outline speech of overcoming storms in life

Bible Study September 11

Overcoming the Storms of Life – 1

• February 1, 2023
• Brad Mullins
• Storms of life

Have you ever noticed in a literal storm, a tornado, how it can absolutely devastate one house and the next and then jump over a house and leave it basically unscathed. And then a few yards further along it continues with its destructive path.

We begin to think that life works that way in the sense of one household was just lucky and another household was not.

You may have noticed a curious pattern in people’s lives in as you have observed different families around you in church:

• both families were faithful
• both families worshipped God vocally and actively participated in the church services
• both supported the church financially
• both volunteered to help work in the church

And at different times, both families experience a major storm in their lives…

When the storm hit, it became noticeably clear that these two families, as much as they were alike, were in fact, vastly different.

One family was not at all perplexed by the storm – while the other was completely devastated.

How can this be?

One family was totally prepared – yet the other was completely blindsided.

Does God favor one family over another?

Are there just some things that are meant to be or are part of God’s plan for those families?

The truth is – SOMETIMES WE ARE SIMPLY NOT PREPARED FOR THE STORMS OF LIFE!

• Jesus taught us that the storms of life come to everybody!

When you are going through a storm and others around you are not, it may seem like your situation is unique.

(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)  (13) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man ; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

(1 Corinthians 10:13 GNB) (13) Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

• If you believe that your storm is different from the experiences of others, you are setting yourself up for a failure.
• The enemy of our faith, the devil, sends storms and the negative thought processes that always accompany them.

(1 Peter 5:8-9 TPT)  (8) Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.  (9)  Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure.

• Storms come to good people.
• It is not a mark of failure to have a storm.
• Do not spend one minute trying to answer the question: “Why is this happening to me?”
• If you want to ask yourself a question, do not ask it when you are in the midst of a storm. The time to ask a question is before the storm… and this is the question you need to ask:

Am I prepared for the storms of life?

The good news is that you can be prepared!

(Psalms 34:19 NKJV)  (19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

(Psalms 34:19 BBE)  Great are the troubles of the upright: but the Lord takes him safely out of them all.

(Psalms 34:19 TPT)  Even when bad things happen to the good and godly ones, the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated by what they face.

• Jesus taught His disciples how to prepare for the storms of life.

(Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV) “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: (25) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. (26) “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (27) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

(Matthew 7:24-27 TPT) “Everyone who hears my teaching and applies it to his life can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation. (25) When the rains fell and the flood came, with fierce winds beating upon his house, it stood firm because of its strong foundation. (26) “But everyone who hears my teaching and does not apply it to his life can be compared to a foolish man who built his house on sand. (27) When it rained and rained and the flood came, with wind and waves beating upon his house, it collapsed and was swept away.”

A careful look at these two men shows that they have more similarities than they have differences:

The foolish man heard the same word that the wise man heard – he just did not do it!

James teaches us the same truth:

(James 1:22-25 NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (23) Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror (24) and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (25) But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it–not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it–they will be blessed in what they do.

What is James telling us? We look in a mirror to prepare ourselves because it shows us what to correct.

• You have a person who builds his life, career, marriage, etc. on sand shifting philosophies, cultural norms, changing feelings, and for a season everything seems to be OK.
• But after a time, a storm will come, and the pressures of life will expose the weakness of the ideas he built his life on.

What does someone look like who is a doer of the Word?

• A doer of the Word allows the teaching of the Word to shape his thinking in every area of life.
• A doer of the Word does not adjust his moral compass to the norms of popular culture.
• A doer of the Word learns not to live by his feelings and emotions.
• A doer of the Word learns to know God by His Word and promises – not by the circumstances of life.

If we will purpose to pursue the word, it will give us power to make the changes and adjustments we need to make to stand against the storms.

(Philippians 2:13 AMPC)  [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

The Word does not just tell us what to do – it gives us both the desire and ability to do what it says.

• Can you imagine a life without fear of the things that others dread?
• Can you imagine having the confidence to face financial struggles that once kept you awake at night?
• Can you imagine victory over the things that have held you back in the past?
• Can you imagine a life without panic?
• Can you imagine a life with the ability to laugh when bad news knocks at your door?
• Can you imagine a life with the ability to rejoice when all others are full of despair?

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Overcoming the storms of life

The Storms of life

Scripture reference: Mark 4:35–5:1

‘You may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith . . . may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.’ ~  1 Peter 1:6-7

In the book of Mark we read about a terrible storm. The disciples were with Jesus on a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee. When a “furious squall came up,” the disciples—among them some seasoned fishermen—were afraid for their lives (4:37-38). Did God not care? Weren’t they handpicked by Jesus and closest to Him? Weren’t they obeying Jesus who told them to “go over to the other side”?. Why, then, were they going through such a turbulent time?

No one is exempt from the storms of life. But just as the disciples who initially feared the storm later came to revere Christ more, so the storms we face can bring us to a deeper knowledge of God. “Who is this,” the disciples pondered, “even the wind and the waves obey him!”. Through our trials we can learn that no storm is big enough to prevent God from accomplishing His will.

While we may not understand why God allows trials to enter our lives, we thank Him that through them we can come to know who He is. We live to serve Him because He has preserved our lives.

By:  Albert Lee

Reflect & Pray

Lord, I know I don’t need to fear the storms of life around me. Help me to be calm because I stand secure in You.

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Overcoming the Storms of Life

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says,“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. – Isaiah 43:1-2 (NLT)

There comes a time in life when we face the storms of life. Whether you are a believer or not, there will come a time when you will go through storms that will leave you stronger or broken. You need to know how to overcome the storms of life even before they happen. 

Now, it could be that you are going through a storm right now, and you are on the verge of giving up. You may be wondering whether this is happening because you did something wrong. While sin opens up doors for some storms, please know that not all storms come because you did something wrong. Every child of God faces storms at some point.

Before we go into detail about overcoming the storms of life, let us look at what it means to be in a storm. 

What are the Storms of life?

These are challenges or situations that we go through from time to time. The storms of lives are difficult things and times we face in our walk with the Lord. Storms come in the form of sickness, financial hardships, family problems, and so on. 

There is one thing that we need to understand about the storms of life, and that is, it is not God who brings these things in our lives. The enemy is the one who attacks us with sickness and other kinds of storms. 

God is the creator of everything , nothing catches Him by surprise. So He allows storms to come in our lives. Yes, God is well able to stop the enemy from the onset. But He will allow us to go through the storm most of the time so that we can become Christ-like.  (John 16:33)

It could be that you are asking God to remove the storm in your life when He wants to walk with you through it. If you have been doing this, please go back to God and ask Him to show you His will concerning the storm you are going through. If He wants you to go through it and come out on the other side, ask Him to strengthen you so that you can come out victorious . 

I know that is the last thing you want to hear. But remember, God always uses what the enemy intended for harm to lift us up and glorify His name. Instead of complaining and asking God to take it away, ask Him to glorify Himself through you. 

Okay, you are probably wondering, if God is able to stop the enemy from harming us, if He loves us and wants the best for us, then why does Hse allow us to go through all this? 

Why God allows Storms in our Lives ?

1. god cannot break his laws.

There are laws that God set in place. These laws govern His influence on earth. God created the earth and gave man authority so that through him, He, God, can rule the earth. Yes, there’ll come a time when God will live with us on the new earth. But for now, He has given the earth to man.  (Psalm 116:15) 

How is this related to the storms that we face in life, you may ask.

Well, man was given dominion over the earth. Unfortunately, the enemy lied to Eve, and man ended up losing the dominion He was given to the devil. So the authority we were given by God was transferred to the enemy, the god of this world. 

Though God sent His only son to die for us, the world is still under the control of the enemy, and that is why we go through the storms of life. See, God doesn’t like to see us suffer, but because we live in a fallen world, we are going to face storms from time to time. 

2. To Strengthen Us

Another reason why we face storms is that God wants to strengthen us. As we have already seen, we live in a fallen world that is under the control of the enemy. The storms that we go through as children of God are meant to strengthen us so that we can withstand the attacks of the enemy.

See, even though Jesus was fully God, He was subject to the things of this world. He endured all the challenges and storms that He faced. We need to be like Jesus. We should not run away from storms; instead, we should allow God to strengthen us so that we can become like His son Jesus and win against all the plans of the enemy over our lives.  (Hebrews 12:2)

3. To Reveal God’s Will

Let’s be honest sometimes, we get so caught up with life that we fail to hear the voice of God and know His will over our lives. Many of us are always distracted by the things of this world when life is great. But when storms come, we turn back to God and become faithful in our walk. 

While this is not the way our Father would like us to relate with Him, there are those times that He will allow storms to come so that He can draw our attention to Him and cause us to listen so that we can know His will for our lives. 

Jonah allowed His feelings and thoughts about the people of Nineveh to overshadow God’s will for them. When he tried to run away, God brought a storm that eventually caused him to repent and carry out the assignment God gave him  (Jonah 1:1-17) . Could it be that you’ve been running away from God’s will all these years or months, and now God has allowed this storm to come so that he can draw your attention?

Please take the time to examine yourself and then turn to God and allow Him to reveal His will to you so that you can start walking in it. Look, God has our best interests at heart. It may not seem like that right now, but with time you will understand why He wants that thing to happen in your life.  (Jeremiah 29:11)

4. To Help Us Experience God in a New Way

At times we get accustomed to a certain way of reading the word and praying that our spiritual lives end up being stale. It could be that God wants you to draw closer to Him than you already are. God may allow a storm to come so that you can draw near to Him and experience Him in a new way. 

Instead of running away from God, run to God. When you draw near to Him, He will also draw near to you, and you will experience the Lord in a new way. Christianity is not easy, but when you walk with God, you will enjoy the journey and become a great person that God wants you to be. 

God is a loving and caring Father. He wants to be close to all His children. Sadly, most of us are not giving Him a chance. If you’re going through a storm today, consider getting closer to God than you already are. The more Moses knew God, the closer he wanted to be with Him. That is why Moses asked God to reveal His glory to him. Like Moses, we should have that desire to know God in a new and deeper way.  (Exodus 33:18-20)

5. To Equip us for Service

The enemy is never happy when he sees the children of God advancing the kingdom. He wants you to remain in the same state and rotate around the same mountain, just like the children of Israel. So when he sees you committing to the things of God, he unleashes all kinds of attacks to distract and discourage you from fulfilling your purpose. 

Don’t let fear and discouragement cloud your mind. Know that God will equip you to accomplish His purposes in this world. Through this storm, God is going to equip you for service. 

The truth is you are going to face different challenges when you start that ministry God is preparing you for. It doesn’t matter whether it is big or small, there are going to be some hard seasons that you WILL pass through. God is allowing this storm over your life so that He can strengthen you for what is ahead. When you face challenges in your ministry, you will remember how the Lord strengthened you and made you courageous and victorious in this storm. 

Dealing with the Storms of Life

How you handle a storm will determine whether you come out victoriously or defeated. But you don’t have to rely on your wisdom and strength. God will give you endurance so that you can be able to stand firm and fight. You only need to trust Him and lean not on your own understanding.  (Proverbs 3:5)

It is important that you win this storm because Jesus has already gone ahead of you and made it to the finish line. And secondly, you need to come out victoriously so that you can enjoy the great things God has planned for you. So,

How Should You Deal with the Storm that You’re in Right Now?

1. Let the Peace of God Rule Your Heart

The enemy will try his level best to steal peace from your heart. He will bring things that will cause you to fear and become anxious. Now it is hard to have peace and anxiety at the same time.  

The Bible says you should not let your heart be troubled, don’t let it be afraid  (John 14:27) . If you keep focusing on what the enemy is doing, then you will become troubled in your heart, and the peace of God will be replaced with anxiety. During this challenging time, ask God to fill you with His peace so that it can guard your heart against all that the enemy is trying to do.

2. Stand Firm In the Word 

Storms are not meant to make us run away from God but to Him. Yes, it is hard to understand why God is quiet but do not turn away from Him. Use this time to get into His word so that you can know what it says about Him. God is always talking to us, and one of the ways is through His word. So read the word, stand firm in it, and allow it to penetrate your heart and remove all fear and doubt. 

3. Pray without Ceasing

The truth is it is difficult to pray when you are facing challenges. Sometimes you may fail to find the words to say. But know this that tears are prayers too, and God stores them in His bottle  (Psalms 56:8) . Spend time in God’s presence and pour your heart out. He will listen to your cry and come through for you. 

Another way you can pray in this season when you don’t have anything to say is listen and sing praise music. Praise defeats the enemy faster than anything. When you praise God in the storm, it means that you are magnifying Him over that situation that you are facing right now. 

Final Thoughts

All of us go through the storms of life. But for children of God, we need not let our hearts be troubled or afraid because God is with us and fighting on our behalf. Know that you are not the only one going through a storm right now. Don’t run away from God, instead run to Him and ask Him to strengthen you so that you can endure to the end and overcome the storms of life.

Don’t let fear replace your faith. Trust God, and don’t lean on your own understanding. Even when He seems quiet and feels distant, know that He is there with you fighting your battles. Pray without ceasing and stand firm in the word. 

Prayer – Overcoming the Storms of Life

Father God, thank You for everything that You are doing in my life. I thank You for the times and seasons that I am in. Lord, though I am going through a very difficult time right now, you remain to be faithful and King in my life. Heavenly Father, I know that this storm will come to pass because You can never give me more than I can handle. 

Dear God, I ask you to be my strength during this storm, for I can’t fight this alone. Uphold me with your righteous right hand and command your angels to take charge over me. God, when I am on the verge of giving up, remind me that you are fighting the battle on my behalf. When I am about to throw in the towel, remind me of what Jesus did on the cross so that I can be strengthened in my inner being.  

Holy Spirit of God, quicken me with the word of God so that I can be able to stand firm and fight back. Lord, use this storm to heal, change, and refine me. May You glorify Yourself through me and cause me to prosper in this. In Jesus’ Name, I believe and pray, Amen. 

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The Storms of Life

Tony Evans January 26, 2022

Mark 4:35-41

When we’re stuck in difficult circumstances, we call on God to get us out. But Dr. Tony Evans says that, even if the storms of life are getting worse, we may already be right where God wants us.

Search LearnTheBible

Lessons from the storms of life.

Introduction: The storms and trials of life are as sure to come your way as the breath you just took. Some people seem to live in the midst of a storm, but none of us are exempt from at least passing through them. Storms are not fun and often leave us with damage that we have to deal with. It is important for us to realize though, that the storms of this life bring lessons that we cannot learn apart from them. We must work not to get bitter in the storm but rather rejoice that our Father is allowing us another opportunity to learn.

• The Reasons We Go Through Storms
• God sends storms to draw us close to Him
• Satan attacks with the permission of God (Job 1:12; 2:6)
• Troubles are part of life (Job 14:1-2; 5:7)
• Storms Give a Better Revelation of Us
• The disciples were sailing just fine on their own during the calm but as they sailed He fell asleep (Luke 8:23)
• The storm came and was causing problems but the disciples were still trying to do it own their own they were filled with water (Luke 8:23)
• When the waves filled the boat and they were in trouble they turned to Him they came to him (Luke 8:24)
• Storms Demonstrate the Faithfulness of God
• When the sea was calm and the disciples were sailing they gave no thought to the fact that the Lord was keeping the seas calm
• When the storm got out of control the disciples were able to see that Jesus was faithful to calm it
• Storms Give Us a Better Revelation of Christ
• The disciples apparently did not know that the wind and the water had to obey Jesus (Luke 8:25)
• This showed them a side of Jesus that they could not have seen without the storm.
• Those who were not in the storm had no idea what Jesus could do.
• This event proved Jesus Christ to be God (Psalm 65:5-7)
• This event showed that Jesus comes to the aid of His own he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water (Luke 8:24)(See Psalm 78:65-66)(Daniel 3:23-27)
• Storms Give Us a Longing for Heaven (Revelation 21:4)
• Tears - If we had no tears we could not long for the day when God shall wipe away all tears.
• Death If we had no separation in this life we wouldnt know the joys awaiting us in a land where there is no separation.
• Sorrow Without the heartaches, troubles and sorrow we wouldnt be longing for a land where no sorrow can enter.
• Pain If you had no pains, or ailments in this body you wouldnt know the blessing of receiving a glorified body and dwelling in a land where no sickness can harm you.

Conclusion:  Are you going through a storm? Maybe the Lord sent you into this storm so that you will draw closer to Him.  Maybe this storm is nothing more than an attack from Satan.  Maybe it is just part of this life.  Whatever it is, don’t give up. If the disciples had given up before they awoke the Master, they might have perished. They certainly would not have had the revelation that Christ is the Master of the elements of this world. What is the Lord trying to show you?  If you’ll trust in Him, the fellowship experienced in the midst of this storm may very well be the sweetest fellowship you will experience on this side of eternity.

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The God Who Is Bigger Than Our Storms

Luke 8:22-26.

In our text, the disciples find themselves in a terrible storm. Now many times storms catch us when we’re not expecting them. This was probably true for the disciples, as this storm came even when Jesus was with them in the ship!

But in this story, Jesus reveals Himself as the God who is bigger that our storms. And I think our view of God is very important, because how we view God will determine how we view ourselves. And this morning I’m sure that all of us know that God is bigger than our storms, but if you’re like me, you just sometimes need to be reminded. One thing is for sure in this story: The storm was not as big to Jesus as it was to the disciples! And even though the storm was above their head, it was still under His feet!

But wait a minute. In what way is God bigger than our storms? There are five principles in our text that answer this:

I. His Intention Is Bigger Than Our Storm (Luke 8:22)

Jesus had a plan. And what was that plan? It was for Him and His disciples to make it to the other side of the lake. That was God’s plan!

We as human beings have failed in our intentions, haven’t we? Have you ever determined to help someone one day, but when all was said and done, you didn’t help at all? Have you ever set out to do a good deed, only to end up not doing it? We have all failed in our intentions, but God has never failed in His intentions! God’s plan cannot be thwarted! Phil. 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Now we may never go through a literal storm on the Sea of Galilee, but we do go through various “storms of life.” Your storm may be when someone you love dearly dies unexpectedly, and you don’t understand it. It may be when your job is not going the way you need it to go. It could be when you feel betrayed by those you love and no one understands your heartache. Our storm can be when life has us so confused, we don’t know where to turn or what to do. It may even be when Satan whispers in your ear, “It’s no use, it will never work. You may as well give up.”

What can we do when heartache comes knocking on our door and we feel overcome by despair or bound by a feeling of hopelessness? We start by realizing that God has a plan, and His plan is greater than our feelings! And His intention is bigger than any storm!

I don’t understand it all. I don’t fully understand why I’ve got a speech impediment. But I’m glad for one thing. I’m glad that I know that God has a plan for me, and that His plan for me is bigger than any storm I’ll ever experience! Do you believe that?

II. His Interpretation Is Bigger Than Our Storm (Luke 8:23)

Jesus is asleep in the storm and evidently has been asleep for a good while. Isn’t that strange? How could Jesus sleep through a storm? The disciples literally thought they were dying! Obviously the storm was not as big to Jesus as it was to the disciples!

I wonder: Do we sleep good when problems are consuming us? I don’t!

When problems consume me, I have a hard time sleeping . . . So do you know what I do? I just lay awake and help God “run the world!”

The disciples interpreted this storm as something terrible! The fact is – They could not change their circumstances! There was absolutely nothing they could do about the storm! And that’s hard to deal with sometimes, isn’t it? Do you ever wish you could change your circumstances? I do! But we can’t. We may as well accept that! We need to realize that God doesn’t see the storm the way we see the storm. His interpretation is bigger than our storm. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

God sees the storm as a means of advancement. He uses storms of life to test us to help us get closer to Him. God uses the dark, scary, uncertain times of life as an opportunity for Him to demonstrate is power not ours, and for God to get the glory, not us. God wants to use our trials to get us a little closer to Him.

I wonder: When our “storm” starts to devastate us, do we want to take God’s interpretation of our storm? Or, do we want to just develop our own interpretation? When trouble comes down on us, do we carelessly say like some, “God doesn’t care – or He’d do something for me!” But problems are sometimes just opportunities in “work clothes.” He’s testing our faith. We must not forget: Faith is taking God at His Word despite the circumstances. And faith is often claiming God’s promise in the midst of bad circumstances.

Like the disciples, we may be in a terrible “storm.” We may be so scared that we’re biting our nails off. But it’s good to know that God’s not biting His nails off . . . because His interpretation is bigger than our storm!

III. His Inclination Is Bigger Than Our Storm (Luke 8:23-24)

When the Bible says the ship was “filled” with water it means they were losing “control” of the ship, and the water was controlling the ship. Rather than the boat controlling the boat, the storm was controlling the boat. The word “jeopardy” indicates that they feared death! They thought, “It’s over!” But they did the right thing – They went to Jesus! And while they were literally going down, Jesus was rising up!

Jesus “arose,” but not the way I would have arose! Have you ever been awaken suddenly and unexpectantly form a deep sleep? Our normal response is to be startled, bewildered, confused and to rub the sand out of our eyes, right? However, Jesus didn’t do that. He arose and immediately He inclined Himself to them.

A. His Inclination Is To Hear Us!

That’s His nature! Immediately Jesus inclined Himself to them! God is never in such a deep sleep that He doesn’t hear our faintest whisper. Aren’t you glad for that? Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” God wants us to call on Him!

One amazing thing that doctors have verified is that a mother often has a special “ear” for her baby’s cry. Mothers can often distinguish their own baby’s cry in a room of crying babies. What in the world? For me, and most men, one child’s cry is the same as another. If you’ve heard one, you’ve heard them all. But not to a mother.

Why? Because God made her with a special “ear” for her baby. She is inclined to hear her baby.

But that pales in comparison with God’s ear for the cry of His children. Psalms 34:17-18 says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” In your trouble, cry out to God – He’s waiting for you.

B. His Inclination Is To Help Us!

Although Jesus was sleeping, I think the disciples misunderstood the nature of His sleep. They evidently thought that “sleeping” meant that He was unaware of their present danger, or that He was unconcerned for their personal lives, or maybe He was unable to make the difference that they needed.

But Jesus was no less God when He was asleep than when He’s awake. Jesus was no less God when He was lying down than when He was standing up. He rebuked the wind and storm and produced a calm! Psalms 34:19 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” No matter how dark our life may seem, we must believe the truth that His inclination is bigger than our storm!

IV. His Intervention Is Bigger Than Our Storm (Luke 8:25)

These disciples had seen other miracles before, but notice what they said: “What manner of man is this?” The way He intervened was unreal. They were saying, “It’s not human!”

Let me ask you something: If God can control the wind and the waves, don’t you think He can control your storm? If God can alter the very laws of nature, I believe He can help me with my problems! . . . Don’t you? There is no storm too big for God to handle! Do you believe that? Even the wind recognized His authority and the storm was just a platform for Him to do His work on. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

I don’t understand how He does it, but God can even use the junk in my life to bring glory to Him. God desires to use everything that happens to us for our good and God’s glory. Do you believe that He can do that in your life? Thank God that His intervention is bigger than our storm!

V. His Instruction Is Bigger Than Our Storm

The disciples learned some things through the storm that they might not have learned any other way.

A. They learned something about their faith (Luke 8:25)

When Jesus asked, “Where is your faith?” He asked a good question. I don’t know where their faith was, but I know where it wasn’t. Their faith may have been in the size of the boat, to withstand the storm. Their faith may have been in their ability to out-row the storm. Their faith may have been in the strength of their anchor. I don’t know where their faith was, but I know where it wasn’t: It wasn’t in Christ. They learned something about their faith from the storm, and we do too! When God sends a storm my way, I see how many different things I’ve been leaning on!

What if Jesus asked us this morning, “Where is your faith?” Some would have to answer, “My Father is in my circumstances being just right. But they rarely are!

Others would confess that their faith is in people responding just so. But they rarely do! Some people’s faith is only in the pleasures that this life can offer? But, they’re so shortlived. Many only have faith in their finances and in the things money can buy. But they don’t satisfy.

B. They learned something about their future (Luke 8:26)

They did get to the other side! God wasn’t through with them yet. He had something else for them beyond the storm. And when the storms of the life beat down on us, we need to realize that there is life beyond the storm. God is not finished with us yet.

Several years ago there were awful hurricane storms in Nicauraugua, Honduras, and Puerto Rico. My sister-in-law, who lives in Puerto Rico described the awful noise of the storm to be like an uncontrolled monster that nearly made a person deaf.

On television, news reporters interviewed poor families in Honduras, that were completely devastated by the storm. Some of their attitudes were both virtuous as well as convicting. One lady said, “Yes, it was awful. We lost everything, and we’ll have to start all over. But the good news is – it’s brought our family back together again. We are closer than ever. The community is banding together like we’ve never seen before. Do you know what they were saying? They were saying, “We benefited from the storm.” Can God really do that? Do you believe He can do it for you? Can he do it tonight?

“My Father’s way may twist and turn, My heart may throb and ache, But in my soul I’m glad I know, He maketh no mistake. My cherished plans may go astray, My hopes may fade away, But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead For He doth know the way. Tho’ night be dark and it may seem That day will never break; I’ll pin my faith, my all in Him, He maketh no mistake. There’s so much now I cannot see, My eyesight’s far too dim; But come what may, I’ll simply trust And leave it all to Him. For by and by the mist will lift And plain it all He’ll make. Through all the way, tho’ dark to me, He made not one mistake.” – A. M. Overton

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HANDLING THE STORMS OF LIFE

by David Cawston

Scripture: LUKE 8:22-25

Storms in Life – Mark 4:35-41

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Storms in Life

6 August 2017 AM – Mark 4:35-41 – Mr17 – Scott Childs

Introduction: (Read text). This is an exciting story but it was a terrifying event for Jesus’ disciples as they battled that life-threatening storm. We are likely to face severe, terrifying storms in life as well.

Transition: As we work our way through this passage I want to point out ten reminders about the storms in life that can help us.

1.        The Lord is always with us during storms (v.35) a.          Note the words “let us”. Jesus was with the disciples during this storm. Jesus was “in the ship” (v.36) with them. b.          We must remember that the Lord is always with us during our storms as well. The Psalmist wrote, (Psalms 139:7-12) “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” This is especially true if you know the Lord as your Saviour. (Hebrews 13:5) “… for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” 2.        We are not the only ones enduring storms (v.36) a.          Note in verse 36 the sentence, “And there were also with him other little ships.” The disciples and Jesus were in a fairly large ship. What happened to His followers who were in the little ships during that huge storm? They may have been having a more difficult time than the disciples. b.          The devil wants you to think that you are the only one experiencing a storm. That is simply not true. If you look around, you are sure to find others in storms that may be worse than your storm. 3.        Christians are not except from severe storms (v.37) a.          Note the severity of this storm. 1)         It was “a great storm of wind”. The word storm refers to a violent attack, a whirlwind, or a cyclonic wind. 2)         The storm was so great that the waves beat against the ship and came over the sides. 3)         The ship had quickly filled up with water. ²  When I was a teenager, I went canoeing down a river with our youth group. At one point my canoe hit a rock and overturned filling with water. I soon learned that boats do not float well when they are full of water, and getting the water out of the boat is not easy.

b.          God sometimes allows very severe storms in the lives of His children today as well. I know of good Christians who have suffered car accidents, fires, cancer, death of loved ones, tragic fatal accidents and wayward children. These are severe storms. c.           The God-fearing man Job in the Bible suffered greatly. He lost all his possessions, his ten children all died in a violent storm and his wife told him to curse God and die. Yet in all that, God had a plan. He was teaching Job. He was able to say, (Job 13:15) “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” 4.        The Lord never panics during our storms (v.38) a.          Jesus “was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.” Even in the midst of this violent storm that was sinking the ship, Jesus was peacefully sleeping. It was not that He did not care. It was simply that He was not concerned. b.          When we are tempted to be anxious and worried during the storms of life, we must remember that the Lord is not the least bit fretful. For this reason He is able to say to us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 5.        We must pray when storms first attack (v.38) a.          In desperation the disciples eventually awakened Jesus. Instead of asking for His help, they questioned His concern for them. They shouted above the wind, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” They could have avoided a lot of panic and worry if they had simply prayed first instead of waiting until they were in critical danger. b.          This is a great rebuke to me because I often panic and worry first and pray second. We know what the Psalmist wrote but we need to put it into practice. (Psalms 55:22) “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” 6.        We need the Lord’s help during every storm (v.39) a.          The disciples had done all in their power to save their lives, but they were failing. I can imagine that as they were franticly yelling and baling out the water that they debated among themselves as to whether they should awaken Jesus. b.          That is so typical of our human nature. We try to calm our storms and solve our problems ourselves. c.           The truth is, whether in sunshine or in sorrow we need the Lord. The hymn writer Annie Hawks penned these words to “I need Thee Every Hour” Great Hymns of the Faith p. 318 1)          I need thee ev’ry hour, Most gracious Lord. No tender voice like thine Can peace afford. 2)         I need thee ev’ry hour; Stay thou nearby. Temptations lose their pow’r When thou art nigh. 3)         I need thee ev’ry hour, In joy or pain. Come quickly and abide, Or life is vain. Chorus: I need thee, oh, I need thee; Ev’ry hour I need thee! Oh, bless me now, my Savior; I come to thee!

7.        The Lord is greater than any storm (v.39) a.          Jesus simply arose and rebuked the wind with two commands. 1)         His first command was “Peace!” Literally he commanded “Be silent!” 2)         His second command was “Be still!” This command is literally “Having been muzzled stay that way!” 3)         With those two commands, the storm instantly stopped and there was a great stillness on the lake. Isn’t that awesome! b.          No matter what storm comes into my life or yours, the Lord is greater than that storm. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. (Jeremiah 32:17) “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” 8.        God can calm any storm but He may not (v.39) a.          Jesus chose to calm the storm on Galilee that day. There were other times during His ministry that He chose not to calm storms. 1)         In Mark 5 Jesus allowed a young girl to die. 2)         In John 11 we read that Jesus allowed Lazarus to die. 3)         In Acts 7 the Lord allowed Stephen to be stoned to death. 4)         In Acts 27 He allowed Paul to be shipwrecked. b.          God has the ability to calm your storm, but He may know that you need the storm. Whether He calms the storm or not, He will comfort us during our storms if we will draw near to Him (Psalm 91:1-4). “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” 9.        Faith can overcome fear during storms (v.40) a.          Jesus asked His disciples two pointed questions. 1)         Why are ye so fearful? This word means timid, cowardly or fearful. 2)         How is it that ye have no faith? They lacked bravery because they lacked faith in the Lord to protect them. Their opinion of the Lord was too small. b.          The more we know about the Lord’s trustworthiness and the more we depend upon Him, the greater our faith will become. 10.   Storms that God allow are for our benefit (v.41) a.          The disciples saw a new side of the Lord because of their storm. They learned that He was the Lord over all nature. b.          In every storm in life there is a lesson for us to learn. c.           One of the storms in the Apostle Paul’s life was his thorn in the flesh which God would not remove. (2 Corinthians 12:9) “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Conclusion: I find that it is easier to talk about the storms of life than to endure one. I need these ten reminders. Perhaps you do as well. Let’s ask the Lord to increase our faith.

Song: I Need Thee Every Hour, p. 318

How to Weather the Storms of Life

The storms of life come in all shapes and sizes from great hurricanes that tempt to drown us to little rain showers that inconvenience us. Any storm, though, can blow us off course if we are not grounded in God's truth. Join Dr. Rogers as he teaches us how to not only weather the storms of life, but to also find victory in the midst of these storms. Now, that's a lesson we all need to learn, so let's start now before the winds start to blow!

Messages Included:

• Riding Out the Storm
• Living Above See Level
• Unsinkable Saints
• What to Do with Your Burdens
• Can God Be Trusted in Your Troubles?
• How to Find Peace in the Midst of Your Storm
• Christian Warfare

**We upload Pastor Rogers' archived messages exclusively on our app every week. Download the My LWF app from your app store to listen to our "Out of the Vault" messages.

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The Storms Of Life

Contributed by chris mason on aug 6, 2001.

The Storms will come, the storms will go, but Jesus alwasys remains! This sermon is one of hope for better days!

THE STORMS OF LIFE TEXT: Mark 4:35-41 PROP: We must remember to have faith in Jesus. Let me tell you about a man named Steve. Steve was living what some people might call the American Dream. He had a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Contributed by Charles Lindquist, Jr. on Aug 10, 2002

Even though we accept Christ and have faith, we still encounter storms.

A little background might be helpful in understanding our Gospel lesson this morning. Everywhere Jesus went multitudes of people have been following Him. Now remember, Jesus just suffered the loss of John the Baptist, His disciples had just returned from the mission trip He had sent them on. And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: United Methodist

Contributed by Jeff Hughes on Feb 2, 2008

Paul faces the storm on his way to Rome.

i. PRAYER ii. Introduction a. This week, as I studied the passage, I though about just how independent of weather and conditions that we have become as a society, as opposed to how much more observant we were, and dependent on weather before the invention of cars and freeways. b. Today, even if ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:1-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Storms Of Life

Contributed by toby powers on mar 15, 2006.

We all will face storms, but God is putting us "through" the storm; he will not leave us "in" the storm.

From the Desk of Pastor Toby Powers Truth Baptist Church Hwy 78 Bremen, GA The Storms of Life Matthew 14:22-34 Intro: Life is filled with storms. It is inevitable. They are stressful, but they are not altogether avoidable. Some storms we choose ourselves. Some we face are because of the choice of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-34

Denomination: Baptist

Contributed by Ed Pruitt on Mar 10, 2007

We all go through storms but sometimes it takes a storm for us to get our eyes back on Jesus

DISCLAIMER: Since there are a large amount of sermons and topics and illustrations that are posted on Sermon Central, I feel it is necessary to place this disclaimer on all of the sermons that I submit. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

The Storms Of Life Series

Contributed by josh reich on apr 16, 2007.

This is the first part of our series on James. We talked about the difference between trials and temptations and how to handle them.

We are starting a brand new series today called a search for what is real. Between now and the end of June we are going to be walking through one of my favorite books of the Bible, and one of the most controversial ones, the book of James. When I was in college, I led a small group of high ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-18

Contributed by Derek Melanson on Jan 3, 2006

This is a brief ten minute sermon preached at a funeral and it focuses on how Jesus is the One we need to focus on during the inevitable storms we face in life.

“The Storms of Life” Matthew 14: 22 – 33 The first thing I want to say is that storms are inevitable. As we consider what has been happening around our world over the last several months – with so many hurricanes causing so much devastation and damage – this seems more true than usual. And it is ...read more

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 29, 2013

Faith is renewed day by day in our experience of the storms of life.

THE STORMS OF LIFE. Matthew 14:22-33. 1. The storms of life. Sometimes the storms of life seem to overtake us, even when we are being obedient. Jesus told the disciples to get into a ship and go to the other side of the lake (Matthew 14:22), but we see the ship in the midst of the sea tossed ...read more

Contributed by J.d. Tutell on Jul 25, 2011

As Paul goes through the storm in Acts 27 he is an example of who to go through the storm properly and how to be a blessing to others during the storm.

Illustration: Test pilots have a litmus test for evaluating problems. When something goes wrong, they ask, "Is this thing still flying?" If the answer is yes, then there’s no immediate danger, no need to overreact. When Apollo 12 took off, the spacecraft was hit by lightning. The entire ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:13-26

Contributed by Tyler Hopkins on Aug 31, 2012

I talk about how Jesus is with us through our storms and what we need to do in our storms.

I want to open this sermon with the scripture from Mark 4:35-41,"35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon ...read more

Contributed by Monte Brown on Oct 10, 2012

Perhaps the most difficult thing to do in life is to thank God in difficult times, when the Storms of Life comes pounding down, however Ephesians 5:20 says we are to be "giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord J

Introduction Perhaps the most difficult thing to do in life is to thank God in difficult times, when the Storms of Life comes pounding down, however Ephesians 5:20 says we are to be "giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Scripture 17 ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:17-21

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 18, 2022

Jesus rebuked the wind. He didn’t have to speak more than once for this occasion. But how many times does God have to tell us something before we listen?

Psalms 46:10, Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Sometimes we tend to rely on ourselves before trusting in the Lord. We see here that the men panicked, they were scared and afraid of the storm. (I’ve been on the sea during a ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Storms In Life

Contributed by stephen belokur on sep 26, 2017.

As we see the destruction of another hurricane season and other catastrophic events our hearts are sensitized to the great need around the world. Can we find a comparison in the "storms" of our own personal lives?

(This is more of a mini-sermon with "thought" that will need to be fleshed out in your own words. I hope that it is not too muddled for you to follow. May the Lord fill you with grace and peace today! PTL!!) Please open your Bibles to Matthew 8:18-27 which we will read in a few minutes. There ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:18-27 , Revelation 6:15-17

Denomination: Nazarene

Contributed by Cameron Bottema on May 5, 2013

First sermon in a series of stress and anxiety.

The Stress Storms of Life: Today we will begin a series on stress and how to reduce it from our lives. First, it needs to be understood that stress and anxiety are synonymous term – meaning they can be used interchangeably. The Bible teaches that stress/anxiety is a choice – we ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:15-21

Denomination: Friends

Contributed by Craig Condon on Aug 21, 2015

Regardless of how impressive or unimpressive our educational background is, there will always be people who will try to find ways to belittle our faith. We may face persecution or ridicule for our faith, but when we do, God will be there to protect us.

The events in Acts 26:24-27:8 occur just after Paul has been arrested for the last time. He had an opportunity to speak to King Herod, King Agrippa and the Roman governor Festus. Festus didn’t know anything about Moses and the prophets. Agrippa and Herod, on the other hand, were familiar with ...read more

Denomination: Anglican