Tossed by the sea of circumstances

Sermon notes from Sunday 25 August 2019

Mark 4 verses 35 - 41

We read of this account in 3 of the gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke.  What is this story saying to us today?  Maybe today this story is really speaking to us of being tossed about in a stormy situation?  Maybe we are looking at the errors made?  Or maybe put there for each of us that we might not make the same mistakes?  The disciples were on a boat.  Jesus made himself comfortable in the hinter part of the ship, asleep with his head on a pillow.  All of a sudden a wind rose up and the waves started to beat into the ship.  The disciples ran to the Lord, woke him up and asked him "do you not care what will happen to us all?"

First the course that is set.  It was set by the Lord himself - verse 35 "and the same day."  Something very positive about that, something the disciples forgot about all together.  Jesus wanted them to get into the boat and go to the other side.  They were not going to perish if he had told them to do this.  When the disciples walked with the Lord, sat with him, heard his teaching no doubt their hearts were blessed.  When they went to arrest Jesus remember they couldn`t because "no man spake like this man."  Mary sat at Jesus` feet just listening to him.  What a privilege.  His presence was a reality in these disciples lives.  Jesus asked them to get into the boat and go to the other side.  There can be difficulties in the course that is set just as the disciples found out on this day.  On this particular lake a storm can rise up extremely quickly.  Isn`t that what happens so much in our lives?  Do we question the Lord and ask him if we are in the right place?  Saul, the first king of Israel was sent to search for his father`s donkeys that had left their field.  Saul came face to face with Samuel.  Samuel knew he was to be the next king of Israel.  In Revelation John the Evangelist was segregated, isolated, banished to Patmos.  The Lord would use him there to give us the book of Revelation.  Saul was playing havoc with the church, putting people in prison and even putting some to death.  The Christian church was scattered as a result.  Philip came to Samaria and brought revival to that area.  Maybe the Lord has something very special for you too.  Peter said "you might go through a time this but it is only for a season." (1 Peter 5 verse 10)  When Saul was saved on the road to Damascus Ananias was told by God "he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name.  I want you to go in and make clear the great things he must suffer for my names sake, he will be a preacher, stand before kings and princes and governors." (Acts 9 verse 16)  Our course is set - are we on the right course today?  Jesus told the disciples "come follow me and I will make you fishers of men."  God is still in control today.  we might be out of control but he is not.

These disciples were on course but they were convinced Jesus didn`t care.  They woke hm up and asked him "carest thou not that we perish?"  Jesus had already told them "not a sparrow will fall from the sky but your heavenly father knows it." (Matthew 10 verse 29)  Satan was playing on their minds.  Ephesians 6 verse 12.  That is why we need to be careful what we feed our minds on.  Jesus going into the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus.  One day Lazarus fell sick.  Day by day they watched him getting weaker and weaker.  Mary and Martha realised this was unlike him.  Then sent word to Jesus "the one whom thou lovest is sick."  Prayer gets short when we are troubled.  Nehemiah faced with the king was sad in his countenance.  He was asked why he was sad.  He was not allowed to be sad in the presence of the king.  The king recognised his sorrow.  Nehemiah lifted his heart to the Lord in prayer.  It was a prayer of desperation.  The thief on the cross prayed "Lord remember we when thou comest into thy kingdom.  Mary and Martha in this case the Lord didn`t come but it was for a purpose - did he not care?  In the situation you find yourself in can you say "the Lord doesn`t care for me."  Maybe that is how you feel today.  The devil can bombard you with all sorts of things today.  Maybe Mary and Martha were wondering why the Lord didn`t come for them.  Maybe you have prayed for your own loved ones, prayed so desperately for them that you think to yourself the Lord doesn`t care.  That is how the enemy works, taunts you with that knowledge.  John 11 verse 4 when the Lord heard about this sickness he said "this sickness is not unto death."  Lazarus did die, it was nothing to the Lord but for the glory of God, that the son of God may be glorified thereby.  In the Old Testament a young man called Gideon was threshing a small portion of corn for his own household.  The Lord came and had a strong message for him "the Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valour."  Gideon looked at his circumstances and said "Lord I don`t know that, the Assyrians came down and destroyed the crop in Israel."  Gideon threshing a little handful of corn for his own household and he hears this message from God.  He tells him to look and see what the enemy is doing to them.  "O Lord, if the Lord be with us why then has all happened to us?"  So down and discouraged.  Judges 6 verse 13.  Wouldn`t the devil like us to think that the Lord is not in control.  Gideon didn`t see it.  The disciples didn`t see it.  Maybe we are like Gideon and the disciples.  We can see all these things coming to pass.  We look back to times of revival but are not seeing it today.  Does this mean the Lord does not care?  He changes not the Bible says "yesterday, today, forever the Lord is the same."  The devil will tell us "you have prayed for this one for so many times before, so many missions have come and gone, the Lord has forgotten about you." The Lord is still on his throne and he will remember his own.  He is still in control.  He will do whatever he has planned out.

The disciples were constrained to seek him.  The disciples came in a time of desperation.  Sometime we feel we cannot do that.  Some people live for themselves for years, they cannot give the Lord a thought.  The disciples were constrained to come to Jesus.  They came honestly.  Do you not care that we perish?  They did not hold anything back.  Came in their raw state.  Coming out of a situation they were honest about.  Habbukuk the Old Testament prophet sets himself to pray.  He sees an enemy and what the enemy has done, in total control over the land.  He looks and asks God a question "O Lod how long shall I cry and thou wilt not hear?  Even crying out unto thee and thou wilt not save?"  Honest man getting to grips in prayer.  I have prayed and you haven`t answered.  Remember how the demon possessed man brought the boy to the Lord.  The disciples couldn`t help him.  "All things are possible to them that believe.  Jesus said but he went on "help thou my unbelief."  How long will I have to pray the prophet asked.  Our families need times of prayer for them.  We need to come honestly before the Lord should there be anything in our lives needs to be dealt with.  He is able to deal with it.  He is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Jairus looking on that lifeless figure of a daughter in bed and the Lord says to him "she is not dead, she is only sleeping."  Then he says to Jairus "only believe".  When we come to the Lord we have to believe he is a rewarder of them that believe.

They were challenged by his word.  Verse 40.  The Lord challenged Mary and Martha when he came.  He told them "I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me yet shall he live believest thou this?"  Lets believe God for great things to happen.  We need to be challenged too.

They were convicted by his power - verses 39 to 41.  The Lord had everything under control.  When Christ arrives we will see his power working.

They were cheered by the outcome - verse 41.  They feared exceedingly.  It was reverent fear.  The Lord had done somethin mighty.  When the Lord came to Lazarus remember it was to bring honour and glory to God.  Many of the Jews believed in him.  The Bible tells us the Lord changes not.  He is in control in our lives ut that does not take responsibility for us.  We have to come and cry out to him.