Jesus is with us in the midst of storms

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 5 JANUARY 2025 pm – MR HENRY MONTGOMERY

The Dutch artist Rembrandt painted a painting in 1633 and called it “Christ in the storm on the sea of Galilee"  It was bought by a man for his wife then displayed in a Boston art gallery until 2 thieves stole it in 1990 and it hasn’t been seen since.  The painting captured his impression of this story in Matthew 8 verses 23 to 27.

We can see the scenes of fear that gripped the people on that particular occasion.  Boats like this were common place on the Sea of Galilee.  Sometimes there were fishing boats and at other times there were cargo boats.  It was not uncommon to see boats cross the sea.  Something happened on this occasion that left some of the disciples really shaken.  For some of the disciples they should have been used to the sea – James and John, Peter and Andrew had experience as they were fishermen.  This occasion leaves them fearful and worried.  Have you ever been on a boat that has been really rocking? Storms can shake us off our feet making us feel unsettled and sick.  We want to think tonight of some storms that enter our lives, not physical but those that come into our lives.

1.       Storms happen to everybody at some time or another

The sea of Galilee lies in a basin and warm air currents come off the mountains and pick up turbulent storms arise on the sea of Galilee.  That is the same as the storms that come on our lives.  None of us are immune or exempt.  We are placed here in this fallen world under the curse of sin which came about because of the Garden of Eden.  Difficult things do happen in our lives and we cannot opt out of them.  Maybe right now life is pretty good for you.  You might be saying “my situation is alright, I have come through life to now fairly OK, no really bad things have happened to me, I have got off lightly as far as storms come.”  But they do just happen.  Maybe they are not anticipated, not welcome but storms will come.  We live in a fallen world that is blighted by sin.  Pain, sickness, death, hunger, impoverishments can leave us running from the impact of it.  Psalm 107 verses 25 to 27.  Have you ever been at your wits end, shaken to your core?  Left me running up and down.  Don’t think it strange because of the trials that come our way.  Consider it not strange concerning the fiery trials that come our way.

2.       Storms can come on you even when following Jesus

“His disciples followed him and behold there arose a great tempest in the sea.”  In the original Greek there is no verse division.  You can be following Jesus and still experience a tempest.  Sometimes that does not sit well with us – if we are following Christ many will say, if you were really following Jesus you would not be facing these trials and difficulties.  That is exactly what happened to Jesus’ disciples.  They were following Jesus but a tempest happened.  It was not a case that they failed to follow Jesus and therefore a great storm arose.  It was not a case that they turned back from following Jesus and a great storm arose.  It was not a case that they followed afar off and a great storm arose.  None of that is correct – storms can come to the most godly people, faithful followers of Christ.  You can be suffering trials even when following the Lord.  Someone will come along and say to you “if only you were more spiritual, prayed more, lived closer to the Lord you wouldn’t be facing this now.”  Don’t listen to them.  Storms can come to the most godly people, followers living with integrity.  They can still experience storms.  Remember Job.  His so called friends came alongside him.  He suffered so much in his health, family and livelihood.  These people came alongside him implicating he was harbouring a secret sin.  Job was a faithful follower of the Lord.  The Lord allowed these trials to come to him.

3.       Storms can arise really suddenly

A friend of mine has been to the Holy Land with his mother.  She took 2 pictures of the same scene.  They were staying in accommodation that was overlooking the Sea of Galilee.  One picture was taken in the morning and it was a scene of perfect peace.  Like a mill pond.  Not a ripple on the surface.  That afternoon the waves were crashing over the sea wall.  Same scene, hours in between.  Storms can arise very easily on the Sea of Galilee.  Storms can happen in our lives very quickly.  We can be in a situation when things are going so well then a piece of news comes and all of a sudden everything changes – It’s cancer, I am leaving, you are fired, she’s dead.  One minute life is good, things are going well, then a piece of news knocks us for 6.  We all experience this to some extent or another.  We hardly know which end is up.  Starts off as a normal day but by the time we go to bed our whole world is in turmoil.  We don’t know which way to turn.  Storms can rise quickly.

4.       Storms can terrify the seasoned traveller

Some of those on the boat that day were fishermen but on this occasion they were shouting “Lord save us or we perish”.  How will you feel if you saw one of the crew members of a boat you were travelling on suddenly gets into a panic?  These men were seasoned fishermen, well used to being on the sea but they were terrified because of the violence of this storm.  Verse 24 “a great storm”.  The translation of the word “great” is the Greek mega.  You know it is big, large.  The word for “storm” is seismic.  Seismology is the study of earth tremors.  The idea is of a size that is huge.  You might have been on the Christian pathway for a few years and you might be able to testify of how great God has helped you on many occasions.  You have been in situations that have been dramatic and have shaken you but God has been there, caring for you.  He has you in his hand.  But now circumstances are so difficult that you are starting to doubt this.

5.       The best way to turn in a storm is towards Jesus

We know that sitting here in the comfort of our seat tonight but when a storm comes the obvious things become blind to us.  We remember another occasion when Peter stepped out of a boat to walk to Jesus.  Somehow he was distracted by the wind and waves.  He took his eyes off Jesus.  The disciples turned to Jesus – verse 25.  I would love to know what their thought process was before they stirred Jesus.  Did they try some other plan to stabilise the boat and then went to Jesus as a last resort?  Because that is what we do.  We try to sort things out and then as a last resort we turn to the Lord.  The best way to turn in a storm is towards Jesus.  I don’t know what is going on in your life but whatever is, turn to Jesus.  Even though you cannot see what is going on he is in control.  The other option is to turn away from him.  Sadly that is what does happen.  Hurtful and disturbing things make us turn from Christ.  We sometimes say to the Lord “if you love me this wouldn’t have been happening.”  You have met people with a bad attitude to the Lord, to the church and Christians.  They blame God for something that happened in their life.  Witnessing to them is difficult.  They turn away from God in a moment of crisis rather than turn to him.  You are crying out to Jesus.  Maybe you have never done that, never accepted him.  You can cry out to him, to find peace and forgiveness.  The best one to turn to in a storm is to Jesus.

6.       Jesus has the power to calm any storm

He spoke.  We don’t know what he said.  He arose, rebuked the sea and there was a great calm and there was a great calm.  In Mark 4 we read his words – “peace be still”.  Jesus can calm the greatest tempest.  In verse 24 we read of a “great storm” and in verse 26 the same word “great” is used again.  A great calm.  Even when everything seemed turbulent Jesus could calm the storm and there was a great peace.  The tempest might be raging over our lives right now.  Our circumstances might be turbulent right now but there will be a great calm.  We still face trials, suffer illness, bereavement and difficulties in life but we can know peace in the midst of it.

7.       Storms can renew and strengthen our faith in God

Verse 27 - if this storm hadn’t come they wouldn’t have seen or experienced God’s power the way they did.  We don’t invite trials into our lives but often there is a teaching part in them.  Good experience of God’s power to control the storm.  They wouldn’t have gone if there was plain sailing across the lake that day.  We can experience peace when the storm comes.  It can renew and strengthen our faith.  It is important we don’t waste them, miss out on a learning experience.  Through trials we put our trust in God.  We experience greater faith as a result.

Like Joseph in the pit with the brothers deciding to spin a yarn to their father.  There is 2 ways we can respond similarly in trials or difficulties. How can I get out of this or we can say what can I get out of this.  There is a bit of difference.  I want to escape from these trials.  What can I get out of this is a difference.  You have some plan and purpose I want to know what it is, that I might learn from this experience.  Gripped by your power or bear testimony in place in the midst of the storm for people to see how I respond.  These difficulties can renew our strength and faith in God.