Now you turn in your Bible once
again to Mark chapter 4. Mark chapter 4. The title of
the message this morning is taken from verse 39 of Mark chapter
4 where the Lord says, Peace, be still. Be still and know that
I am God. Be still. Now notice if you will
verse 35. same day when even was come he
saith unto them that is his disciples who were laboring in the gospel
with him let us pass over unto the other side and remember the
Lord was down on the seashore there in Galilee preaching the
gospel of the kingdom using as a pulpit, using a ship out in
the water on tide to the shore as a pulpit to teach the gospel. Notice verse 1 in chapter 4,
and he began to teach by the seaside. And there was gathered
unto him a great multitude so that he entered into the ship
and sat in the sea. And the whole multitude was by
the sea on the land and he taught them many things by parables
and said unto them in his doctrine. So you got the picture. Here's
the people all probably standing on the seashore and the Lord
sitting in this ship and teaching the parables, preaching the gospel
of the kingdom. And when he had ended all day
that labor, he said, let's go over to the other side. Now,
wherever the Lord went, there was a purpose. Purpose. Everything God does, He does
on purpose. A purpose to all of His travels,
wherever He went. You remember the story in John
chapter 4, where it said, He must need to go through Samaria. Why? Well, there's a woman, one
of His own, one of His elect, who needed to hear the gospel,
and He called her with the word of truth. You see he's on the
trail of his sheep and he will and he must cross their path.
In the next chapter, in chapter 5 of Mark, we see the Lord meeting
one of his elect. You remember the wild Gadarene? Out there naked, out there in
the graveyard, and no man could tame him, no man could bind him
up. A wild, crazy man. And one day
the Lord, when He crossed over the other side, He went into
that graveyard and met that vile, wretched man. And it says over
here, turn just one page, in Mark chapter 5, verse 15, when
Verse 15, And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed
with the devil, and had the legion of demons sitting, clothed, and
in his right mind, and they were afraid. The Lord conquered that
man. He was a wild, uncontrollable
man until he met the Lord of Glory who conquered him and subdued
him by his mighty grace. Such will he do to all of his
elect in due time. Notice verse 36 in Mark chapter
4. And when they had sent away the
multitude, they took ship. They took him even as he was
in the ship and they were also with him other little ships. smaller vessels. He sent the
multitude away. Now after the Lord had accomplished
all of his teaching, answered many of their questions, without
doubt pronounced and commanded blessings upon all those who
were in need, He sent them away. Verse 27, look what it says there,
verse 37 rather. And there arose a great storm,
and the waves beat into the ship so that it was now full. While
crossing the Sea of Galilee, this storm came up suddenly. Now who controls the wind, the
rain, and the storms? God Almighty sent this storm
on purpose. The disciples were filled with
panic and probably rightly so, with fear. The ship began to
fill with water. The ship started Sinking These
were some of them most of them experienced fishermen. They had
seen many storms they knew when they were in trouble and In their
trouble in their fright they come to the Lord and they say
master Verse 38 don't you care that you're gonna perish here
even sleeping the Lord and they went and woke him up and Said
don't you care? The Lord, verse 39, notice, he
arose calmly, arose from his sleep, rebuked the wind, said to the
sea, peace be still, and the wind ceased, and there was a
great, great calm. Not even in the greatest of the
Lord's other miracles had they seen such astonishing power as
the Lord demonstrated here. By the mere word of His mouth,
our Savior brought the storm and stopped the storm. I was
reading this verse the other day in Ecclesiastes chapter 8
verse 4, where the word of the King is, there is power. And who may say unto him, What
doest thou? Now, five vital lessons I think
will help us here. Five vital lessons we see in
this story given of God to teach us the gospel. J.C. Ryle said this of these verses,
Few events in our Lord's journeyings to and fro upon the earth contain
more rich instruction than the one related in this passage. Do you need instruction? Do you
need help? Then friend, lend me your ears
for a moment, will you? Lesson number one. Lesson number
one. Here is the first lesson for
believers to take great comfort in. Being a faithful servant
of the Lord and following Him and forsaking all false ways
and obediently following Him in the way of grace does not
exempt the believer from heartache and troubles in this life." Now
they were with the Lord. They were doing His business.
They were following Him, yet what happened? Trouble, trouble,
trouble. Man born of woman, few days,
full of Trouble. Trouble is coming. Our Lord said
this, His departing words to these same men, John 16, 33,
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have
peace, in the world you shall have tribulation. But be of good
cheer, I have overcome the world. When Paul was stoned at Lystra,
doing God's business, preaching the gospel, And as he was preaching
the gospel, that crowd took up stones that day, big rocks the
size of your fist, and started hurling at him those stones. And they drug him out of the
city by his heels as a dead man. And he got right back up, went
back into preaching the gospel, and he said this, exhorting them
to continue in the faith that we must, through much tribulation,
enter in to the kingdom of God. Our great God had only one son
without sin, none without sorrow. He's a man of sorrow. We read
in Isaiah 53, He is despised and rejected of man, a man of
sorrows and acquainted with grief. These storms and trial and grief
that are sent our way, all of you have experienced them, Some
more, some less. But all these storms of trial
and grief that are sent our way come not by chance, luck, cruel
fate, but rather they come by God's sovereign purpose and they
are for our own good in God's eternal glory. Remember the scripture,
Romans 8, 28, don't turn, let me just read it to you. And we
know that all things What does that mean? Just what it says.
All things work together for good to them that love God. To
them who are called, be called according to God's purpose. These afflictions, three or four
things here. These afflictions, precious afflictions. By these precious afflictions,
the Lord teaches us many valuable lessons in the time of trial,
in the time of storm. Psalm 119 verse 17 says this,
It is good for me that I have been afflicted. Really? Come on now. It is good for me
that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes. Secondly, by these afflictions
He shows us our own emptiness, our own helplessness, that we
might draw nigh to the throne of God. You remember that psalm
we read, Psalm 107? In the time of distress and hunger
and thirst and nakedness, He brings us down and down and down.
we call upon the Lord in the time of trouble. He said, let
us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy,
find grace to help in time of need. God is our refuge, our
very strength, our very present help in a time of trouble. By these afflictions he teaches
us His Word, His Truth. By these afflictions, He shows
us our own emptiness, that we might lean totally on His power,
strength, wisdom, and grace. Thirdly, by these afflictions,
He burns away the dross of unbelief, fear in the furnace of affliction,
and we see true faith refined. Now, trials do not produce faith. but they certainly do refine
it and reveal it whether it's true or not. Peter said this,
the trial of your faith, and he knew something about trials,
Lord I'll never forsake you. Peter just stick around a few
days, we'll see. The trial of your faith being
much more precious than gold. that perish it, though it be
charred with fire, might be found in the praise and honor and glory
at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of the Lord's
most faithful servants of the present and past have been those
that have been through great trouble and heartache. Mary,
Martha, and Lazarus, dear devoted followers of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and yet Lazarus got sick and died. And our Lord said, it is
for his glory that it came to pass. Psalm 73 verse 14, David
said this, for all the day long have I been plagued and chastened
every morning. You know anything about it? These
trials are sin of God, they're precious and they teach us to
look to Him at all times. the second thing we learn in
this lesson the second great lesson we learn the fact our
Lord the fact our Lord was weary in body and required sleep demonstrates
to us that he was a real man did you notice verse 38 he was
in the hinder part of the ship asleep on a pillow God Almighty
Sleeps? God Almighty never sleeps. He
that keepeth Israel shall never slumber, shall never sleep. But
here's the God-man being weary in body, having preached all
day, having ministered all day to the people. He's tired. We read in John 4, 6, Now Jacob
well was there, and Jesus therefore being weary with his journey,
sat thus on the well, and it was about the sixth hour high
noon. He slept as a man, but though
as God, he never slumbers or sleeps. Psalm 121, I quoted it
just a moment ago, Psalm 121, verse 4, Behold, he that keepeth
Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep, but yet the God-man,
being wearied in body, he finds he needs rest. He had a body
just like ours apart from sin. The Word was made flesh and dwelt
among us and we beheld His glory. A real human body that felt pain,
hunger, cold, thirst. Being the God-Man Mediator, He
knows the frailty and weakness of our flesh. He knows the trials
of a man for He experienced them. He knows the infirmities of a
man for He felt them in his body. I want you to find this scripture.
And this ought to encourage us. Hebrews chapter 4. Turn over
there. Hebrews chapter 4. He's just the Savior we need. Who can identify with our frailties,
our infirmities, our sickness, our weakness. He knows our frame. He knows that we are but dust. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 14,
seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into
the heavens, victorious, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast,
let us stand fast, let us hold fast our profession. Now watch
it, verse 15, for we have not a high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, find grace
to help in time of need. Now read on, chapter 5, verse
1. For every priest taken from among
men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may
offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, who can have compassion
on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way. For that
he himself also is compassed with infirmities. He knows our
case. He was a real man. When He took
our nature into union with Himself, our dear Savior took our infirmities
and bare our sicknesses in His own body. He bore our grief,
carried our sorrows, all the days of His humiliation as a
God-man mediator. This is my Savior. He knows what
I need. Identified with our humanity. Apart from sin, He had no sin,
but never forget He was a real man, tempted and tested in all
points, yet He did not sin. And He knows our frame. He knows
our weaknesses. Thirdly, verse 39, Our blessed
Lord Jesus Christ Not only is He totally and fully man, but
He is totally and fully God. When He was manifest in the flesh,
He never stopped being God. He became what He was, not flesh,
but He remained who He is, God Almighty. Verse 39, He arose
and rebuked the wind. Now mere man can't do that, but
the God-man did. And said to the sea, Peace be
still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. A great
calm. The very fact that the wind and
the sea obey Him clearly demonstrates our Savior's complete deity.
Remember the disciples said in verse 41, What manner of man
is this that even the wind and the sea, they obey Him? This man is the omnipotent God. The wind and the sea knew His
voice, the voice of their Creator, and quickly, like an obedient
servant, obeyed Him. Right now. We read in Psalm 135, don't turn,
let me just give it to you. I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods, small g. Whatsoever the
Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, And in the earth, and
in seas, and all deep places. He causes the vapors to ascend
from the ends of the earth. He maketh lightning for the rain.
He bringeth the wind out of his treasury. He has a treasure house
full of wind. But He controls all things. He
has His way in the whirlwind. Psalm 72 verse 8 says, He shall
have dominion also from sea to sea. from the river to the end
of the earth. He has dominion. He's the sovereign
over all things. This is a kinsman redeemer that
is able to save to the uttermost. If he's not God, if he's just
a man, if he's not God, I have no hope of salvation. This is
the one I need, the one who is God, our Savior, the one who
is truly man, the one who is truly God in one blessed person,
who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by Him,
seeing that He ever lives to make intercession for us. No
wonder the apostles repeatedly called Him God, our Savior. The one who the Lord says, as
he does in Isaiah 45, there is no God else beside thee, a just
God and Savior. There is none else. Now look
unto me and be saved all the ends of the earth. I am God.
I am God. I'm your Savior. There is no
other. As a sovereign Lord and Savior,
nothing's too hard for Him. Nothing's impossible with Him.
Who then can be saved? The apostles asked that day.
With man He said it's impossible, but not with God. But with God
all things are possible. You see, He is not only sovereign
in creation. He made all things by the word
of His power. He upholds all things by the
word of His power. He spoke all things into existence. He said, let there be light.
And there was light. He is sovereign in creation.
By Him all things were made. He is sovereign in providence.
We read this in Scripture. He works all things after the
counsel of His own will. Of Him, through Him, and to Him
are all things to whom be glory both now and forever. And He
is most certainly sovereign in salvation. He will have mercy
on whom he will have mercy. It's not of him that willeth,
nor of him that runneth. God said, I will have mercy on
whom I will. He is God. He prayed that way
in John 17. The Father hath given me power
over all flesh, that I should give eternal life to as many
as the Father hath given to me. He's sovereign in salvation. Now listen. There is no sinner
too hard, too hardened in his sin that he cannot break. Never despair of anyone's salvation. There's no rebel too violent
that he cannot tame. No vile ungodly individual that
he cannot overcome and subdue and break and cause him to bow
in humility. Christ does miracles upon the
heart. I like the story of that old
preacher that came unto John Newton. Brother Jay, William
Jay, came into Newton's study one day and said, Brother Newton,
have you heard the news? So-and-so notorious sinner down
in Bath County was converted marvelously by the grace of God.
And old Brother Jay said, Brother Newton, I'll never despair of
God's mercy and power to any sinner. And Newton replied, but
Ajay, I've never despaired of any sinner's salvation since
God saved me. I'm the one. I'm the chief one. There's no sinner too hard for
God to break. You know, he came to save such
as we are. You say, well, that old fellow
over there, he just, you know, he... I tell you what, I don't
despair. God is able, able. He can save me. He can save any. The apostle put it this way,
and here's a man who knew something about rebellion, hauled believers
off to jail, had them murdered, a blasphemer, wicked man. And he said, this is a faithful
saying worthy of all the acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners. I'm the chief one. Our Lord said
to Zacchaeus, I came to seek and to save the
lost. Christ died for the ungodly. Point number four. You got the
first three. Trials are coming. The Lord Jesus
Christ can identify with us in our trial. He was a man. He can
save us from those trials and help us in those trials. He's
God Almighty. He sends them for our good. Number
four. The best of men are just men
at best. The greatest saints are yet still
sinners. The strongest of believers are
still sometimes filled with fear in unbelief. Verse 40, look what
the Lord says. He said unto them, Why are you
so fearful? How is it, after all these days
you've been with me, and I've demonstrated that I have all
control over all things, how is it that you don't have any
confidence in me? That you have no faith? And we read in Luke 8.25, it's
recorded there. He said, where is your faith?
In Matthew 8.26, it's recorded there, O ye of little faith.
In all three or two, where is your faith, you little faith?
Don't you have any faith? It's not that the disciples here
were without faith altogether. No, they believed that Jesus
Christ was their only hope of salvation. However, their fear
so prevailed and overcame them, they seemed to have no faith
at all. Write this down. Out of fear
arises out of unbelief. Our fear arises out of unbelief. That does. Our fear arises out
of unbelief. I found this statement by a preacher
named Fortner. He said, fear is a rank weed
of nature that grows wild in the soil of unbelief. For us to be fearful when following
the Lord of glory shows a lack of confidence in Him, His wisdom,
His power, His grace to sustain us, and His good providence. We read, at least, I found this,
63 times throughout the Scriptures, we're encouraged to fear not. Why does he keep repeating that?
Because we are so prone to be fearful. You remember the man
in Scripture that cried this, Lord, I believe, and I do, I
help my unbelief, Mark 9, 24. We read last week in Luke 17,
5, Lord, increase our faith. Lord, increase our faith. Charles
Spurgeon had this statement. If it be right to have faith,
if it's right having faith, it is wrong to be fearful. If it's right to have faith,
it's wrong to be fearful. And yet we are so prone. I am. I just confess now. The preacher
you never fear for. Oh yes I am all the time. This is one of my favorite scriptures.
Isaiah 41 10. Isaiah 41 10. Don't turn let
me just read it to you. Mark it down somewhere and read
it later. Fear thou not for I am with thee. Be not dismayed for I am thy
God. I will strengthen thee. Yea I
will help thee. Yea I will uphold thee with the
right hand of my righteousness. Fear not. Fear not. Isaiah 43, 1. Don't turn. Let
me just read this to you. But now thus saith the Lord that
created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear
not. I have redeemed thee. I have
called thee by thy name. You are mine. Fear not. When
you pass through the waters, I'll be with you. Through the
rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When you walk through the
fire, it will not burn you. neither shall the flame kindle
upon thee I am with you fear not now here's the last thing
verse 39 he arose and rebuked the wind
and the sea said to the sea peace be still and there was a great
calm a great calm The Lord is full of compassion, sympathy,
and exceedingly patient with his little children. He could
have said, you bunch of dummies, I'm going to cast you over the
ship, I'm going to let it sink, and I'm going to walk onto the
shore. He could have said that. He could have done that. The
Lord is full of compassion and sympathy. He rose, rebuked the
wind, and said, Peace be still. We read in Psalm 4611, Be still
and know that I am God. Stand still and see the salvation
of the Lord. When we see our Lord dealing
with them in a most gentle and tender way, He makes no threat
to cast them away because of their lack of faith. But He gives
them even more reason to trust Him more. Doesn't He? He does. Aren't you glad the
Lord deals with us in a most gracious way in saving us? In
His saving mercy? We deserve no mercy, yet He delights
to show mercy. Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His mercy. He saved us. We deserve no forgiveness, Do
we? The wages of sin is death, yet
he is plenteous in redemption. That's what we read in Psalm
130. We deserve no salvation, yet
he's ready to save all that come to him through Christ Jesus. All that the Father hath given
to me, they will come to me, and those that come to me I will
in no wise cast out. We deserve no mercy, yet He delights
to show mercy. We deserve no forgiveness, yet
He is plenteous in redemption. We deserve no salvation, yet
He is ready to save all that call upon Him. We deserve no
love. We deserve no love. Yet it says
in John 13 having loved his own, he loved them to the end. Herein
is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent
his Son to be the sacrifice for our sin. The Lord is long-suffering. I want you to turn and read this
in closing. Psalm 103. Psalm 103. Our dear departed friend. Brother
Gene Leslie, this is one of his favorite psalms, Psalm 103. I read this at his memorial service,
Psalm 103. Let's start at verse 8. Psalm 103, verse 8. The Lord
is merciful and gracious. See it, verse 8, Psalm 103. Slow
to anger and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide, neither
will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with our sins,
he hath not dealt after our sin, nor rewarded us according to
our iniquities. Now he did deal with our sin
in our substitute, nor did he reward us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above
the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As
far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgression
from us. Now look at verse 13. Underline
this. Like as a father pitieth his
children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. He knows
our frame. He remembers that we are but
dust. Five Bible lessons. I pray the Lord will bless that
to your heart and next time The wind blows and the waves roll
and trouble comes. Remember who's in control. Fear not. Trust Him and rest
in His good providence.