Life's Storms - March 7, 2015

      

Matthew 8:23-27 ESV      And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Acts 27:20 ESV      When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

Matthew 14:22-27 ESV      Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. ...

1. God is sovereign over the storms of life.

The biblical doctrine of God’s sovereignty over all things is one of the most practical truths for us to apply in times of trial.

A. WHEN THINGS ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL, THEY ARE NEVER OUT OF GOD’S CONTROL, NO MATTER HOW HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE THE SITUATION. (Act 27: 15 -20)

B. WE AREN'T NECESSARILY OUT OF GOD’S WILL WHEN WE GET CAUGHT IN A STORM.  (Acts 23:11)

C. WE AREN'T EVER OUT OF GOD’S CARE WHEN WE GET CAUGHT IN A STORM. ( 1 Peter 5:6-7)

2. Our responsibility in the storms of life is to trust openly in God’s care for us.

A. TO TRUST OPENLY IN GOD’S CARE IS NOT OPPOSED TO USING CAUTION AND COMMON SENSE.

 (Acts 27:25)

B. TO TRUST OPENLY IN GOD’S CARE MEANS THAT WE WILL BE DIFFERENT IN THE STORM THAN THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD.  (Acts 27:20, Acts 27:24)

3. God will use our trusting Him in the storm to bear witness to many.