedged him in. There was a fence of protection
around Job. So is there a hedge around all
the children of God. We're hedged about, protected,
a fence. And we're hedged about with all
the promises of God. There's a hedge of promises that
protect us. God has declared that all things
work together for the good of his people in Romans chapter
eight. We know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. We're blessed with all spiritual
blessings in Christ. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ. We are told that he
will never forsake us. He said, be strong and of good
courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them, for the Lord thy God,
for as he that doth go with thee, he will not fail thee, nor forsake
thee. We're hedged about with the promise
of care. Peter said, humble yourselves, therefore, unto the mighty hand
of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your
care, all your anxiety, that's what that word here, anxiety,
cast all your anxiety upon him. Why? Because he cares for you.
He cares for you. He intercedes for us. He is able
to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for us. and he loves us. We don't have time to look at
it right now, but Romans chapter eight declares, who's gonna separate
us from the love of God? Shall trial, tribulation, persecution,
affliction, none of these things are gonna
be able to separate us from the love of God. In the midst of the storm, you
may feel that all is lost, that there is no hope, and surely
it will lead to our death and destruction. But we must remember
that we live by faith and not by sight. We don't live by feelings
and emotions, we live by faith, God-given faith that looks to
Christ and rests in his faithfulness. And when God opens the eyes of
our understanding, we truly see and know that if God before us,
nothing can be against us. In 2 Kings, the king of Assyria
was going after the children of God and they had set ambushes
for him. And the king of Israel, Elijah,
went to the king of Israel and told him, he said, don't go to
this place because the king of Syria is there. He's set up and
he's waiting for you. and the king of Syria was frustrated.
And at one point he gathered all his men together and he said,
who is it among us that's going and telling the king of Israel
where we are and giving them the opportunity to avoid these
ambushes? And his men said, none of us, Lord. He said that, you
know, it's Elijah. Elijah is going to tell him the
king of Israel where you are. And so he said, well, let's go
find Elijah. Let's take care of the problem
then. So they determined where Elijah was, I think in Dotham.
And so they went to the city and they surrounded the city.
Horses, chariots, men, completely surrounded the city. And Elijah's
servant, Elijah's servant came to him and said, he said, what
are we gonna do? How are we gonna escape this? I mean, we're completely surrounded.
Everything's against us. There is no hope. There is no
hope. And Elijah prayed, he said, Lord,
open my servant's eyes. And when the Lord opened the
servant's eyes, he looked around and he saw a host, a host of
the army of God in the mountains and the hills and everywhere
around him. There'd be more that are for
us than against us. But God's gotta open our eyes
in order for us to see that. He's gotta give us faith. Look
at Psalm 107. I know I'm going slightly long,
but we'll, Psalm 107, and we'll just end with this. Psalm 107,
verse 21. Oh, that men would praise the
Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children
of men. And let them sacrifice the sacrifices
of thanksgiving and declare his works rejoicing. They that go
down to the sea in ships and do business in great waters.
We're in this world. We're not of this world, but
we are in this world. And we do business in this world,
on the ocean of this world, in our boats. These see the works of the Lord
and his wonders in the deep. For he commanded and raises the
stormy wind." Where does that wind come from? The commandment
of God. That's where it comes from. He commands it. How did
that storm hit the disciples? He commanded it. He commanded
it. which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heavens,
and they go down again to the depths. Their soul is melted
because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger
like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry
unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their
distress. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof
are still. and then they are glad because
they be quiet. So he bringeth them into their
desired haven. Oh, that men would praise the
Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children
of men. Our comfort, our comfort is Christ. He said, it is I. That's the
only comfort that we have. That's the only peace that we
have. That's the only rest that we have. It's with Him. I wanna be with Him wherever
He, you know, one of my favorite passages, I love it, it's, you
know, when the Lord came unto John, He said, behold, the Lamb
of God which taketh away the sin of the world, and two of
John's men following after Christ. And he looked at them and he
said, what seek ye? And their response was, Lord,
where are you dwelling? Where are you going? I want to
be where you are. And they abode with him. That's
our comfort. That's our peace. We look to
him for all things. We seek him. We rest in him. We desire him. And his word is
filled with promises from beginning to end that will never fail.
Even in that storm, those disciples, they were hedged about. And he who approached them and
came into the ship, And in another account, he's the same one that
said, peace, be still, and everything was still. Let's pray.