"CLINGING TO HOPE IN THE STORM: “Even when it seems that Jesus is ‘sleeping’ in your boat, He is still with you and for you"- 4-11-21

 "CLINGING TO HOPE IN THE STORM: “Even when it seems that Jesus is ‘sleeping’ in your boat, He is still with you and for you"- 4-11-21

INTRODUCTION

Holding on to Hope

"Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child." 

Unknown

“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!””

‭‭ Mark‬ ‭4:35-41‬ ‭NIV‬

Our emotional/mental state in the heightened environment of a storm.‬

  

I.  FEAR 

5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone. "It's dark in there and I'm scared." She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she said, "It's OK--Jesus will be in there with you." 

 Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it. He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came, and he said: "Jesus, if you're in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?"

Charles Allen, Victory in the Valleys.

"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped."

Mark 4:37

"Louis Pasteur is reported to have had such an irrational fear of dirt and infection he refused to shake hands. President and Mrs. Benjamin Harrison were so intimidated by the newfangled electricity installed in the White House they didn't dare touch the switches. If there were no servants around to turn off the lights when the Harrisons went to bed, they slept with them on."

 Jane Goodsell, Not a Good Word About Anybody, Ballantine 

A.  Storms are frightening.

B.  Our response is often fear.

C.  We can usually clearly see the worst case scenario.

II.  CONFUSION

Neil Marten, a member of the British Parliament, was once giving a group of his constituents a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. During the course of the visit, the group happened to meet Lord Hailsham, then lord chancellor, wearing all the regalia of his office. Hailsham recognized Marten among the group and cried, "Neil!" Not daring to question or disobey the "command," the entire band of visitors promptly fell to their knees! 

Today in the Word, July 30, 1993

"Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”"

Mark 4:38

A.  Why is Jesus sleeping?  (Is God not paying attention?)

B.  Why doesn’t Jesus care?  (Does God care about me?)

III.  TERROR

Our emotional/mental state when we encounter God

"They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!””

Mark 4: 41

A.  Face to face with God

B.  Safe in the arms of God

C.  Terror gives way to love

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

‭‭  Romans‬ ‭8:35-39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CONCLUSION

We all encounter fear. 

One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can't dear. I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, "The big sissy!"

Unknown

The fear and confusion of the storm bring us face to face with the God who loves us.  Allow that encounter to bring you to faith in the One who calms the storm.

CHALLENGE

Recognize the God who is in the boat with you.  Allow fear and confusion to be transformed into reverence for the God who loves you.  Share with someone how God has transformed your fear and confusion into faith.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I would be honored to speak with you in the upper parking lot following the service about what God is doing in your life.m