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Ps 107:29   He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still  

Mark 4:35   And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side

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 4:37   And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full

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?

Mark 4:39   And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm

Mark 4:40   And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

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?

What are Storms? 

Storms are circumstances and situations.   Storms are problems.  Storms are crises.  Storms are hindrances and delays and disappointments.  Storms are situations that plague us and harass us and attempt to destroy us.  Storms are sicknesses and physical attacks. Storms are Family conflicts and marriage troubles.  Storms are difficulties and impossibilities in the workplace. Storms are addictions and habits that keep us in bondage.  Storms are demonic.

Where do they come from?  What causes them?

The devil causes storms.  They are demonic attacks.  They are designed to do what the devil wants to do to you… to kill you, to steal your goods, and to completely destroy you.  Storms are planned and birthed in hell.  They are designed for you personally by the devil and his demons.  They are intended to keep you as far away from God and God’s Purpose as possible.  

What is the Purpose of Storms?

The purpose and intent of storms is to stop you before you get where God wants you to be.  Storms arise and winds blow in the process of MINISTRY and SPIRITUAL GROWTH.  When you determine to obey God and Be a Blessing to OTHERS is when you will find yourself in a storm with the devil attempt­ing to sink your boat.  The moment you decide to Go to the Other Side with Jesus, satan will send a storm to stop you and to sink your boat.  You hear the voice of God… the challenge… the command… (this is point A) and you start out toward point B which is the place where God wants you.  And on the way….. you run into a STORM.

            (1) Storms arise and winds blow in the process of MINISTRY and SPIRITUAL GROWTH.  When you determine to obey God and Be a Blessing to OTHERS is when you will find yourself in a storm with the devil attempt­ing to sink your boat.

            (2) Storms will challenge your faith.  You may not be able to see God or hear from God.  You will be tempted to give in to wonder (“Why me?”) and doubt (“What if?”).

            (3) Storms are caused by the devil and they are devices to stop you from getting to the place where God wants you to be!!    God does not cause storms… if He did then Jesus was guilty of rebuk­ing God in this case.

            (4) Storms do not mean that God is not with you.  On the contrary, they are proof that He is with you and that a miracle is about to take place.   Storms are not “punishments” or “chas­tenings” from God… God will not put you in a storm to “teach you something!”   

Some of the most dedicated NT personalities were at times caught in a storm.  The disciples were in the middle of the sea in a storm and saw Jesus walking on the water.

Paul was on the way to Rome and his ship was nearly destroyed in a great storm.

Storms can cause:

Discouragement and despair.  They can move us to a place of giving up and going down with the ship.  They can make us tired and weary.  They can cause us to blame God and get mad at Him.  They can destroy our peace and mess with our minds.  They can make us sick and frustrate us.  Storms can strain our marriage and hurt our home. Storms can separate us from friends and destroy relationships.  Storms can keep us out of the Will of God. 

Here are some common errors believers make in the midst of the storm:

• Some will use their own efforts to “bail out the boat” and try to keep it afloat.  
• Some will look at the storm and try to size it up.  “How long?”  “How strong?”  “What’s wrong?”
• Some will concede to defeat immedi­ately.  

If you are in the midst of a storm, what are you going to do?     How do you intend to handle the situa­tion?  Are you going down with the ship?  Or will you Stand in the Storm?

Notice our Text:

Mark 4:35   And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.   

• It was time to move.  It is late in the day.  Night is at hand.  Let’s go while we can. 
• Jesus wants us to go with Him.  Jesus said “Let us”… not “Let Me” or “You go by yourself…”  He said, “Let US.”   
• Jesus knows that there is a Miracle waiting “on the other side…”  (Remember the Demon Possessed man that got free of the devil?   That what is going to happen to those who Stand in the Storm and make it to the other side….  There will be a miracle waiting for you.

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.

• Jesus wants us to be a part of the inner cir­cle.  Notice He sent the multitudes away.   
• Jesus wants us to “Take Him” just like He is.    He is, Not like we make Him.  Not like religion makes Him.  Not like unbelievers make Him.  But “Like He is…”
• There are many other “ships” that you can get in.  Be sure you get in the ship that Jesus is in.  There is the religious boat.  There is the denomination boat.  There is the performance boat… the good works boat.  There is the “feeling” boat.  The program and method boat.  There is the tradition boat.  Many boats are out there, but Jesus is in only one of them. 

Mark 4:37   And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

• Storms “arise…”  They start small and get bigger.   
• The storm buffeted the ship… the place where Jesus was.  Where is Jesus now?  He is IN THE BELIEVER.  The fury of hell rages against every believer. 
• The raging waves began to spill over into the ship.  When the outside gets on the inside, un­less a miracle happens, the ship will sink.   
• The ship got full.  Your ship may be full.  The outside may have gotten inside.  But remember, Jesus is in the ship with you and God will come to your rescue.    Don’t panic.

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?

• Jesus was not alarmed.  He refused to be affected by the devil.  satan was no problem to Him.  Nothing satan can do or could do was any danger to Him.  “Nothing shall by any means hurt you…”  Luke 10:19
• He was in the “hinder part” of the ship.  This is where the rudder is located.  He was at the place of choosing the direction of the ship.
• He was asleep.  No worries.  No fears.  No problems.  No danger.  He was at rest.
• He was calm.  His followers were in a frenzy.  They were hysterical.  They were filled with fear. 
• The disciples were certain that they were going to die.  They said so.  “Don’t you care?  We are in serious trouble.  We are going to die.”  
• To accuse Jesus of not caring is to call Him the opposite of Who He is.  What you say is what you get.  What you believe is what will happen.  What you fear is exactly what will come upon you.

Job 3:25   For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me

Mark 4:39   And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm

• Jesus got up.  Jesus spoke up.  Because His faith was UP. 
• He rebuked the wind.  (This is the cause of the waves.  You need to speak to the CAUSE not the RESULT).
• He “said” to the sea.  “Said” means com­manded.  You can command things to happen with the words of your mouth.   No matter how impossible the situation may seem to be. 

Mark 4:40   And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

• Jesus dealt with the imminent danger, and then He turned to His disciples.  “What’s wrong?” “What’s the matter?”  “Why are you so afraid?”  Why have you decided to die?”  What made you give up?”  “Don’t you know WHO is WITH YOU?”

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?

• They were afraid of the wind.  They were afraid of the waves.  They were afraid of the sea.  Then they were even afraid of the answer.  No won­der Jesus accused them of having no faith.
• Then they got to talking to one another.  They did not talk to Jesus, they talked to one an­other.  When you talk to one another, gossip will continue.  When you talk to Jesus, gossip will stop.
• Unless YOU KNOW what Manner of Man Jesus is, you will always find yourself in disturbances and storms and threatening situa­tions. 
• Why should not the wind and sea obey Him?  He created them.  His Word created the wind and the sea.     
• Storms are threatening.  Storms can be frightening.  Storms can be fatal.  Storms can be destructive.  Storms can change things.  Storms can be turned into blessings.

I.  BE CALM   (38)

We are to be like Jesus and Jesus never suffered from PANIC or ANXIETY or NERVOUS TENSION.  He as calm, cool, and collected.  He was ASLEEP.  ASLEEP in the MIDST of the STORM.   

My children slept right through some of the greatest storms of my life. They were as­sured that I had everything under control and that I would keep my cool and see them through.     If God is our Father, and He is, then He will take care of us and see us through.  Hallelujah!!

II. SPEAK THE WORD  (39)

The Word spoken in faith and prayed in faith always produces PEACE.  In this storm, Jesus REBUKED the wind and SAID to the sea…  There is a time to PRAY and there is a time to ARISE and SPEAK THE WORD.  Faith-filled words will make the NATURAL submit to the SPIRITUAL.  If “no-faith” which is what the dis­ciples had (“how is it that ye have no faith…?”) yields to the destructive power of storms then FAITH (which is what Jesus had) makes the de­structive power of storms SUBMIT to the POWER of GOD.    

You cannot SPEAK THE WORD if you do not KNOW THE WORD and you cannot ACT ON THE WORD if you do not BELIEVE THE WORD.  WORDS that were FULL OF GOD’S FAITH released God’s Power and brought cre­ation into existence.  (More stars in the heavens that grains of sand on all the shores of all the seas of the earth)  God’s Word spoken and prayed in FAITH will move mountains and stop storms.

III.  DON’T BE AFRAID  (40)  

Notice the times in the Word that Jesus tells us to “fear not…”  Notice the times He was met with a crisis that He said “Do not be afraid…”  Fear and “no faith” are one and the same!!  You will fear to the exact degree that you have no faith.  Little faith… much fear.  Much faith…little fear.  GREAT FAITH… no fear!!  Fear motivates satan and sets demon forces in action.  Fear is a spirit and must be dealt with accord­ingly.  “God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, power  and a sound mind…” EVERY STORM YOU FACE will attempt to GET YOU TO MOVE IN FEAR.  The only place in your life that satan can control is that place that is domi­nated by FEAR.  Fearing it is EXPECTING IT to happen.  (New pajamas, new gown, new under ware new robe in drawer saved for when you get sick and go to the hospital) 

• Jesus did not look at the storm
• Jesus did not listen to the negative confession of His companions
• Jesus did not expect the worst to happen
• Jesus released His faith by the Words He spoke

IV. EXERCISE YOUR AUTHORITY  (41) Take Charge of the Storm

“What manner of man is this?”  Jesus said that you and I would do even GREATER WORKS than He did because He was going to the FATHER.  His return to the FATHER re­leased the HOLY SPIRIT to the CHURCH to function in GOD’S place and DO GOD’S WILL on earth.  What Jesus said is POSSIBLE and any­thing short of it is DOUBT and UNBELIEF.  God has given us (you and me) the ABILITY and POWER and AUTHORITY to do what He says we can do.  “I can’t” is a cop out and cuts across everything God said about His Children.  YOU CAN because GOD SAYS YOU CAN!!  It has nothing to do with how HARD or IMPOSSIBLE the task may be or how VIOLENT your STORM may be.

You are a misfit on earth because you are now made to live and function by heaven’s laws and principles.  You have GOD-POWER… GOD-LIFE… GOD-AUTHORITY living inside of you.  YOU can stand in the storm.  You will conquer your storm.  You will get to the place God wants you to be.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad be­cause the winds of your storm will be invaded by God and they will drive you to the other side!!  Right where God wants  you to be!!!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me…”   walk through the fire and walk on the water… defy devils and cast out demons… witness with power and preach with effective­ness… possess the wisdom of God and have the mind of Christ… Life your life filled with all the fullness of God!  

YOU WILL SURVIVE

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