When the Storm Passes Over
Acadiana BC August 29, 2021
WHEN THE STORM PASSES OVER
Mark 4:35-41, 5:1
INTRODUCTION:
In his book, “Nothing to Fear,” Fraser Kent outlines the unusual fears which plague so many people. He listed:
* Peladophobia: the fear of baldness
* Aerophobia: the fear of drafts
* Porphyrophobia: the fear of the color purple
* Chaetophobia: the fear of hairy people
* Levophobia: the fear of objects on the left side of the body
* Dextrophobia: the fear of objects on the right side of the body
* Thalassaphobia: the fear of sitting down
* Odontophobia: the fear of teeth
* Lilapsophobia—the fear of hurricanes/tornadoes
* Phobophobia: the fear of being afraid
G. Campbell Morgan said of fear: “Fear is the wrong use of imagination. It is anticipating the worst, not the best that can happen!”
Welcome to Hurricane Season! I don’t know what this storm is going to do, really nobody does. Bread has been ripped off the shelves, cases of water of been bought and stored, and belongings have been tied down or brought inside. We have a storm coming and some are certainly afraid. What we do during storms says a lot about our faith.
This is where we find our disciples in the middle of a raging storm in the middle of the Sea of Galilee! Many of these guys were fishermen who regularly fished this inland sea as well as had often experienced storms. The SOG lies 680 ft below sea level and is relatively shallow (200 ft. at its deepest) but is surrounded by hills, some reaching 2000 ft. high. So, you have cool dry air mixing with semi tropical warm temps, and it creates sudden and violent storms!
Ever been there yourself? Life is going good and all of a sudden, the bottom falls out! A fight with the spouse, unruly child, annoying co- worker, financial stress, emotional turmoil and many other thing happen and we have to make a choice…we will either look to Jesus or panic! The disciples, in their panic, finally turn to Jesus!
BIG IDEA: Christians are like tea bags, you don’t know how strong they are until they are in hot water…
BODY:
1. THE PLAN FOR EVERY SOUL vs. 35-36
Note: How consumed are you with discovering, developing and displaying God’s plan for you? Many could careless and others are following the devil’s plan for their life!
A. The Calling of God—let’s go to the other side!
B. The Connection to God—took Jesus into their boat
C. The Community Around God—other little ships—floatilla
2. THE PRESENCE OF STORMS vs. 37
Note: These guys had faced these storms before but this was particularly violent and frightening! Storms WILL come, it is just a matter of WHEN!
A. The Timing of Storms—unexpected and expected
B. The Truth about Storms—reasons many and varied—prove or punish us
3. THE PANIC OF THE SAILORS vs. 37b-38
Note: You cannot deny results! The best predictor of future results is past results! Look at the lineage of God’s results…His Work started with 12 fisherman and they turned the world upside down!!
A. The Forgotten Order—they were going to the other side
B. The Fearful Outlook—catastrophic—thought they were dying
C. The Foolish Observation—carest thou not…failed to see he was at peace!
4. THE PERSONALITY OF THE SAVIOR vs. 39-41
A. His Peace—he was asleep—not worried
B. His Power—He is in control of everything—nature and you!
C. His Preaching—the storm was now in the boat! So fearful and faithless
5. THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS vs. 41, 5:1
A. The Recognition—they recognized Jesus for who HE WAS!
B. The Resolve—they continued on their journey
CONCLUSION:
I know that things get frightening but we can always find PEACE for our PANIC!