The Storms of Life

 Temple Baptist Church - 12-21-2022

John 6:15-21

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This story that we read tonight is found three times in the Gospels: Matthew 14, Mark 6, and John 6.  The three together give the complete story of what happened during the storm that night on the sea.  Each account of this particular storm has a different part of the ending.

 

1.  In Matthew, which portrays Christ as the Lion, the King of Israel.  The disciples Worshipped. 

 

Matthew 14:22-23.  The Lord told them to get into the ship and go to the other side, not perish in the storm.  He stayed alone on the mountain and prayed for them.

 

Matthew 14:24-27.  The Lord came to them in the fourth watch, the last watch of the night, walking on the sea and comforted them.

 

Matthew 14:28-31.  Peter walked upon the water with the Lord, because Jesus owned the sea and stirred the storm.

 

Matthew 14:32-33.  The came into the ship, the wind ceased, and the disciples worshipped Him.

 

2.  In Mark, which portrays Christ as the Ox, the Servant of Man.  The disciples Wondered. 

 

Mark 6:45.  The Lord sent the disciples to the other side and went to the mountain alone.

 

Mark 6:46-47.  The Lord prayed for the disciples.

 

Mark 6:48.  The Lord watched over the disciples as they toiled in rowing.  He came to them and would have passed by.

 

Mark 6:49-50.  When the disciples saw the Lord, He comforted them.

 

Mark 6:51.  The disciples were sore amazed beyond measure for their hearts were hardened.

 

Mark 6:52.  They had already forgotten the miracle of the loaves! 

 

3.  In John, which portrays Christ as the Eagle, Almighty Jehovah God.  The disciples Went with Him! 

 

John 6:15.  The Lord went to the mountain alone.

 

John 6:16-17.  The disciples came to the sea, enter the ship, and rowed in the darkness.

 

John 6:18-19.  The Lord came to the disciples, walking on the sea.

 

John 6:20.  The Lord comforted the disciples.

 

John 6:21.  The disciples received the Lord into the ship and were immediately on the other side.

 

B.  Storms in the Bible give us the impression of difficult times in our lives.  These men, in this particular storm, rowed hard and were managing.  This was not the storm where the waves came into the boat and the Lord lay asleep.  Though the sea rose, and the wind was contrary to them, fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were used to such storms.

 

C.  Because of a sin cursed earth, storms are a part of nature.  Because of Adamic sin, “storms” are a natural part of our lives.  Though storms may come as chastisement at times, they are a part of our lives here on earth.  In the story, we find that there are three sides to storms.

 

1.  The Omnipotent Side of the Storm - Nahum 1:2-7  God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.  (3)  The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.  (4)  He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.  (5)  The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.  (6)  Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.  (7)  The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

 

a.  The Lord is The Administrator of the Storm – He either causes the storms of our lives or He must, because of His sovereignty, allow them.

 

b.  The Lord is The Accelerator of the Storm – He can make our storms large of small, powerful, or weak.

 

c.  The Lord is The Accommodator in the Storm – He has promised to never leave nor forsake us.

 

2.  The Occupant’s Side of the Storm.  1 Peter 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 

a.  It is our duty to Trust God in the Storm.  Do not worry about or during storms. 

 

b.  It is our duty to Obey God in the Storm.  To realize that God knows what He is doing or allowing in our lives.

 

c.  It is our duty to Glorify God in the Storm.  As people watch us go through our storms, they become times that we can bring glorify God.

 

 

3.  The Other Side of the Storm.  Psalms 30:4-5  Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.  (5)  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

 

          a.  God will Sustain us in the Storm – Nahum 1:7 “The Lord”

 

          b.  God will Supply us in the Storm – Nahum 1:7  “The Lord is good”

 

          c.  God will Secure us in the Storm – Nahum 1:7 “a stronghold...trouble”

 

          d.  God will Save us from the Storm – Nahum 1:7  “knoweth them that trust in him”

 

4.  The Lessons of the Storm.

 

          a.  Storms get our attention.

          b.  Storms interrupt our plans.

 

          c.  Storms show us our weakness.

 

          d.  Storms correct our sinfulness.

 

          e.  Storms prove our foundation.

          f.  Storms reintroduce us to our Saviour.