Let Jesus calm your storm Francois Carr. Matt 14: 22-26 Introduction I had been privileged to visit and walk in the footsteps of our Lord in Israel several times over the past few years. On one of those occasions we boarded a wooden boat at Capernaum to sail on the Sea of Galilee for an hour and spend some time in quiet reflection. As soon as we were sailing away from the harbour we felt a light breeze developing and by the time we reached the centre of the Sea, the wind was blowing very strong. We were sailing directly into the wind and because of the strong wind it caused a small storm on the sea with waves and swellings reaching almost two meters high. The water spilled over into the boat and needless to say, we were soaking wet. Knowing that we would not be able to stop and have a quiet time, I was enjoying the experience to be in a storm on the Sea of Galilee and started to think about the two storms on the Sea of Galilee and about the lessons that we could learn. Several things came to mind. I thought about the Storms of Life. As we read or Bibles, we discover that there are two kinds of storms. I thought about the storms of life or the events and challenges that cross our road which we as Christians experience as a storm. It could be due to health problems, the passing-away of a loved one, loneliness, work pressure and tension, financial problems, etc. When we read the Bible we realise that we can divide all the storms we experience into two types. The Storm of Correction, when God is disciplining us. Jonah was in a storm because he had disobeyed God and had to be corrected. Jonah didn t like the assignment God gave him. God directed him to leave his homeland and go to the city of Nineveh, a hostile and evil centre of idol worship. There Jonah was to warn the people of God s impending judgment and urge them to repent. The Hebrew people hated the people of Nineveh, so the rebellious prophet fled in the opposite direction, hoping for a different word from God that was more to his liking. Jonah had been buffeted by storms and had travelled in the stomach of a fish for three days. All that happened to him could have been prevented if only he would have listened and responded to God. God corrected Jonah because the Word of the Lord will not return void (Isa 55). Do you currently experience a storm of correction? Maybe there is an instruction from God which you know that you have not yet obeyed or have deliberately ignored. Realise that your are outside the will of God and that He is disciplining you Acknowledge your current position and problem Repent honestly Find and experience His Forgiveness Return to the previous or last instruction of the Lord Obedience to His will and instruction
Rectify your position The Storm of Perfection, when God helps us to grow in our faith, trust and relationship with Him. Jesus had tested His disciples twice on the Sea of Galilee in a storm. On one occasion (Matt 8) He was with them and another (Matt 14) He was watching and praying for them from the mountain top. The disciples were in the boat and in a storm because they had obeyed the Lord and His assignment to cross over to the other side. Did Jesus know that the storm is coming? Certainly! Did He deliberately direct them into the storm? Yes! They were safer in the storm and obeying Him than to be on the shore with the crowds and be out of God s will. We all go through times when it seems as if nothing can go right and we experience stress, tension and pressure. Keep good faith and do not despair (Matt 14:27), be inspired by the fact that: HE brought me here The disciples were in the boat and in a storm because they obeyed the Lord s order to go over to the other side. Did Jesus know there was a storm coming? Of course! Did He deliberately send them into the storm? Yes! They were safer in the storm while obeying Him than what they would have been on shore with the crowd outside His will. The current economic, political, social and welfare conditions, problems that put pressure on us as well as our experience thereof are not unknown to the Lord. Did He know that there would be a recession in South Africa and the world? Does He know about all the burglaries, armed robberies and unfairness in our country? Does He know about the increasing unrighteousness and fraud with finances? Does He know about the hardships, trials and tribulations which we experience? Of course! Did He permit it and is it part of His plan? Yes! Everything is part of God s plan to pave the way for the coming of His Son, because in the last days the unrighteousness will increase and the forsaking of God s Truth will become bigger and bigger, and then He will return. Matt 24:12 He simultaneously uses it to form us in our religious relationship with Him and to use us as His instrument in a deteriorating world where He has placed us. But be assured that He brought you here and that He will carry you through to reach in your life what He had in mind. HE sees me and watches me
Although He was asleep, the Lord Jesus was physically with them in the boat during the first storm on the Sea (Matt 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41). He was not with them during the second storm but He was on the top of the mountain praying but He also saw that they were suffering (Matt 14:22, Mark 6:45-56). Matt 28:19-20 John 14: 16-18 Jesus sees us as watches us. 2 Chro16:9 Heb 4: 13 Psalm 33:13-14 HE prays for me Jesus is not with them, but He prays for them (Matt 14:22-26/Mk 6: 45-56) Jesus is not with us physically but He intercedes for us as High Priest (Heb 4: 14-16) Rom 8: 34: More scriptures: Rom 8: 37, Heb 7:25, Heb 9:24, 1 John 2:1, John 17 He sees our distress, understands our fears and is in control of every circumstance. HE comes to me Sometimes it feels as if He abandons us and does not really care. David and Paul felt the same at some stage (2 Cor. 1:8). He always comes to us when we pass through the storms of life and will not permit that we would be tested above our power. Isa 43:2 1 Cor 10:13 Isa 41:10 He does not always come when we think He ought to come. He knows exactly how long we can endure and when we need Him most. While we are waiting, He is busy removing all human support just like He waited until the disciples were in the middle of the sea, away from the harbour and shore, unable to turn around.
Jesus walks on the water to prove to them that their problem is just a stepping stone for Him in order for them to realise that He is Lord over everything and that He only uses their problem to let them grow and bring them nearer to Him. They did not recognise Him because they were not really looking for Him, only focussing on their own circumstances and problems. Elijah heard God s voice in the storm. We must take time to look at the storms and listen to what God wants to tell us. Faith opens the eyes of the heart and fear shuts the eyes of the heart. HE strengthens our faith The aim of the storm was to strengthen their faith so that they would learn to believe Him, trust and know that He is with them although they could not see Him. During the first storm Jesus was with them and during the second storm He was not. This was all in preparation of the storms which they would experience in future. Matt 8: 23-27 Matt 14:22-36 The storms in our lives are not always easy but it is essential to form and change us according to His image. He wills that we are changed from a thermometer to a thermostat. Thermometer: Reacts on and is influenced by temperature changes from outside. The meter changes as it shows heat or cold. Thermostat: Controls the temperature of a room. When it is warm the thermometer changes it to cold and vice versa. Peter on the sea. Why did he walk on the water? Jesus invited him to come. He also thought that if Jesus walks on water, he can too. Why did he sink? He took his eye away from Jesus and looked at the waves. HE will help me through The word of God never returns idle. Jesus gave the instruction to go to the other side because there were people who had to be touched. He completes everything and attains what He started. This experience of the disciples could be a great encouragement to us when we go through the storms of life. If we realize that we are in a storm of correction, it is time to repent and go back to the last assignment God has given us and the storm will change into a storm of
perfection. When we find ourselves in a storm of correction or of perfection, we can rest assured: He allowed it and brought me to this place He is with me through His Spirit (just as He was in the boat) He is watching me He is praying for me He will come to me in due time He will accomplish in me that what He purposed the storm for(correction/perfection) He will see me through He will accomplish His purpose and goal. So my friend, sometimes the waves and storms of life are over our heads or at least it feels that way. Remember, when the outlook is poor try the up-look and realize He is still there and can change it in a moment just as soon as He has accomplished His purposes.