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?”
Matthew 8:23-27 ESV
How can we _not_ _be_ _afraid_!
“Great storm”- “seismosa”
What we think is _bad_, God uses for good.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 ESV
“Seismosa”
Crucifixion- Defeat the fear of _sin_.
Resurrection- Defeat the fear of _death_.
Storm- Defeat the fear of _troubles_.
365 times, “fear not.”
The question we need answered. . . . .
If we can trust God, then why did Jesus say _Get in the boat_?!”
And the answer is. . . . .
It’s not the _absence_ of storms in our lives but it’s the _presence of Christ in_ our storms.
But wait there’s more. . . . .
Jesus was there, but He was _sleeping_!
Don’t miss this. . . . .
Jesus not only sees the same storm his disciples see, but Jesus is IN the same storm his disciples are in. And then asks “Why are you afraid?”
The _mismanagement_ of fear can be a sin.
“Other boats”- same storm, same fear and same results, but the followers of Christ have a different response and _responsibility_.
Response
•Jesus is the _one_ who calms the storm of fear.
Responsibility
•_Tell_ others that Jesus is our hope and rescuer.
Take time to tell others. . . . . .
- Jesus never panics, neither should I.
- Jesus is faithful and true.
- Jesus never leaves us nor forsakes us.Jesus truly loves us.
Final thought. . .
•Some of the greatest life changing God-moments begin with “Why are you afraid?” followed by “Do not fear!”