If you'd like to follow along,
I'm gonna be in the book of Psalms, number 107, Psalms 107. I wanna
begin reading in verse 23, and go to verse 31. Yeah, maybe 32, that's good too.
Psalms 107, verse 23. They that go down to the sea
in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works
of the Lord and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth and
raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to heaven, 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
distresses. He maketh the storm a calm so
that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they
be quiet. So he bringeth them unto their
desired haven. Oh, that men would praise the
Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children
of men. Let them exalt him also in the
congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of
the elders. This psalm starts with this verse,
verse one. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord.
Why? For he's good. He is good. And his mercy endureth forever. And yes it does. Yes it does. That's the thing that this world
doesn't want to understand. But that's not exactly the message
right now. God's mercy endures. Endures. You understand, if God has ever
granted you mercy, You have mercy. Whether you feel it or not, whether
you know it or not, that part doesn't matter. It's still his
mercy and it endures forever. I'm gonna tell you something,
folks. The accounts that are in the
Old Testament and the illustrations in the Old Testament of deliverance,
the accounts of deliverance in the Old Testament are wonderful,
wonderful. The illustrations of deliverance
in the Old Testament show forth perfectly the work of the Lord
in the salvation of his people. Let's be clear. In the Old Testament
and in the New Testament, the Lord is the deliverer. And the way he worked in the
Old Testament and the way he works in the New Testament are
this. It's the Lord's work in the Lord's
salvation of his people. Understand, it's the Lord who
chose his people. It's the Lord who saves his people. And it's the Lord who keeps his
people. The Lord always has. And he does
right now, just the same today. I am the Lord, I change not. Samuel Medley wrote this. Often
I feel my sinful heart prone from my savior to depart. But, and I like this, but though
I him forgot, his loving kindness changes not. That's his mercy,
it's what loving kindness is. But here in verse 25, I'm not
gonna keep you too long today. We start with this, and please
be very certain to get this if you can. This is the work of
the Lord, for he commandeth. and raiseth the stormy wind which
lifteth up the waves thereof. Now this illustration is an illustration
of seamen who go out on the big waters. This is not sailing across
a lake. This is not going up a river
and coming back down. This is out in the sea. First,
he made the storm. Second, he made the waves. And he said, God did it, God
did it. Because here it is, he commands
and raises. He commands the winds and raises
the waves. Oh, that's the power of God. That's the power of God, you
understand? Now, the seamen, those sailors,
weren't happy with that storm at the time. What's it say? They
mount up to the heavens, they go down into the depths, and
their soul is melted. Why? Because of trouble. Now
listen, folks. This is trouble that the Lord
commanded. This is trouble that the Lord
raised. What's it say? I like this. They
reel to and fro. They reel to and fro and stagger
like a drunken man and are at their wits end. Listen, if the
Lord troubles your soul, and let's be clear, he will if you're
one of his children. He will if you're lost and he's
bringing you in. He is going to trouble your soul
and you are gonna reel to and fro You're gonna stagger around
like a drunken man and you're gonna be at your wit's end. And that's the way he works.
That's what this is an illustration of. But that's not where he leaves
his child. It says this, then, then he made the calm. He made the calm. That's my title, Paul, The Storm
and the Calm. The Storm and the Calm. And I'm
gonna tell you something, folks. This is the order of God's work
in bringing in his children. First you're troubled, and only
after the trouble comes the calm. That's the way he works. And
I'm gonna tell you something. I've been pondering this on and
off. There will be a knowledge of
sin in you, in you, before you know the calm. That's the way
it works. That's the way it works. And
this is Old Testament example. Oh, I'm gonna tell you. There
will be a knowledge of your sin before the knowledge of your
salvation. What did Christ say about this? There is a rest for those who
are laboring and heavy laden. He says what? Come unto me. Come
unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, all you who
are reeling to and fro, staggering like a drunken man, and are at
your wits end. Come unto me. and I will give
you rest. I will give you rest. Oh, I like
that. Example in Exodus, Paul, where
you were at. Before that part of the Red Sea.
How many plagues were there before they left Egypt? How many plagues
were there? And I'm gonna tell you something,
folks. You can look at it, it's in Exodus 12. Nobody left, well
you were in Exodus 12, I'm sorry, but nobody left Egypt until the
blood was above the doorpost and the lentil. There had to
be a lamb slain before anybody left Egypt. Oh my, and all those troubles
and all those plagues, and there was no deliverance from Egypt
until the blood was shed. First Samuel two and six says
this. The Lord killeth and maketh alive. That's right. The Lord killeth
and maketh alive. What's he say? He bringeth down
to the grave and bringeth up. He makes the storm and he makes
the calm. He killeth and he maketh alive
and folks, He bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up, and
that is the order of the salvation of a soul. Oh my, he brings low
and lifts up. This was the Lord's order of
work. This is the word, excuse me,
the order of work. And it's all done by our Lord,
our Lord Jesus Christ. because the only ones who are
given rest are those that labor and are heavy laden. Those who labor and are heavy
laden, those who learn of him shall find rest. And not only
that, what'd he say? You'll find rest for your souls,
for your souls, inside. This is where the turmoil is
in the child of God. It's in your heart, it's in your
head, you don't know what's going on. I remember years ago, going
on 40 some years ago, laying on a couch and telling somebody
who had been talking to me. And I'd been looking at the scripture
and trying to figure out what was actually true. And I had
come to the realization, and I was afraid, if I died right
then, I'd go to hell. Now, I wouldn't have, because
God had chosen me. And how did I know he chose me?
Because he saved me. I didn't know he'd chosen me.
I didn't know he was going to save me. I was just miserable.
That's the way I felt. And the person I told, I found
out later, said, that's OK, and left the room. And they left
the room because they didn't want me to see that they were
really smiling, really big. and they went and told other
people that were there, family, and they were smiling very big
because, see, they realized this was a good thing. I didn't at
the time. I was in the midst of the storm.
I was reeling to and fro. I was staggering like a drunken
man. But there came a calm. It was after this, and that was
actually a few days after this. I was miserable for a little
while before God revealed himself to me as my Savior, my Lord,
who saved me from my sin. What's he say? He maketh the storm a calm. He didn't say he made the storm
into a calm. He made the storm a calm. It's still me. But where after
you call upon the name of the Lord, there's a calm. And you know
what? It goes right where that storm
was. It goes right where those winds and waves were. Oh, I like
that, I do. When I heard the gospel of my
salvation, when you heard the gospel of your salvation, there's
a calm, where before there was only storm. Oh, I like that. Oh. 107 verse 30, then they are glad. Then are they glad because they
be quiet. After the storm. In the calm that the Lord made. The storm and the calm. Then
they are glad. Then. Now let's, Take a look
at this for just a minute. Those sailors were glad of the
calm after the storm. You understand? This is the point.
You understand? Before the storm, there was a
calm. But you know what that was? That
was just a regular day's work for the sailor. It was their
normal position. But when that storm came, they
were so glad of that calm that it was just, they were glad.
They rejoiced. And then, working on that ship,
not being in a storm, it being calm, they were glad. They were glad. Oh, I like that. Before the storm,
they weren't glad. They were just working. Sailing the ship. They got something
to do. Got somewhere to be. And during
the storm, though, they were not glad. They were trying to
live. Reeling to and fro, staring like
a drunken man. And guess what? They're at their
wit's end. You get to a point, you know it's not up to you. That's a point. In the revelation
of Jesus Christ, in the revelation of your sin to you, you know
you can't do anything about it. You're at your wit's end. Remember
I used to tell people it was true. I felt like I was backed
up in a corner. I Had nowhere to go. Ah Thank God he got me to look
up To look to Christ to call upon Christ why? He's the one
whom the wind and the seas obey He can make the call He can make
the calm in you He made the storm in you and he makes the calm
in you. And then they are glad. Then
they are glad. Oh, I like that. Trying not to
be thrown overboard in the storm, trying not to be destroyed, but
then comes this calm. And I'm gonna tell you something,
thank God for after the storm. The calm, the calm. They are
glad, they be quiet. Listen folks, not only the waves
are quiet, but then you are quiet. You are quiet. That feeling,
and I don't wanna talk about feelings,
but there might be one, there was one for me, a feeling of
peace. where I realized, though I still
be sin, though I still sin, Jesus Christ is my peace. He's my calm. He's my calm. But you never realize
that till after a storm. That's the way it was for these
sailors. You don't realize how nice it
is working on a calm sea until after you've been on one that
was rough trying to kill you. All those on the ship are quieted. They be quiet. They're glad. But then you come to this part. Then they are glad because they
be quiet, So he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh, I like that. There is a destination
for those chosen of God. There is a destination for every
single child of God. For every one that the father
gave to the son, there's a destination. And guess what? That's the desired
haven. That's where they wanna be, and
they desire it. God's people desire this haven. He brings them unto the desired
haven. Now listen, sailors might tell
you, we're sailing the ship and we're going here. Well, maybe
you are, maybe you're not. By God's grace, you might. But
here's the thing, unto this desired safe haven, you're not gonna
be there unless he brings you unto it. I preached it a few
weeks ago. He's the son, what? The son of God, our Lord Jesus
Christ, he bringing in many sons unto glory. He's bringing them
in. We believers desire it. These sailors desired it in the
illustration, but make no mistake, he brings
them in. And he brings them in, here's
the thing, folks, he brings them in love and in joy. They talk about it, Christ talked
about it in parables. He brings that sheep in and says,
There's rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. And
he had that sheep on his shoulders. He carried it back and put it
in the flock. And the heavens rejoice over
the salvation of one sinner, over the repentance of one sinner. Oh, I like that, I do. They rejoice
and the sheep rejoices also. Oh, the Lord is the only way
to the desired haven. And what? They are still glad. They're glad. Hmm. As I said, the New Testament,
not any different in the Old Testament. And who chooses and
who saves and who keeps. John 15 verse 16 said this, you
have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. and ordained you
that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit
should remain. That whatsoever you shall ask
of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. You have not chosen me, Christ
said then. Jesus Christ, the Lord, the Son
of God, God, manifest in the flesh, walking among us, said,
you didn't choose me, I chose you. I chose you, wait a minute,
and ordained you. Why? That you shall reach the
desired haven. Oh, I like that, I do. Matthew 121 says this, and he
shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus,
for he shall save his people from their sins. Walter quoted
it last week. What? Thou shalt call his name
Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. What?
A child was born, but the son was given. Oh, I like that. And his name is Jesus. Savior,
Savior. For he shall save his people
from their sins. And I'm gonna tell you something,
the Son had his people before he came. That Son that was given,
the Father had already given a people. They were chosen in
Christ before the foundation of the world. The Father had given them to
the Son. When he came here, when the child was born, that son
was given. And he had a people. Oh, I like
that. John 10 verse 28 says this, and
I give unto them eternal life. And they shall never perish. What? Oh, give thanks unto the Lord,
for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever. I give unto them eternal life,
and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me,
is greater than all. And no man is able to pluck them
out of my Father's hand. First Peter 1.5 says, who are
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to
be revealed in the last time. I'm gonna tell you something,
folks. There's the storm, then there's the calm, and there's
the desired haven. And you understand, you don't
have any part in it other than it happening to you. You don't
have any work in it until after. There's work to do. When they
hit the calm, those sailors got that ship into port. They actually
had to tug the sails and take them up and take them down and
turn them around and turn the rudder. But it's the Lord that
brings you to the desired haven. You're gonna do some stuff after
the calm. Oh, I like that. The Lord keeps his people kept
by faith. It's his faith. We believe by
faith. We are saved by grace through
faith. But Young's little translation
has Ephesians 1 and 19 this way, and I like the way this is written.
And it says, and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us
who are believing according to the working of the power of his
might. We believe according to his power. Oh, I like that. And I read, talked about this
before, but I believe this concerns the storm and the calm. Matthew
11, 27 says this. All things are delivered unto
me of my father. And no man knoweth the son but
the father, neither knoweth any man the father save the son,
and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him. And you know what comes right
after that? Come unto me, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Listen, folks,
all things are delivered unto Christ by the Father, and no
man knows the Son but the Father, and neither any man knoweth the
Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal
him. Then he talks about those that
are what? All ye that labor and are heavy
laden. And I will give you rest. Then
he talks about those that are in the storm. And come to the calm. Oh, I like
that. Take my yoke upon you and learn
of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest. What? Under your souls. For my
yoke is easy and my burden is light. For the people of God, there's
a calm after that storm. And you come unto Christ. You'll
call upon the name of the Lord. Why? He to whomsoever the sun
will reveal him. He that makes the storm, he that
made the storm, makes the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are
still. And these are glad. Then they
are glad. because it's quiet. And so he
brings them unto their desired haven. A haven of rest under
your souls. So what's the thing? What's the
question? Do you wanna know him? Do you
wanna know him? Come to him. upon the name of
the Lord and thou shalt be saved. If you're weary, if you're heavy
laden, if you've got a burden, some people may not understand
anything about what I'm saying here. But if you've got one,
you know it. You may not have said anything
to anybody about it. But the Lord, I'm gonna tell
you something folks, the Lord can burden your soul. He can
trouble you so that you'll reel to and fro and stagger like a
drunken man and you're at your wits end. But he can give the calm. He
can make the storm a calm. I like that. He can take the turmoil in you
and make it into a calm in him. And that's the thing. If you
want to, come to him, and he'll give you rest. There is a storm,
but thank God there is a calm also. And he will bring you unto
the desired haven. Our Heavenly Father, we're thankful
again. Lord, for this time and this
place, you have given us so much. We don't even understand what
all you have given us. What all you've done for us,
what you've done to us, what you've done in us, and what you're
still doing for us. We have your word where it says
you ever lived to make intercession for us. And Lord, we need it
every day. We need to learn Lord, a view
of your will and your way in this world, and we want to learn
of you. Help us, Lord, to understand
you, our Father. And we ask this in Christ's name,
amen.