JESUS CALMS THE STORM

PROCLAMATION

“Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him.  Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat.  But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us!  We’re going to drown!’  He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’  Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this?  Even the winds and the waves obey Him!’ ”  Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle Matthew.  After Jesus had completed His Sermon on The Mount, He came down from the mountainside and large crowds followed Him. (Matthew 8:1)  He healed a man with leprosy (Matthew 8:2-4), healed the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13), healed Peter’s mother-in-law who was in bed with a fever (Matthew 8:14-15), and He healed all the sick and demon-possessed people that were brought to Him. (Matthew 8:16-17)  Because of the great multitude which had gathered around Him, Jesus gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. (Matthew 8:18)  As He and His disciples crossed the lake in a boat, a furious storm rose up on the lake.  The storm was severe enough to cause His disciples to panic. (Matthew 8:23-25)  They woke Jesus, and He arose and said, “Peace, be still.”  Then the winds died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:37-39)  They were amazed and asked themselves, “What manner of man is this?  Even the winds and the waves obey Him!” (Matthew 8:27)

APPLICATION

The Lord God made the weather, the winds, the water, and the waves, and He controls them.  He controls the storms as He did on the Sea of Tiberias. (Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 4:37-39)  He also controls the storms which occur in our lives.  He can calm the storms, or He can give us the strength to go through the storms and accompany us along the journey.  He can walk on water and He can give us the ability to walk on the water in the midst of a storm. (Matthew 14:26-31)  However He chooses to handle the situation; He is still in control.  We need to acknowledge that He is all powerful.  To God be all the praise, honor, and glory!

THE LORD GOD IS ALL POWERFUL AND MIGHTY

PROCLAMATION

“Therefore I will teach them; this time I will teach them My power and might.  Then they will know that My name is The Lord.”  Jeremiah 16:21 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These are the words of The Lord God which were spoken to the prophet Jeremiah and proclaimed to the people of Judah.  The Lord God told them not to marry or have children in this land at that time, nor were they to enter a house where they are having a funeral meal or a feast, for they will die of deadly diseases. (Jeremiah 16:1-9)  When they asked Jeremiah why The Lord has decreed such a disaster on them, he was to tell them that their ancestors forsook The Lord God and worshiped idols, and they had behaved even more wickedly than their ancestors. (Jeremiah 16:10-12)  Now He was going to punish them and teach them that He was The Lord God of all.

APPLICATION

Today, our country and many others pay “lip service” to The Lord God, but their behavior suggests that they don’t know Him or believe in Him.  They have taken God out of the work-place, out of the schools, and out of most homes.  Unfortunately, we must be taught who He really is.  In times of trouble, He is our refuge and strength. (Psalm 46:1)  We will all cry out for His mercy. (Psalm 123:3)  One day very soon all men will know that He is The Lord God, The One and Only God. (Psalm 83:18)  The day will come when every knee will bow down and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. (Romans 14:11) 

SOME FRIENDLY ADVICE IS JUST WRONG

PROCLAMATION

“Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that He would open His lips against you and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides.  Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.”  Job 11:5-6 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

As Job continues to complain about his situation (Job 10:1-7) he then begins to plead with God to end his suffering and let him die. (Job 10:8-22)  After this his friend Zophar replies to him and reproves him.  He calls Job a man who just wants to hear himself speak and who presents falsehoods. (Job 11:1-4)  Zophar asks Job a series of rhetorical questions and then he says that he wishes God would speak and tell Job his sins. (Job 11:5-6)  He continues to question Job  and then he tells him that his life would be better if he would just repent of his sins and allow God to bless him. (Job 11:13-20)  To this Job replies and he reproves his friends. (Job 12:1-12)  Then Job tells them that he knows the power of God (Job 12:13-25) and continues to reprove them. (13:1-12)  Afterwards Job states, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15)  He continues to profess his innocence and begs The Lord God to tell what sins he has been charged with. (Job 13:18-28)

APPLICATION
No one wants to hear their friends call them a liar. (Job 11:3)  Our friends are supposed to tell us the truth, even when no one else will.  However, if they do not know the truth, they cannot share it.  Friendly advice is usually given with our best interest at heart; but if they do not know the whole story, their advice is likely to be wrong.  Unfortunately, some of our friends think that they know all the answers to our problems, but they cannot solve their own problems.  When we need help, it is best for us to turn to The Lord. (Psalm 46:1)  Only He has the power to help us. (Isaiah 41:13 and Matthew 28:18)  Trust not in man, (Psalm 146:3) trust in The Lord God. (Psalm 16:1)