“What Manner of Man Is This?” – Matthew 8:23-27
God is the “force” behind it all, and when you know God, you know all you really need to know.
Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
Matthew 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
I. He Is Following…Even into a Storm
Matthew 8:23-24 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
Mark 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Psalm 90:1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
We can learn from the Word and from experience that Jesus is always worth following.
Deuteronomy 31:8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
II. He with His Eyes Open
Matthew 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
Mark 4:38a And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.
Luke 8:23a But as they sailed he fell asleep.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Jesus always knows where we are. It may feel that He’s lost track of us, but that is never the case.
Psalm 121:3-4 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
III. He Uses Times as Times
Matthew 8:26 Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Storms provide some of the best teaching moments in life.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus drew the line between fear and faith by showing that little faith brought big fear and big faith resulted in little fear.
Proverbs 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.
IV. He Leads Us from Fear to Fear
Matthew 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Luke 8:25a And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this!
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Proverbs 1:7a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:
Fear for God speaks of holy respect for Who He is and for what He has done. If you do not hold God in high esteem for Who He is, you will live a timid life filled with anxiety. But when you trust and come to the place where you appropriately fear God, you learn that you need not fear anything or anyone else. God is in control.