Getting Through the Storms of Life

Notes: Getting Through the Storms of Life
Pastor Greg 
Harvest OC
4/6/2014

Matthew 8:23-27

Pastor Greg is talking about how actual storms come out of no where, like in Hawaii. Then he speaks of storms that come into our lives, at work, our health and family.

There are only two kinds of people in the world: those who are going through a crisis and those who are going to go through a crisis.

Matthew 7:25 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.

Pastor Greg talks about the movie the Perfect Storm. How it was really three storms that came together and created the huge storm. 

Read: Matthew 8:23-27 23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Greg points out that this storm that they got into was because the men obeyed Jesus and followed him onto the boat. So this was during an act of obedience.

1. Storms come into our lives.

We are asked if we ever think that maybe God is asleep when we are going through personal storms. But the Bible says:

“Indeed, He who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps.”
(Psalm 121:4 Behold, He who keeps Israel, Shall neither slumber nor sleep.)

Greg tells us about this story about the person falling asleep while Paul spoke: Acts 20 9-12 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

Jesus was fully God and fully man, he was a man like us, He felt hungry, weary and tired.

Greg talks about how Billy Graham told him about how it feels like the power is just being pulled out of him when he is up on stage giving the message.

It’s fine to feel tired in the Lord’s work, but never tired of it.

Greg talks about meeting Chuck Swindoll, and Chuck saying “I love what I do” and how it was with joy and passion and it inspired Greg.

How do you sleep in a storm? You need a clear conscience to get a good night sleep. Many don’t want to be alone with their thoughts. Have a clear conscience and you can sleep well.

Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Matthew 8:24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.

Jesus was asleep because He rested confidently in the will of His Father.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. He that stirred up the storm is the hiding place in it.

Sometime we have the pressures of life, but when you entrust it in God, you can get some sleep. 

2. We need to cry out to Jesus in the midst of our storms.
(Matthew 8:25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!)

Though the shrieking of the storm did not wake him, the cry of his people did. Like when a parent hears the cry of their children even when we are sleeping.

Many wait till the end to pray to God, when we should be starting with prayer. C.S. Lewis reminds us even atheist have their moments of doubt. When many hit rock bottom is finally when they call on Jesus.

Psalm 91:14-15 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Jesus could of said it was their problem, but He didn’t He got up and took care of it.

Matthew 11:3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

Psalm 10:1 Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble

3. God has His purposes in the storms of life.

Where there are not trials in life there are no triumphs. There are things we learn in storms that we learn no where else. Think about that we learn more from Paul in the prison house then his visits to heaven. 

The same hammer that shatters glass also forges steel.

Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

God comparing us to sheep is not a compliment, sheep need a shepherd.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

We love the green pastures, but we don’t like these valleys.

1. Correcting Storms

Storms we bring upon ourselves, for example, Jonah’s storm. 

Many marriages are going wrong because we do not do what the Bible tells us what to do. That is bringing the storm upon ourselves. Also, like getting drunk and then getting a DUI.

Hebrews 12:5-6 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

2. Protecting Storms

The feeding of the 5000 is the only miracle spoken of in all four Gospels.

John 6:15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

There are times God will not answer your prayer and that could be a protecting storm. Sometimes we ask for things that can actually harm us.

3. Perfecting Storms

The disciples were experiencing this type of this storm in Matthew 8.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Acts 14:21-22 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

This is not usually a verse that you see hanging on people’s walls. 

No one is exempt from experiencing the storms of life. God will use these experiences for His glory in time.

4. Sometimes Jesus stops the storm, but He is always with us through it.
(Matthew 8:26 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm)

Before He rebuked the storm, first he rebuked the disciples.

Mark 4 38-39 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

They were fearful because they were faithless.

Matthew 6:27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Mark 4:35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

He didn’t promise them smooth sailing, but He did promise them safe passage. Better to be with Jesus in the storm than anywhere else without Him!

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

Sometimes God will calm a storm and other times He will just walk with us through it. Either way you will have safe passage.

You should get with your Christian friends and pray during these storms. Pray for the miracles or the good fortunes, pray for the answers. God will be there every step of the way.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Matthew 8:27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you[a] from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

Philippians 1:6 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;

Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God finishes what he begins.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

For some their whole life seems to be a storm, in that case, the other side may be heaven. 

Storms don’t last forever, you will get over to the other side. 

Jesus does ask us, can I come onto your boat, can I come into your life, can I come into your marriage? He won’t force His way in, but He will ask you.

He doesn’t promise smooth sailing, but He does promise you safe passage.