The Gospel of Mark | Sermon Four

Facing Storms | Mark 4:35-41

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Mark 4:1 “Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge.”

Mark 4:35-39 “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”

Key Point: Jesus reveals His divine authority over the forces of nature.

(v.37) “furious squall” literal: great storm
(v.39) “completely calm” literal: great calm

Psalm 89:9 “You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.”

Mark 4:40-41 “He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

“Who is this?”

2 Corinthians 1:8–10 (NCV) “Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the trouble we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there that were beyond our own strength. We even gave up hope of living. 9 Truly, in our own hearts we believed we would die. But this happened so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the dead. 10 God saved us from these great dangers of death, and he will continue to save us. We have put our hope in him, and he will save us again.”

“We have put our hope in him, and he will save us again.”

James 1:2–4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Don Sheske “God’s purpose is greater than your problem and your pain.”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 5:3-5 “…we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

How’s your faith?

Acts 27:13-15 “When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.”

Insights when you find yourself in a storm:
1. Don’t drift.

Acts 27:15 (AMP) “…and when the ship was caught in it and could not head against the wind [to gain stability], we gave up and [letting her drift] were driven along.”

Acts 27:31 “then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”

2. Stay with the boat.

God can change things if we hang in there.

3. Hold on to Hope!

Acts 27:20 “… We finally gave up all hope of being saved.”

God is in control even in a storm!

Acts 27:25 (NASB) “Therefore, keep up your courage, man, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.”
God keeps His promises.

Hebrews 13:5b “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Take responsibility and change direction.
Resist the devil!
Trust God.

“What do you want me to learn from this situation?”