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Reference: MARK 4:35-41 Sudden trials confront us

Church: GRACE Date: 8/3/2003 We become terrified
Don’t You Care that we Perish, Lord? We feel sure something terrible is about to happen
The waves are breaking over us
Purpose: To review this incident, and consider the attitude of the disciples The boat is filling with water
and that of Christ. To apply to us when we go through trials and difficulties Surely we are certain to be lost
This becomes all we can see
1. Introduction We forget our doctrine: sovereignty, providence, perseverance
A word for the afflicted – those going through trials now We forget all He has already done for us in this life
A word for those who will be afflicted in the future We forget all His promises
A word for those who know Christ but sometimes doubt Him That God works all things for our good
A warning for those who do not know Christ That He has prepared a place for us in the glory
A word for us all– young, old, men, women, boys and girls We give in to fear and unbelief – anyone here?
Intro to passage
Storms of life, Storm of death 2.3. Christ appears careless
2. The Storms of Life In the midst of their terror, they turn to Christ v38
Right thing to do, yet Christ was asleep!
2.1. Crisis in the path of compliance It didn’t seem He cared - Doing nothing
He wasn’t helping to bail out the boat
They were doing what Jesus commanded vs 35-36
They woke Him up with a staggering question -
Going where He directed
“Don’t you care that we are perishing?”
The storm came upon them out of nowhere
How can you sleep at a time like this?
Water was filling the boat
They had already seen extraordinary miracles of great power
Great tenderness and care to those in trouble
Affliction can come upon us suddenly
Yet now they doubted His care and His power - Unbelief
Even when we are walking in obedience – not always discipline
His ability to do anything in this situation
It can be severe – anyone here?

2.2. Fear is the enemy of faith Sometimes He doesn’t seem close to us in trials
We do not sense Him near
Disciples were terrified v40
We cry out but there is no obvious answer
Several were fishermen
We do not detect any relief or help
Experts on this lake and its storms
It’s as though He is asleep
Yet here was something beyond their experience
We can react just like the disciples – fear and unbelief
They became terrified of the storm
Finally we can bear it no longer: “Don’t you care about us?”
It filled their thoughts and their vision
Can’t you do anything to help? Anyone here?
Could see nothing else
Gave in to fear and unbelief
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2.4. Did Christ really care?
How does Christ react to their astonishing question?
Does He abandon them?
Walk away across the waves and leave them to their fate?
No. He answers the question.
He shows them His power, delivers them from the storm
He gently rebukes their fear and unbelief
2.4.1. He delivers from the storm
Gets up, rebukes wind & waves - tremendous calm v39
Imagine– roaring wind, towering waves
Then sudden quiet, calm
Normally would take a while for the waves to die down
This power was there all the time- With them in the boat!
Their fear prevented them from resting in it
2.4.2. He gently rebukes for fear, unbelief
Why are you afraid? v40
How is it that you have no faith?
Stilling storm amazed them more than healing and raising dead.
Now they are terrified of Him, not the storm! v41
Amazed, they ask “who is this?”
There can only be one answer – the trial does them good
They come to a deeper knowledge of Jesus
The questions asked by disciples and Christ are key
Help us deal with our fear and unbelief
Let’s examine the questions ourselves
2.5. Does He care we are perishing?
Friends, He came to save us from perishing!
Demonstrated His love by doing this while we were still
sinners! Does He care?
He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep
He went to the cross to die in our place
Became sin for us, took our curse upon Himself – does He care?
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Who weeps with those who weep - Lazarus
John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews
who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and
was troubled, 34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to
Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews were
saying, “See how He loved him!”
Does He care?
He is the Great High Priest, touched with our infirmities
Tempted every way like us yet without sin – does He care?
Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has
passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in
all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near
with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
Who ever lives to intercede for us – doing so now (care?)
Hebrews 7:24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues
forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able
also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since
He always lives to make intercession for them.
Who has promised never to leave us – even in the storms!
Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of
money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I
WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” 6 so that we
confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. W HAT
WILL MAN DO TO ME?”
Promised and took an oath to save us so we can be sure
Hebrews 6:16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and
with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17
In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the
promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an
oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible
for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong
encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope
we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and
one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a
forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to
the order of Melchizedek.
Who values us highly and tells us not to fear
Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to
kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and
body in hell. 29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one
of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 “But the very
hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 “So do not fear; you are more
valuable than many sparrows.
Who has asked the Father that we be with Him in glory
John 17:22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to
them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You
in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know
that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24
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“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me
where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me,
for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Loved by God even as Christ is loved by the Father!
Who sends His angels to minister to us
Who is our elder brother by adoption,
Who will not allow us to be separated from his love
Who works out all things for our good – even afflictions!
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work
together for good to those who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also
predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He
would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He
predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also
justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. 31 What then
shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all,
how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will
bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34
who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes,
rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also
intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING
PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; W E WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE
SLAUGHTERED .” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer
through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death,
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to
come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created
thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
2.6. Who is this Jesus?
Caring, can He act on our behalf?
Does He have the power and the will to intervene?
King of Kings and Lord of Lords – maker of all things
Mighty to rule and command even the oceans and the winds
Captain of our salvation, vanquishing all His & our foes
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white
horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of
fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written
on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a
robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14
And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and
clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes
a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He
will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the
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fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh
He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
We CANNOT be lost! His reputation at stake!
John 6:39 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has
given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 “For this is
the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes
in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last
day.”
John 17:12 “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name
which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them
perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be
fulfilled.
2.7. Two more questions
In the words of Christ, dear believer,
Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?
Fear Him, ye saints, and you will then have nothing else to fear
Rest in Him – He is with you if You are His
Look to Him, then see how small the waves become
How the wind dies down
How safe we are in Him!
3. The Storm of Death
The ultimate storm is coming - judgment
The wave will break over your vessel
Is Christ with you? Children? Is He in your boat?
If so, you can smile at that day
He will keep you, shield you, save you to the uttermost
If not, you will most certainly perish
You will be destroyed in judgment
And perish eternally in the lake of fire Is that what you want?
Is a short life of sinful pleasure worth an eternity of torment?
4. Conclusions
The disciples of Christ are never in ultimate danger
Actually, they are in the safest place in the universe!!
Why? Because He cares for us
Because of all He has done for us
Because He is with us in the storms
Even when we think He has given up on us
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Because of Who Jesus is!

We are safe – so safe if we are in Christ!
We have nothing to fear if we fear Him
We should be able to smile at the storms
Remember Who He is that is in the vessel with you
Even these storms will work for our good
How grateful we should be!